How Become a Nurse Practitioner in Texas – Eight Steps
- Earn an RN Degree – All Nurse Practitioners (NPs) must first become RNs. Getting your RN through an ADN or BSN program is your first step. Be sure to earn your RN or BSN from a university that is accredited by the ACEN or CCNE. Your credentials are more likely to be accepted by your NP program if you earned your RN from an accredited school. Find the Best Ranked Texas Nursing Schools.
- Pass The NCLEX-RN Exam – Our practice tests and NCLEX-RN exam study guide are just the tools you need to help you prepare for test day.
- Earn Your MSN or DNP – To become an NP you can either get your masters or doctorate. Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs take about 2 years while Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs take about 4 years. You will choose a population foci such as gerontology, family, neonatal when you start your program:
- Complete Supervised Clinical Hours – If you earn your MSN you will need to between 500-600 clinical hours depending on your population focus. To earn your DNP you need 1000 hours.
- Become Board Certified – Your certifying body to become an NP depends on your population foci:
- National Certification Corporation: For Women’s health and neonatal NPs.
- The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners: Family and adult-gerontology NPs.
- The American Association of Critical Care Nurses: Adult-gerontology NPs.
- The American Nurses Credentialing Center: Adult-gerontology, family, psychiatric mental health, and pediatric NPs.
- Pediatric Nursing Certification Board: Pediatric NPs.
- Obtain Licensure – Licensure is done on a state-by-state basis. Contact the Texas state board of nursing Texas Board of Nursing for more information.
- Obtain a DEA Number – DEA registration is required in order to prescribe medication in Texas. Once you are licensed, apply for your NPI number which is free. Then you use this to apply for your State Controlled Substances Authority for Texas and then your DEA registration so that you can prescribe medications.
- Maintain Active Certification and Licensure – Your certifying body and BON in Texas will tell you what is required to maintain certification and licensure. Usually this requires a certain amount of continuing education (CE) credits as well as clinical practice. You may also have to fill out an application and pay a fee every 2-3 years.
Online NP Programs Liked by Texas Nurses
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
How Long Does it Take to Become a Nurse Practitioner in Texas
How much time it takes to become an NP in Texas really depends on your background. Depending on the path you take it will be 2 to 4 years of education before you can become a Certified Nurse Practitioner. If you’re already an RN it can take as little as 2 years by earning your MSN. If you are not an RN some direct entry programs are as short as 2 years as well. If you already have your MSN but are not an NP you can do a DNP program in 2-3 years and become and NP while also earning your doctorate.
Here are examples of how long it will take you to become an NP depending on what degree you are starting with:
Starting Degree | How Many Years to Become an NP |
Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) | 2 years |
Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (BSN) | 2 years |
Bachelor’s in a non-nursing field | 2 – 3 years |
Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSN) | 1 – 2 years |
Nurse Practitioner Requirements and Types in Texas
BSN to MSN
If you are getting your MSN after having your BSN in the state of Texas, you can expect to spend 2 years earning your degree to become NP. If you have your RN, but not your BSN, you can complete a program that is similar in length and will give you an MSN. General requirements to enter and complete your BSN to MSN program in Texas include:
- A 3.0 GPA or the equivalent of a B average
- Must be licensed as an RN in Texas
- Complete about 50 credits of classroom work
- Complete 500 to 800 hours of supervised clinical experience depending upon the University
Direct Entry MSN Programs
Direct Entry MSN programs or accelerated MSN programs give people who are not nurses but have a bachelors degree in something else the opportunity pursue nursing. These programs prepare you to be an NP without having you repeat non-nursing college courses that you have already taken. There are a handful of these programs in Texas. Direct entry programs take between 2 and 3 years to complete. After the program you will be an RN and an NP. General requirements to enter and to complete your accelerated MSN program in Texas include:
- A 3.0 GPA or the equivalent of a B average
- Completion of pre-requisites such as anatomy and physiology, developmental psychology, microbiology, organic and inorganic chemistry, and more
- Complete about ## credits of classroom work
- Complete 500 to 1,000 hours of supervised clinical experience depending upon the University
MSN to NP Certificate
If you already have your MSN but are not an NP you can complete a certificate program to train you to be an NP. This may be the right path for you if you have your MSN in something like nursing education, nursing administration, or if you are a clinical nurse specialist. In general MSN to NP certificate programs take about one year and to enter and to complete your NP to Certificate program requires the following:
- You must be an RN in Texas to be eligible to apply for these programs
- Typically you are not required to take the GRE again for these programs
- You will have to submit an application with your resume, references, past transcripts and more
- Complete 500 to 700 clinical hours depending on the school and your population focus
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
DNP programs are the doctorate level programs that prepare nurses to be NPs. In these programs you will be trained to provide nursing care at the expert level and will also be able to teach in most universities. DNP programs are becoming more popular as the entry pathway into becoming an NP. Program length varies from 3 to 5 years depending on whether or not you already have your masters. The eligibility requirements vary a little between the BSN to DNP and MSN to DNP programs.
