Quick Highlights
- BSN-prepared, licensed RNs can complete A-State’s online MSN – FNP or MSN – AGACNP in as few as 24 months, or the online MSN – PMHNP in 26 months.
- Starting with no nursing background, the path to NP licensure typically takes six to eight years, depending on the nursing degree path, enrollment status and required clinical experience.
- Timelines are close across FNP, PMHNP and AGACNP: the biggest difference in how long the path takes is enrollment status, not specialty.
- Nurse practitioners earn a median annual salary of $132,300, with 41% employment growth projected from 2025 to 2035.
For registered nurses (RNs) considering advanced practice, one of the first questions that comes to mind is also one of the most practical: how long will it take? The answer depends largely on where a person starts, whether they are just beginning a path toward nursing or already hold an active RN license and are ready for the next step, and only slightly on which nurse practitioner specialty they choose.
For RNs who already have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, the timeline is faster than many expect. Among the online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs at Arkansas State University (A-State), the NP options give working RNs flexible, ACEN-accredited paths to advanced practice eligibility. Two of those paths, the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program, take as few as 24 months, while the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program takes 26 months.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Family Nurse Practitioner?
For someone starting from scratch with no nursing background, the full path to FNP practice typically runs six to eight years. Students spend about four years earning their BSN (or, for RNs who already hold an associate degree, as few as 10 months through A-State’s own online RN-to-BSN track), after which they must prepare for and pass the NCLEX-RN exam. Once they become a licensed RN and build clinical experience, they must earn an MSN – FNP degree, which can take two to three years. Finally, they must pass a national certification exam before advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) licensure can be granted in the state where they plan to practice.
For BSN-prepared RNs who are already licensed and practicing, the timeline is considerably shorter. The graduate program is the primary remaining step, and accelerated online programs make it possible for nurses to complete that portion while continuing to work. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects nurse practitioner employment to grow 41% from 2025 to 2035, with a median annual wage of $132,300 as of May 2025. Actual earnings vary based on specialty, geographic location, employer type, experience level and state practice regulations. For a closer look at long-term earning potential, see A-State’s FNP salary and job outlook guide.
NP Timelines by Specialty: FNP, PMHNP and AGACNP at a Glance
For most nurses, enrollment status has a greater impact on program length than specialty choice.
| Specialty | A-State Timeline (BSN-Prepared RN) | Credit Hours | National Range (BSN-Prepared RN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) | As few as 24 months | 41.5 | Typically 2 to 3 years full time; 3 or more years part time |
| Psychiatric Mental Health NP (PMHNP) | 26 months | 47.5 | Typically 2 to 3 years full time; 3 or more years part time |
| Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP (AGACNP) | As few as 24 months | 41.5 | Typically 2 to 3 years full time; 3 or more years part time |
A-State’s own timelines sit at or ahead of the typical national range for each specialty. All three programs share the same admission floor (a BSN from an accredited program, a 3.25 GPA, an active RN license and 1,500 hours of RN practice experience), so a nurse who qualifies for one specialty generally qualifies for the others as well. National range figures reflect typical BSN-to-MSN nurse practitioner program lengths as reported by aggregators such as NursePractitionerOnline.com.
Important Note
“As few as” timelines assume continuous full-time enrollment with no breaks between terms. Part-time study, transfer evaluations and individual clinical placement timing can extend any of these estimates.
What Factors Affect How Long NP Education Takes?
Several variables determine the timeline of NP education, from enrollment to graduation. The most significant factor is enrollment status. Full-time students in an accelerated program can complete an MSN in approximately two years. Part-time study, which many working nurses choose to balance career and coursework, typically takes three years or more.
“It’s easier doing the program part-time. Plus, it’s a very flexible program — especially if you have a plan on the front end. I had a good experience at A-State all three times,” said Britney James, who completed three A-State online nursing programs, most recently the MSN – FNP in 2022. Multiple start dates per year, a feature of A-State’s online programs, allow nurses to begin when the timing is right rather than waiting for a single annual cohort.
Clinical hours also affect the timeline. A-State’s online MSN – FNP and MSN – AGACNP programs each require 750 clinical hours, and the online MSN – PMHNP program structures its clinical hours through dedicated seminar and practicum sequences by population focus. All three programs support clinical placements through A-State’s regional practicum network, helping students move through the clinical phase more efficiently.
