Carson-Newman University FNP Programs

School of Nursing • Jefferson City, TN • Mostly Online • $650/credit

Carson-Newman University offers 3 Family Nurse Practitioner Tracks:

  • MSN
  • BSN-DNP
  • Post-Master’s Certificate

Program Tracks Overview

ProgramEst. TuitionEst. DurationCredit Hours
MSN$31.2KAbout 2.7 years (8 semesters)48
BSN-DNP$48.1KAbout 2.7 years (8 semesters)74
Certificate$18.2K–$23.4KUp to 2 years (6 semesters)28–36

Tuition estimates use Carson-Newman’s published $650 per-credit online rate, which is the same for all residencies.

Carson-Newman assigns a placement specialist to find your preceptors. The specialist works from the university’s provider network, takes your own referrals, and handles the site paperwork for all 780 clinical hours in the MSN and post-master’s certificate. That volume sits well above the 500-hour certification floor and the 600 to 700 hours common among FNP programs.

The trade-off is reach and travel. Carson-Newman’s authorization page names the states it accepts applicants from, and 18 states are missing from that list, including Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri, and New York. Every track also requires a 3-day residency in Jefferson City, and the BSN-DNP is still pursuing initial CCNE accreditation.

Quick Facts

FeatureDetails
Program TypesMSN, BSN-DNP, Post-Master’s Certificate
FormatMostly Online: online coursework, one 3-day campus residency, 2-day campus board review
Clinical Hours780 (MSN, certificate); 600 stated for BSN-DNP
Clinical PlacementPlacement specialist sources sites and preceptors; student referrals accepted
PopulationFamily/individual across the lifespan
Distinctive CourseworkElective option in advanced NP skills or global health; scholarly article required for capstone
ConcentrationsNone
RN License RequirementsActive RN license; certificate requires unencumbered RN license
Tuition$650/credit, plus $65/credit tech fee and $400/semester
AccreditationCCNE (MSN, certificate); BSN-DNP pursuing initial CCNE accreditation
Enrollment Restrictions18 states not listed as accepting applicants
PacingPart-time only, 15-week courses

Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner

The estimated tuition for the Online Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner at Carson-Newman University is approximately $31,200 (48 credits at $650/credit). The program can generally be completed in about 32 months at part-time pacing, or roughly eight 15-week semesters (semester count derived).

MSN Curriculum

Structure. The MSN pairs a short graduate core (theory, biostatistics and epidemiology, accountability for advanced practice) with five clinical primary care courses organized by population: women, children and adolescents, adults, and a final integrative primary care course. Clinical work starts in Advanced Health Assessment, so hours begin accumulating early rather than in a final block.

Capstone and electives. Students choose between a faculty-committee Advanced Practice Project and an Independent Nursing Research Project. Both require a scholarly article submitted for publication and a presentation, which is more than many MSN capstones ask. One 3-credit elective is required; Advanced Skills for the Nurse Practitioner is the practical pick for nurses heading into clinic or urgent care work. A graded comprehensive examination course closes the program.

  • NURS 507 Advanced Health Assessment (3 credits, 60 clinical hours)
  • NURS 531 Advanced Primary Nursing Care for Women (6 credits, 180 clinical hours)
  • NURS 535 Advanced Primary Nursing Care for Children and Adolescents (6 credits)
  • NURS 537 Advanced Primary Nursing Care for Adults (6–7 credits)
  • NURS 539 Advanced Primary Nursing Care (5 credits)
  • NURS 685 Applied Biostatistics and Epidemiology (3 credits)
  • NURS 600 Advanced Practice Project or NURS 640 Independent Nursing Research Project (2 credits)
  • NURS 519 Advanced Skills for the Nurse Practitioner (3-credit elective option)
  • NURS 541 Comprehensive Examination: FNP (2 credits)

More curriculum details are available here.

You Should Know
  • The catalog lists the MSN at 48–49 credits because NURS 537 carries 6 or 7 credits. The marketing page and tuition page use 48. A 49th credit adds $650 in tuition.
  • Either capstone needs a doctorally prepared faculty chair and a committee approved before you register, so start that process early.

MSN Clinical Requirements

  • 780 total clinical hours
  • Published per-course hours: Health Assessment 60, Women’s Health 180, Adults 120 or 240 (see below)
  • Hours for NURS 535 and NURS 539 are not published individually
  • A placement specialist identifies preceptors and sites from the university’s provider network, accepts student referrals, and handles paperwork
  • Sites must be approved by the Department of Nursing; placements at your current employer are possible in some cases
  • Faculty mentor students during each rotation, and student and preceptor close out each rotation with a formal review
  • One required 3-day on-campus residency: hands-on skills practice and an advanced assessment physical exam
  • 2-day live board review on campus during commencement week

At 780 hours, the MSN runs about 180 hours above the common 600-hour mark. A 180-hour course spread over 15 weeks works out to about 12 hours a week in clinic, and a 240-hour course to about 16. The placement model is the bigger practical benefit: you are not cold-calling clinics for preceptors. It is a sourcing service, not a guarantee of a site near home. Carson-Newman says it “strives” to place students close to home.

