Wyoming Online NP Programs
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“Wyoming is a trend-setter for NP practice. We gained the right to issue handicapped placards, sign death certificates, and have global signature authority.”
Alicia LePard, PhD, MBA, Past President of the Wyoming Council for Advanced Practice Nurses
Wyoming’s sweeping landscapes and low population density make access to medical care a persistent challenge, especially for rural residents living hours from the nearest hospital. In this setting, nurse practitioners (NPs) emerge as vital healthcare providers, offering independent primary and specialty care under the state’s full practice environment. Whether based in small clinics or traveling across the range, these skilled professionals help ensure that communities stay connected to essential services and often remain their most reliable point of care.
According to Projections Central (2025), Wyoming employed around 480 nurse practitioners in 2022, with employment expected to rise to approximately 710 by 2032—representing a growth of 48 percent. This strong upward trend underscores Wyoming’s reliance on advanced nursing roles to meet growing healthcare needs.
For registered nurses eager to take on expanded clinical responsibilities, Wyoming’s NP programs provide an opportunity to practice with autonomy, serve geographically diverse populations, and become central figures in communities that depend on them most.
Meet the Expert: Alicia LePard, PhD, MBA
Dr. Alicia LePard is a nurse practitioner based in Gillette, Wyoming, specializing in family, acute, geriatric care, and chronic disease management, with a particular passion for diabetes care. She earned her FNP and acute/critical care credentials and completed her PhD in nursing at the University of Colorado Denver.
Residing in northeastern Wyoming, Dr. LePard previously worked as a paramedic across remote regions before transitioning to nurse practice. Her dissertation research reframed insulin resistance as a spectrum rather than a binary condition, drawing on data from over 5,000 patients. She currently operates a private internal medicine clinic in Wyoming, consults as an emergency hospitalist in Montana, and has formerly supported the Covid-19 response through the National Disaster Medical System. Additionally, she has served as president of the Wyoming Council for Advanced Practice Nurses.
NPSchools.com: What do you wish the public understood about nurse practitioner practice in Wyoming?
Dr. LePard: Nurse practitioners use the acronym APRN (advanced practice registered nurse), which also includes certified registered nurse midwife (CRNM), certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) and certified nurse specialist (CNS). We are governed by the Wyoming Board of Nursing. Wyoming enjoys Full Practice Authority (FPA) as our standard of licensure. There are over 2,600 APRNs licensed in Wyoming as of 2025. The Wyoming Council for Advanced Practice Nurses (WCAPN) is Wyoming’s only APRN professional group.
Nurse practitioners work in all areas of healthcare in Wyoming, [including] general practice, specialty practice, independent practices, acute care, emergency care, and as CEOs of healthcare systems. We work in rural, critical access, and urban environments. Our NPs serve as legislative resources, community resources, and always serve the patients.
NPSchools.com: Do you have any advice for aspiring NPs?
Dr. LePard: Each and every nurse who desires to further their education and become a nurse practitioner should first recognize the dedication to the vocation of nursing. Our skill set is predicated on the understanding of nursing, with the additional experience of understanding human nature in response to changes in health and wellness.
Luckily, our years of nursing experience enhance the patient experience. The additional educational focus on the area of interest—family care, adult-gerontological acute care, psychiatric mental health, and pediatric— then adds to the depth of understanding the intersection of nursing with medical care. The two areas meld into an excellent resource for patient care.
It’s not an easy path, it takes time, dedication, and frankly money. But the reward is taking a patient’s needs and helping find their new, healthy place in life.
NPSchools.com: What does the future of NP practice in Wyoming look like to you?
Dr. LePard: Wyoming is a trend-setter for NP practice. We gained the right to issue handicapped placards, sign death certificates, and have global signature authority. We are not required to have direct supervision or collaboration agreements; we can bill independently for our services, order diagnostic testing, and hang a shingle to advertise our practice.
We are working to gain access into all healthcare systems as an licensed independent practitioner within the medical staff and support these facilities without burdensome rules that require a physician supervision, including voting privileges, peer review of APRNs and physician assistants/associates (who also enjoy an independent practice platform in Wyoming), and be able to work to the top of the scope of practice of the NP.
Our goal [is] to have a team-based healthcare model that includes all the disciplines and the resources that allow us to each do what we do best, care for our patients.
NP Practice Authority in Wyoming
How Much Do Nurse Practitioners Make in Wyoming?
Kimmy Gustafson
WriterAmong her many diverse writing endeavors, Kimmy Gustafson has also lent her expertise to NPSchools.com since 2020, providing insightful and engaging content about the significant role of education in shaping our future generations of nurse practitioners. Many of her pieces include interviewing experts on timely topics such as healthcare workplace violence and moral distress.
Kimmy has been a freelance writer for more than a decade, writing hundreds of articles on a wide variety of topics such as startups, nonprofits, healthcare, kiteboarding, the outdoors, and higher education. She is passionate about seeing the world and has traveled to over 27 countries. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Oregon. When not working, she can be found outdoors, parenting, kiteboarding, or cooking.