Ohio State University Online Nursing Programs

What to Expect from Ohio State University Online Nursing Programs

BSN-to-DNP and MSN Admission Requirements: Ohio State University’s online graduate nursing programs follow a holistic admissions process designed to assess each applicant’s academic preparedness and professional experiences alongside personal strengths and career motivation. For the BSN-to-DNP and MSN programs, candidates must hold a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) or a master of science in nursing (MSN) from an ACEN-, CCNE-, or CNEA-accredited institution. Applicants must possess an active, unencumbered RN license in the state where they plan to practice and meet a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on their most recent nursing degree. Those with a GPA below 3.0 may still be considered.

A college-level statistics course completed within five years prior to application with a grade of B or higher is required for most tracks. For NNP applicants, 24 months of full-time RN experience in a Level III or IV NICU is mandatory, while PNP-AC applicants must have at least one year of in-hospital pediatric nursing experience, preferably in a high-acuity or ICU setting.

Application requirements include an online application, official transcripts, a current resume, a purpose and goals statement, a recorded online video interview, and three letters of recommendation. International applicants must also submit proof of English proficiency. State authorization is required for all online programs. Students must reside in an eligible state at the time of enrollment.

Post-Master’s Certificate Admission Requirements: For post-master’s certificate options, applicants must hold a master’s degree in nursing from an accredited institution and current APRN or CNL certification. These applicants submit similar materials, including transcripts, a resume, a statement of purpose, a video interview, and two recommendation letters. All candidates must show evidence of an active RN license and an academic record that meets or exceeds the 3.0 GPA requirement.

State Restrictions: Ohio State University’s online nurse practitioner programs each have specific state restrictions due to licensure and regulatory requirements. Applicants must reside in an authorized state at the time of enrollment. Students from unauthorized states or regions are not eligible for enrollment in the corresponding program.

Online nurse practitioner programs have state-specific restrictions that vary by specialty and degree level. For the majority of BSN-to-DNP and MSN NP tracks, including AGPCNP, FNP, NNP, PNP-AC, and PMHNP, most states are authorized, but several states and territories are consistently not eligible. These include Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virgin Islands, and Washington.

Additional restrictions may apply: Utah is not authorized for BSN-to-DNP AGPCNP, NNP, PNP-AC, and MSN AGNP, NNP, and PNP-AC, but is authorized for MSN FNP and PMHNP. California is specifically authorized for MSN NNP and MSN PMHNP, while remaining unauthorized for most other MSN and BSN-to-DNP tracks. Prospective applicants must carefully review eligibility by specialty before applying.

Students in any state outside of Ohio should check with the admissions department of the Ohio State School of Nursing to verify enrollment eligibility. In addition, out-of-state students should always verify that the program meets state licensure requirements in their state of residence.

Study Plan: Ohio State University’s online NP programs are structured to accommodate both full-time and part-time students, with flexible start dates and a blend of online coursework and in-person experiences. BSN-to-DNP students typically complete their degree in three years of full-time study or four years part-time. Most online courses are delivered synchronously, requiring students to participate in live class sessions. Some asynchronous or hybrid formats are included, depending on the course and specialty. The typical time to completion for the MSN programs is two years of full-time study or three years of part-time study, including clinical practicums and required on-campus experiences.

Each NP track (BSN-to-DNP and MSN) requires students to progress through a sequence that includes foundational didactic courses and multiple clinical rotations. For BSN-to-DNP programs, students complete 79 to 92 credits depending on their specialty, with most tracks requiring between 600 and 712.5 supervised clinical hours. MSN NP tracks range from 53 to 63 credits and incorporate three to four clinical practicum courses, totaling up to 675 hours, according to specialty requirements.

Clinical experiences are coordinated in approved healthcare settings close to the student’s location, with preceptors arranged in primary, acute, or specialty care environments as appropriate. All online NP students are required to attend select on-campus intensives for hands-on learning and skills assessment. For example, FNP and AGPCNP students have 2 to 3 required campus visits in their final semesters, while NNP students attend up to four intensives during advanced clinical coursework.

Curriculum: The online NP programs at Ohio State University feature a specialty-focused curricula that blend core advanced practice content, clinical skills training, and specialty coursework. Each pathway is structured to meet the latest NP certification standards and is designed to support flexible online learning with select campus experiences and local clinical placements. All clinical placements are arranged in approved, supervised settings near the student’s home.

