Nursing Programs in Orlando, FL
With a large population of native and non-native retirees, Florida is expecting to feel the impact of the nationwide nursing shortage by 2025. According to the Florida Center for Nursing, many professionals in healthcare including nurses are close to the age of retirement, too. Hospitals, medical centers, and health care facilities in Orlando, FL, and other cities are going to feel the effect when these experienced nurses retire from the workforce. To fill these vacancies, universities in Florida are partnering with governmental agencies to develop accredited programs to sufficiently prepare students for entry-level and advanced careers in nursing.
To get started in nursing or to advance your nursing career, check out our accredited program listings sections below:

Entry-Level ADN & BSN Programs in Orlando, FL
Nurses help the infirm return to a state of health. If you have wondered what it would be like to work in this growing healthcare profession, there are many educational programs you can get started in right away even if you have no experience. LPN to RN, Associate’s, and Bachelor’s programs in Orlando, FL give students of every background a place to start their nursing career.
LPN to RN Programs
Licensed Practical Nurses or LPNs play a key role in supporting the health and well-being of their patients. LPNs can take on an even more important role – and earn a higher salary – by earning their RNs. In Orlando, Florida, LPN to RN programs prepare students to sit for the NCLEX exam. By allowing students to receive credit for previous coursework, Valencia College fast-tracks LPN students toward their Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) while preparing them for their RNs.
ADN Programs
Nurses are essential in providing quality care to patients at hospitals and healthcare organizations. Yet more doors will open for nurses when they earn their Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN/ADN) degree. Offered by technical, vocational, and community colleges such as Cambridge College of Healthcare & Technology, students in Orlando, FL can earn the practical and theoretical knowledge to be eligible for the NCLEX-RN exam.
Direct-Entry BSN Programs
Did you know that employers strongly prefer to hire registered nurses with a bachelor’s degree? It’s possible that in the future, RNs may be required to hold a BSN. If you are thinking of a career in nursing, you can bypass LPN and ADN options and earn your Bachelor of Science in Nursing straightaway. Millers College of Nursing in Orlando, FL offers a real-world, clinical-focused BSN program that readies students to sit for and pass the NCLEX exam and become a registered nurse.
Find out more about Florida Accelerated BSN Programs
RN to BSN/MSN Programs in Orlando, FL
As employers favor registered nurses with BSNs and MSNs, colleges and universities in Orlando, FL are stepping up to expand their nursing program options. They are also creating bridge programs so students can make the most of their completed coursework and apply it toward a BSN or MSN option.
RN to BSN Programs
It’s true that registered nurses working in medical clinics, senior living facilities, and doctor’s offices can earn a competitive wage. However, these nurses can earn even more, and provide the next level of care, by enrolling in an RN to BSN program. Open to nurses with an active RN license, Seminole State College of Florida outside of Orlando allows students to get their Bachelor's of Science in Nursing in less than a year. It is offered online with a clinical capstone.
Find out more about Florida RN to BSN Programs
RN to MSN Programs
Registered nurses without a Bachelor’s Degree can complete their Master’s Degree directly by completing an RN to MSN. Saving them both time and money, such bridge programs make use of previously earned credits and an accelerated intensive format. Capella University, which is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), offers four different RN to MSN programs. It has several flexible online options so students can complete the degree at the pace they prefer.
Find out more about Florida RN to MSN Programs
List of RN to BSN/MSN Programs
Orlando, FL
AdventHealth University
- RN to BSN - Online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN)
Online Learning - Website
- CCNE accredited
- 1-Year program
- Complete in can be completed in a year
- Employer reimbursement supported
- Tutoring and coaching support
- 24/7 resource access
- Affiliated with Sigma Theta Tau
- Guild tuition reimbursement eligible
University of Central Florida
- RN to BSN - Nursing, RN to BSN
Online Learning - Website
- 4 concentration options
- $212 per credit
- 120 total credit hours
- Starts fall/spring/summer
- BSN completion for licensed RNs
- Fully online coursework available
- Clinical practice in home community
- Multiple track options
Valencia College
- RN to BSN - Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Online Learning - Website
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accredited
- Complete in as little as one to two years
- 120 total credit hours
- Rolling admissions
- $100,051 median earnings
- Designed for RNs with an associate degree
- Requires current Florida RN license
- Limited access program
Sanford, FL
Seminole State College of Florida
- RN to BSN - RN-to-BSN
Online Learning - Website
- 1-Year program
- Complete in as little as one year
- 2.5 GPA minimum
- Capstone required
- Prepares for NCLEX
- Fully online program
- Capstone experiential learning
- Flexibility for working nurses
APRN & Nurse Practitioner Programs in Orlando, FL
Advanced practice nurses such as family nurse practitioners are taking on greater roles in healthcare, and this trend is only likely to continue. For working nurses in Orlando, FL who seek to enter a specialized area or become leaders or educators, an advanced degree is required. These master’s or doctorate offerings can commonly be completed in a distant learning format so students can continue working.
MSN Programs
Nurses who seek to further their career as an administrator, manager, or educator -- or those who wish to pursue the nurse practitioner position -- can earn their Master of Science in Nursing either on-site or online. The University of Central Florida in Orlando, FL offers three MSN programs for veteran nurses ready for leadership or instructional roles. All three programs are offered online to accommodate the hectic schedules of working nursing professionals.
Find out more about Florida Nurse Practitioner Programs
Post-Master's Certificate Programs
Registered nurses who hold master’s degrees can enter a field of specialization through a range of certificate programs. From certificates focused on teaching and education to intensive, Family Nurse Practitioner certifications, these programs can boost a working nurse’s career in a short period of time. The University of Central Florida offers multiple post-grad certificate pathways, including Adult Gerontology, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Nurse Educator.
