Best Family Nurse Practitioner Programs in North Carolina

Winston-Salem State University offers a Master of Science in Nursing with a Family Nurse Practitioner concentration. This fully online program requires 51 credit hours and 672 practicum hours. Full-time students complete in two years, part-time in three years. No GRE or MAT is required for admission. Financial aid may be available through FAFSA, and the Nurse Faculty Loan Program offers additional support. Graduates are eligible for national certification exams from AANP or ANCC.

• Fully online program
• 51 credit hours required
• 672 practicum hours
• Two-year full-time completion
• Three-year part-time option
• No GRE or MAT requirement
• Financial aid available
• Nurse Faculty Loan Program
• Eligible for AANP/ANCC certification
• Fall enrollment only

Winston-Salem State University's online MSN with a Family Nurse Practitioner concentration prepares nurses to deliver comprehensive primary care across a wide range of healthcare settings. The program places a strong emphasis on serving underserved and disadvantaged communities, as well as patients of diverse ethnic backgrounds — a distinguishing feature that reflects WSSU's mission as the #1 HBCU Nursing School. The curriculum covers 51 credit hours and includes 672 practicum hours, giving students substantial hands-on clinical preparation alongside online coursework. Full-time students typically finish in two years; part-time students in three. Graduates are eligible to sit for the AANP or ANCC National Family Nurse Practitioner Certification exam, opening doors to roles in primary care clinics, community health centers, and private practice. No GRE or MAT is required for admission, and financial aid may be available through FAFSA. The program is accredited by CCNE, ensuring a rigorous, nationally recognized standard of nursing education.

• CCNE accredited
• 2 concentration options
• No entrance exam required
• 2-Year program
• 51 total credit hours
• Apply by 2025-04-30
• Full-time and part-time options
• Starts fall
• 672 clinical hours
• Financial aid available

Winston-Salem State University offers a post-master's Family Nurse Practitioner certificate program for master-prepared registered nurses. This hybrid program prepares graduates for FNP certification exams from AANP or ANCC. It focuses on advanced clinical skills like health assessment, diagnostic interpretation, and comprehensive care planning. The program is accredited by CCNE and accepts applications for fall semesters only. It's designed for nurses seeking to specialize in family practice without pursuing another full degree.

• Post-master's certificate program.
• Hybrid program format.
• Prepares for FNP certification exams.
• For master-prepared RNs.
• Fall semester admissions only.
• Accredited by CCNE.
• Focuses on clinical skills.
• Includes health assessment training.
• Teaches diagnostic test interpretation.
• Covers comprehensive care planning.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) with a Family Nurse Practitioner concentration at Winston-Salem State University is a fully online program designed for registered nurses seeking the highest level of clinical practice. The curriculum blends advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health policy with system leadership and evidence-based care. Students complete 78 semester hours and 1,182 clinical hours, gaining hands-on experience in primary care settings. Graduates are prepared to sit for the AANP or ANCC Family Nurse Practitioner certification and pursue careers as nurse practitioners in community health, clinics, and hospitals. The program offers synchronous and asynchronous classes with no required campus visits, making it accessible for working professionals. WSSU's DNP is CCNE-accredited and recognized as a top HBCU for social mobility. The BSN-to-DNP pathway can be completed in three years, with a strong focus on improving patient outcomes and healthcare systems.

• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accredited
• 3-Year program
• 78 total credit hours
• 1 start dates per year
• Starts fall
• Synchronous and asynchronous options
• 1182 clinical hours
• Thesis or capstone option
• Prepares for AANP or ANCC National Family Nurse Practitioner Certification
• Financial aid available

Gardner-Webb University offers a Post-Doctoral Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate for doctoral-prepared nurses. This 40-credit hour hybrid program prepares graduates for national FNP certification. It combines online coursework with clinical experience. Applicants need a doctoral degree in nursing from an accredited institution. The program focuses on advanced family practice skills. It's designed for working professionals seeking career advancement.

