“Walden’s FNP programs accept nurses at every stage — RN diploma, BSN, MSN, or existing APRN — with a separate track structured for each entry point.”
Walden University offers 5 Family Nurse Practitioner tracks:
- MSN FNP – BSN-Entry Track
- MSN FNP – RN-Entry Track
- BSN-DNP FNP
- MSN-DNP FNP
- Post-Master’s Certificate FNP (standard and APRN-entry)
All tracks are fully online with practicum experiences completed locally. The RN-entry MSN track is the rare exception in graduate nursing education — nurses who hold only a hospital diploma or associate degree can enter directly without first earning a BSN.
At the other end, the BSN-DNP track gives nurses who want a terminal degree a direct path without stopping at the MSN.
The post-master’s certificate includes an APRN-entry option for currently licensed AGACNPs, AGPCNPs, and PNPs, who can transfer up to 20 prior credits and complete the program in as few as four quarters.
| Program Name | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN FNP (BSN-Entry) | $41,185 | 2 years |
| MSN FNP (RN-Entry) | $53,050 | 30 months |
| BSN-DNP FNP | $72,490 | 3.25 years |
| MSN-DNP FNP | $67,255 | 3 years |
| Post-Master’s Certificate FNP | $29,225 | Varies |
Program Tracks Overview
MSN FNP
Walden’s MSN FNP is offered in two admission tracks. The BSN-entry track is designed for nurses who already hold a BSN; the RN-entry track accepts nurses with a hospital diploma, associate degree, or non-nursing bachelor’s degree.
BSN-Entry Track: The estimated cost for the MSN FNP (BSN-Entry) at Walden University is approximately $41,185 after the Believe & Achieve Scholarship® (58 quarter credits at $785/credit, plus program and clinical fees), and the program takes about 2 years to complete on a full-time basis.
RN-Entry Track: The estimated cost for the MSN FNP (RN-Entry) at Walden University is approximately $53,050 after the Believe & Achieve Scholarship® (84 total quarter credits across foundational and MSN coursework), and the program takes about 30 months to complete on a full-time basis.
MSN Curriculum
The BSN-entry track totals 58 quarter credits: 23 core credits and 35 FNP specialization credits.
The RN-entry track adds 26 undergraduate foundational credits (covering research, population health, patient safety, and a capstone) before the same core and specialization sequence begins.
Core coursework covers policy and advocacy, healthcare technology, evidence-based practice, and organizational leadership.
FNP specialization courses cover the full primary care lifespan — adults, adolescents and children, and women’s health — paired with four practicum courses.
FNP Specialization Courses (35 credits):
NURS 6501 – Advanced Pathophysiology (5 credits)
Explores disease processes across the lifespan, focusing on alterations in normal physiology. Students apply pathophysiologic concepts to support clinical decision-making and treatment planning.
NURS 6521 – Advanced Pharmacology (5 credits)
Examines pharmacologic principles and drug therapies across the lifespan. Emphasizes safe prescribing, clinical decision-making, and factors influencing medication effectiveness and patient outcomes.
NURS 6512 – Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning (5 credits)
Develops advanced assessment, diagnostic reasoning, and clinical skills for patients across the lifespan. Includes interpretation of diagnostic tests and a focus on prevention and evidence-based evaluation.
NRNP 6539 – Advanced Primary Care of Adults (4 credits)
Focuses on evidence-based management of adult patients in primary care. Students develop skills in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of common acute and chronic conditions.
NRNP 6549 – Advanced Primary Care of Adolescents and Children (3 credits)
Prepares students to deliver comprehensive pediatric primary care. Emphasizes growth and development, disease management, and family-centered, evidence-based practice.
NRNP 6559 – Advanced Primary Care of Women and Diverse Populations (4 credits)
Covers primary care for women and diverse populations across the lifespan. Focuses on inclusive, culturally responsive care, health promotion, and management of common conditions.
NRNP 6590 – Role Transition for Advanced Practice (1 credit)
Prepares students for the transition to advanced practice nursing. Emphasizes professional development, leadership, and readiness for certification and clinical practice.
