FNP vs. DNP: What’s the Difference?

Nursing is the most trusted of all professions in the United States, with 76% of Americans ranking nurses as having high or very high honesty and ethical standards. Having maintained this level of trust from the American people for over 20 years, it’s no surprise that nurses have a wide variety of opportunities across the healthcare field.

One in-demand opportunity is to become a nurse practitioner (NP), as this career path offers nurses flexibility to work in a wide range of clinical settings, treat a variety of populations and create comprehensive treatment plans independently. 

Two terms that frequently come up when planning an NP career are the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree and the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) certification. While these are connected, the DNP refers to an academic credential, which can be specialized to family nurse practitioner careers or a general nursing leadership pathway. On the other hand, the FNP refers to a clinical role that can be sought after achieving national certification. Understanding how they differ can help nurses choose the right path for their goals.

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What Is the Main Difference Between an FNP and DNP?

Many nurses debate whether they should earn their Doctor of Nursing Practice or pursue Family Nurse Practitioner certification. Both pathways offer fulfilling career opportunities geared toward different nursing professionals. However, you don’t necessarily have to choose between the two pathways, as a Doctor of Nursing Practice – Family Nurse Practitioner allows you to earn a terminal degree alongside FNP credentials. 

What Is a DNP?

The Doctor of Nursing Practice is considered the terminal degree for clinical practice, meaning that it is the highest level of academic achievement for nurses who actively practice in a clinical setting. This degree is distinct from a nursing-focused Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or a Doctor of Education degree, which emphasize theory rather than applied practice.

Nurses with a DNP can work in a variety of settings. DNP degrees offer specialized coursework and clinical experiences that prepare nurses for expanded roles in leadership and clinical practice. For example, a DNP with a curricular and clinical focus on family nurse practitioner skills can qualify nurses for specialized FNP roles (provided they have earned the other necessary qualifications). 

DNP graduates tend to leverage their deep practice expertise and management capabilities to both serve patients and lead transformational systems change. 

The nursing profession is moving toward requiring the Doctor of Nursing Practice for advanced nursing practice in clinical settings. Earning this degree prepares nurses for a wide variety of clinical settings and allows them to holistically support patients with complex health situations.

How Do You Obtain a DNP or DNP-FNP?

Each university will have its own requirements and process for admissions. At Texas Wesleyan University, for example, DNP applicants must have:

• Current, unencumbered RN and APRN (nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist credential) licensure
• MS in Nursing that is accredited by a federally recognized nurse education accrediting body
• Prerequisite coursework in statistics and research (grade B), and minimum GPA (3.0)

Once you’ve been accepted into a DNP program, you’ll need to complete an advanced curriculum and focused work hours to earn your degree. 

Texas Wesleyan also offers a DNP-FNP program, which has the following admission requirements:

• Current, unencumbered RN licensure
• BS in Nursing that is accredited by a federally recognized nurse education accrediting body
• Prerequisite coursework in statistics and research (grade B), and minimum GPA (2.8 overall or 3.0 in upper division nursing courses)

Like the DNP, DNP-FNP students will work through a rigorous curriculum and complete clinical hours that prepare them for family nurse practitioner certification.

What Is an FNP?

FNP stands for family nurse practitioner, which is a type of specialized nurse practitioner credential. Key features of this career pathway include:

• Patient populations: Patients of all ages, from newborns to older adults, with a special focus on families and communities.
• Clinical setting: Typically primary care at clinics, although urgent care centers, community health centers and telehealth platforms are options.
• Practice responsibilities: Independent clinical decisions for nearly all aspects of primary care, including diagnosis, medication prescription and treatment planning.

Since they can deliver comprehensive care across such a wide variety of patient populations and clinical settings, there are many career opportunities available to family nurse practitioners.

Family nurse practitioners have a lot of responsibility, so they must meet certain requirements related to education, clinical experience, licensure and ethical standards. 

How Do You Become a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)?

To become an FNP, the first requirement is to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and obtain a license to practice as an RN. 

Advancing to a family nurse practitioner role significantly expands clinical authority and autonomy. To receive certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Association of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB), future FNPs must undergo rigorous study, many hours of supervised clinical experience and a board certification exam.

Education and Clinical Requirements for an FNP

To become eligible for FNP board certification, you need to obtain a graduate-level nursing degree with a specialty focus in family nurse practitioner that aligns with the requirements outlined by the ANCC and/or AANPCB. This could be a Doctor of Nursing Practice, Master of Science in Nursing or a graduate certificate* program. The program must:

• Be accredited by a federally recognized nursing accreditation body, such as the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• Include population-specific coursework in family practice
• Provide faculty-supervised clinical hours that meet or exceed the requirements of the ANCC or the AANPCB

*Note that the graduate certificate will only be applicable for active nurses who already have a graduate degree in nursing and are exclusively seeking FNP education and clinical experience.

Board Certification Exams

After completing your graduate education, you’ll need to earn national certification to practice as an FNP. This means you must:

• Sit for and pass the FNP Board Certification Exam offered by either the ANCC or AANPCB. Both exams (and credentials) are comparable.
• Submit your FNP credential application to your state Board of Nursing alongside official transcripts, Validation of Education form and any other documentation that may be required (such as a background check or ethics clearance).

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FNP vs. DNP: Salary and Career Outlook

In general, nurses benefit from a stable job market and high demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurses can expect stronger than average job growth (6% through 2033). 

For nurse practitioners, however, job growth is booming as more healthcare facilities rely on NPs to provide primary care to patients across the life span. Nurse practitioners (as well as nurse anesthetists and nurse midwives) can expect a whopping 40% increase in available jobs through 2033.

Nursing Salaries: How Much Can You Earn?

Nurses with a variety of educational backgrounds and credentials can also expect strong earning potential throughout their careers. Here is a breakdown of the median annual salaries for nurses, based on their education and credentials/roles. 

These are mostly starting salaries, meaning that these are the salaries you may see immediately following graduation. However, nursing professionals can see exponential growth in their salaries over time through experience.

Median Annual Salary by Education

Source: Lightcast, Payscale, and Research.com

Median Annual Salary by Credential/Role

*Includes FNPs
Source: Lightcast, Payscale, and Research.com

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What Path Should You Choose?

Depending on where you are in your nursing career, earning your Doctor of Nursing Practice or pursuing FNP certification could be a great next step. Or, if you want to achieve the highest degree in nursing along with your FNP certification, you can earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice – Family Nurse Practitioner degree to achieve both goals.

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Build the Nursing Career You’ve Always Wanted at Texas Wesleyan

Our suite of online nursing practice graduate programs are thoughtfully designed to give you the skills and education you need to support better patient outcomes. Program options include:

• Doctor of Nursing Practice – Family Nurse Practitioner
• Doctor of Nursing Practice
• Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner
• Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate

Students benefit from a rigorous curriculum taught by supportive faculty who are experts in their fields. Courses are designed to encourage collaboration and connection among peers, fostering a learning environment where healthcare professionals grow together in knowledge and skill.

Download a brochure to learn more about our online graduate programs in nursing practice, or get started on your application today.

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