Nurse Practitioner Schools in Maryland

Nurse practitioners are advanced-practice nurses who provide diagnostic care and treatment, as well as prescribe medications. As nurses, they emphasize education and holistic medicine to provide high-quality, comprehensive care to their patients. Registered nurses who wish to advance their practice and become nurse practitioners have many opportunities to do so and have many different options available to earn a master’s degree (MSN) or doctoral degree (DNP) in nursing.

In Maryland, nurse practitioners have prescriptive authority, may act as a primary care provider, and may diagnose and treat independently of physician involvement.

Choosing a Nurse Practitioner Program

After deciding to pursue advanced-practice nursing, many prospective students don’t know where to begin when searching for a graduate program. There are several things one should consider when choosing a graduate nursing program:

• Accreditation- According to the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), there are ten accredited MSN/DNP programs in the state. Other schools must be reviewed and approved by the Maryland State Board of Nursing. Their website provides a list of schools across the country that are approved by the board.
• Program Cost-MSN/ DNP program costs can vary, but tuition can run anywhere from around $650 to over $1000 per credit for Maryland residents. The cost can be several hundred dollars more per credit for non-residents. It's important to recognize that there are additional costs outside of tuition-books, supplies, fees, living expenses, etc. may also be required.
• Program Length- Nurse practitioner programs can range from 30-55 credits. It can take anywhere from two to three years to complete an MSN program (depending on if the student is attending full or part time), and three to four years to complete a DNP program.
• Internship/Externship opportunities- MSN/DNP students must complete clinicals in school to gain the necessary experience to practice independently. While not required, nurse practitioner residency programs are a relatively new concept in which NP graduates can work in their chosen specialty to further build clinical skills. Maryland has three nurse practitioner residency programs:
  • University of Maryland Medical Center – Post-graduate critical care surgery fellowship (Not accepting applications until further notice)
  • Johns Hopkins Medicine – Gastroenterology and Hepatology fellowship
  • Indian Health Services – IHS Residency program
• Online/Campus options – The American Association of Nurse Practitioners' (AANP) program search feature shows that there are five schools with distance learning options. Those with the highest percent of distance learning were for DNP degrees.

Admission and Certification Requirements

Students interesting in enrolling in an MSN/DNP program in Maryland may be required to:

• Provide evidence of a current RN license
• Submit proof of a BSN degree
• Submit transcripts from prior collegiate course work
• Demonstrate a GPA of 3.0 or more (specific GPA requirements vary between schools)
• Provide letters of recommendation
• Previous experience working as an RN
• Submit a written letter of purpose

Specific admission requirements may vary between schools. Prospective students are encouraged to research requirements thoroughly before applying.

Licensing/ Certification

Certification in a chosen specialty can be obtained upon completion of the MSN/ DNP program, or obtained by a national certification board. Maryland lists the approved certifying agencies on its website. Specialty certification can include:

• Adult-Gerontology (acute and primary care)
• Pediatrics (acute and primary care)
• Adult or Family psychiatric-mental health
• Family nurse practitioner
• Neonatal nurse practitioner
• Women's Health/OBGYN

Requirements for licensure in the state of Maryland include:

• Completing the certification application
• Submission of sealed official transcripts
• Providing a copy of current national certification
• Arrange for an NP or physician mentor (must have a mentor for eighteen months from the date of application)
• Provide a copy of RN license
• Submission of fingerprints
• Completion of a background check

Maryland Nurse Practitioner Agencies and Organizations

• Maryland Board of Nursing
• Nurse Practitioner Association of Maryland
• Maryland Academy of Advanced Practice Clinicians
• American Association of Nurse Practitioners

Nurse Practitioner Programs

Registered nurses residing in Maryland are fortunate in that educational opportunities are readily available and offer top-notch nurse practitioner programs. Those hoping to broaden their horizons in the field of nursing not only have campus options available in Maryland but online learning as well.

Are we missing your school's program or need to update information listed? Please contact us so we can make the necessary changes.