Florida is fast becoming one of the most attractive states for nurse practitioners (NP). Projections Central predicts more than 9,500 job openings by 2030.
Nurse practitioner programs are your pathway to a potentially satisfying career as a highly skilled and sought-after healthcare professional.
Knowing how to choose from the variety of available programs can be confusing, especially since their successful completion requires a significant investment of time, money, and personal resources.
This ranking guide will help you make an informed choice through a review of the top 10 Florida nurse practitioner programs, admission requirements, the importance of program accreditation, and what you can do in your career once you have earned a graduate nurse practitioner degree.
We use a data-driven methodology to rank the best ADN-to-MSN (RN to NP) bridge programs, making it easier for you to find a program that works for you. Our methodology is based on metrics that we believe matter most to students, including: Academic quality, affordability, reputation, and program offerings.
Featured Online NP Programs
Using Our Rankings: What to Look For in an Florida Nurse Practitioner Program
The following key metrics contribute to our overall ranking of the best Florida NP programs. By using these measures to evaluate programs of interest to you, you can feel more confident in making a choice that’s right for you.
Admission Requirements
Admission requirements for each school will be fairly similar. Some key differences may influence which programs are more attractive, like overall GPA and requirements for previous clinical experience.
Specializations
When choosing between NP programs, focus on the specializations. For example, if you’re interested in either adult-gerontology or pediatrics, you can immediately rule out Florida nurse practitioner programs that don’t offer these focuses.
Clinical Experience
All NP programs require clinical hours, yet each school’s approach may be different. Some programs offer robust assistance with finding appropriate clinical placements, and others may leave the arrangement of clinical placements completely in your hands.
Another factor that could influence your choice of programs is the number of required clinical hours, which may vary from 500 to 1,000 hours.
Accreditation
Nurse practitioner program accreditation is a crucial factor to consider. The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) are the two most widely accepted accrediting bodies for nursing programs. All nurse practitioner board certifications require that you attend an accredited program to be eligible for examination.
Program Length
Program length may vary significantly enough to make a difference, especially if you’re juggling work, parenting, or other personal or professional responsibilities.
Full-time programs lasting 24-30 months are not uncommon, and some part-time Florida nurse practitioner programs may take as long as 36 months to complete.
Board Certification Pass Rate
The student pass rate of various nurse practitioner board certification exams is a direct reflection of the quality of education at a particular school. A consistently low annual pass rate may signal that the education that school provides isn’t properly preparing students for successful board exams and subsequent clinical practice.
Why Is Florida Nurse Practitioner Program Accreditation Important?
Accreditation of Florida nurse practitioner programs is central to the potential success of your education and your career. Note that every program included in our rankings is accredited.
Both the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) are the certifying bodies.
Attending an NP program that lacks lacks accreditation can have serious consequences, including:
- Ineligibility for certification exams
- Credits not transferring when applying for further education (e.g.: Ph.D. or DNP)
- Being passed over by certain employers
- Lack of access to financial aid
- Difficulty transferring your nursing license to another state
Learn More About the Best Florida Nurse Practitioner Programs & Schools
See our methodology to learn more about how we create our rankings.
#1 The Best Florida Nurse Practitioner Programs 2023
Florida International University
- Miami, FL
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Florida International University, a nationally-recognized public research institution, offers over 190 programs at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels, including 130 online options. Designed for working professionals, the master of science in nursing features four specialty nurse practitioner tracks.
The adult-gerontology, pediatric, and psychiatric mental health tracks each require 45 credits for completion. The family nurse practitioner specialty requires 49 credits. All students, regardless of their population focus, take foundational core courses in nursing theory, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and research methods.
