Frequently Asked Questions

Choosing the right nursing program is a big step, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. Start with this quick overview of our online graduate programs in nursing practice and then let's talk about what makes sense for you: call 817-785-9307 to discuss your professional goals and academic background with an enrollment specialist. You can also email nursingpractice@txwes.edu to set up a time to talk.

All four programs include our Art & Science of Nurse Coaching course, which teaches you to guide patients through meaningful conversations about their health goals. This course qualifies you to sit for the national nurse coaching certification exam.

*The DNP does not require any clinical hours but does require 500 work hours, which focus on leadership, quality improvement and systems-level projects rather than direct patient care.

You can complete any of the programs — the DNP-FNP, DNP, MSN-FNP and the FNP Certificate — as a full-time or a part-time student.

Spring and Summer 2026 enrollment will be offered as part-time coursework only. Full-time enrollment will be available beginning Fall 2026 and for all subsequent terms.

Yes, but it’s important to plan thoughtfully. These are rigorous, graduate-level programs designed to prepare you for advanced practice and leadership. You may find it difficult to work your typical schedule and complete your program successfully. It can be especially difficult if you are balancing full-time work with a full-time courseload.

We understand the realities of life as a working nurse and provide high levels of flexibility and support. This includes online coursework that you can access at the times that work best for you.

However, it’s important to know that most of our students do have to reduce their work responsibilities and make personal adjustments to manage the program demands.

The online coursework is designed to fit around your schedule. You can access lectures and complete readings whenever works best for you, as long as you meet the assignment deadlines (though specific expectations can vary slightly by course).

The one exception is our nurse coaching course, which includes a live 1.5-hour session each week at a scheduled time.

Nearly all coursework takes place online. However, there are some required on-campus components that are part of the degrees and the certificate.

• One-day orientation (all programs)
• Two skills intensives on campus (DNP-FNP, MSN-FNP, FNP Certificate)
• Doctoral project presentations (DNP-FNP and DNP)

Texas Wesleyan doesn’t assign preceptors but can provide extensive support throughout the placement process.

Our team will provide you with lists of previous placements and potential preceptor contacts in your area. You’ll reach out to arrange your clinical experiences, and we’ll handle the contracting and approval process. If you’re having difficulty securing a placement, faculty will step in on your behalf. Some faculty even take students in their own clinical practices.

For the FNP programs, you cannot complete clinical hours at your current employer. For the DNP, you can complete work hours at your current employer as long as they’re not during your regular duty hours.

The following clinical hours are required:

• MSN-FNP and FNP Certificate: 855 clinical hours over the last four semesters in outpatient or primary care settings
• DNP-FNP: 1,035 clinical hours starting in the third full-time semester in outpatient or primary care settings
• DNP: No clinical hours, but 500 DNP work hours are required over the last four semesters (can be medical facilities, clinics or community health settings)

We do not require any specific amount of professional nursing experience. However, all programs require an active RN license, and some programs have additional licensure or degree requirements.

No GRE is required for any of our online graduate programs in nursing practice.

Yes, all eligible veterans and active-duty military personnel qualify for Yellow Ribbon funding.

Visit the Texas Wesleyan veteran’s benefits page for more information on how to apply for these benefits.

The Texas Wesleyan FAFSA school code is 003645.

While we are affiliated with the Methodist church, you do not need to be Methodist or belong to any particular faith to be a student at Texas Wesleyan. The University welcomes individuals of all faiths and is thoroughly inclusive in its practices.

Our focus is on providing care for each other by meeting every person where they are with what they need. We see mind, body and soul as all being part of holistic care. You can learn more about our Methodist heritage on our about page or on our Texas Wesleyan history page.

• The DNP-FNP is for nurses who want to earn their doctorate and become family nurse practitioners. The program includes leadership education, policy development and evidence-based practice coursework. This degree takes a minimum of three years to complete and includes 1,035 clinical hours.
• The DNP is for nurses who already have their master’s degree and advanced practice credentials. This program takes a minimum of two years to complete and focuses on leadership, policy work and organizational change without clinical practice hours (though you will complete 500 work hours).

You must have:

• Unencumbered RN license in the state where you’ll complete clinical hours
• Bachelor’s degree in nursing from a nationally recognized nurse education accrediting body
• Minimum 3.0 GPA in upper-level nursing courses and 2.8 GPA overall
• Statistics and research course completed with a grade of B or higher

You can see more details, including what’s required for the application, on our admissions page.

Our curriculum allows you to sit for both the ANCC Family Nurse Practitioner board certification exam and the AANP Family Nurse Practitioner certification exam, so you can select the option that works best for you. The DNP-FNP curriculum and learning outcomes are specifically mapped to the credentialing requirements of both organizations.

We take your board certification seriously and prepare you from the very start of your program.

• Integrated Board Review: We incorporate board review questions and preparation into every one of our clinical courses.
• Predictor Exams: At the start of your final semester, you’ll take a predictor exam to identify areas for improvement, then work with faculty to create targeted study plans. Then you’ll take a second predictor exam at the end of the semester to check your progress.
• Continuous Assessment: The clinical courses include quizzes that use board-style questions, so that you are comfortable with the certification exam format.

Our approach works: 92.6% of Texas Wesleyan graduates pass their FNP boards, compared to 83% for all test takers nationwide.

You must complete 1,035 clinical hours. These hours start in the third semester and take place in outpatient or primary care settings.

Yes, you can transfer up to 12 graduate credit hours from an accredited program as long as you earned grades of B or higher and took the coursework within the past five years.