Admission requirements also determine how quickly a nurse can get started. Across the FNP, PMHNP and AGACNP programs, A-State requires a BSN from an accredited institution, a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25, an active RN license and documentation of at least 1,500 hours of prior RN experience. Nurses who already meet these benchmarks can move directly into the application process.
What Comes After the MSN: Certification and Licensure
Earning an MSN is a major milestone, but it is not the final step. Before practicing as an APRN, graduates must pass a national certification examination specific to their specialty. FNP graduates can sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) FNP-BC exam or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANP) FNP-C exam. PMHNP graduates sit for the ANCC PMHNP-BC exam, which carried an 82% pass rate in 2025. AGACNP graduates can sit for either the ANCC AGACNP-BC exam or the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) ACNPC-AG exam.
Eligibility for these exams requires a graduate degree from an ACEN- or CCNE-accredited program and, in most cases, a minimum of 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours. A-State’s ACEN-accredited online MSN programs meet or exceed that threshold across all three specialties. Accreditation matters here beyond exam eligibility: employers, state licensing boards and DNP programs that accept MSN-prepared nurses all look for ACEN or CCNE accreditation as a baseline standard.
Which NP Specialty Is Right for You?
The timeline is nearly identical across FNP, PMHNP and AGACNP specialties, so the choice usually comes down to which patient population and practice setting fit a nurse’s interests, not which one takes less time. Nurses drawn to primary care across the lifespan tend to choose FNP. Those drawn to psychiatric and behavioral health choose PMHNP. Those drawn to acute, high-acuity adult and older-adult care choose AGACNP.
A-State’s own curriculum reflects these differences. FNP students train across primary care settings for patients of all ages, PMHNP students complete three population-focused practicum sequences (child and adolescent, adult, and trauma and substance use), and AGACNP students gain clinical experience in acute and complex care settings under practitioner supervision. Nurses who want a closer look at day-to-day FNP work can review A-State’s overview of FNP responsibilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to become a nurse practitioner?
For a BSN-prepared, licensed RN, A-State’s online MSN programs take as few as 24 months for FNP or AGACNP and 26 months for PMHNP.
Is one NP specialty faster to complete than another?
Not by much. FNP, PMHNP and AGACNP all share a similar MSN timeline, with the biggest difference driven by full-time versus part-time enrollment rather than specialty choice.
Do all NP specialties have the same admission requirements?
At A-State, yes. The FNP, PMHNP and AGACNP programs each require a BSN from an accredited program, a 3.25 GPA, an active RN license and 1,500 hours of RN practice experience.
What comes after finishing the MSN?
Graduates must pass a national certification exam specific to their specialty, then apply for APRN licensure in the state where they plan to practice.
Can I complete an NP program while working full time?
Yes. A-State’s online MSN programs are built for working RNs, with multiple start dates a year and clinical training supported through a regional practicum network rather than left for students to arrange alone.
What is the job outlook for nurse practitioners?
BLS projects 41% employment growth for nurse practitioners from 2025 to 2035, with a median annual wage of $132,300 as of May 2025.
How do I decide between FNP, PMHNP and AGACNP?
Since the timelines are similar, the decision usually comes down to patient population and practice setting rather than speed. A side-by-side specialty comparison can help narrow the choice.
What happens after becoming an NP if I want to keep advancing my career?
Some NPs go on to complete a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). It is not required to practice, but it is worth understanding before deciding whether to pursue it.
Key Takeaways
- For BSN-prepared, licensed RNs, A-State’s online MSN – FNP and MSN – AGACNP programs both run as few as 24 months, with the online MSN – PMHNP program close behind at 26 months.
- Enrollment status, not specialty choice, is the biggest driver of how long the MSN portion takes.
- All three specialties share the same admission floor: a BSN, 3.25 GPA, active RN license and 1,500 RN practice hours.
- Each specialty requires its own national certification exam after the MSN, administered by ANCC and, for FNP and AGACNP, an additional certifying body.
Whichever specialty fits best, the path from BSN to NP follows a predictable, ACEN-accredited timeline at A-State: a minimum of 24 to 26 months of coursework built around working nurses’ schedules rather than a single academic calendar. The specifics that vary by specialty, such as practicum focus, certification exam and patient population, matter less to the overall timeline than enrollment status and how early a nurse meets the admission requirements. For RNs ready to move on both fronts, A-State’s regional practicum network and multiple annual start dates mean there’s no need to wait for a new academic year to begin.
Ready to start your own timeline? Explore A-State’s online MSN – FNP, MSN – PMHNP and MSN – AGACNP programs and see if you qualify to start.