- Program: Master of science in nursing-nurse practitioner
- Campus: Miami, Florida
- Type: Public
- Accreditations: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $4,101 per semester for Florida residents; $9,015 for out-of-state students
- Admission Requirements: BSN; minimum 3.0 GPA; current State of Florida RN license
- Minimum Time Commitment: Six semesters
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (2021/2022): 91.3% first-time pass rate
- Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $166,709 for master's graduates, according to College Scorecard
Percent Online Enrollment
86%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
#2 The Best Florida Nurse Practitioner Programs 2023
University of Miami
- Coral Gables, FL
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Spanning 240 acres in the city of Coral Gables, the University of Miami serves a diverse student body of over 17,000. The School of Nursing and Health Studies, established in 1948 as the first collegiate nursing program in South Florida, offers a master of science in nursing with family nurse practitioner, adult-gerontology acute care, and adult gerontology primary care tracks.
MSN students follow a lock-step plan of study, completing courses in sequence each semester.
- Program: Master of science in nursing - nurse practitioner
- Campus: Coral Gables, Florida
- Type: Private
- Accreditations: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $15,096 per semester
- Admission Requirements: BSN; minimum 3.0 GPA; undergraduate statistics course; current RN license
- Minimum Time Commitment: Three semesters
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (2021/2022): 91.3% first-time pass rate
- Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $95,591 for master's graduates, according to College Scorecard
Percent Online Enrollment
33%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
#3 The Best Florida Nurse Practitioner Programs 2023
The University of West Florida
- Pensacola, FL
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
One of 12 schools comprising the State University System of Florida, the University of West Florida enrolls over 13,000 students in 110 undergraduate and graduate programs. The 45-credit family nurse practitioner program prepares students for advanced practice registered nurse roles and for doctoral studies.
The curriculum consists of a direct care core, specialized courses, and 600 clinical hours. Students must attend a virtual immersion orientation and skills workshop the summer before they begin their clinical practicum placements.
- Program: Master of science - family nurse practitioner
- Campus: Pensacola, Florida
- Type: Public
- Accreditations: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $378 per credit for Florida residents; $1,037 for out-of-state students
- Admission Requirements: BSN; minimum 3.0 GPA; undergraduate statistics course with a grade of "C" or better; current RN license
- Minimum Time Commitment: Seven semesters
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (2021/2022): 94.4% first-time pass rate
- Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $58,454 for bachelor's graduates, according to College Scorecard
Percent Online Enrollment
97%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
#4 The Best Florida Nurse Practitioner Programs 2023
Barry University
- Miami, FL
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
A Catholic institution founded by the Adrian Dominican Sisters in 1940, Barry University has evolved from a small women's college to a major South Florida institution providing undergraduate, graduate, and professional education to a co-ed student body of 9,000. The master of science in nursing offers a 48-credit family nurse practitioner and 51-credit adult-gerontology acute care specialty track. The College of Health and Wellness offers a 25% tuition discount to students admitted into the MSN program.
- Program: Master of science - nurse practitioner
- Campus: Miami, Florida
- Type: Private
- Accreditations: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $990 per credit
- Admission Requirements: BSN; minimum 3.0 GPA; undergraduate statistics and research courses with a grade of "B" or better; current RN license; at least one year clinical experience
- Minimum Time Commitment: Seven semesters
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (2021/2022): 82.4% first-time pass rate
- Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $111,492 for master's graduates, according to College Scorecard
Percent Online Enrollment
23%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
#5 The Best Florida Nurse Practitioner Programs 2023
Jacksonville University
- Jacksonville, FL
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Located on the St. Johns River in northeastern Florida, Jacksonville University administers over 100 academic programs, including degrees in business, marine science, engineering, and nursing.
Designed for working nurses, the family nurse practitioner master's emphasizes individual attention and small classes. The convenient schedule permits full-time students to take classes on campus 6-11 hours each Wednesday, while part-time students attend 3-6 hours on Wednesday. Students receive professional learning experiences through virtual reality labs, telepresence robots, a state-of-the-art simulation center, and clinical placements.