BSN to DNP: These programs are for bachelor’s level trained nurses.
- You must be a licensed Texas nurse and have had a GPA of at least 3.0 (B average) or better.
- The BSN to DNP programs will take about 5 years depending on the university.
- Your application will need to include GRE scores, letters of recommendation, previous transcripts, and more.
- You will need to complete 1000 hours of supervised clinical experiences.
- Some programs will require you to have nursing experience.
MSN to DNP: These programs take into account that you are already a nurse trained at the master’s level. Depending on the program you may be required to already be an NP in Texas.
- All programs will require you to have your Texas RN license.
- These programs will take between 2 and 3 years to complete.
- Like the BSN to DNP programs you need to submit an application with letters of recommendations, past transcripts, and more.
- You do not have to take the GRE however, as it is assumed that you already had to take it for your MSN.
- At the end of your DNP education you will not only be an NP but you will also have completed the highest level of clinical nursing education available.
Where Do Nurse Practitioner Typically Work?
As an NP the world is at your fingertips. You can work in a variety of settings and will have the flexibility throughout your career to change it up. Here are some examples of where you may work.
- Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP: Cardiology, neurology, emergency departments, intensive care units, medical surgical units, military settings, and more.
- Adult Gerontology Primary Care NP: primary care clinics, nursing homes, correctional facilities, college health, occupational health, military settings, and more.
- Family NP: Primary care clinics, community health, urgent care, college health, occupational health, military settings, dermatology, shelters, and more.
- Neonatal NP: neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), emergency departments, labor and delivery units, and more.
- Pediatric Acute Care NP: Emergency departments, specialty units in children’s hospitals, urgent care.
- Pediatric Primary Care NP: community health centers, schools, children’s hospitals, private practices.
- Psychiatric Mental Health NP: outpatient therapy, inpatient psychiatric units, partial hospitalization units, nursing homes, and more.
- Women’s Health NP: Community health centers, women’s prisons, private practices, urogynecology practices, adolescent health, and more.
Campus and Online Nurse Practitioner Programs in Texas
Cost of Nurse Practitioner Programs in Texas
Nurse practitioner programs vary in price depending on the school; however, they usually fall within the following ranges:
• RN to MSN nurse practitioner program: $22,000 – $235,000
• BSN to MSN nurse practitioner program: $19,000 – $1750,000
• Direct entry MSN nurse practitioner program: $23,000 – $220,000
• BSN to DNP nurse practitioner program: $27,000 – $255,000
• MSN to DNP nurse practitioner program: $18,000 – $170,000
• Post-master’s certification nurse practitioner program: $9,800 – $84,000
NP Salaries in Texas
CareerOneStop projects that demand for Nurse Practitioners in Texas will grow 30 percent in the next 10 years. On average graduates from Texas accredited nurse practitioner schools earn more than $100,000 annually.
