Florida State University Online Nurse Practitioner Programs

Admission Requirements: Florida State University’s College of Nursing requires nursing applicants to meet academic and professional standards for admission.

To apply for the doctor of nursing practice (DNP) programs, applicants must hold a BSN degree from a nationally accredited program with at least a 3.0 GPA or possess an MSN in a nurse practitioner track with national APRN certification and meet the GPA requirements. Applicants who already hold an MSN must also submit proof of clinical hours completed during their MSN program, along with course syllabi for advanced pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, advanced pharmacology, or any courses they wish to transfer to the DNP program. If the required courses are incomplete, these must be fulfilled during the DNP curriculum.

Submission of official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended is required. Additionally, applicants must submit GRE or MAT scores unless exempted under specific GPA criteria. A valid, unrestricted RN license is mandatory. Three letters of recommendation and a current CV or resume are also part of the application requirements.

The GRE can be waived for applicants with a completed master’s degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, or a BSN with a 3.5 GPA or higher.

For admission to the post-master’s certificate, applicants must submit copies of unofficial or official graduate transcripts (MSN and DNP if applicable) showing completion of advanced pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, and advanced pharmacology. 

Additionally, they must also submit a copy of their current unencumbered and unrestricted APRN license, a current resume, and proof of clinical hours completed for the MSN or DNP program.

State Restrictions: Florida State University’s College of Nursing online nurse practitioner programs are not available for prospective students who reside in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, or Oregon. Students from these states cannot enter any of the university’s online DNP or certificate programs. Enrollment is open to applicants residing in all other states.

Study Plan: Florida State University’s online NP study plans are designed to accommodate both DNP students and those pursuing post-master’s certificate programs.

The DNP programs offer both full-time and part-time study options spanning three years. The curriculum begins with online core classes in the first year, with no campus visits required. In the second year, students focus on track-specific coursework and clinical experiences, including three on-campus visits to complete Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE). The final year emphasizes scholarly work with students completing evidence-based quality improvement projects, clinical training, and culminating in a campus visit to complete a final project presentation and exit exam.

Post-master’s certificate programs offer focused advanced practice specialization through four-semester, online courses, including required clinical hours. These certificate students complete coursework primarily through asynchronous classes with some synchronous Zoom sessions.

Clinical hours vary depending on the program; for example, the PMHNP certificate requires 780 clinical hours, the AGACNP certificate requires 780 hours, and the FNP certificate requires 720 clinical hours.

DNP Curriculum: Combining coursework with clinical training, Florida State’s DNP curriculum provides a comprehensive foundation in advanced nursing practice. Common courses for the DNP specializations include advanced pathophysiological concepts in nursing science; pharmacology for advanced practice; DNP roles & leadership within complex HC environments; biostatistics; advanced health assessment & diagnostic reasoning for the APN; methods of program evaluation & quality improvement; theory and evidence-based practice scholarship; advanced health assessment and skills for the APN practicum; translation of evidence for practice; health equity & social determinants of health; policy, legal, and ethical complexities in healthcare; DNP project planning & application for the APN; DNP project implementation, evaluation, & dissemination for the APN; population health and applied epidemiology; and healthcare finance, economics, and entrepreneurship.

• The BSN-to-DNP AGACNP comprises 72 credits and requires completion of at least 1,080 clinical hours. Specialty courses include acute care I-III and acute care practicum I-V.
• The post-master’s to DNP AGACNP comprises 36 credits and requires completion of at least 420 clinical hours.
• The BSN-to-DNP FNP comprises 71 credits and requires completion of at least 1,020 clinical hours. Specialty courses include pediatrics for advanced practice; genetics and the environment; advanced management of the family I and II; and FNP practicum I-IV.
• The post-master’s to DNP FNP comprises 41 credits and requires completion of at least 600 clinical hours.
• The BSN-to-DNP PMHNP comprises 76 credits and requires completion of at least 1,000 clinical hours. Specialty courses include pediatrics for advanced practice; genetics and the environment; psychopharmacology for psychiatric nursing; advanced management of adult and women’s issues in primary care; advance psychiatric assessment and diagnostic lab; advanced psychiatric assessment and diagnostics; psychiatric/MH nurse practitioner I: individual psychotherapy; psychiatric/MH NP I lab: individual psychotherapy; psychiatric/MH nurse practitioner II: family & group psychotherapy; psychiatric/MH NP II lab: family & group psychotherapy; and practicum – psychiatric/mental health nursing.
• The post-master’s to DNP PMHNP comprises 53 credits and requires completion of at least 840 clinical hours.

Post-Master’s Certificate Curriculum: The post-master’s certificates follow the specialty courses for the DNP. The AGACNP post-master’s certificate program comprises 22 credits and requires completion of 780 clinical hours. The FNP post-master’s certificate program comprises 25 credits and requires completion of 720 clinical hours. The PMHNP post-master’s certificate program comprises 24 credits and requires completion of 780 clinical hours.

Online Experience: Florida State University’s online nurse practitioner programs offer students a flexible learning experience supported by the Canvas learning management system. The DNP programs feature synchronous real-time components delivered through Zoom. Students engage in clinical experiences in their local communities under supervision.

Clinical skills are assessed through objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE) during limited on-campus visits. The majority of coursework is completed online, enabling students to balance education with professional and personal responsibilities.

FSU also offers graduate certificate programs, delivered fully online, including both synchronous and asynchronous components to provide flexible learning options.

On-Site Requirements: Florida State University’s online NP programs include specific on-campus requirements primarily for clinical skill assessments and project presentations. Students are required to attend three on-campus visits during the second year, which are necessary to complete the OSCE. In the final year, students continue clinical training and return to campus to complete evidence-based quality improvement projects, clinical training, a final project presentation, and an exit exam.

Aside from these specific visits, most coursework and clinical components are designed to be completed online in the student’s local community.