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MSN in Family Nurse Practitioner
Master of Science in Nursing
Transform your passion for patient-centered care into professional potential with the MSN-FP program at Capella. Designed for BSN-prepared nurses, this specialization emphasizes ethical judgment and helps you prepare as an advanced practice nurse to promote healthy lifestyles, reduce health risks and diagnose and treat acute and chronic health conditions for individuals of all ages.
At a glance
- GuidedPath learning format
- Online & in-person
- 9 Core courses
- 5 Specialization courses
- Practicum immersion course
- Support with practicum placement
- Practicum
Reduce your tuition by $10,000
Enroll in a qualified program and apply for a $10,000 Capella-Optum® Scholarship to help fund your master’s degree. Eligibility rules and exclusions apply. Connect with us for details.
Explore MSN-FNP courses
MSN-FNP requirements include completing nine core courses, a practicum immersion course, five specialization courses and practicum.
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NURS6401
Pediatric Primary Care
4 quarter credits
Learners gain an understanding of the theoretical basis for the competencies of the nurse practitioner, focusing on comprehensive assessment, diagnosis, and clinical management of commonly occurring acute and chronic illnesses and conditions in the pediatric population and family-centered care. Learners build upon their knowledge of advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health assessment while learning the role of the nurse practitioner in primary care. For MSN Family Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Master¿s Certificate learners only. NURS6401 must be taken concurrently with NURS6402. Cannot be fulfilled by transfer except for learners in the Post-Master¿s Certificate in Nursing as approved through Faculty Gap Analysis. Prerequisite: NURS6303, NURS6304
4 quarter credits
NURS6201
Advanced Practice Nursing Role Development
4 quarter credits
Learners investigate the role of the advanced practice nurse. Learners analyze principles related to leadership, autonomy, scope of practice, and role development. For MSN Adult-Gerontology Primary Care or Family Nurse Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care or Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Masters Certificate learners only. Cannot be fulfilled by transfer.
4 quarter credits
NURS6202
Advanced Pathophysiology
4 quarter credits
Learners analyze pathophysiologic processes and their effect on body systems across the lifespan. Learners build on their foundation of anatomy and physiology to enhance clinical decision-making in the advanced practice role. For MSN Adult-Gerontology Primary Care or Family Nurse Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care or Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Master's Certificate learners only. Special Permission is required for registration. Cannot be fulfilled by transfer except for learners in the Post-Master's Certificate in Nursing as approved through Faculty Gap Analysis. Prerequisite(s): NURS6201. MSN Adult-Gerontology Primary Care or Family Nurse Practitioner Learners must have completed NHS6004, NHS6008, NURS6016, NURS6011.
4 quarter credits
NURS6203
Advanced Pharmacology
4 quarter credits
Learners analyze advanced principles of pharmacology as they relate to the treatment and management of illnesses and conditions across the lifespan. Learners build on their foundation of pharmacology to enhance clinical decision-making in the advanced practice role to safely, legally, ethically, and therapeutically prescribe, administer, and counsel patients regarding medication therapy and regimes. For MSN Adult-Gerontology Primary Care or Family Nurse Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care or Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Masters Certificate learners only. Prerequisite(s): NURS6201, NURS6202. MSN Adult-Gerontology Primary Care or Family Nurse Practitioner Learners must have completed NHS6004, NHS6008, NURS6016, NURS6011.
4 quarter credits
NURS6205
Advanced Health Assessment Skills Immersion
2 quarter credits
Learners analyze advanced principles of health assessment, diagnostic reasoning, and advanced practice skill acquisition across the lifespan. Learners acquire knowledge and skills necessary to perform focused and comprehensive examinations, advanced primary care skills, and office procedures, and to interpret diagnostic testing in preparation for the nurse practitioner learner¿s role in the clinical setting. Learners build on prior knowledge to enhance clinical decision-making and diagnostic reasoning, in preparation for the advanced practice nursing role in primary care. Content is delivered in both asynchronous and synchronous formats. For MSN Adult-Gerontology Primary Care or Family Nurse Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care or Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Master¿s Certificate learners only. NURS6205 must be taken concurrently with NURS6204. Grading for this course is S/NS. Cannot be fulfilled by transfer. Prerequisite: NURS6201, NURS6202, NURS6203.
2 quarter credits
What you'll learn
Learners in the MSN Family Nurse Practitioner specialization are prepared to assume the role of the advanced practice nurse caring for individuals across the lifespan to promote health, reduce risks, and manage acute and chronic health conditions. The specialization emphasizes ethical clinical judgment to deliver person-centered care and improve healthcare outcomes.
Throughout the specialization, learners will integrate scientific foundations, leadership, quality improvement and safety, practice inquiry, informatics and health care technologies, health policy and advocacy, and interprofessional collaboration to prepare for advanced nursing practice.
Upon successful completion of this specialization, graduates are eligible to take the national certification examination administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).
Skills gained through this specialization:
- Integrate knowledge from nursing and related disciplines to design person-centered care to improve health outcomes
- Utilize evidence-based practice to design, manage, and evaluate comprehensive person-centered care that is within the scope of practice
- Integrate interprofessional collaboration to develop person-centered care that respects the unique characteristics of individuals and populations
- Integrate appropriate technologies to improve clinical decision-making and health care outcomes
- Demonstrate leadership in practice, policy, and personal growth to achieve optimal outcomes for patients across the lifespan
Practicum experience
Learn by doing. The practicum experience gives you the opportunity to practice what you learn under the supervision of a preceptor within various clinical settings. Learn more about the practicum
How much does the MSN-FNP degree program cost?
