Online Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Programs
In Canada & the United States
First, I think it’s important to review what a family nurse practitioner (FNP) is.
What is a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)?
Family nurse practitioner, primary care nurse practitioner, family/all ages nurse practitioner, or generalist nurse practitioner are terms used across Canada and the United States to describe an NP who is trained to provide care to patients across the life span. They diagnose illnesses, order and interpret tests, prescribe medications, and manage acute and chronic conditions, with a strong focus on health promotion and disease prevention for individuals and families. FNPs work in various settings, including clinics, hospitals, and private practices. Scope of practice, controlled acts, and job descriptions vary considerably between jurisdictions. In both the United States and Canada, the most common specialty for nurse practitioners is FNP.
FNP programs: There are 32 programs in Canada, and hundreds in the United States. There are in-person, hybrid (mix of online and in-person learning) and 100% online programs available. Let’s get into the nitty-gritty details for online FNP programs.
Want curated education to make confident & informed decisions with your patients?
👉 Sign up for NP Reasoning Masterclass.
Online FNP Programs - Canada
There are 2 fully online primary health care NP programs in Canada:
Athabasca University (based out of Alberta) - fully remote - primary health care NP
Saskatchewan Polytechnic and the University of Regina (collaborative program) - fully remote - primary health care NP
Let’s compare and contrast each.
Online Family NP Programs — Canada (Comparison)
| Feature | Athabasca University (MN-NP / Post-Master’s Diploma) | Saskatchewan Polytechnic & University of Regina (MN-NP) |
|---|---|---|
| Program Type |
Master of Nursing – Nurse Practitioner (MN-NP) Post-Master’s Diploma – Nurse Practitioner |
Master of Nursing – Nurse Practitioner (Primary Health Care) |
| Registration Outcome | Eligible to apply for registration as a Family Nurse Practitioner in Canada | Eligible to apply for registration as a Family Nurse Practitioner in Canada |
| Mode of Delivery | Fully online + mandatory 1-week on-site component | Fully online + mandatory 1-week on-campus residency |
| Program Length | Up to 5 years (MN-NP and Post-Master’s Diploma) | 2–4 years (full- or part-time) |
| Practicum Hours |
800 hours with qualified preceptors in approved sites. Students arrange their own preceptors. No placements in Quebec. Currently not accepting BC applicants. |
702 hours with qualified NP preceptors. Applicants outside Saskatchewan welcome (locals prioritized). Quebec applicants should check eligibility. |
| Program Structure & Courses |
33 credits (mix of master’s & NP courses). Masters: Evidence-Based Practice, Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice. NP: Advanced Health Assessment, Pharmacotherapeutics, Pathophysiology. |
11 courses (mix of master’s & NP courses). Masters: Research for NPs, Leadership in Health Promotion. NP: Advanced Health Assessment & Diagnostic Reasoning, Transition to Advanced Practice Nursing. |
| Academic Requirements |
GPA: 3.5 minimum (final 30 credits). 2 reference letters, statement of interest, CV, transcripts. |
GPA: ≥70%. 3 reference letters, CV, transcripts. |
| Other Entry Requirements |
Bachelor of Nursing degree; Minimum 5,000 hours RN experience; RN license in Canada. |
Bachelor of Nursing degree; RN license in a Canadian province/territory; No minimum RN experience hours. |
| Post-Master’s Entry | Yes — Post-Master’s Diploma available for those with an MN degree. | Not specified. |
| Official Website | Athabasca NP Program | Saskatchewan Polytechnic NP Program |
Note: Program details may change. Check each university’s official site for the most up-to-date admissions, practicum, and provincial eligibility information.
Online FNP Programs in the United States
There are several online FNP programs to choose from in the United States. Here are some key considerations:
Not all programs accept international applicants (e.g. you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident - some programs will accept if you already have a VISA or working permit)
Some programs have state restrictions (e.g. you need to be residing in a certain state to get into the program)
Many programs have mandatory on-campus “intensives” - typically a few times over the course of the program, for a few days, to complete hands-on clinical components of the program
Most programs have the following admission requirements:
Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (BScN)
An unencumbered RN license
Minimum GPA of 3.0
Other common requirements: undergraduate statistics course completion with minimum grade (typically a “C” or higher), RN clinical hours (hours range)
Now let’s compare several online FNP programs in the US (list not exhaustive).
Bottom line: When in doubt regarding admission requirements (e.g. licensure, international applicant questions), reach out directly to admissions (there is always contact information available on websites).
