FNP vs. AGNP: What’s the Difference?
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- FNP vs. AGNP Compared
- Duties and Responsibilities
- Education and Certification
- Salary and Career Outlook
- Which Is Best?
Credit: Courtney Hale / E+ / Getty ImagesFamily nurse practitioners (FNP) and adult-geriatric nurse practitioners (AGNP) share many similarities but have key differences. Your chosen specialty depends on your practice preferences and career goals. Learn about the FNP vs. AGNP duties, required education, job outlook, and other important factors to discover the best path for you.
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FNP and AGNP Key Similarities and Differences
FNPs and AGNPs are types of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who have earned their master’s or doctoral degrees in nursing. They assess, diagnose, and treat patients. They are both found in primary care settings and collaborate with other healthcare professionals to meet patient needs. Both treat adults and pediatric patients.
Unlike AGNPs, FNPs treat patients across the lifespan from infancy to end of life and only work in primary care, especially in private practices. Their roles emphasize ensuring wellness over treating acute ailments.
Unlike FNPs, AGNPs do not treat infants and small children, specializing in working with adolescents and above. They can be found in primary care settings, but they also work in acute care. Many AGNPs work in emergency departments and intensive care units.
What is an FNP?
An FNP is an APRN who works with patients across the lifespan from infancy to end of life. They practice in primary care settings, such as clinics and private offices. FNPs do not work in acute care. They conduct health assessments, diagnose illnesses, treat minor injuries, and verify wellness.
What is an AGNP?
AGNPs are APRNs who specialize in treating adolescents through older adults. They work in primary and acute care. AGNPs conduct health assessments, diagnose illnesses, and verify wellness. Unlike FNPs, AGNPs specializing in acute care treat more serious illnesses and injuries. They can be found in urgent care centers, private practices, clinics, and hospitals.
| Comparison Point | FNP | AGNP |
|---|---|---|
| Degree Required | Master of science in nursing (MSN) or doctor of nursing practice (DNP) | MSN or DNP |
| Certification Options | American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board and the American Nurses Credentialing Center, American Nurses Association | American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board and the American Nurses Credentialing Center, American Nurses Association |
| Population Focus | All ages | Adolescents and older |
| Duties and Responsibilities |
|
|
| Median Annual Salary | $115,000, according to the AANP | $116,000 for primary care NPs and $117,000 for acute care NPs according to the AANP |
Duties and Responsibilities
Both FNPs and AGNPs assess patients, order tests, diagnose conditions, and prescribe treatment. They also maintain medical records, provide patient education, and may supervise other nursing staff.
A large difference between an FNP and an AGNP is that an FNP can treat patients from birth on, but an AGNP treats adults and adolescents.
Depending on state regulations, FNPs and AGNPs may practice independently or need to enter a collaborative agreement with a supervising physician.
What Does a Family Nurse Practitioner Do?
FNPs act as primary care providers in hospitals and health systems, independent practices, clinics, or other healthcare settings. They provide primary care for patients of all ages, but they may refer patients with complex needs to specialty providers.
FNPs perform many of the same tasks that primary care physicians do, including:
- Examining patients of all ages, including pediatric patients
- Ordering medical tests
- Diagnosing conditions
- Prescribing treatments
- Prescribing medications
- Updating medical records
- Educating patients and family members
What Does an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Do?
AGNPs treat adult and adolescent patients. They may specialize in primary care, which focuses on a patient’s ongoing health needs and wellness, or in acute care, which treats episodic conditions or injuries.
Acute care NPs are more likely to work in intensive care units and inpatient hospitals, while primary care NPs are more likely to work in outpatient care, urgent care, physicians’ offices, or private practice. In any setting, their responsibilities are very similar to FNP responsibilities. These include:
- Seeing adolescent and adult patients
- Ordering medical tests
- Diagnosing conditions
- Prescribing treatments
- Prescribing medications
- Updating medical records
- Educating patients and family members
Education and Certification
Both FNPs and AGNPs are APRNs. Becoming an APRN requires earning at least an MSN, passing the applicable board certification examination, completing a criminal background check with fingerprinting, and getting licensed in your state.
