University of Missouri-Kansas City offers 3 Family Nurse Practitioner Tracks:
- MSN
- Post-Master’s Certificate
- MSN-DNP (via Certificate)
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSN | $47.6K | 2 to 3 years (7 to 9 semesters) | 47 |
| Certificate | $21.0K | 1 year (3 semesters) | 19+ |
| MSN-DNP | $52.6K | 3 years (9 semesters) | 50+ |
Tuition estimates use UMKC’s published $803 per-credit online nursing rate plus the $60.25 online course fee and $88 simulation fee on every credit and the $308.25 clinical fee on each clinical credit.
783.75 clinical hours, more than 50 percent above the 500-hour certification floor. UMKC runs every FNP student, MSN or certificate, through the same three-course clinical block at 82.5 hours per clinical credit, and charges the same $803 online rate whether you live in Kansas City or California.
That volume comes with a fixed calendar. Primary Care of Families I runs only in fall and Primary Care of Families II only in spring, each clinical semester adds a 2 to 3 day on-campus intensive in Kansas City, and a student who falls off the plan of study re-enters clinical courses on a space-available basis.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | MSN; post-master’s certificate; MSN-DNP after certificate. BSN-DNP applications paused until August 2027 |
| Format | Mostly Online: 3 to 4 campus intensives (2 to 3 days each) plus Thursday/Friday live online sessions |
| Clinical Hours | 783.75 minimum across three clinical courses; MSN adds 90 lab hours |
| Clinical Placement | Faculty-approved community or outpatient preceptors; who arranges sites is not clearly stated |
| Population | Family/individual across the lifespan |
| Distinctive Coursework | 1-credit pharmacokinetics course; 1-credit Zoom Clinical Institute; ethics in advanced practice |
| RN License Requirements | Unencumbered RN license in the state where clinicals are completed |
| Tuition | $803/credit regardless of residency; about $951 with per-credit fees, plus clinical fees |
| Accreditation | CCNE (MSN, DNP, post-master’s certificate) through June 2029 |
| Admissions Interview | Personal interview required for every FNP pathway |
| Enrollment Restrictions | Availability varies by state; moving mid-program may end enrollment |
Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner
The estimated tuition for the MSN Family Nurse Practitioner track at UMKC is approximately $47,637 (47 credits at $803/credit plus per-credit and clinical fees; $37,741 in base tuition). The program can generally be completed in about 2 years (7 semesters, derived from the published summer-start plan) full-time, or 2.4 to 2.7 years (8 to 9 semesters) on the part-time and spring-start plans.
MSN Curriculum
Structure. The 47 credits split into a 15-credit MSN core shared by every UMKC master’s track and a 32-credit FNP block. The core carries theory, research, policy, cultural diversity, and health promotion, which also happen to be prerequisites for UMKC’s MSN-DNP. A graduate who later wants a doctorate already holds the theory and research courses that program requires.
Sequencing. The two primary care courses are term-locked: Primary Care of Families I in fall only, Primary Care of Families II in spring only. Advanced Health Assessment is fall-only and Diagnostic Reasoning spring-only. Full-time students must start in summer. The school warns that leaving the plan of study pushes later clinical courses to space-available enrollment, so a single dropped course can cost a full year.
Distinctive pieces. A 1-credit pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics course sits before the 3-credit lifespan pharmacology course. Clinical Institute I is a 1-credit course delivered as a two-day Zoom session. Both assessment courses carry 45 lab hours each, separate from clinical hours.
- NURSE 5544 Advanced Health Assessment Skills (2 credits, 45 lab hours)
- NURSE 5547 Diagnostic Reasoning/Advanced Assessment (3 credits, 45 lab hours)
- NURSE 5548 Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan (3)
- NURSE 5549R Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacodynamics (1)
- NURSE 5549 Pharmacology Across the Life Span for Advanced Nursing Practice (3)
- NURSE 5529 Ethics in Advanced Practice & Research (3)
- NURSE 5564F Primary Care of Families I (5)
- NURSE 5566F Primary Care of Families II (6)
- NURSE 5572 Advanced Nursing Practice: Synthesis Practicum (5)
- NURSE 5601 Clinical Institute I (1)
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- UMKC’s online program page lists NURSE 5566F at 5 credits and the MSN at 46 credits. The catalog and both sample plans of study list 6 credits and 47. This page uses 47.