You Should Know
  • NURS 537 is listed at 120 clinical hours in one line and 240 in its description on the same MSN page. The certificate page uses 120. Either way, the published course hours (360 or 480) leave 300 to 420 hours to NURS 535 and 539, which Carson-Newman does not break out.
  • The FAQ describes a “student success advisor” assisting with placement, while the clinical section describes a “placement specialist” who secures sites. Ask which role handles your rotations.

MSN Admissions

Carson-Newman lists no RN experience minimum and charges no application fee.

  • Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited, NLN- or CCNE-accredited program
  • 3.0 minimum GPA
  • Three letters of recommendation (academic, employer, character)
  • Active RN license
  • Letter of personal goals and aspirations
You Should Know
  • Carson-Newman’s authorization page lists the states it accepts applicants from. Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming are not on it. The page also carries a map that may add detail, so confirm your state with an advisor.
  • Carson-Newman states that enrollment does not guarantee licensure, and students are responsible for tracking their own state’s requirements, including after a move.
  • The next listed start is January 2027. How many intakes run each year is not clearly stated.

BSN to DNP, Family Nurse Practitioner

The estimated tuition for the Online BSN to DNP-FNP at Carson-Newman University is approximately $48,100 (74 credits at $650/credit). The program can generally be completed in as few as 32 months part-time, the same timeline as the 48-credit MSN.

BSN-DNP Curriculum

The BSN-DNP adds 26 credits to the MSN’s length without adding time, so semesters are heavier: about 9 credits per term against 6 in the MSN (derived from 74 and 48 credits over eight terms). The doctoral courses shown focus on project planning, policy, and healthcare technology rather than more clinical specialty content. The extra cost over the MSN is about $16,900 in tuition.

  • NURS 501 Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits)
  • NURS 507 Advanced Health Assessment (3 credits)
  • NURS 700 Principles of Project Planning and Evaluation Methods (3 credits)
  • NURS 730 Policy, Ethics, and Advocacy in Healthcare (3 credits)
  • NURS 740 Healthcare Transformation Through Technology (3 credits)

BSN-DNP Clinical Requirements

  • 600 total clinical hours, per the program page
  • Same placement specialist model as the MSN
  • 3-day on-campus residency (one or two; see below)
  • 2-day live board review on campus during commencement week

600 hours is within the common range for FNP training, but it is 180 hours fewer than Carson-Newman’s own MSN. Doctoral programs generally require 1,000 post-baccalaureate practice hours, so the 600 figure likely counts only the FNP clinical component.

You Should Know
  • A BSN-DNP listing fewer clinical hours than the MSN it builds on is unusual. Get the full clinical and DNP practice-hour total in writing before enrolling.
  • The program facts list two 3-day residencies, while the residency section of the same page describes one. Budget for two trips.

BSN-DNP Admissions

Requirements match the MSN, with a resume added.

  • Bachelor’s degree from a regionally and nationally accredited program
  • Resume
You Should Know
  • The BSN-DNP is pursuing initial CCNE accreditation, and Carson-Newman notes that applying does not guarantee it will be granted. Some state boards require graduation from an accredited program for APRN licensure, so confirm status at enrollment and again before graduation.

Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate

The estimated tuition for the Online Post-Master’s FNP Certificate at Carson-Newman University is approximately $23,400 (36 credits at $650/credit), or as low as about $18,200 (28 credits) if prior coursework transfers. The program can generally be completed in 24 months or less, as nine 15-week courses.

Certificate Curriculum

This certificate is the MSN’s full FNP clinical sequence with the graduate research core removed. That makes it heavier than certificates that only fill gaps, but certificate graduates train on the same courses and the same 780 hours as MSN students. Pathophysiology and pharmacology can be waived if completed in your master’s program, which is where the 28-credit floor comes from.

  • NURS 501 Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits, waivable)
  • NURS 503 Advanced Pharmacology (3 credits, waivable if taken within 3 years)
  • NURS 507 Advanced Health Assessment (3 credits, 60 clinical hours)
  • NURS 531 Advanced Primary Nursing Care for Women (6 credits, 180 clinical hours)
  • NURS 535 Advanced Primary Nursing Care for Children and Adolescents (6 credits)
  • NURS 537 Advanced Primary Nursing Care for Adults (6–7 credits, 120 clinical hours)
  • NURS 539 Advanced Primary Nursing Care (5 credits)
  • NURS 540 Accountability for Advanced Nursing Practice (2 credits)
  • NURS 541 Comprehensive Examination: FNP (2–3 credits)

More curriculum details are available here.

You Should Know
  • The marketing page lists 36 credits in nine courses. The catalog lists 28–35 credits and omits NURS 507 Advanced Health Assessment, while listing the comprehensive exam course at 3 credits instead of 2. Your transcript evaluation sets the real total.
  • Already hold an MSN but are not an NP? This certificate is the FNP route. Carson-Newman’s MSN to DNP is a doctoral completion program without FNP clinical courses.