The DNP is designed for advanced practice nurses who want to move from direct patient care into leadership roles. You’re a good fit if you already have an MSN and hold an APRN license or clinical nurse specialist credential.

This program is ideal if you want to improve healthcare at the systems level, lead quality improvement initiatives or influence organizational change.

Some of the courses you’ll take include healthcare policy, practice leadership, evidence-informed practice, population health and practice management. See more about what you’ll learn in the DNP curriculum.

• The DNP is for nurses who already have their master’s degree and advanced practice credentials. This program takes a minimum of two years to complete and focuses on leadership, policy work and organizational change without clinical practice hours (though you will complete 500 work hours).
• The DNP-FNP is for nurses who want to earn their doctorate and become family nurse practitioners. The program includes leadership education, policy development and evidence-based practice coursework. This degree takes a minimum of three years to complete and includes 1,035 clinical hours.

You must have:

• Unencumbered RN license
• APRN licensure and/or clinical nurse specialist credential
• Master of Science in Nursing with federally recognized accreditation from a nurse education accrediting body
• Minimum 3.0 GPA in master’s-level coursework
• Graduate statistics and research courses completed with a grade of B or higher

You can see more details, including what’s required for the application, on our admissions page.

The minimum time to complete the program as a full-time student is two years.

No, DNP students only complete work hours (500 hours), which are completed over the last four semesters.

Yes, you can transfer up to 12 graduate credit hours from an accredited program as long as you earned grades of B or higher and took the coursework within the past five years.

The DNP-FNP includes everything in the MSN-FNP program, plus doctoral-level coursework in healthcare policy, evidence-based practice, leadership and systems-level change. The MSN-FNP focuses more on clinical practice as a family nurse practitioner.

Both programs prepare you for the FNP board certification exam and include the option to get your nurse coaching certificate. The choice depends on whether you want to focus only on clinical practice (MSN-FNP) or combine clinical expertise with leadership preparation (DNP-FNP).

You can complete the MSN-FNP in a minimum of two years and the DNP-FNP in a minimum of three years.

We’re happy to tell you more about the differences and help you decide which is the best fit for your plans. Call 817-785-9307 or email nursingpractice@txwes.edu to schedule a time.

You must have:

• Unencumbered RN license in the state where you’ll complete clinical hours
• Bachelor’s degree in nursing from a nationally recognized nurse education accrediting body
• Minimum 3.0 GPA in upper-level nursing courses and 2.8 GPA overall

You can see more details, including what’s required for the application, on our admissions page.

Our curriculum allows you to sit for both the ANCC Family Nurse Practitioner board certification exam and the AANP Family Nurse Practitioner certification exam, so you can select the option that works best for you. The MSN-FNP curriculum and learning outcomes are specifically mapped to the credentialing requirements of both organizations.

We take your board certification seriously and prepare you from the very start of your program.

• Integrated Board Review: We incorporate board review questions and preparation into every one of our clinical courses.
• Predictor Exams: At the start of your final semester, you’ll take a predictor exam to identify areas for improvement, then work with faculty to create targeted study plans. Then you’ll take a second predictor exam at the end of the semester to check your progress.
• Continuous Assessment: The clinical courses include quizzes that use board-style questions, so that you are comfortable with the certification exam format.

Our approach works: 92.6% of Texas Wesleyan graduates pass their FNP boards, compared to 83% for all test takers nationwide.

Yes, you can transfer up to 12 graduate credit hours from an accredited program as long as you earned grades of B or higher and took the coursework within the past five years.

The FNP Certificate is designed for nurses who already have advanced education and want to add family nurse practitioner credentials without earning another degree. Consider this program if you:

• Hold an MSN and want to transition to family practice
• Have a DNP or PhD in nursing but lack FNP certification
• Want to expand your scope of practice to include diagnosis and medication management without repeating graduate coursework you’ve already completed

The certificate focuses specifically on what you need for FNP board certification rather than on general graduate nursing education. You’ll complete the same clinical requirements and FNP-specific coursework as degree students, but you won’t need to take foundational courses you’ve likely already covered in your MSN.

The minimum time to complete the program as a full-time student is two years.

You must have:

• Unencumbered RN license in the state where you’ll complete clinical hours
• Graduate degree in nursing from a nationally recognized nurse education accrediting body
• Minimum 3.0 GPA in previous degree

You can see more details, including what’s required for the application, on our admissions page.

Our curriculum allows you to sit for both the ANCC Family Nurse Practitioner board certification exam and the AANP Family Nurse Practitioner certification exam, so you can select the option that works best for you. The FNP Certificate curriculum and learning outcomes are specifically mapped to the credentialing requirements of both organizations.

We take your board certification seriously and prepare you from the very start of your program.

• Integrated Board Review: We incorporate board review questions and preparation into every one of our clinical courses.
• Predictor Exams: At the start of your final semester, you’ll take a predictor exam to identify areas for improvement, then work with faculty to create targeted study plans. Then you’ll take a second predictor exam at the end of the semester to check your progress.
• Continuous Assessment: The clinical courses include quizzes that use board-style questions, so that you are comfortable with the certification exam format.

Our approach works: 92.6% of Texas Wesleyan graduates pass their FNP boards, compared to 83% for all test takers nationwide.

Yes, you can transfer up to 12 graduate credit hours from an accredited program as long as you earned grades of B or higher and took the coursework within the past five years.

You will complete 855 clinical hours. These hours are completed over the last four semesters of the certificate and take place in outpatient or primary care settings.