- The sample plans of study are dated 2017 and carry a “subject to change” notice. They match the current catalog’s course list and credits.
- The catalog states a 3-year program length. UMKC’s online page states 2 to 3 years, with full-time students finishing in two.
MSN Clinical Requirements
- Minimum 783.75 clinical hours: 206.25 (Primary Care I) + 247.5 (Primary Care II) + 330 (Synthesis Practicum)
- Hours accrue at 82.5 per clinical credit across 9.5 clinical credits
- Additional 90 lab hours in the two assessment courses, not counted toward clinical hours
- Clinical experiences are precepted in community or outpatient settings after faculty approval
- An on-campus intensive of 2 to 3 days in each semester with a clinical course; most students attend 3 to 4
- Intensives include hands-on skills training, presentations, lectures, and assessments
At 783.75 hours, UMKC sits above the 600 to 700 hours common among FNP programs. Spread over a 15-week term, the load runs about 14 hours a week in Primary Care I, 16.5 in Primary Care II, and 22 in the Synthesis Practicum. The full-time plan places the practicum in summer, so a shorter term pushes the weekly figure higher. Working nurses on the full-time track should plan for reduced shifts in that final semester; UMKC itself recommends full-time students work under 10 hours a week.
You Should Know
- Who finds preceptors and clinical sites is not clearly stated. UMKC’s pages say only that sites require faculty approval.
- The catalog course description for NURSE 5572 cites a minimum of 300 hours, while the plans of study list 330. Using 300 would put the total at 753.75.
- Telehealth clinical policy is not clearly stated.
MSN Admissions
Every applicant must complete a personal interview, and full-time study requires a summer start.
- BSN from a CCNE- or ACEN-accredited program
- Minimum 3.2 GPA calculated on the last 60 hours of the BSN
- Active, unencumbered RN license in the state where clinicals will be completed
- Graduate statistics with a grade of B or better; may be completed after admission
- Three evaluation forms: immediate supervisor, a BSN faculty member, and a professional reference (no co-workers, friends, or family)
- Resume of all RN experience and a one-page personal statement
- Two-step application: UMKC application with official transcripts, then NursingCAS
- Start terms: spring or summer. Deadlines fall in mid-October for spring and early March for summer
You Should Know
- The spring 2027 deadline (October 16, 2026) has passed. The next opening is summer 2027, with applications due March 5, 2027.
- UMKC’s online program page also lists a free-standing undergraduate health assessment course with a B or better as a prerequisite. The School of Nursing admissions page does not.
- No minimum RN experience is listed for FNP applicants, unlike UMKC’s pediatric and neonatal tracks.
- UMKC participates in SARA, but California is not a SARA member. Students in states where UMKC has not confirmed the program meets licensure requirements must sign an attestation naming a state where it does.
- If you move to another state mid-program, UMKC may not be able to continue your enrollment. Check the state authorization page before applying.
Post-Master’s Certificate, Family Nurse Practitioner
The estimated tuition for the Post-MSN Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate at UMKC is approximately $21,002 (19 credits at $803/credit plus per-credit and clinical fees; $15,257 in base tuition). The program can generally be completed in about 1 year (3 semesters) when no gap courses are required.
Certificate Curriculum
The certificate is the MSN’s 19-credit FNP clinical block, unchanged: lifespan pharmacology plus the same three clinical courses. Certificate graduates log the same 783.75 hours as MSN graduates. A gap analysis at admission decides whether you also need advanced pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, diagnostic reasoning, or health promotion, which can add up to 11 credits.