Certificate Clinical Requirements

  • 780 total clinical hours, matching the MSN
  • Same placement specialist model as the MSN
  • One required 3-day on-campus residency
  • 2-day live board review on campus during commencement week

Many post-master’s FNP certificates credit prior coursework down to the 500-hour floor. Carson-Newman keeps certificate students at the MSN’s full 780 hours, which adds time but removes any clinical gap between certificate and degree graduates.

You Should Know
  • The catalog sets a 500-hour minimum for “non-practitioner” post-master’s students, which suggests current APRNs may complete fewer hours through a gap analysis. The marketing page states 780 for everyone. Ask how your prior APRN hours count.
  • An older university page lists the certificate at 32 credits and 500 to 660 hours, with an on-campus option. Treat the current online program page and catalog as authoritative.

Certificate Admissions

The certificate adds two gates the MSN does not have: an unencumbered RN license and a three-year recency rule on pharmacology.

  • Master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and NLN- or CCNE-accredited program
  • 3.0 minimum GPA
  • Three letters of recommendation (academic, employer, character)
  • Active, unencumbered RN license
  • Active APRN license, if applicable
  • Letter of personal goals and aspirations
  • Free transcript evaluation, usually returned within 48 hours
You Should Know
  • If your master’s-level pharmacology is more than three years old, you will retake NURS 503, adding 3 credits and $1,950.
  • Many state boards set their own rules for adding a second APRN population focus. Current APRNs should confirm with their board that this certificate qualifies.

Tuition

Carson-Newman charges $650 per credit for every online FNP track, with no residency differential. Two mandatory fees sit on top of that rate.

TrackTuitionTech Fee ($65/credit)Semester Fee ($400)Est. All-In (derived)
MSN (48 credits, 8 semesters)$31,200$3,120$3,200$37,520
BSN-DNP (74 credits, 8 semesters)$48,100$4,810$3,200$56,110
Certificate (36 credits, 6 semesters)$23,400$2,340$2,400$28,140
Certificate (28 credits, 6 semesters)$18,200$1,820$2,400$22,420

Tuition totals for 48, 74, and 36 credits are published. The 28-credit certificate figure and all all-in figures are derived; semester counts assume three 15-week terms per year.

  • $650 per credit, all tracks and all residencies
  • Technology fee: $65 per credit hour (university tuition page)
  • Program fee: $400 per semester
  • No application fee
  • No-interest monthly payment plans available

Be aware that:

  • The MSN and certificate program pages list the tech fee at $55 per credit. The university tuition page lists $65. The difference is $480 on the MSN and $360 on the 36-credit certificate.
  • Semester fees depend on how many terms you actually enroll. A longer timeline adds $400 per extra semester.
  • Travel for the 3-day residency and the 2-day board review is not included. BSN-DNP students may need to budget for two residency trips.
  • Certificate cost varies with transfer credits, and a pharmacology course older than three years must be retaken.

With fees, the MSN runs about $37,500, or roughly $782 per credit effective. That is about 20% above the advertised rate, so compare programs on the all-in figure, not the $650 headline. Official figures are on the Carson-Newman online tuition page.

Why Choose This FNP Program?

A good fit for working nurses who would rather have someone else find their preceptors, want clinical volume well above the minimum, and can make a few trips to East Tennessee.

Placement help with high clinical volume. Sourcing preceptors is the most common reason FNP students fall behind. Carson-Newman takes that task on for 780 hours across five clinical courses, while still letting you refer sites you already know. For a nurse working full time, that saves weeks of outreach per rotation.

One clinical standard for MSN and certificate. MSN-prepared nurses get the same clinical courses and hours as degree students, at about $23,400 in tuition for the full 36 credits. The catalog also lets you waive pathophysiology and pharmacology, which can bring tuition near $18,200.

Rule these out first. If you live in one of the 18 states missing from Carson-Newman’s authorization list, the program is not an option. If you want a full-time pace, every track is part-time. If you are considering the BSN-DNP, its CCNE accreditation is still pending and its stated clinical hours fall below the MSN’s. If none of those apply, the MSN and certificate offer high clinical volume with placement support at a flat out-of-state rate.

Accreditation

The master’s degree program in nursing and the post-master’s certificate program at Carson-Newman University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). That covers the MSN and the FNP certificate on this page.

The BSN-DNP is pursuing initial CCNE accreditation. Carson-Newman states that applying for accreditation does not guarantee it will be granted.

Carson-Newman University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Institutional accreditation affects federal financial aid eligibility and whether other schools accept your credits. The nursing programs are approved by the Tennessee Board of Nursing.

Graduates of the MSN and completers of the post-master’s certificate are prepared to sit for the national FNP certification exam (AANP or ANCC). Carson-Newman reports a 98% AANP pass rate for its MSN students.

More FNP Programs in Tennessee