PRAC 6539 – Advanced Primary Care of Adults Practicum (2 credits)
Provides supervised clinical experience in adult primary care. Students apply assessment, diagnostic, and treatment skills in managing common health conditions.
PRAC 6549 – Advanced Primary Care of Adolescents and Children Practicum (2 credits)
Offers hands-on experience in pediatric primary care. Students deliver evidence-based care focused on prevention, diagnosis, and management of pediatric conditions.
PRAC 6559 – Advanced Primary Care Immersion Practicum I (2 credits)
Builds advanced clinical skills in caring for women and diverse populations. Emphasizes complex case management, inclusive care, and health equity.
PRAC 6569 – Advanced Family Care Immersion Practicum II (2 credits)
Final practicum focused on comprehensive family care across the lifespan. Students demonstrate readiness for independent practice through advanced clinical decision-making and care delivery.
MSN Core Courses (23 credits):
- NURS 6003: Perspectives on Graduate Study for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 credits)
- NURS 6050: Policy and Advocacy for Improving Population Health (5 credits)
- NURS 6051: Transforming Nursing and Healthcare Through Technology (5 credits)
- NURS 6052: Essentials of Evidence-Based Practice (5 credits)
- NURS 6053: Interprofessional Organizational and Systems Leadership (5 credits)
RN-Entry Foundational Courses Only (26 credits):
- NURS 3022: Professional Nurses as Change Agents (6 credits)
- NURS 4152: Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice (5 credits)
- NURS 4213: Population Health Nursing (5 credits)
- NURS 4107: Patient Safety and Quality Improvement (5 credits)
- NURS 4301: BSN Capstone (5 credits)
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN Clinicals
The MSN FNP includes four practicum courses covering adult primary care, pediatric and adolescent care, women’s health, and an immersion practicum spanning the full family care spectrum.
Total clinical hours are not explicitly stated on the MSN program page, but the certificate program — which uses the same practicum sequence — requires 640 hours.
Students have access to Walden’s Practicum Pledge®: if a student cannot identify a practicum site, the dedicated Field Placement Team will partner with them to secure placement after other requirements are met.
- Four practicum courses aligned to adult, pediatric, women’s, and lifespan populations
- Practicum Pledge® field placement support available if site cannot be secured independently
- Virtual skills lab prepares students for practicum before entering clinical settings
- Walden Grand Rounds: virtual case review sessions with faculty and peers
- No required in-person campus visits or immersion weekends
- Active RN license required in the state where practicum is completed
MSN Admissions
Admission requirements differ by track but are streamlined for both — no application fee, no essay, and no GRE/SAT/ACT required.
BSN-Entry Requirements:
- BSN or higher from an accredited institution
- Minimum 2.5 GPA in bachelor’s degree coursework (or 3.0 in master’s coursework)
- Current active RN license in good standing in the U.S. or its territories
- Completed online application and official transcripts
- Technical Standards Policy Form with statement of understanding of practicum requirements
- Identification of potential clinical sites in local area for each of the four practicum courses
RN-Entry Requirements:
- Hospital diploma, associate degree in nursing, or non-nursing bachelor’s degree
- Current active RN license in good standing
- Completed online application and official transcripts
- Technical Standards Policy Form
- Note: RN-MSN applications not accepted without a conferred nursing degree
Start date: July 6, 2026 (course-based).
DNP FNP
Walden’s DNP FNP is offered via two entry tracks. The BSN-DNP is for nurses who want to move directly to a terminal degree from a BSN. The MSN-DNP is for nurses who already hold an MSN and want to advance to doctoral-level practice.
BSN-DNP Track: The estimated cost for the BSN-DNP FNP at Walden University is approximately $72,490 after the Believe & Achieve Scholarship® (90 total quarter credits), and the program takes about 3.25 years to complete on a full-time basis.
MSN-DNP Track: The estimated cost for the MSN-DNP FNP at Walden University is approximately $67,255 after the Believe & Achieve Scholarship® (80 total quarter credits), and the program takes about 3 years to complete on a full-time basis.
