10+ Types of Nurse Practitioners: Guide to NP Specialties

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Written by Marie Hasty, BSN, RN Content Writer, IntelyCare
10+ Types of Nurse Practitioners: Guide to NP Specialties

Did you know that there are more than a dozen different types of nurse practitioners? If you’re an RN wanting to advance your clinical career, becoming a nurse practitioner could be a great next move. As an NP, you’ll have an enhanced scope of practice, more training, and more authority as a clinical provider. This career path offers options and flexibility.

An NP is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who has acquired expanded skills and training, allowing them to take on the role of medical provider. NPs can diagnose patients, prescribe medications, perform assessments, and make changes to care plans. In some states, NPs must work under a physician, but in others, they have full practice authority.

Nurse practitioners are essential for helping patients access care — of full-time NPs, 74% see Medicare patients, and 80% see Medicaid patients. Over 87% of NPs are trained in primary care, meaning that they can care for a broad range of patients and conditions, and may work in multiple settings. It’s no wonder the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a massive 46% growth in the NP profession in the next several years.

There’s some nuance to the discussion of nurse practitioner specialties, because one practitioner can fall into a few NP categories depending on where they work. For example, a psychiatric NP may work in acute care or outpatient settings. Alternatively, a family nurse practitioner may practice in primary care but also work in urgent care or inpatient hospital settings. Over half of NPs work in physicians’ offices, but they can also work in home health, government, and more.

Wondering which NP specialty is right for you? View 10 common types of nurse practitioners below:

Chart showing 10 types of nurse practitioners.

What Are the Different Types of Nurse Practitioners?

There are dozens of NP specialties, and new practice areas continue to evolve as medicine changes. Check out 10 different types of nurse practitioners and salaries for each role.

1. Cardiac Nurse Practitioner

NPs specializing in cardiology treat patients with heart and vascular problems. They work closely with cardiologists to assess, diagnose, treat, and monitor patients. They see diagnoses like congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, and structural heart problems. If you’re fascinated by the heart’s electrical and pumping mechanisms and enjoy educating patients about heart-healthy lifestyles, this could be a great specialty for you.

  • Job outlook: As the nation ages, the need for cardiovascular care is expected to increase. Plus, cardiac NPs clinicians can work in a range of settings, including inpatient cardiac units, clinics, surgical settings, and much more.
  • Certifications for cardiac NPs: These NPs may be board-certified as Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP) or Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioners (AGPCNP or AGACNP-BC), depending on their setting. They may also pursue Certified Cardiovascular Knowledge (CCK) certification for NPs and PAs.
  • Cardiac NP average salary: About $117,000 per year

2. Dermatology Nurse Practitioner

Dermatology NPs treat skin, hair, and nail conditions. Their duties may include screening for skin cancer, evaluating a patient’s hair loss, or investigating psoriasis. This is a great role for nurses who are fascinated by the science of skin and enjoy helping patients understand how to care for the largest organ in the body.

  • Job outlook: Demand for dermatology care continues to rise, especially with growing interest in cosmetic procedures and skin cancer prevention. These NPs typically work in outpatient settings like dermatology clinics and medical aesthetics offices, but you can also find them in burn units, surgical centers, and telederm offices.
  • Certifications for dermatology NPs: Derm NPs are usually board-certified as FNPs or AGNPs. They may go on to obtain additional practice certifications like Dermatology Certified Nurse Practitioner (DCNP).
  • Dermatology NP average salary: About $118,000 per year

Find aesthetic nurse practitioner jobs.

3. Emergency Nurse Practitioner

NPs that specialize in emergency medicine are skilled at assessing, diagnosing, and treating patients with life-threatening health issues. In this role, you might see a patient for chest pain, drain a skin abscess in the next room, and evaluate a patient for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).

An ENP’s greatest skills are thinking quickly on their feet and anticipating changes in patient conditions. If you enjoy a fast-paced work environment and you’re interested in providing comfort and care in high-stress situations, you could make a great ENP.