Find out more about Florida Post-Master's Certificate Programs
DNP & Ph.D. Programs
Nurses can achieve the peak of their educational aspirations by obtaining a doctorate degree. Keiser University offers its Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at several locations across Florida, including one in Melbourne, about an hour away from Orlando. The evidence-based program focuses on incorporating nursing with other scientific fields and improving the larger clinical practice.
Find out more about Florida DNP Programs
List of APRN (MSN, DNP, & NP) Programs in Orlando
Orlando, FL
AdventHealth University
- BSN to MSN - Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Midwifery Track
Online Learning - Website
- Online MSN program.
- Midwifery Track available.
- Completable in 18 months.
- 24/7 online course access.
- BSN required for admission.
- ASN or diploma may need prerequisites.
- Accredited by CCNE.
- Undergoing ACME preaccreditation review.
- BSN to MSN - Master of Science in Nursing
Concentration: Family Nurse Practitioner - Online Learning - Website
- 3 concentration options
- No entrance exam required
- 35 total credit hours
- Full-time and part-time options
- 3.0 GPA minimum
- 0 letters of recommendation (minimum)
- 0 clinical hours
- Work experience required
- BSN to MSN - Master of Science in Nursing
Concentration: Nursing Administration and Leadership - Online Learning - Website
- Online program format.
- Nursing Administration concentration.
- 31 credit hours required.
- Two-year completion time.
- BSN with 3.0 GPA required.
- Active RN license needed.
- $50 application fee.
- Practicum experiences included.
- MSN to DNP - Doctor of Nursing Practice
Concentration: Family Nurse Practitioner - Online & Campus Based - Website
- 2 concentration options
- 42 total credit hours
- Cohort-based structure
- 3.0 GPA minimum
- Work experience required
- Capstone required
- $50 application fee
- Online with campus intensives
- MSN to DNP - Doctor of Nursing Practice
Concentration: Family Nurse Practitioner - Online Learning - Website
- CCNE accredited
- 2 concentration options
- 3-Year program
- Complete in can be completed in three years
- the median pay for a nurse practitioner was around $132,000 a year
- 1080 clinical hours
- Capstone required
- Financial aid available
- MSN to DNP - Doctor of Nursing Practice
Concentration: Organizational Leadership - Online Learning - Website
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accredited
- 2 concentration options
- 3-Year program
- Complete in three years
- 1000 clinical hours
- Capstone required
- Financial aid available
- 100% online with campus intensives
- MSN to DNP - Doctor of Nursing Practice
Concentration: Organizational Leadership, Family Nurse Practitioner - Online Learning - Website
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accredited
- 2 concentration options
- 3-Year program
- Complete in completed in three years
- Capstone required
- Financial aid available
- 100% online with campus intensives
- CCNE accredited program
Ana G. Mendez University
- BSN to MSN - Master of Science in Nursing in Family Nurse Practitioner
Campus Based - Website
- On-site program delivery
- Prepares for national certification
- Focus on primary care leadership
- Didactic and clinical experiences
- Multiple campus locations available
- Health Sciences Division program
- Curriculum includes pathophysiology
- Pharmacology coursework included
- MSN to DNP - Doctor of Nursing Practice
Campus Based - Website
- 1000 clinical hours
- Focus on quality improvement and evidence-based practice
- Pinnacle of practice-focused nursing degrees
- Senior administrator career path
University of Central Florida
- MSN to DNP - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Online & Campus Based - Website
- Live intensives twice a year
- Clinical placements provided by program
- Requires undergraduate statistics prerequisite
- Interprofessional learning opportunities
- Dedicated advising team
- Reduced work hours recommended
- Service area: Central Florida only
- Simulation lab experiences
- MSN to DNP - Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Online & Campus Based - Website
- CCNE accredited
- 9-Semester program
- 73 total credit hours
- Full-time and part-time options
- 1 start dates per year
- Starts fall
- 1140 clinical hours
- Prerequisite courses required
- MSN to DNP - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) - Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Online & Campus Based - Website
- 74 total credit hours
- Starts fall
- 1200 clinical hours
- Prerequisite courses required
- Capstone required
- Financial aid available
- Scholarships available
- On-campus bi-weekly lectures and labs
- MSN to DNP - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) - Executive
Concentration: Executive - Campus Based - Website
- 42 total credit hours
- 1000 clinical hours
- Capstone required
- Financial aid available
- Scholarships available
- Executive track for nurse leaders
- Experiential learning and leadership projects
- Interact with prominent healthcare experts
- MSN to DNP - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) - Executive
Concentration: Executive - Online & Campus Based - Website
- 42 total credit hours
- 1000 clinical hours
- Capstone required
- Financial aid available
- Scholarships available
- Designed for nurse executives
- Team-centered experiential learning
- Network with healthcare experts
- MSN to DNP - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Campus Based - Website
- Online program
- In-state tuition $369.65/credit
- Out-of-state tuition $1,276.48/credit
- DNP Project required
- College of Nursing
- MSN to DNP - Doctor of Nursing Practice, DNP - Family Nurse Practitioner
Concentration: Family Nurse Practitioner - Campus Based - Website
- 73 total credit hours
- Starts fall
- 1140 clinical hours
- Prerequisite courses required
- Capstone required
- Financial aid available
- Scholarships available
- In-state tuition $369.65 per credit hour
- MSN to DNP - Doctor of Nursing Practice
Online Learning - Website
- Fully online program
- Executive track option
- Emphasis on evidence-based practice
- Focus on leadership and policy
- Designed for working nurses
