Becoming a Nurse Practitioner with a Non-Nursing Bachelor’s Degree

It is possible to become a nurse practitioner (NP) after getting a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. While there are no shortcuts to becoming a nurse practitioner, there are streamlined learning options you can take advantage of if you have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, but want to become an NP.

Here’s how you can become a nurse practitioner while having graduated with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree.

How to Become an NP With a Non-Nursing Bachelor’s Degree

The Direct Entry Nurse Practitioner programs are the best choice for aspiring NPs who have a bachelor’s degree in an area other than nursing. The best part of entering a Direct Entry nursing program is that you do not need to have a BSN degree. In fact, you can hold any bachelor’s degree in any major and still enroll in the Direct Entry Nurse Practitioner program.

How Long Does it Take?

The major benefit of enrolling in a Direct Entry nurse practitioner program is that it will only take you a little over two years to earn your credentials as a nurse practitioner. However, the duration of the program ultimately depends on which school and program you choose.

Direct Entry NP Admissions Requirements

While the admission requirements for a Direct Entry NP program will vary from state to state, there are some requirements and documents that all nursing applicants need to fulfill and submit along with their admission form. They include:

• An application to your nursing school of choice
• A 3.0 GPA or above
• GRE scores
• Transcripts from your undergraduate experience
• 2-3 recommendation letters
• An essay or personal statement on why you wish to pursue a career as a nursing practitioner

Some colleges and universities that offer the Direct Entry NP program may also require you to submit your transcripts as a show of proof that you completed the required prerequisite courses. These prerequisite courses may include biology, statistics, and human anatomy.

It should be noted that while the Direct Entry NP program is a great choice, they will still have to complete certain courses depending on their undergraduate degree as a prerequisite for admission in a Direct Entry NP program.

Important Notes

Since some schools use “accelerated” and “Direct Entry” interchangeably when it comes to the context of advanced nursing programs, an “Accelerated” nursing program could mean you already have an RN license. Therefore, you will need to do some research to make sure you’re going for the right program.

Nurse practitioners are always in high demand in the US. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for nurse practitioners is only going to grow in the coming years. If you’re interested in joining a Direct Entry NP at a nursing school near you, then we’ve also compiled a list of the best choices for Direct Entry NP admissions right here.