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Before you can become a nurse practitioner, you must first be a registered nurse. Your license must be valid and unrestricted. If you hold a valid and restricted license from another state, you may be able to apply for Licensure by Endorsement to get a Virginia license.  If you're a Canadian nurse moving to Virginia, you may also be eligible for Licensure by endorsement provided your training was primarily in English. If you recently graduated from a state-approved nursing program, you can apply for the RN license by examination. If you received your nursing education in the US territory of Puerto Rico or in a foreign country, contact the Committee of the Joint Boards of Nursing and Medicine at 804-367-4555 to find out how to get your RN license in Virginia. While you can get your RN license immediately after you graduate, you can't continue on to graduate-level education until you've had at least one year of experience as an RN. This experience also gives you the opportunity to observe practicing NPs and get a better understanding of what they do. While no specific experience is required, it's a good idea to get experience that corresponds with the particular nursing field you want to specialize in an NP. A certified NP can have either a master's degree or a doctoral degree in nursing. The program you choose may not make a tremendous difference in your pay as an NP. However, a doctoral program typically requires a greater investment on your part in terms of both time and money.  Tuition costs for in-state resident students tend to be between $500 and $700 an hour. For a master's degree, you'll typically need around 50 credits. A doctoral degree usually requires around 80 credits. Master's programs typically take 2 to 3 years to complete, while a doctoral program takes 3 to 4 years. If you're only attending part-time, however, it will likely take you longer. Once you've chosen the type of program you want, find schools that offer that program. Compare the schools based on their location, tuition rates, and acceptance rates to find the program that will work best for you. Application requirements for graduate-level nursing programs in Virginia typically include:  A bachelor's degree in nursing from an accredited institution A valid and unrestricted RN license At least one year of experience as a practicing RN A 3.0 GPA in all secondary education Letters of recommendation A completed written application After 3 to 5 years of hard work, depending on the program you choose and your attendance, you'll likely meet the requirements for your graduate degree. Most graduate programs include a classroom component and a clinical practice component. Graduate-level nursing programs typically have arrangements with nearby hospitals and medical centers where graduate nursing students can complete clinical rotations.
Hold a valid license as a registered nurse (RN) in Virginia. Work for at least one year as a registered nurse. Choose an accredited master's or doctoral nursing program. Apply to graduate-level nursing programs. Earn a graduate degree in nursing.