So many clinicians write to us wanting to know the pathways to becoming a DNP nurse practitioner in Canada and USA. In this article, we’ll see seven different routes, their eligibility criteria, how to apply, and the duration of each course. I’ll go one further with tips to survive DNP school and how to translate into a medical doctor (MD).
Are you ready? Read through this guide and make an informed decision about your DNP aspirations!
Also read: Reasons to Earn DNP Degree
Let’s Start with Application for a DNP Program
According to AACN, American and Canadian medical schools admit their DNP nurse candidates from wide study and professional backgrounds. These steps will scrub you if a DNP program is in your aspirations:
- Choose a university or a medical college AND the specific DNP course of your interest.
- Check the enrollment eligibility criteria for the chosen school’s DNP program.
- If you meet the thresholds, write a formal application. According to the chosen institution, a DNP application document may include;
- A curriculum vitae.
- A clear DNP goal statement.
- Previous academic transcripts.
- Certified copies of your nurse practitioner license.
- Reliable references or recommendation letters.
- Any other on-demand proof to ascertain your academic and skill levels.
- Attend and pass an interview; either in-person or online.
- The faculty’s Admissions Review Committee stage sifts your application through a fine sieve.
- Once you’re approved, grab your books and join the qualified few for DNP lectures!
Common Admission Requirements for DNP
If you want to upgrade your nursing skills or career in Canada and the USA, do a CCNE– or ACEN-accredited DNP course. But before that, there’s the little matter of admission requirements and eligibility criteria.
Note that these admission requirements vary with universities, enrollment pathways, or the chosen DNP program. However, certain academic and skill expectations are fairly consistent, including:
#1: Most medical colleges only admit students to DNP programs if they’re MSN-qualified (Master of Nursing Science). A growing number is taking Bachelor of Nursing Science (BSN) graduates directly into the DNP program. For skipping MSN, the latter take applicants through additional (bridging) coursework.
#2: A bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.5 ( grade B or better), with evidence of core nursing courses and statistics. Keep in mind AP credits are NOT acceptable.
#3: Some schools need to see your GRE scores, require a specific minimum GPA, and ask for recommendation letters besides the nursing licensure. Other institutions require DNP applicants to pass a background clinical placement check before letting you in.
Note: Whereas the GRE Score isn’t a mandatory admission requirement, many institutions would rather you submit it!
So, How Long Before I Graduate?
Depending on the program you choose and the pathway, a DNP can take anywhere from two years to four years. The table below shows the average completion times for different DNP entry pathways:
| Entry Pathway and Mode of Study | Pre-graduation Requirements | Average Entry to Graduation Time |
| From MSN to Leadership-focused DNP (Online, Hybrid, or In-person) | – Coursework in health systems and practice
– DNP capstone project |
2 Years |
| In-person, Hybrid, or Online MSN to Clinical APRN | – Core DNP curriculum
– DNP project – Specialized coursework – Clinical hours (fixed) – Licensure exam(s) in your specialty |
2 – 4 Years |
| Online and Hybrid BSN to DNP | – DNP coursework
– Specialty coursework – Clinical hours (flexible) – Licensure assessment – Capstone Project |
3 years full-time, and upto 6 years part-time (depending on candidate or online institutional scheduling) |
| Direct Entry Programs
(Online, Physical, Hybrid) |
– Bridging coursework
– Core nursing coursework – Specialty coursework, Licensure tests, and Clinical hours (where applicable) – DNP capstone project |
4 years (minimum) |
Fig 1.1: A table showing estimated graduation time against different DNP pathways in Canada and USA. (Source: AACN)
8 Pathways to Becoming a DNP Nurse Practitioner in Canada and USA
These 7 routes depend on the degree(s) you have; and the status (or lack thereof) of your nursing license. Whether you’re looking to improve your salary, change careers, or specialize in a nursing field, here’s how:
❖ Direct Entry DNP (BSC, MSC, and Others)
Don’t crush that healthcare dream because you didn’t make it to med school for a BSN, yet. Some 20-odd universities I know in North America offer direct DNP entry avenues. You can still become an in-demand nurse leader with a BSC or an MSN certificate!
This pathway is for non-clinical DNP professionals. You didn’t imagine doing ward rounds and all that after graduating from a biomedical technician college. Or did you?
All you need is a minimum bachelor’s degree – or higher – from an accredited institution with a 3.0+ GPA. A GRE is optional, and you also don’t need a nursing license! You’ll then sit out requisite healthcare bridging courses, something that’s going to cost you extra time and money.