Here are the average Salaries for NP specialties across the country:
Population Foci | Average Annual Salary |
Adult Gerontology Acute Care | $90,050 |
Adult Gerontology Primary Care | $85, 163 |
Family Nurse Practitioner | $91, 573 |
Neonatal | $108, 804 |
Psychiatric Mental Health | $101, 577 |
Pediatric Acute Care | $91, 906 |
Pediatric Primary Care | $86, 916 |
Women’s Health | $90, 981 |
Nurse Practitioner Schools in Texas
- Angelo State University
- Baylor University
- Midwestern State University
- Prairie View A & M University
- Texas A & M International University
- Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi
- Texas State University San Marcos and St. David School of Nursing
- Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
- Texas Woman’s University
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
- The University of Texas Medical Branch School of Nursing
- The University of Texas at Arlington
- The University of Texas at Austin
- The University of Texas at El Paso
- The University of Texas at Tyler
- University of Houston-Victoria
- University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
- University of the Incarnate Word
- West Texas A & M University
Texas
West Texas A & M University
- 2501 4th Ave, Canyon, TX - 79016-0001
Family Nurse Practitioner
Texas Woman’s University
- 304 Administration Dr, Denton, TX - 76204
Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
Family Nurse Practitioner
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
- 7000 Fannin, Houston, TX - 77030
Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Family Nurse Practitioner
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
- 3601 4th Street, Lubbock, TX - 79430
Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Family Nurse Practitioner
The University of Texas at Arlington
- 701 S. Nedderman Dr., Arlington, TX - 76013
Family Nurse Practitioner
Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
The University of Texas at Austin
- 110 Inner Campus Drive, Austin, TX - 78705
Family Nurse Practitioner
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
The University of Texas at El Paso
- 500 W. University Ave, El Paso, TX - 79968-0691
Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Family Nurse Practitioner
The University of Texas at Tyler
- 3900 University Blvd, Tyler, TX - 75799-6699
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Family Nurse Practitioner
The University of Texas Medical Branch School of Nursing
- 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX - 77555-0129
Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
Family Nurse Practitioner
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
- 7703 Floyd Curl Dr, San Antonio, TX - 78229-3900
Family Nurse Practitioner
Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Prairie View A & M University
- FM 1098 Road & University Drive, Prairie View, TX - 77446
Family Nurse Practitioner
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
- 900 College St, Belton, TX - 76513-2599
Family Nurse Practitioner
Midwestern State University
- 3410 Taft Blvd, Wichita Falls, TX - 76308-2099
Family Nurse Practitioner
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Texas A & M International University
- 5201 University Blvd, Laredo, TX - 78041-1900
Family Nurse Practitioner
University of Houston-Victoria
- 3007 N. Ben Wilson, Victoria, TX - 77901
Family Nurse Practitioner
University of the Incarnate Word
- 4301 Broadway, San Antonio, TX - 78209
Family Nurse Practitioner
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi
- 6300 Ocean Dr., Corpus Christi, TX - 78412-5503
Family Nurse Practitioner
Baylor University
- Baylor University, Waco, TX - 76798
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
Family Nurse Practitioner
Angelo State University
- 2601 W. Avenue N, San Angelo, TX - 76909
Family Nurse Practitioner
Texas State University San Marcos and St. David School of Nursing
- 601 University Dr, San Marcos, TX - 78666
Family Nurse Practitioner
Source: American Association of Nurse Practitioners
Online MSN Programs Liked by Texas Nurses
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Texas Organizations and Associations for Nurse Practitioners
- Texas Nurse Practitioners
- Texas – American Association of Nurse Practitioners
- The North Texas Nurse Practitioners | ENP Network
- Advanced Practice Registered Nurse – Texas Board of Nursing
National Organizations and Associations for Nurse Practitioners
Since it is such a popular career path there are multiple resources and organizations available for you to utilize as you gather more information:
- American Psychiatric Nurses Association
- American Association of Nurse Practitioners
- Society of Nurses in Advanced Practice
- Nurse Practitioner Associates for Continuing Education
- Nurse Practitioner Healthcare Foundation
- National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
- International Council of Nursing Nurse Practitioner/Advanced Practice Nursing Network
- Doctors of Nursing Practice
- Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association
- National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties
- Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health
- Advanced Practitioner Society for Hematology and Oncology
- National Academy of Dermatology Nurse Practitioners
- American Academy of Emergency Nurse Practitioners