How To Become an APRN
What Is an APRN?
An APRN is an advanced practice registered nurse — an experienced clinician who has completed advanced education and training in nursing. APRNs can practice with greater autonomy than registered nurses (RNs) and they provide leadership and mentorship to fellow nurses.(See disclaimer 1)
What is an APRN’s specialty? There are four main types of APRNs: certified nurse midwives (CNM), nurse practitioners (NP), clinical nurse specialists (CNS) and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA). Within these categories, an APRN may choose to further specialize in areas such as pediatrics, adult-gerontology or women’s health.(See disclaimer 1)
Number of U.S. jurisdictions in which nurse practitioners hold full practice authority(See disclaimer 2)
What Does an APRN Do?
Before considering how to become an APRN, interested students should take a closer look at what APRNs do. Specific job responsibilities can vary, depending on the type of APRN and the subspecialty. For example, CRNAs administer anesthesia during surgical procedures, while CNMs treat patients during labor and delivery.
Some of the main job responsibilities of an APRN include:
Primary care
Many APRNs deliver primary care, such as well patient exams, health screenings and office sick visits.
Acute care
Some APRNs focus on acute care, treating patients with severe or complex health conditions.
Diagnostics
APRNs can diagnose injuries and illnesses, such as by ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests.
Treatments
APRNs treat acute and chronic injuries and illnesses in patients across the lifespan.
Prescriptions
Nurses with full practice authority can prescribe all types of medications, while those with reduced practice authority can prescribe certain medications.
Organizational leadership
Some APRNs, such as clinical nurse specialists, drive organizational change to improve patient care and safety.
What Experience and Education Does an APRN Need?
The path to becoming an APRN can vary, as some individuals start pursuing this career after high school, while others are career switchers with a non-nursing background. No matter the starting point, meeting the APRN education requirements is key to obtaining the proper licensure. Clinical experience is also essential, as APRNs must be experienced practitioners.
High School Diploma
College Degree
Internships
Entry-Level Roles
Professional Certifications
Best Degrees for an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
An aspiring APRN needs both strong clinical skills and extensive nursing knowledge, particularly in the specialty they are pursuing. An ideal degree for a future APRN teaches patient assessments, diagnostics and treatment administration, among other nursing competencies. It’s also important to select a degree that will enable nurse candidates to meet the requirements for licensure in their state.
Some of the competencies that should be covered in a degree program include:
Development across the lifespan
Anatomy and physiology
Pathophysiology
Pharmacology
Health assessments and nursing diagnostics
Health promotion
GCU Recommends These Degree Programs for APRNs
8 Matching Degrees
What Skills Does an APRN Need?
All nurses need a blend of clinical skills and soft skills to deliver patient care and work well as a member of the nursing care team. Some skills required may vary by specialty. For example, nurses working in acute care settings need strong emergency and critical care expertise.(See disclaimer 7)
Some skills that are helpful for nurses include:(See disclaimer 4, 7)
IV insertion
Wound care
Ventilator care
Pain management
Communication skills
Attention to detail
Critical thinking
Emotional resilience
Where Does an APRN Work?
Advanced practice registered nurses may work in a variety of settings inside and outside of hospitals. Some APRNs are travel nurses, in which case they travel to different healthcare facilities to fulfill short-term job assignments in order to address staffing shortages.(See disclaimer 8)
Some of the most common work settings for an APRN include:(See disclaimer 8)
Hospitals
Many APRNs work in hospitals, providing acute care and working with patients with chronic conditions.
Physician offices
Some APRNs may work at specialists’ offices or primary care practices.
Birthing centers
Certified nurse midwives may help patients deliver babies at dedicated birthing centers.
Private homes
Some APRNs work in patients’ homes delivering home healthcare services.
Median annual salary for nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners as of May 2024(See disclaimer 9)
Projected job growth rate for nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners from 2024 to 2034(See disclaimer 10)
Advancement Opportunities for an APRN
Advanced practice registered nurses are already at the pinnacle of their profession as clinicians. To pursue further advancement, they may decide to step away from direct patient care. Some options include nursing management, nursing administration and nursing education. Nurses with a doctoral degree may pursue a role in nursing research.(See disclaimer 4)
Explore More on Advanced Practice Registered Nursing
Take a closer look at what you can expect from a nursing career and how you can get started with this career pathway by exploring some of our blogs.
What’s the difference between an NP and an APRN? Learn more about your nursing career options.
Discover some of the reasons why a career in nursing might be a good fit for you.
Discover how you can practice your Christian faith as a nursing student and later as a professional nurse.
Pursue your passion for health science by taking the first step toward becoming an APRN.
- RegisteredNursing.org. (2025, Nov. 28). Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). Retrieved March 2026.
- Feeney, A. (2025, Dec. 22). Nurse Practitioner Practice Authority: A State-by-State Guide. NurseJournal. Retrieved March 2026.
- Dunn, A. (2025, Dec. 22). How High School Students Can Prepare for Nursing School. NurseJournal. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2025, Aug. 28). How To Become a Nurse Anesthetist, Nurse Midwife or Nurse Practitioner. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved March 2026.
- Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs. (n.d.). Requirements To Practice as a Nurse Anesthetist in the United States. Retrieved March 2026.
- Robinson, C. (2025, Sept. 22). How To Become an APRN. NurseJournal. Retrieved March 2026.
- Reese, D. (2024, Feb. 20). Showcase Your Strengths: Essential Nursing Skills for Resume. Nurse.com. Retrieved March 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2025, Aug. 28). Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives and Nurse Practitioners: Work Environment. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved March 2026.
- The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives and Nurse Practitioners, as of May 2024, retrieved March 2026. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It is very unlikely that a median salary will reflect an entry-level salary. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
- COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective August 2025, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives and Nurse Practitioners, retrieved March 2026.