Fastest Online DNP Programs

What follows is a breezy guide to the shortest online Doctor of Nursing Practice programs. We’ve sorted and analyzed dozens of programs to cover how many months they take, how many semesters you’ll be studying, and the number of credits and clinical hours you’ll complete.

By definition, post-master’s DNPs are the shortest, so we’ll focus on these. But first, we’ll give a brief overview of how different DNP programs are structured.

How Long Are DNP programs?

The length of a DNP program depends on multiple factors:

• The pathway you choose, such as BSN-DNP or MSN-DNP
• Whether you enroll part-time or full-time
• Whether you’re seeking a specialization and/or dual degree

Though some schools admit nurses with associate degrees or offer post-doctoral certificates for nurses switching specialties, there are three standard pathways:

Post-Bachelor’s DNP

Registered nurses who hold a BSN can expect to take three to four years getting their DNP–and four or five years if they attend part-time. The exact number of credit hours depends on the specialty but is typically in the range of 75 – 80 units. This includes at least 1,000 clinical hours.

Post-Master’s DNP without Specialty

Post-bachelor’s DNP programs often frontload coursework in the specialization toward the first few years of the program — some even grant an MSN midway through. For that reason, many post-master’s DNPs are more general. They’re a combo of advanced didactic coursework and classes needed to complete the DNP project. Students take two to three years; accelerated programs wrap up in just one to two. These programs usually involve half the number of credits of a post-bachelor’s DNP, putting them around 35 – 40 credits, including up to 500 clinical hours.

Post-Master’s DNP with Specialty

Some post-master’s programs do allow for specialization, oftentimes a different one from what the student explored for their MSN. Most specializations have a core that necessarily adds credits to the program. Therefore, some can be just as long as a post-bachelor’s program — around 75 credits over four or five years. Common tracks for current APRNs include Leadership and Nurse Executive. Non-APRNs may have to hunt for specializations like Family Nurse Practitioner or Gerontology.

What Are the Minimum DNP Program Requirements?

Now that you know how long the standard DNP program is, let’s look at the minimum requirements in terms of credits and practice hours.

How Many Credits Are the Shortest DNP Programs?

A short DNP program might be anywhere between 21 and 40 credits, depending on both program structure and the number of practicum hours enrollees bring in from an MSN program. The average for a fast program is 33-35 credits.

As you’ll see from our listings further down the page, the difference between a fast program and a standard one isn’t typically credits — it’s structure. While faster DNPs might drop a course requirement, they are scheduled so that students can fit more into a single term.

Minimum Clinical Practice Hour Requirements

Clinical practice hours are activities that allow students to apply skills they’ve learned and master them in real-life settings. They’re required to make sure nurses are qualified to work in patient-care settings. At the post-master’s level, most of these hours count toward a final DNP project.

To be accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), a DNP program needs to include at least 1,000 hours of post-baccalaureate practice. CCNE allows schools with post-master’s DNP programs to calculate how many credits students have left based on how many they entered with. Since a master’s level nurse practitioner program needs to include at least 500 clinical hours, that means students coming in with an MSN need at most 500 hours. The range required for the fastest programs is 300 to 500, with an average of around 450. This is partly because many of the shortest programs eschew specializations, which can add practicum requirements.

Looking at speed another way, you may want to calculate your commute time. Students get practicums in one of two ways. First, they can find their own. Often, this can be a student’s workplace as long as they’re in a different role at the hospital and aren’t getting paid. Second, students can choose from practicum sites arranged by the school. Online programs may have smaller networks in your area, so prepare to drive a bit. Otherwise, roll up your sleeves and help find a site that works for you.

What to Expect from a One-Year DNP Program

Let’s be realistic: It’s only possible to finish up a DNP program in under two years if you’re starting with credits under your belt and are willing to take a full load year-round. Here are three things to expect from the program:

• You’ll be required to come in with an MSN and, quite likely, certification as an advanced practice registered nurse – that is, a certified clinical nurse specialist (CNS), certified nurse practitioner (CNP), certified nurse-midwife (CNM) or certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA).
• You’ll sign up to be a full-time student or even take a bit above a full load. That can mean taking time off from work or altering your schedule significantly.
• You may have to take classes or clinicals during the summer semester.
• There’s no room for specializations. If you want to continue along with a specialization, it means more credits and more time.

Here’s what that might look like in terms of a course plan:

Semester 1 (Fall):

You’ll start with at least nine credits from didactic courses. That translates to, at minimum, three courses. Also, expect to start working on your project right away. If only 40 or 50 hours are mandated at this point, you’ll be loaded up with clinical hours later. More equitable distribution is 120 hours or about three weeks of full-time work. Once you combine courses and clinicals, you’re looking at 10 credits or more total this term.

Semester 2 (Spring):

Programs often ramp up in one of two ways during the second term: with another didactic course or more clinical hours toward your project. A balanced degree will have three or four didactic courses and 120 – 150 hours toward a project.

Semester 3 (Summer or Fall):

Didactic coursework gets cut back to one or two classes in the third semester. Instead of attending class, you can spend as much as 240 clinical hours finishing up your project, meaning you’re still probably taking more than 10 credits. Alternatively, four-semester programs usually have a low-key summer or fall, giving students a breather toward the end.

In all, you’re looking at 6 to 12 courses throughout the program plus a standard 500 clinical hours. Most of those hours are split across three DNP project sessions — one per term — but sometimes a few are dedicated to another practicum. In the case of online programs, especially those with block scheduling, most schools are quite flexible about when clinical hours occur.

The Shortest Online DNP Programs