❖ Take a Pre-licensure Route
Similar to direct entry, you first clear core nursing practice program courses. After the first five semesters, you take an NCLEX exam and become a licensed RN. Next, you take the advanced nursing generalist (Master of Science) and earn a generalist master of science in nursing title.
The final phase of the 107 credits is the normal DNP curriculum. This is the longest, most intensive, and expensive pathway to certification as a DNP practitioner one can take.
❖ Post-Master’s DNP (MSN to DNP)
This is the most conventional route. Simply earn an accredited MSN degree, and automatically enroll for a DNP specialty. It’s also the shortest pathway to a culminating clinical career as you’ll take two short years (full-time)!
❖ Skip the MSN Bit – Jump from a BSN Directly to a DNP!
There are more than 300 schools in the USA alone ready to move you from a BSN directly to a DNP program. You can cut the two years of an MSN certification to a short eight months. This pathway is also prime for nurses with a BSN and a non-clinical Masters. But they won’t let you go on without prerequisite MSN coursework.
❖ Earn Your DNP Partly (Hybrid) or Fully Online!
According to an AACN report, 72% of PhD nurse graduates earned their degrees partly or fully online in 2022. Although you can’t do online clinical hours or miss the DNP capstone project, everything else is flexible. This pathway is best for nurses already at work but wish to further their studies.
Statistics Corner
Only 9% of DNP students take a full in-person course in Canada!
❖ From FNP Nurse to a Doctorate APRN
Those Family Nurse Practitioners taking care of your family at the local clinic can take online classes and become DNP. Because they are masters’ and doctorally prepared, FNPs only need a licensure certification exam in their state or province. After obtaining a nurse license, one can choose a specialization path and run away with a DNP certificate!
❖ And Lastly, Transform that RN into a DNP!
An ambitious RN with enough clinical hours but no bachelor’s degree can apply for a DNP course of their interest. In Canada, for example, there’s two streams to do this:
- A yearlong, full-time Post-Master’s Certificate (PHCNP).
- Other students opt for a Master of Nursing-Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner (MN-PHCNP) which takes at least 2 years (full-time).
Before admission, you must meet the following basic qualifications:
- 112 course credits (70 credits in nursing specialty knowledge, and 42 in general education).
- An accredited associate nursing degree with Grade B or better, plus a mandatory Statistics course (AP credits DON’T apply).
- An updated RN nurse practitioner license.
Can I go from DNP to a Registered MD?
Yes, you can go from being DNP to becoming a registered MD. It’d come down to whatever med school prerequisite courses you’ve taken in nursing school, and your tenacity.
Depending on the specialty the applicant doctor wants, you may have to start with undergraduate med school. After attaining the prerequisite coursework, take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Next, apply for an MD program that interests you in a university of choice.
Changing from DNP to MD takes four full-time years of study and the mandatory residency years depending on your state. The whole translation means 7-8 years of coursework despite the long journey to becoming a DNP.
Tips to Survive DNP School
Here’s 16 tips to help you keep your sanity during the DNP college years:
1) Never fall behind on either coursework or capstone projects. Professors at this level don’t take excuses.
2) Make friends, but don’t compare yourself to any of them.
3) Invest in quality DNP learning resources and online DNP assistance services for DNP coursework help services.
4) Start planning using a calendar and stick to deadlines. If you’re a spendthrift, prepare and follow a budget. Years have a way of becoming shorter once you start!
5) Search for your clinical site as early as the next day after admission.
7) Get the most out of lectures, campus life, and clinical practice. It’s these cumulative experiences that’ll determine who you become in your career.
8) Always be proactive, inquisitive, and never give up. Make use of credible online support services and resources like our free DNP project topic ideas .
11) Enroll and participate in professional nurse forums. Join nursing associations such as the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, NP Association for Continuing Education (NPACE), International Council for Nurse Practitioners, and other online nursing platforms.
12) Create some “me-time” amidst all the turmoil. Eat healthy, and get enough zzz’s – it helps, I tell you!
13) Know your DNP program’s requirements and prioritize your schedule. Set personal goals. Keep your focus on the ultimate graduation party!
16) Place value on constructive feedback from peers, mentors, and especially from instructors.
17) Must ensure you hire expert DNP project writers to assist you write high quality DNP proposal and project
Don’t Wait Any Longer!
Now that you’ve known the different pathways to becoming a DNP nurse practitioner in Canada and USA, start looking for a college pronto! Upon completion of the 2-6 years of DNP, you have a chance at translating into a medical doctor. Use the invaluable tips in this article to help you survive clinical coursework.
See y’all at the graduation square!
