By: Mimi Polner
APRN vs NP: What’s the difference?
APRNs and NPs hold advanced degrees and certifications in their areas of expertise. But there are differences.
Key Takeaways
- All nurse practitioners (NPs) are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), but not all APRNs are NPs.
- The main difference lies in specialization and job responsibilities; NPs focus on primary care in specific areas while APRNs can hold various roles.
- To become an NP, one must earn an MSN or DNP and pass a certification exam; APRNs have distinct requirements based on their specialty.
- Nurse practitioners typically choose a specialty before licensing, while other APRNs can select it after starting practice.
All nurse practitioners (NPs) are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), but not all APRNs are NPs. You can find both NPs and APRNs working in hospitals, clinics, specialty offices among other places.
APRNs and NPs hold advanced degrees and certifications in their areas of expertise. They often have nurse leadership positions within hospitals or private practices and they earn higher salaries than registered nurses in the same specialties.
What are the differences between APRNs and NPs?
A nurse practitioner (NP) is a type of APRN. The other three types of APRNs are nurse midwives (NMs), clinical nurse specialists (CNSs), and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs).
NPs specialize in chosen areas of medicine, such as gerontology, women’s health or mental health. The primary difference between the two is not only specialization but the job responsibilities and duties they perform.
APRN and NP roles and responsibilities
Compare side by side: APRN vs NP duties and responsibilities
Nurse Practitioner
Nurse practitioner responsibilities may include providing these types of primary care tasks to patients:
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
The other types of ARPNs are responsible for the following:
Workplaces
NPs and APRNs can find work in a variety of healthcare settings, including:
Nurse practitioner specialties
While APRNs also have the ability to specialize in administrative, clinical and practical areas, they can choose a specialty after they start practicing as an RN. Nurse practitioners are required to choose a specialty before they become licensed. NPs can specialize in:
Family nursing: Provide care and counseling for all ages, from pediatric to elderly.
Psychiatry nursing: Give treatment to all ages for mental health disorders.
Pediatric nursing: Provide care for children ages zero to 18 (most commonly).
Neonatal nursing: Provide advanced care to babies in the labor and delivery units and ICU.
Adult gerontology nursing: Manage acute and primary care for adults, from young adults to seniors.
Women’s health nursing: Give primary care with a focus on reproductive and gynecological health.
Similarly, clinical nurse specialists and certified registered nurse anesthetists can specialize in different areas.
CNSs can choose to work with a specific set of the population, such as adults or children, or within a certain medical specialty, such as cardiology or oncology.
CRNAs can specialize in areas like pediatric, obstetric, cardiovascular or neurosurgical anesthesia, to name a few.
What degree does each job require?
All APRNs hold advanced degrees.
To become a nurse practitioner, you’ll need to earn either a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. To get into a higher education program, most schools will require you to have earned a Bachelor’s in Nursing (BSN), but there are some that will accept associate degrees.
Nurse midwives and CNSs must hold, at minimum, an MSN.
CRNAs need to earn both an MSN and either a DNP or Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP).
Licenses and certifications
To become an APRN, you need to be a registered nurse, first and foremost. Then, depending on what type of APRN you want to become, you’ll need to apply for a specific license and/or certification.
To become an APRN, you need to be a registered nurse, first and foremost.
NP Requirements
NPs need to complete their MSN or DNP degree and then pass the certification exam for their chosen specialty. NP certifications are offered by:
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioner Certification Board (AANPCB)
- American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN)
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB)
- National Certification Corporation (NCC)
After you’ve taken and passed your certification exam, you can apply to be licensed in the state you intend to practice. Licenses must be maintained and recertified every few years. In some states, you need to apply for a separate licensure in order to prescribe medication.
APRN Requirements
Each type of APRN has their own license and certification requirements.
To become a licensed CRNA, you have to take and pass the national certification exam that’s administered by the National Board of Certification for Registered Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA). This three-hour exam is taken on the computer and consists of 100 to 170 questions. You must have a doctoral degree and a current RN license in order to sit for the exam.
Nurse midwives must take and pass a certification exam given by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB). The exam is four hours long and consists of 175 multiple-choice questions.
In order to become state certified, clinical nurse specialists must pass a certification exam from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses in their desired specialty. Aspiring CNSs must have a certain number of direct care hours before they can sit for their certification exam.
APRN and NP salaries
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics cites the median annual salary for nurse practitioners as $132,300, with a strong job growth outlook of 40.1% through 2034.
The top earning nurse practitioners make up to $174,420, and the bottom 10% earn $101,340. Salaries by state for NPs are as follows:
And for certified nurse midwives:
Finally, salaries for certified registered nurse anesthetists:
Compare median annual salaries for NPs, APRNs and related careers:
Which job is right for me?
Choosing to become a nurse practitioner over a different type of APRN is personal and depends on what specialty and responsibilities you’re most interested in.
If you’re looking to provide primary care, becoming a nurse practitioner might be well suited for you. If you prefer a more administrative role in healthcare, a clinical nurse specialist may be a better fit. Those interested in monitoring anesthesia and other medications can go on to become certified registered nurse anesthetists. There is no one right, wrong or better choice—all of these roles can be very fulfilling emotionally, ethically and financially.