DNP Curriculum
Both DNP tracks share the same FNP specialization and DNP project courses; the BSN-DNP adds a foundation course plus 10 essential credits covering evidence-based practice and finance and economics in healthcare.
Core doctoral coursework (25 credits) covers theoretical foundations of nursing, healthcare policy, epidemiology, data collection and analysis, and healthcare technology.
The FNP specialization layer mirrors the MSN sequence but at the doctoral level, with courses designated DNRS and DRNP. A DNP capstone project is completed across two project and practicum courses.
DNP Core Courses (25 credits):
- NURS 8114: Theoretical and Scientific Foundations of Nursing (5 credits)
- NURS 8100: Healthcare Policy and Analysis (5 credits)
- NURS 8310: Epidemiology and Population Health (5 credits)
- NURS 8211: Data Collection and Analysis for Evidence-Based Practice (5 credits)
- NURS 8210: Transforming Nursing and Healthcare Through Technology (5 credits)
BSN-DNP Essential Courses Only (10 credits):
- DNRS 6052: Essentials of Evidence-Based Practice (5 credits)
- DNRS 6211: Finance and Economics in Healthcare Delivery (5 credits)
FNP Specialization Courses (35 credits):
- DNRS 6501: Advanced Pathophysiology (5 credits)
- DNRS 6521: Advanced Pharmacology (5 credits)
- DNRS 6512: Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning (5 credits)
- DRNP 6531: Primary Care of Adults Across the Lifespan (3 credits)
- PRCM 6531: Primary Care of Adults Across the Lifespan Practicum — 160 hours (2 credits)
- DRNP 6541: Primary Care of Adolescents and Children (3 credits)
- PRCM 6541: Primary Care of Adolescents and Children Practicum — 160 hours (2 credits)
- DRNP 6552: Advanced Nurse Practice in Reproductive Health Care (3 credits)
- PRCM 6552: Reproductive Health Care Practicum — 160 hours (2 credits)
- DRNP 6568: Synthesis in Advanced Nursing Practice of Patients in Family Care Settings (3 credits)
- PRCM 6568: Family Care Settings Practicum — 160 hours (2 credits)
DNP Project and Practicum Courses (15 credits):
- NURS 8312: Leading Quality Improvement — includes 80 practicum hours (5 credits)
- NURS 8512: DNP Project and Practicum I — 160 practicum hours (5 credits)
- NURS 8513: DNP Project and Practicum II — 160 practicum hours (5 credits)
More curriculum details are available here.
DNP Clinicals
The DNP FNP requires a minimum of 1,000 post-baccalaureate practicum hours total, with at least 400 hours at the DNP level.
The FNP specialization contributes 640 preceptor-supervised hours across four practicum courses; the DNP project courses add approximately 400 more.
Students entering with fewer than 600 verified precepted hours from a prior master’s program must complete up to 8 additional credits of DNP Field Experience (1 credit per 80 hours).
- Minimum 1,000 post-baccalaureate practicum hours required for DNP graduation
- 640 hours across 4 FNP specialization practicum courses (160 hours each)
- 400 hours across DNP project and practicum courses
- Students with fewer than 600 verified prior hours complete additional NURS 8601 DNP Field Experience credits
- Practicum Pledge® field placement support available
- Virtual skills lab and Walden Grand Rounds case reviews support clinical preparation
- Students have up to 8 years to complete the doctoral program
DNP Admissions
Admission requirements are streamlined with no application fee, no essay, and no GRE required.
BSN-DNP Entry:
- BSN from an accredited institution
- Current active RN license in good standing
- Completed online application and official transcripts
- Technical Standards Policy Form with statement of understanding of DNP practicum requirements
MSN-DNP Entry:
- MSN or equivalent from an accredited institution
- Current active RN license in good standing
- Completed online application and official transcripts
- Verification of Precepted Clinical Hours form from prior MSN program (used to determine DNP Field Experience credits required)
- Technical Standards Policy Form
Start date: July 6, 2026.