- NURSE 5549 Pharmacology Across the Life Span for Advanced Nursing Practice (3)
- NURSE 5564F Primary Care of Families I (5)
- NURSE 5566F Primary Care of Families II (6)
- NURSE 5572 Advanced Nursing Practice: Synthesis Practicum (5)
- Possible gap courses: NURSE 5548, 5544, 5547, 5526
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- UMKC’s sample plan of study (updated August 2025) lists 19 credits. Its online program page lists 18 credits and an $18,504 estimate, reflecting the 5-credit version of Primary Care II.
- Duration claims conflict on the same online page: 12 months in Quick Facts, 18 months to two years in the program description.
Certificate Clinical Requirements
- Minimum 783.75 clinical hours, identical to the MSN
- Fall, spring, and summer sequence in the sample plan, matching the term locks on the clinical courses
- On-campus intensives during clinical semesters, typically 3 to 4 over the program
Compressing 783.75 hours into three consecutive semesters makes this the heaviest weekly clinical load of UMKC’s three FNP routes. Nurses who already practice in another APRN role and can arrange flexible hours are the best fit for that pace.
You Should Know
- The sample plan lists 206.5 hours for Primary Care I. The correct figure at 82.5 hours per clinical credit is 206.25, which the 783.75 total already uses.
- An earlier version of this plan of study, still indexed online, listed 18 credits and 660 hours. The August 2025 update supersedes it.
Certificate Admissions
The certificate is the only FNP route with three start terms, though spring starters must select summer or fall in NursingCAS and notify an advisor.
- MSN or DNP from a CCNE- or ACEN-accredited program
- Minimum 3.2 GPA from the MSN or DNP
- Current unencumbered RN license in the state where clinicals are completed
- Three evaluation forms, including an MSN faculty member
- Personal interview required
- Deadlines: mid-October for spring; early March for summer or fall
You Should Know
- Certificate admission is described as rolling, but the actual start depends on transcript review and course availability.
- State boards set their own rules for adding a second APRN population focus. Confirm with your board before enrolling.
MSN to DNP with a New FNP Specialty
The estimated tuition for the MSN-DNP with Family Nurse Practitioner specialty at UMKC is approximately $52,649 (50 credits at $803/credit plus per-credit and clinical fees; $40,150 in base tuition). The program can generally be completed in about 3 years (9 semesters), derived from completing the certificate and then the 6-semester regular DNP plan.
MSN-DNP Curriculum
This route is for nurses with a non-NP master’s degree (leadership, informatics, education) who want both FNP certification and a doctorate. Students finish the FNP certificate first, then the 31-credit DNP curriculum. UMKC notes the two can overlap, which may shorten the timeline.
- FNP certificate block (19 credits, above)
- NURSE 5602 Healthcare Systems & Leadership (3)
- NURSE 5608 Theory Development I (3)
- NURSE 5637 Healthcare Outcomes and Epidemiology (3)
- NURSE 5528 Healthcare Policy & Advocacy (3)
- NURSE 5611 Healthcare Economics & Quality (3)
- NURSE 5613 and 5617 Application of Evidence-based Practice I and II (6)
- NURSE 5620 Advanced Practice V: DNP Clinical (5)
- NURSE 5624 Advanced Practice VI: DNP Practicum (5)
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- BSN-DNP applications are paused while the curriculum is revised, with applications expected to reopen in August 2027 for 2028 starts. UMKC suggests BSN holders complete the MSN, then the MSN-DNP through its Direct Admit process.
- That MSN-then-DNP path totals about 78 credits (47 + 31), versus 75 in the paused BSN-DNP. UMKC MSN graduates already hold NURSE 5528, so transfer review may trim the DNP portion.
MSN-DNP Clinical Requirements
- 783.75 FNP clinical hours through the certificate block
- 600 DNP project hours across the DNP curriculum
- Two-day online DNP Summer Institute in each summer of the DNP plan
- Campus intensives apply during FNP clinical semesters only
Combined, the route totals more than 1,380 practice hours. The DNP portion itself carries no campus requirement, so all Kansas City travel falls in the certificate year.
MSN-DNP Admissions
Applicants need three graduate prerequisites before progressing, each with a B or better.