• 40 credit hours.
• Hybrid program format.
• Prepares for FNP certification.
• Doctoral degree required.
• Clinical experience included.
• Accredited nursing program.
• Graduate-level certificate.
• Family Nurse Practitioner focus.
• Advanced nursing education.
• Career advancement opportunity.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice with a Family Nurse Practitioner concentration at Gardner-Webb University prepares experienced nurses to deliver primary care across the lifespan. The blended curriculum combines fully online coursework with once-per-semester on-campus intensives, allowing you to continue working while advancing your education. You’ll develop skills in managing acute and chronic illnesses, promoting wellness, and integrating evidence into clinical practice. A 79-credit hour plan—available in three or four years—includes a practicum in local healthcare settings and a four-semester evidence-based project. Graduates are equipped for leadership roles in community clinics, hospitals, and private practices, all within a supportive faith-based learning community.

• 3 concentration options
• Complete in 3-year or 4-year plan of study
• 79 total credit hours
• Capstone required
• Financial aid available
• Scholarships available
• Online coursework with on-campus intensives
• Practicum in local healthcare settings
• Evidence-based project over four semesters
• Faith-based Christian learning community

Gardner-Webb University's Post-Baccalaureate DNP with a Family Nurse Practitioner concentration prepares registered nurses for advanced practice roles in primary care. This 79-credit hybrid program combines online coursework with once-per-semester on-campus intensives, allowing you to continue working. You'll develop skills in assessment, management of acute and chronic illness, and evidence-based practice. The curriculum includes a capstone evidence-based project and clinical placements in local healthcare settings. With a faith-based approach and options for 3-year or 4-year plans, the program accommodates your schedule. Benefit from seamless admission for BSN graduates and eligibility for FELS loans. Graduates are equipped to deliver comprehensive care across the lifespan in community settings.

• Complete in 3-year or 4-year plan of study
• 79 total credit hours
• Starts fall
• Capstone required
• Financial aid available
• Scholarships available
• Online with on-campus intensives
• Faith-based learning community
• Local clinical placements
• Seamless admission for BSN graduates

Duke University's MSN in Family Nurse Practitioner prepares you to deliver comprehensive primary care across the lifespan. The hybrid format blends mostly online coursework with virtual synchronous sessions and focused on-campus intensives, so you can keep working while you learn. You'll study policy, leadership, and social contributors of health, gaining skills to diagnose and treat illnesses, manage chronic conditions, prescribe medications, and provide patient education. Clinical placements near home draw on a network of more than 2,000 partner facilities and practices. Optional specializations in cardiology, endocrinology, oncology, and orthopedics let you tailor your expertise. Graduates go on to roles in primary care clinics, urgent care centers, community health centers, and long-term care facilities, with strong projected job growth. Ranked #1 by U.S. News & World Report, the program emphasizes nurse-led models of care, health equity, and real-world readiness.

• 4 concentration options
• Complete in under three years
• Rolling admissions
• Synchronous online classes
• Financial aid available
• Scholarships available
• Clinical network of 2,000+ facilities
• High-fidelity simulation experiences
• Most coursework is online
• Course-focused on-campus intensives

Duke University School of Nursing offers a Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Graduate Certificate for nurses with a master's degree. This program builds on existing expertise. It provides specialized skills for advanced primary care across all ages. The hybrid format combines online coursework with some on-campus intensives. Clinical placements can be arranged near students' homes. The program focuses on comprehensive care, health policy, and leadership. It aims to promote health equity and nurse-led models. Optional specializations include cardiology, endocrinology, oncology, and orthopedics. Admissions consider holistic factors beyond grades. Financial aid options are available. The curriculum prepares graduates for high-demand roles in diverse settings.

• Post-Graduate Certificate program.
• For master's degree holders.
• Hybrid format with online coursework.
• On-campus intensives required.
• Clinical placements near home.
• Focus on primary care across lifespan.
• Emphasis on health policy and leadership.
• Promotes health equity and social justice.
• Optional specializations available.
• Holistic admissions strategy.

