Texas Wesleyan University Online FNP Programs

Admission Requirements: The admission requirements for Texas Wesleyan University’s online FNP programs are designed to ensure applicants are academically qualified and prepared for advanced nursing practice.

All applicants, regardless of the pathway they choose, must hold an unencumbered RN license in the state where they plan to complete their clinical hours. Additionally, every applicant will be required to submit official transcripts, a current resume, and three professional or academic references as part of the application process. A virtual interview is also required, while GRE scores are not required for admission.

For those applying to the BSN-to-DNP family nurse practitioner program or the MSN-FNP program, a bachelor’s degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program is required. Applicants to these programs must have a minimum 3.0 GPA in upper-level nursing coursework, along with an overall GPA of at least 2.8. The BSN-to-DNP program also requires applicants to have completed undergraduate statistics and research courses with a grade of B or higher.

Applicants to the MSN-to-DNP family nurse practitioner program must hold a master of science in nursing from a program with federally recognized accreditation, along with APRN licensure and/or clinical nurse specialist certification. A minimum 3.0 GPA in graduate-level coursework is required, and applicants must also have completed undergraduate statistics and research courses with a grade of B or higher.

For the FNP certificate program, applicants must hold a graduate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program and have earned a minimum 3.0 GPA in that program. This certificate pathway is intended for nurses who are already prepared at the graduate level and want to add the FNP role to their credentials.

State Restrictions: Licensing rules for nurse practitioners are different in every state. Because of this, Texas Wesleyan University can only accept students who live or plan to work in states where the program meets the requirements for NP licensure. Prospective students intending to practice outside Texas are advised to verify with their local licensing authorities whether Texas Wesleyan’s programs satisfy licensure and certification requirements before enrolling.

Specifically, Texas Wesleyan University’s nursing programs do not meet licensure requirements in the following states and U.S. territories: Alabama, North Dakota, Arizona, Ohio, Arkansas, Oklahoma, California, Oregon, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Georgia, South Carolina, Iowa, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Mississippi, Northern Mariana Islands, Missouri, and Washington, DC.

Study Plan: Texas Wesleyan University offers flexible online FNP programs designed to accommodate the schedules of working nurses. The BSN-to-DNP program can be completed in as little as three years, requiring 86 credits and 1,035 clinical hours. The MSN-to-DNP program typically takes two years, includes 35 credits, and requires 500 DNP work hours. The MSN-FNP program is designed for completion in two years, totaling 48 credits with 855 clinical hours. The post-master’s certificate also requires 48 credits and 855 clinical hours, and students can complete it in about two years.

Courses follow a semester format with regular deadlines; however, most coursework is online and asynchronous, allowing students to study at their own pace. The nurse coaching course requires weekly live sessions. Clinical practicum experiences are hands-on and take place in outpatient or primary care settings close to the student’s home. Minimal on-campus attendance is also required.

Curriculum: Texas Wesleyan University’s BSN-to-DNP FNP program includes courses such as advanced health assessment & diagnostic reasoning; advanced pathophysiology for advanced practice nursing; advanced pharmacotherapeutics; advanced roles for the DNP FNP; applied statistics for advanced nursing practice; evidence-informed practice I & II; family systems; healthcare informatics; healthcare policy; introduction to the art & science of nurse coaching; population health & emerging diseases; practice leadership for the advanced practice nurse; practice management for the advanced practice nurse; research & evidence-informed practice; theories for advanced nursing practice; vulnerable populations; DNP project, and DNP transition. Practicum courses consist of FNP I, II, and III; primary care for the chronically ill 1 and 2; and FNP Residency. Practicum hours range from 90 to 225 hours per course.

The MSN-to-DNP program includes courses such as applied statistics for advanced nursing practice (if needed); advanced theory and roles for the DNP; DNP project; DNP transitions; evidence-informed practice I & II; healthcare informatics; healthcare policy; introduction to the art & science of nurse coaching; population health; practice leadership for the advanced practice nurse; practice management; research for the DNP; and vulnerable populations. This curriculum includes 500 work hours.

The MSN-FNP program curriculum provides courses such as advanced pathophysiology for advanced practice nursing; advanced health assessment & diagnostic reasoning; advanced pharmacotherapeutics; advanced roles for the FNP; introduction to the art & science of nurse coaching; practice management for the advanced practice nurse; research and evidence-informed practice; and theories for advanced nursing practice. Practicum courses include FNP I, II, and III; and FNP residency, with practicum hours totaling 855.

The FNP certificate program is structured to offer advanced coursework tailored for nurses holding graduate degrees. Courses include advanced health assessment & diagnostic reasoning; advanced pathophysiology for advanced practice nursing; advanced pharmacotherapeutics; advanced roles for the FNP; introduction to the art & science of nurse coaching; practice management for the advanced practice nurse; research and evidence-informed practice; and theories for advanced nursing practice. Practicum courses mirror the MSN-FNP with FNP I, II, and III; and FNP residency, also comprising 855 clinical hours.

Online Experience: Designed to offer flexible and accessible learning for working nurses, Texas Wesleyan University’s online FNP programs are delivered primarily online through Canvas, the University’s Learning Management System, allowing students to access lectures, assignments, and resources at a time that best fits their schedule. Most courses are asynchronous, enabling students to study independently around their personal and professional commitments. However, certain courses, such as the nurse coaching course, include scheduled weekly live sessions.

Students benefit from personalized attention through small class sizes and faculty who are active clinical practitioners. In addition to online learning, the programs include essential in-person components such as a one-day campus orientation and mandatory skills intensives held at the Fort Worth campus.

On-Site Requirements: The online FNP programs at Texas Wesleyan University include essential on-site requirements. All students attend a one-day orientation on the Fort Worth campus, which helps them connect with peers and faculty. Additionally, students in the MSN-FNP and FNP certificate programs participate in two mandatory skills intensives, where they develop practical skills such as ECG and X-ray interpretation, incision and drainage procedures, suturing techniques, casting and splinting, comprehensive patient evaluations, and IUD placement. The DNP programs include additional on-campus orientations and final project presentations. The programs also offer optional community service learning projects that provide valuable real-world experience serving underserved populations.