The most common career path is to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing and then an MSN. Many schools offer RN-to-MSN bridge programs for nurses with an associate degree in nursing.
How to Become a Family Nurse Practitioner
Family nurse practitioner programs typically take two years for a full-time student with a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN). The curriculum covers assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for patients of all ages. Learners also participate in clinical hours with patients across the lifespan.
Programs typically require a rotation in maternity or women’s health. This may include a split course with half the semester dedicated to OB/GYN care and the other half to pediatrics.
Education and degree requirements include:
- A current and unencumbered RN license
- A BSN or associate degree in nursing (ADN), typically with at least a 3.0 GPA
- A clear criminal background check
- 1-2 years of work as an RN for most programs
The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board and the American Nurses Credentialing Center offer FNP certification. Both require an MSN or higher degree from an accredited program, 500 clinical hours, and a current and unrestricted RN license. Your state may have additional licensing requirements beyond board certification.
How to Become an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
AGNP programs generally take two years to complete. Nurses with an ADN can enter an RN-to-NP bridge program, which offers a narrower curriculum than that of the FNP. The AGNP program curriculum does not include infancy or childhood conditions, diagnoses, or treatments, and clinical hours do not include work with child patients.
Like FNP programs, you must have a current and unencumbered RN license, a BSN or an ADN, usually at least a 3.0 GPA, and a clear criminal background check. Most schools prefer at least 1-2 years of experience as an RN with adult patients.
The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board and the American Nurses Credentialing Center offer AGNP certification. NPs can become certified in adult gerontology primary care or adult-gerontology acute care.
To take either exam, you must have at least an MSN from an accredited program, 500 clinical hours, and a current, unrestricted RN license. Check your state board of nursing for other licensing requirements.
Salary and Career Outlook
Like the specialties, FNP and AGNP salary ranges are similar, but key differences exist based on your career choice. Primary care AGNPs earn more than FNPs, while acute care AGNP earnings are higher than those of both groups. Learn more details from the following breakdown of FNP and AGNP salaries.
FNP Salary and Career Outlook
Median Annual Family Nurse Practitioner Salary:$115,000, according to AANP
According to Payscale data from May 2024, the average annual FNP salary is $103,800, while the average hourly salary is about $54. FNP salaries range from $86,000 to $129,000. Salaries may vary based on experience, career advancement, location, and facility.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of NPs is projected to grow by 45% from 2022-2032, much faster than all other occupations. Factors influencing this large growth in demand include the physician shortage and an increase in patients choosing NPs as their primary healthcare providers.
AGNP Salary and Career Outlook
Median Annual Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Salary: $116,000, according to AANP
Median Annual Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Salary: $117,000, according to AANP
According to Payscale, the average annual AGNP salary is $107,530, while the average hourly salary is about $54. AGNP salaries range from $80,000 to $126,000. Your salary may vary based on experience, subspecialty choice, location, and facility.
Like FNPs, AGNP employment is projected to grow significantly over the next decade for the same reasons. Another factor influencing growth is that hiring AGNPs is more cost-effective than hiring physicians.
FNP vs. AGNP: Which Career Is Right for Me?
The family nurse practitioner vs. adult-gerontology nurse practitioner career decision depends on your career goals and preferences. \Both careers offer similar work settings and responsibilities and also require the same level of education and certification.
If you think you might later want to specialize further, specialize in pediatric care, or simply want to work with children as part of your practice, an FNP certification will let you work with any age.
However, if you think you might want to specialize in gerontology, acute care, behavioral health, hospice or palliative care, in that case, an AGNP specialty will give you more experience in those areas.
When making your FNP vs. AGNP decision, talking to mentors, networking at professional events, and discussing your options with school admission staff can be very helpful. Whichever you choose, you are launching a personally and financially rewarding career with high levels of professional autonomy and the chance to make a difference.
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Page last reviewed on May 7, 2024