The total cost of your degree will depend on academic performance, scholarships and other factors. See the GuidedPath cost information below.
- Based on the quarter system; 1–3 courses per 10-week quarter
- 1 semester credit = 1.5 quarter credits
- Weekly assignments and courseroom discussions
- Pay for what you take, price varies by courseload or quarter
- $595 per credit
- $200 resource kit
- 68 total quarter credits
- 0 max transfer credits
- $32 background check
- $2.99 CastleBranch service fee
$40,460
NO TRANSFER CREDITS 39 months
*This is only an estimate, effective July 7, 2025, and is subject to change.
Capella is committed to transparency in tuition and pricing. You will be responsible for costs in addition to tuition, which may include your resource kit, travel expenses and practicum costs. Compliance requirements are determined by the practicum sites and may pose an additional cost.
By the end of your first billing session or quarter, you must complete a background check through CastleBranch, a third-party vendor.
As of February 13, 2025, CastleBranch imposed a service fee of $2.99, which is subject to change at their discretion.
Your tuition amount will vary depending on your unique circumstances such as your program specialization, transfer credits and any applicable tuition discounts. Books, course materials, supplies, equipment and other expenses are not included. Tuition estimates shown for the GuidedPath learning format depend on the number of credits accepted for transfer.
New or recently revised program estimates are based on comparable programs. Review program-specific fee amounts in our University Catalog.
Get the details
Find out more about financing and payment options to help you complete your program. Federal aid also is available to help manage the costs of higher education.
Connect with an enrollment counselor to further discuss the cost of the program and explore your eligibility for scholarships and discounts.
Questions about cost?
Contact an enrollment counselor.
Capella is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Accreditation and recognitions provide evidence that we meet standards for quality of faculty, curriculum, learner services, and fiscal stability. See all our accreditations and recognitions.
It is important to understand all education and individual requirements for licensing. Capella University cannot guarantee licensure, certification or endorsement. State regulations vary regarding professional licensure. Not all programs are offered to residents of every state due to regulatory requirements. It is your responsibility to understand and comply with requirements for your state.
Capella University is not accepting applications into the MSN in Family Nurse Practitioner program from residents of the states and/or territories listed below who intend to seek professional license or certification in the restricted state.
Capella students who relocate to the following states may not be able to complete site-based learning or other program requirements, fulfill residency requirements, or obtain professional licensure or certification in the state: CA, DC, LA, MD, NY, PA.
Get licensure details or contact an enrollment counselor for more information.
What are the MSN-FNP program admission requirements?
Admission requirements
Applicants to the MSN – FNP program must provide the following for admission:
- A bachelor’s degree in nursing from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, or from an internationally recognized institution
- Your official transcripts, with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
- One year of Registered Nurse (RN) experience within the past two years
- Verification of your current, unrestricted RN license to practice in the United States
- A valid, government-issued form of photo identification
- Admission application – no application fee required
- A background check is required
GRE and GMAT are not required for admission.
International student requirements
If you completed your most recent academic coursework, degree or credential at an institution outside the United States, regardless of your citizenship or where you currently live, you are considered an international applicant.
In addition to the above admission requirements, you will need to submit these materials:
- Minimum score on acceptable test for proof of English proficiency
- Transcript evaluation
Learn more about international student admissions.
State enrollment restrictions
Capella University is not accepting applications into the MSN in Family Nurse Practitioner program from residents of the states and/or territories listed below who intend to seek professional license or certification in the restricted state.
Capella students who relocate to the following states may not be able to complete site-based learning or other program requirements, fulfill residency requirements, or obtain professional licensure or certification in the state: CA, DC, LA, MD, NY, PA.
Get licensure details or contact an enrollment counselor for more information.
*Learners enrolled in a Capella nursing program in the FlexPath learning format will become ineligible to enroll in the MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN-FNP) specialization if they progress through certain coursework in any of the following courses: NHS-FP6004, NHS-FPX6004, NHS-FP6008, NHS-FPX6008, MSN-FP6011, NURS-FPX6011, MSN-FP6016 or NURS-FPX6016. FlexPath courses cannot be transferred into the MSN-FNP specialization. To learn more, contact a Capella coach or call enrollment services at 1-866-736-1751.
What support does Capella offer online students?
Our programs are designed to meet the unique needs of a master’s student. We’ve structured the experience in manageable pieces to help you earn your degree with support from faculty, staff and online resources. We’ve built our programs in easy-to-manage phases, with a network of faculty, staff and online resources that can help you stay on track.
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What can you do with an MSN-FNP?
Your education can help you reach your professional and personal goals. While Capella cannot guarantee that a graduate will secure any specific career outcome, such as a job title, promotion or salary increase, we encourage you to explore potential jobs and employment settings. Here are some ideas and examples for a graduate with an MSN-FNP.
Related job titles to explore*
- Advanced practice provider
- Family nurse practitioner
- Family practice nurse practitioner
- Nurse practitioner
- Nurse practitioner/advanced practice registered nurse
- Primary care nurse practitioner
Employment settings to explore*
- Direct health and medical insurance carriers
- Freestanding ambulatory surgical and emergency centers
- General medical and surgical hospitals
- Offices of physicians (except mental health specialists)
- Pharmacies and drug retailers
*These are examples intended to serve as a general guide. Some positions may prefer or even require previous experience, licensure, certifications, and/or other designations along with a degree. Because many factors determine what position an individual may attain, Capella cannot guarantee that a graduate will secure any specific job title, a promotion, salary increase, or other career outcome. We encourage you to research requirements for your job target and career goals.