- MSN (or MS in Nurse Anesthesia) from an ACEN-, CCNE-, or NLN CNEA-accredited program
- Minimum 3.2 cumulative MSN GPA
- Graduate nursing theory, nursing research, and statistics courses
- Individualized plan of study; syllabi may be requested for transfer review
- Start terms: spring, summer, or fall
Tuition
UMKC charges $803 per credit for online graduate nursing students regardless of residency. With the two per-credit fees applied to every credit, the effective rate is $951.25 per credit before clinical fees (derived).
| Charge | Rate | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| Online nursing tuition | $803.00/credit | All credits |
| Online course fee | $60.25/credit | All credits |
| Simulation course fee | $88.00/credit | All credits (per UMKC’s own estimates) |
| Clinical fee | $308.25/credit | Clinical credits only |
| Track | Base Tuition | Per-Credit Fees | Clinical Fees | Est. Total (Derived) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSN (47 cr) | $37,741 | $6,968 | $2,928 (9.5 cr) | $47,637 |
| Certificate (19 cr) | $15,257 | $2,817 | $2,928 (9.5 cr) | $21,002 |
| MSN-DNP (50 cr) | $40,150 | $7,413 | $5,086 (16.5 cr) | $52,649 |
- $803 per credit, Fall 2026 and Spring 2027, for students in the online subplan
- Online course fee of $60.25 per credit
- Simulation fee of $88 per credit
- Clinical fee of $308.25 per credit listed as clinical
- Domestic application fee of $45
Official rates: UMKC graduate program rates and fees and university fees.
Be aware that:
- The residency-blind rate applies only to students entered in the online subplan. Nondegree or non-online students pay $1,597 per credit as nonresidents, roughly double.
- UMKC’s own estimates handle fees inconsistently. The MSN estimate ($43,757.50) omits clinical fees; the certificate estimate ($18,504) omits the online course fee.
- The bursar lists the simulation fee as “per credit hour” without naming courses. UMKC’s estimates apply it to every credit, which this page follows.
- MSN-DNP clinical fees assume the 7 DNP clinical credits are billed like FNP clinical credits. That is not confirmed.
- Course equipment and materials fees vary and are not published.
- Gap courses in the certificate can add up to 11 credits, roughly $10,500 at $951.25 per credit.
- Travel to 3 to 4 Kansas City intensives is an out-of-pocket cost.
- Rates are set each year by the UM Board of Curators.
Fees add about 18 percent to the advertised rate on every credit and about $2,900 in clinical charges on top. Even so, a nonresident pays the same all-in price as a Missourian, which is what makes the MSN workable for out-of-state nurses who would otherwise face nonresident public tuition.
Why Choose This FNP Program?
Built for nurses outside Missouri who want public-university pricing and above-average clinical hours, and who can commit to a fixed calendar.
MSN for BSN-prepared nurses. The MSN is the practical door right now, since the BSN-DNP is closed to new applicants until 2028 entry. It also pre-loads the theory and research prerequisites for UMKC’s MSN-DNP, so a later doctorate starts without catch-up courses.
Certificate for working APRNs and MSN holders. The certificate delivers the full 783.75-hour FNP block in about a year, with nothing trimmed relative to the MSN. The trade-off is a heavy three-semester clinical stretch and possible gap courses that add both time and cost.
MSN-DNP for non-NP master’s holders. Leaders and educators can add FNP certification and a doctorate on one plan. Expect about three years and 1,380-plus practice hours, with all campus travel front-loaded in the certificate year.
Drawbacks. Term-locked clinical courses leave little room to pause, and the plan of study warns of space-available delays if you step off it. UMKC does not say who secures preceptors, so treat placement as your responsibility until an advisor confirms otherwise.
Accreditation
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits UMKC’s BSN, MSN, DNP, and post-master’s certificate programs. The current term runs through June 2029, and the certificate is named in that scope.
The Higher Learning Commission accredits the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Institutional accreditation supports federal financial aid eligibility and credit transfer.
Graduates of the FNP MSN, certificate, and DNP meet the educational requirements for the national FNP certification exam (AANP or ANCC). UMKC states the curriculum meets educational requirements for licensure in all U.S. states and territories.
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