Frequently Asked Questions

This program is a streamlined pathway for advanced practice education and is tailored to you. Enter the program with a bachelor’s or master’s degree, and graduate with your doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree.

Upon graduating, you will be fully prepared to take your nurse practitioner (NP) licensing exam.  Boise State alumni currently boast a 99% pass rate on their first attempt, scoring over 100 points higher than the national average.

For nurses who already hold an advanced practice degree – like nurse practitioners, anesthetists or midwives – the post-master’s track won’t include any nurse practitioner coursework.

• DNP – Doctor of Nursing Practice
• MSN – Master of Science in Nursing

Our program is keeping pace with industry changes prompted by the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF). In 2022, the professional organization announced all entry-level nurse practitioner programs will be required to offer doctoral-level education by 2025. Earning your DNP as a nurse practitioner will ensure you remain competitive in the job market and prepared to meet the health needs of your patients.

BS-DNP tracks

These tracks bridge bachelor’s-level education to doctoral, saving students time and money. Typical doctoral programs take 3-5 years to complete after first spending 2-3 years earning a master’s degree. As a full-time student, you can earn your degree in as few as 3 years.

Post-Master’s track

This track takes about 2 years to complete. Note that master’s-prepared applicants undergo a transcript review and may have redundant coursework eliminated from their requirements based on their master’s-level education. Contact nursingdnp@boisestate.edu to learn more.

Applicants must have a minimum of a bachelor’s of science in nursing degree and a valid, unencumbered nursing license.

No. Applicants are not required to have prior credits in statistics or research.