The BSN-DNP Family Nurse Practitioner concentration at UNCW prepares registered nurses to become advanced practice providers delivering primary care across the lifespan. The rigorous 74-credit curriculum integrates nursing science with biophysical, psychosocial, analytical, and organizational sciences, equipping graduates to transform healthcare for individuals, communities, and systems. Students focus on serving underserved rural and urban populations, developing clinical leadership skills alongside advanced diagnostic and treatment competencies. The program can be completed in as few as eight semesters in a hybrid format that blends online coursework with on-campus immersions. Graduates are eligible to sit for the ANCC or AANP Family Nurse Practitioner certification exams, opening doors to roles in primary care clinics, community health centers, and hospitals. With a strong emphasis on evidence-based practice and healthcare delivery innovation, this DNP program prepares nurse leaders to address complex health challenges and improve patient outcomes across North Carolina and beyond.

• 8-Semester program
• Complete in as few as eight semesters
• 74 total credit hours
• Prepares for ANCC or AANP
• Primary care across the lifespan
• Focus on underserved populations
• Integrates multiple sciences
• Prepares clinical leaders
• Enhances career advancement
• Eligible for FNP certification

This Master of Science in Nursing with a Family Nurse Practitioner concentration prepares registered nurses for advanced practice roles. The curriculum covers pathophysiology, pharmacology, and primary care across the lifespan, including women's health, pediatrics, adults, and geriatrics. Students complete 51-52 credit hours and 640 clinical hours. Graduates are equipped to provide quality primary healthcare, health promotion, and disease prevention. The program offers a thesis or project option and requires a written comprehensive exam. Admission requires a BSN, minimum GPA, GRE or MAT scores, three references, and clinical experience. This program is ideal for nurses seeking FNP certification and career advancement in primary care.

• 2-Year program
• Complete in two-year program
• 2.9 GPA minimum
• 3 letters of recommendation (minimum)
• 640 clinical hours
• Work experience required
• Prerequisite courses required
• Thesis or capstone option
• BSN required for admission
• GRE or MAT scores recommended

Western Carolina University's DNP Family Nurse Practitioner program blends online coursework with one in-person day per week at the Biltmore Park campus in Asheville. Designed for working nurses, the 36-month, 83-credit curriculum covers advanced assessment, pharmacology, pathophysiology, and primary care management across the lifespan. Students complete 1,000 clinical hours in community-based settings, often near their home communities, with a focus on rural and underserved populations. The program culminates in a DNP Scholarly Project addressing real-world clinical problems. Graduates are eligible for national FNP certification (ANCC/AANP) and prepared for roles in family practice, community health, urgent care, women's health, and leadership positions. With no GRE required and a priority deadline of November 1, this hybrid format offers flexibility without compromising rigorous clinical preparation.

• No entrance exam required
• 36-Month program
• 83 total credit hours
• 1 start dates per year
• Starts fall
• 3.0 GPA minimum
• 3 letters of recommendation (minimum)
• 1000 clinical hours
• Work experience required
• Prerequisite courses required

Western Carolina University’s hybrid Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) with a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) concentration prepares BSN-prepared nurses for advanced clinical practice. The 36-month, 83-credit program blends fully online coursework with one in-person day per week at WCU’s Biltmore Park campus. Curriculum covers advanced health assessment, pharmacology, pathophysiology, primary care management, and evidence-based practice across the lifespan. Students complete 1,000 clinical hours in diverse settings and a DNP Scholarly Project addressing real-world primary care challenges. Graduates are eligible for ANCC or AANP certification and pursue careers in family practice, community health, urgent care, and rural health settings. Admission requires a BSN, minimum 3.0 GPA, at least one year of clinical RN experience, and prerequisite courses in statistics and nursing research. No GRE/MAT required. This program emphasizes care for rural and underserved populations, with clinical placements arranged near students’ communities.

• No entrance exam required
• 36-Month program
• 83 total credit hours
• 1 start dates per year
• Starts fall
• 3.0 GPA minimum
• 3 letters of recommendation (minimum)
• 1000 clinical hours
• Work experience required
• Prerequisite courses required