- Current United States Registered Nurse licensure in the state where clinical practice will occur.
- A Bachelor of Science Nursing degree from a regionally accredited institution. If a student does not possess a BSN, refer to RN to MSN Bridge requirements.
- A preferred undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4-point scale.
- An undergraduate course in statistics.
- An undergraduate health assessment course.
- An interview with the Nurse Practitioner Track Coordinator.
- Two years of relevant clinical experience in nursing.
- A curriculum vitae or resume highlighting relevant nursing accomplishments and experience.

Nurse Practitioner
With a nurse practitioner education, you will attain the advanced skills and knowledge you need to provide high-quality health care.
Program Details
Prepare yourself for the next step in your nursing career with our predominately online nurse practitioner programs, offering three specialty tracks to choose from:
- Adult/Gerontology Acute Care
- Family/Individual Across the Lifespan
- Psychiatric/Mental health
All three speciality tracks include Post-Master’s Certificate options for those students who enter the program with an existing MSN degree.
The NP program requires a minimum of 720 clinical hours. Students work with faculty to arrange clinical placements and procure preceptors. State of the art simulation techniques and a rigorous curriculum ensure that our NP graduates are ready to provide high-quality care.
The Nurse Practitioner faculty are seasoned, graduate-level nursing faculty who maintain a clinical practice in the specialty areas they teach. The flexible online course schedules allow registered nurses to continue full or part-time employment while preparing for this degree.
At the successful completion of the MSN-NP program students are eligible to take the American Nursing Credentialing Center (ANCC) board exam. Family Nurse Practitioner graduates may take the ANCC or the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) board exams.
52%
(Per Year)
29.4k
$113,390
Applicants will be evaluated through a competitive admission process by the graduate nursing faculty, which will include NP prepared faculty.
PA College does not currently admit students who reside outside of Pennsylvania for the MSN-NP program. The program is in the process of determining if the NP curriculum meets requirements for licensure outside of Pennsylvania.
All Applicants Must Submit:
- Copy of professional license
- One official transcript from every college or university attended.
- A written statement clearly identifying the applicant’s career goals and how admission to the program will facilitate professional objectives
- Two letters of recommendation; at least one from an NP/MD/DO who can attest to the applicants clinical knowledge and clinical ability. One recommendation from a nursing leader with an MSN or doctoral degree (nursing supervisor/manager or prior professor).
- A curriculum vitae or resume
PA College cannot guarantee clinical rotations for students who have not received the COVID-19 vaccine.
Nurse Practitioner Curriculum
The nurse practitioner course requirements include MSN core courses, nurse practitioner core courses and courses specific to the chosen track. The nurse practitioner curriculum is organized to continue the development of values, understandings, knowledge, and skills needed in all aspects of practice as an NP and emphasizes specialty areas. It is also consistent with State Board content requirements and all courses reflect each of those content elements. The following indicates the number of credits and the number of clinical hours for each track:
Students entering the NP program will choose one of the population-focused tracks and complete all nurse practitioner classes to meet eligibility requirements to become nationally certified and licensed as an NP.
Adult/Gerontology Acute Care:
Total Credits: 52
Total Clinical Hours: 720
Family/Individual Across the Lifespan:
Total Credits: 53
Total Clinical Hours: 720
Psychiatric/Mental health:
Total Credits: 51
Total Clinical Hours: 720
Sample Plans of Study
Sample curriculum plans for each track are found below:
The hybrid NP Program offers some nurse practitioner courses exclusively online, and others through a blend of online and face-to-face meetings. NP specialty courses meet eight to sixteen hours per semester on campus for an On-Campus Intensive (OCI). NUR 642 may meet on campus for additional health assessment practice sessions, in the Center for Clinical Excellence in Practice.
The following tables list the format for course delivery, including the MSN Core courses (which are requirements for all tracks), the nurse practitioner core courses (also requirements for all tracks), and the program-specific courses for each NP track:
MSN Core Courses
NP Core Courses
Population-focused Courses: Adult/Gerontology Acute Care NP
Population-focused Courses: Family/Individual Across the Lifespan
Population-focused Courses: Psych/Mental Health NP

Admission Requirements
All program applicants must meet general admission requirements.
View Requirements