Post-Master’s Certificate FNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s Certificate in FNP at Walden University is approximately $29,225 (35 quarter credits at $785/credit, plus program and clinical fees), and completion time varies by student depending on transfer credits accepted.
A $2,000 grant is available for qualifying new students entering eligible post-master’s certificate programs.
Certificate Curriculum
The certificate totals 35 quarter credits and uses the same FNP specialization courses as the MSN program. Curriculum moves from the APRN triad (pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment) into population-specific primary care courses paired with practicum, ending with a role transition and immersion practicum.
Walden may accept up to 20 transfer credits for non-alumni; MSN alumni may be eligible to transfer more. An APRN-entry option is available for currently licensed AGACNPs, AGPCNPs, and PNPs — these students can transfer up to 20 prior credits and begin directly in primary care coursework, completing the program in as few as 4 quarters.
Standard-Entry Course Sequence (6 quarters):
- NURS 6501: Advanced Pathophysiology (5 credits)
- NURS 6512: Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning (5 credits)
- NURS 6521: Advanced Pharmacology (5 credits)
- NRNP 6539: Advanced Primary Care of Adults (4 credits)
- PRAC 6539: Advanced Primary Care of Adults Practicum (2 credits)
- NRNP 6549: Advanced Primary Care of Adolescents and Children (3 credits)
- PRAC 6549: Advanced Primary Care of Adolescents and Children Practicum (2 credits)
- NRNP 6559: Advanced Primary Care of Women and Diverse Populations (4 credits)
- PRAC 6559: Advanced Primary Care Immersion Practicum I (2 credits)
- NRNP 6590: Role Transition for Advanced Practice (1 credit)
- PRAC 6569: Advanced Family Care Immersion Practicum II (2 credits)
More curriculum details are available here.
Certificate Clinicals
The certificate requires 640 practicum hours across four practicum courses. Clinical structure mirrors the MSN FNP practicum sequence. The Practicum Pledge® field placement support is available.
Books and materials are not included in the tuition estimate and may cost $1,800–$2,500, including a mandatory $299 clinical skills resource required during NURS 6512.
Students may also incur costs for travel, practicum onboarding fees, per-quarter practicum fees, and liability insurance.
- 640 total preceptor-supervised practicum hours across 4 courses
- Practicum populations: adults, adolescents and children, women’s health, full family lifespan
- Practicum Pledge® field placement support available
- Virtual skills lab and Walden Grand Rounds available for clinical preparation
- APRN-entry students (AGACNP, AGPCNP, PNP) may transfer up to 20 credits and begin in primary care coursework directly
Certificate Admissions
Applicants must hold an MSN or equivalent from an accredited institution; no essay, application fee, or GRE required.
- Master of Science in Nursing or equivalent from an accredited school
- Current active RN license in good standing in the U.S. or its territories
- Completed online application and official transcripts
- APRN-entry eligible for licensed AGACNPs, AGPCNPs, and PNPs (up to 20 transfer credits)
- Start dates offered each quarter
Tuition
Walden uses a tiered tuition structure across its FNP tracks. MSN-level FNP specialization courses are priced at $785 per quarter credit. DNP-level doctoral and project courses are priced at $960 per quarter credit.
BSN-DNP essential courses run $505 per quarter credit. RN-entry MSN foundational courses are $435 per quarter credit.
All tracks include a $185 per-quarter program fee and a $160 per clinical course fee. The Believe & Achieve Scholarship® is a progress-based award applied automatically to students who stay on track — the tuition estimates on this page reflect that scholarship.
Additional costs include books and materials ($1,800–$2,500 for NP programs), mandatory clinical skills resources, practicum-site travel, and liability insurance. A separate $2,000 grant is available for qualifying post-master’s certificate students.
Accreditation
The BSN, MSN, post-graduate APRN certificate, and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs at Walden University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Walden holds institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The MSN FNP and DNP FNP programs have received approval from the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission for practice experiences in Washington State.