- Program: Master of science - family nurse practitioner
- Campus: Jacksonville, Florida
- Type: Private
- Accreditations: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $675 per credit
- Admission Requirements: BSN; minimum 3.0 GPA; current RN license
- Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (2021/2022): 85.1% first-time pass rate
- Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $82,440 for master's graduates, according to College Scorecard
Percent Online Enrollment
64%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Applying to a Nurse Practitioner Program in Florida
Every Florida nurse practitioner program may be slightly different in terms of its admissions process, so doing some research is definitely a must. Here are examples of several programs’ admission requirements.
Admission Requirements
- A BSN from an institution accredited by either CCNE or ACEN
- Successfully passing an undergraduate statistics course
- Holding a valid RN license in the state or county where you practice
- Submitting an application form, residency form, recommendations, essay/personal statement, and resume
- 1-2 years of clinical nursing experience
- Application fee
Admission Materials
Applicants may need to submit a resume, personal essay or statement of intent, letters of reference from academic, professional, or clinical supervisors, and proof of RN licensure.
What Can You Do With a Degree from a Florida Nurse Practitioner Program?
Florida nurse practitioner programs prepare graduates for careers as highly valued advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). These programs may provide education for any or all of the currently nationally approved nurse practitioner specialization areas.
The degree offered by NP programs is a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a specific clinical specialization. These programs can take anywhere from 30 - 40 months to complete, depending on whether you are enrolled part- or full-time.
There are multiple areas of clinical specialization for students getting a nurse practitioner degree to choose from, including:
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP-BC)
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification (AGACNP-BC)
- Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP)
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP-BC)
- Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP-BC)
- Primary Care Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP-PC)
- Acute Care Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP-AC)
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC)
In Florida, total NP employment in 2021 was 14,880, with a median annual salary of $120,680 and an average annual salary of $118,040, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The average hourly rate for Florida NPs was $50.40, and projected job growth between 2020 and 2030 is a robust 70.8%. Top Florida metro areas for average NP salary are:
- Sebring: $121,460
- Port St. Lucie: $119,280
- Gainesville: $114,390
- Panama City: $112,920
- Cape Coral - Ft. Meyers: $111,690
Frequently Asked Questions About Nurse Practitioner Programs in Florida
How long is NP school in Florida?
Most NP programs in Florida take 2-3 years for a full-time student with a bachelor's degree in nursing to complete. Some programs offer an accelerated online option that allows nurses to earn their MSN in about 18 months. There are also accelerated nursing options for individuals who do not have an undergraduate degree in nursing.
How long does it take to get an NP license in Florida?
To become an NP in Florida, you need to hold a valid nursing license and a master's degree. Depending on the path you take to your master's degree, it often takes about six years to qualify for the license. That includes 3-4 years to earn a bachelor's and an additional 2-3 years of study for the MSN.
What skills do you learn in NP school in Florida?
Common skills that are likely to be learned during your education within any Florida nurse practitioner program include:
- Advanced physical assessment
- Taking a comprehensive patient history
- Accurately entering patient data and clinical documentation into an electronic medical record (EMR)
- Conflict resolution
- Motivational interviewing
- Therapeutic communication
- Mental health evaluation
- Advanced understanding of pharmacology
- Advanced understanding of pathophysiology and the diagnostic process
- Procedural skills (e.g.: joint injections, pelvic exams, skin biopsies, suturing)
What financial aid options are available for NP schools in Florida?
Financial aid and scholarships for nurse practitioner students can include a variety of sources that are worthy of robust research, including, but not limited to:
- Scholarships from private and civic organizations (e.g.: Rotary Club)
- Scholarships from nursing associations (e.g.: National Association of Hispanic Nurses, Indian Health Service)
- Federally funded student loan programs
- Federally funded grant programs
- Alumni-funded scholarships
Page last reviewed: October 24, 2022. Note: The ranking list and school descriptions on this page were created and reviewed independently by our Rankings Team.
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