FNP Online Degrees - United States
| State | University | Program Details | Accreditation | International Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | University of South Alabama | MSN & Post-grad certificate · 45 credits · 1 on-campus clinical skills intensive · Full/part-time (MSN ≤5 yrs) · GPA 3.0 · RN + 2 yrs experience · Not approved in NY or SD |
CCNE | |
| Arkansas | Arkansas State University | MSN · 41.5 credits · ~24 months · Admission: BScN, GPA 3.0, RN + 1500 hrs · Approved: MO, TN, MS, AR |
ACEN | Accepted |
| Florida | University of West Florida | MSN · 45 credits · 600 clinical hrs · 27–30 months (full-time only) · Admission: BScN, GPA 3.0, U.S. RN license |
CCNE | Not accepted |
| Florida | Miami University (link provided) | MSN · 21 months (full-time) · 630 clinical hrs · Admission: BScN, GPA 2.75, RN + 1000 hrs · Accepts residents of OH, IL, IN, KY only (per note) |
CCNE | Not accepted |
| Illinois | Chamberlain University | MSN · ~3 years · Admission: BScN, GPA 3.0, RN license (US or NCSBN assoc.) · Practicum state-dependent |
CCNE | Accepted |
| Illinois | Bradley University | MSN · 32 months · 50–59 credits · Admission: BScN, RN license, GPA 3.0 |
CCNE | Accepted |
| Kentucky | Northern Kentucky University | MSN · 48 credits · 750 clinical hrs · Complete in as little as 26 months · Admission: BScN, RN, 1000 RN clinical hrs |
CCNE | Accepted |
| Minnesota | Walden University | Multiple pathways (BSN→MSN, RN→MSN, BSN→DNP) · BSN→MSN: 58 credits (~24 months) · RN→MSN: 84 credits (~30 months) |
CCNE | Accepted |
| North Dakota | University of North Dakota | MSN · 49 credits · 7 semesters (part-time option) · Admission: BScN, GPA 3.0, U.S. RN license · Must reside in approved state(s) |
HLC (regional) | Check program details |
| North Carolina | Duke University | MSN · Mostly online + some virtual synchronous sessions & on-campus intensives · Typical completion under 3 years · Admission: BScN, RN, GPA 3.0 |
CCNE | Accepted |
| Ohio | University of Cincinnati | MSN · 51 credits · 672 clinical hrs · Multi-day in-person immersion · Full & part-time · Admission: BScN, GPA 3.0, RN + 1 yr US RN experience · Restrictions apply (several states & territories) |
CCNE | Accepted if legal status permits US clinicals (no online-only student visas) |
| Ohio | Cedarville University | MSN · Full & part-time · 800 clinical hrs · Christian university · Admission: Profession of faith, BScN, RN, GPA 3.0 |
CCNE | Check program |
| Ohio | Franklin University | MSN · 49 credits · ~27 months · 600 clinical hrs · Admission: BScN, RN; International applicants accepted (credential eval may be required) |
CCNE | Accepted |
| Ohio | Youngstown State University | MSN · 48 credits · 600 clinical hrs · Complete in as little as 20 months · Admission: BScN, 1 yr RN experience, GPA 3.0; RN license must match practicum state |
CCNE | Accepted with state/practicum limits (OH/PA/WV/MI) |
| Pennsylvania | Carlow University | MSN & Post-master's cert · 49 credits · 28 months · 600 clinical hrs · Full or part-time · Admission: RN, 1 yr RN experience, GPA 3.0 |
MSCHE (regional) | Check program |
| Pennsylvania | Duquesne University | MSN · ~3 years · 42 credits · ~825 clinical hrs · Admission: BScN, RN, 1 yr RN experience, GPA 3.0 |
CCNE | Accepted |
| Utah | Western Governors University (WGU) | MSN · 16 courses · ~2.5 years (accelerate options) · 650 clinical hrs · Admission: Active RN license + permanent residence in approved state · GPA 3.0 · 1 yr clinical experience |
CCNE | Depends — not available to residents of CA, DC, LA, NY, ND, WA (per note) |
| Tennessee | Vanderbilt University | MSN, post-master cert, BSN→DNP options · Online + required in-person sessions · 600+ clinical hrs · Admission: BScN, RN, GPA 3.0 · State restrictions apply |
CCNE | International applicants: may apply if no F-1/J-1 needed (per note) |
| Texas | Texas A&M University | MSN · 645 clinical hrs · Required 1–2 campus visits for diagnostics & advanced assessment (45 campus clinical hrs) · Admission: Texas resident, Texas RN license, BScN, 1500 RN hrs, GPA 3.0 |
CCNE | Check program (state residency required) |
| Texas | University of Texas at Arlington | MSN · 46 credits · 32–36 months · Admission: BScN, RN, GPA 3.0 · Restrictions: applicants from TX, CA, NM, CO, AR, VA, FL (per note) |
CCNE | Accepted |
| Washington D.C. | George Washington University | MSN · 48 credits · 600 clinical hrs · Full or part-time · 1 on-campus intensive + OSCE events · Admission: BScN, GPA 3.0, U.S. RN license · State restrictions may apply |
CCNE | International students eligible if they hold valid US RN license & legal status to study |
| Washington D.C. | Georgetown University | MSN · Online + 2 required in-person Objective Clinical Intensives · 44 credits · 19–27 months · 750 clinical hrs · Admission: BScN, US RN license, US citizenship or permanent residency, GPA 3.0 |
CCNE | Not available to international applicants without US residency/permanent status (per note) |
| Nationwide | Purdue Global | Primary Care Post-grad Certificate · 12 courses · ~1.5 years · Admission: MSN (upper-level major) or DNP · GPA 2.4 |
CCNE | Not eligible in HI, LA, NY, OR, TN, UT, Guam & international students (per note) |
Key Takeaways
There are several online FNP programs to choose from - check individual requirements to see if you are eligible to apply in the first place.
Online FNP programs allow for flexibility - but there may be draw backs like less direct peer/professor interaction.
👉 Join the NP Reasoning community for ongoing NP practice updates & tips.
Disclaimer - The views expressed in this post are my own and do not represent the official position of any organization. This is not a sponsored post.