• BSN-to-DNP AGPCNP Curriculum: Requires 79 credits and a minimum of 600 clinical hours. The curriculum includes core doctoral coursework in pathophysiology; evidence-based practice; quality improvement; statistical methods; leadership; and health policy. Specialty courses include advanced health assessment; advanced pharmacology; clinical reasoning; and three advanced adult-gerontology primary care clinical practicum courses. Students attend one on-campus visit each of the last three semesters for skills evaluation.
• BSN-to-DNP FNP Curriculum: Requires 83 credits and at least 675 clinical hours. Students complete DNP core courses, MSN-level FNP courses (advanced health assessment; advanced pharmacology; pathophysiology; clinical reasoning), and three advanced practice family nurse practitioner clinical practicums. The program also includes two-day campus visits during the final three semesters for in-person learning and clinical skills assessment.
• BSN-to-DNP NNP Curriculum: Requires 79 credits and 712.5 clinical hours. Core content covers neonatal development; advanced assessment; newborn/infant pharmacology; and sequential neonatal clinical practicum courses. Four on-campus visits during the last four semesters are required for hands-on skills and simulations.
• BSN-to-DNP PNP-AC Curriculum: Comprises 85 credits and a minimum of 600 clinical hours. Core courses cover pediatric health assessment; child/adolescent mental health; and clinical reasoning; as well as three pediatric acute care practicum experiences. Students attend one to two-day on-campus sessions during the final four semesters for clinical skill evaluation.
• BSN-to-DNP PMHNP Curriculum: Requires 88 credits and at least 600 clinical hours. Coursework includes neuroscience principles; advanced psychiatric and mental health therapies; psychopharmacology; and three PMHNP clinical practicums. No on-campus intensives are mandated, but clinicals are arranged locally.
• MSN AGNP Curriculum: 53 credits with three advanced clinical practicums totaling 600 hours. The curriculum features innovation leadership; quality improvement and informatics; health promotion; and diagnosis and management in adult-gerontology settings; with each practicum focusing on acute and chronic care.
• MSN FNP Curriculum: 59 credits, including three advanced FNP clinical practicums with a total of 675 hours. Coursework covers advanced health assessment; innovation leadership; health promotion; evidence-based practice; and primary care management across the lifespan.
• MSN NNP Curriculum: 63 credits and three high-risk neonatal clinical practicums requiring 712.5 hours. Required courses include developmental physiology; advanced neonatal pharmacology; health assessment; and leadership. Four campus visits are built in to enhance clinical competency.
• MSN PNP-AC Curriculum: 59 credits and three pediatric clinical practicums totaling 600 hours. Content includes advanced pediatric health assessment; quality improvement; health promotion; and management of high-acuity pediatric cases.
• MSN PMHNP Curriculum: 62 credits and three sequential psychiatric mental health clinical practicums totaling 600 hours. Students complete coursework in advanced health assessment; innovation leadership; quality improvement; and advanced psychotherapeutic interventions for all age groups.

Post-Master’s Certificate Curriculum: Each post-master’s certificate program consists of specialty courses from the appropriate MSN curriculum, with a personalized plan of study designed in consultation with faculty advisors. Required clinical hours vary by certificate and ensure eligibility for national board certification.

Online Experience: Ohio State utilizes Canvas as its online learning management system (LMS). Many of the distance-based courses for the online nurse practitioner programs meet synchronously for a real-time experience, although some courses may be asynchronous. Applications available include CarmenCanvas, CarmenZoom (audio and web conferencing), and Mediasite (for recordings, lectures, and screen-sharing). Access to student services includes faculty help, academic advising, technical support, bookstore and library services, tutoring, career counseling, and disability services.

On-Site Requirements: Ohio State University’s online NP programs combine flexible online coursework with essential on-site learning experiences. BSN-to-DNP (FNP and AGPCNP) students participate in two- or three-day on-campus sessions during their final semesters for hands-on clinical skills evaluation and simulated patient encounters. PNP-AC and NNP students attend one to four campus intensives, depending on their respective tracks.

Clinical practicum hours for all specializations are completed in approved healthcare settings near the student’s residence, under the supervision of university-approved preceptors. An optional orientation is also held on campus, and students are encouraged to attend, as well as participate in graduation ceremonies on campus.