  • Job outlook: There’s increasing demand in this specialty, as some projections predict there will be a shortage of nearly 10,000 ED physicians by 2030.
  • Certifications for emergency NPs: These NPs may be certified as FNPs and obtain additional training to become ENP-Cs (Emergency Nurse Practitioner – Certified).
  • Emergency NP average salary: About$131,000 per year

Find emergency room nurse practitioner jobs.

4. Family Nurse Practitioner

FNPs are one of the most common types of nurse practitioners, and are go-to healthcare providers for individuals and families across all ages. As an FNP, you might treat a toddler with an ear infection, counsel a teenager on mental health, and manage an adult’s diabetes care — all in the same day.

FNPs excel at building long-term relationships with patients and providing holistic care that focuses on prevention and wellness. Nurses who enjoy forging bonds with patients and promoting healthy lifestyles could make great FNPs.

  • Job outlook: FNPs are increasingly essential in primary care, where experts project a shortage of over 87,000 physicians nationwide in the next decade. They can work in primary care clinics, private practice, telehealth, community health, and much more.
  • Certifications for family nurse practitioners: Most FNPs are board certified as FNP-Cs or FNP-BCs.
  • Family nurse practitioner average salary: About $117,000 per year

5. Neonatal Nurse Practitioner

Neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs) specialize in caring for the tiniest and most vulnerable patients — newborns. In this role, you’ll work in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), managing the care of premature infants, those with low birth weight, or newborns with complex medical conditions.

Your day might involve monitoring patients’ hyperbilirubinemia, adjusting ventilator settings, and supporting families during some of the most challenging times of their lives.

  • Job outlook: Advances in neonatal care and rising rates of premature births continue to create demand for experienced neonatal providers. NNPs are vital members of NICU teams, and while the role is highly specialized, it offers deep rewards for those passionate about infant care.
  • Certifications for neonatal nurse practitioners: These NPs must be board-certified as Neonatal Nurse Practitioners – Certified (NNP-BC), which is offered by the National Certification Corporation.Additional practice certifications includePediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP), Care of the Extremely Low Birth Weight Neonate (C-ELBW), and Certification in Electronic Fetal Monitoring (C-EFM).
  • Neonatal nurse practitioner average salary: About $120,000 per year

6. Oncology Nurse Practitioner

Oncology nurse practitioners care for patients facing cancer. They assess, diagnose, and manage cancer care, from prescribing chemotherapy to managing symptoms like dysphagia (difficulty swallowing). These NPs are key in coordinating treatment plans with oncologists, monitoring responses, and supporting patients and families through their journey.

  • Job outlook: As cancer care becomes more complex and the population ages, demand for specialized NPs in oncology is rising. They can work in outpatient settings, acute care, palliative care, home health, and much more.
  • Certifications for oncology nurse practitioners: Oncology NPs may pursue board certification as FNPs or AGNPs and pursue additionalcertification as Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioners (AOCNPs).
  • Oncology nurse practitioner average salary: About $120,000 per year

Find oncology NP jobs.

7. Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

If you like kids and infants, consider becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP). Peds NPs can perform well-child exams, manage vaccinations and prescriptions, diagnose developmental issues, and more. PNPs are experts in child health, providing not just medical care but also guidance on growth, nutrition, and development.

  • Job outlook: The pediatric NP specialty is expected to see strong growth. These clinicians can work in outpatient offices, pediatric clinics, hospitals, and large medical centers.
  • Certifications for pediatric nurse practitioners: Board certifications include Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Primary Care (CPNP-PC), Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Acute Care (CPNP-AC), and Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner – Board Certified (PPCNP-BC). Some of these NPs also pursue Pediatric Primary Care Mental Health Specialist (PMHS) certification.
  • Pediatric nurse practitioner average salary: About$117,000 per year

Find pediatric nurse practitioner jobs.

8. Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) treat patients with conditions like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. In this role, you might adjust an existing patient’s medication regimen, perform intake on a patient with new psychiatric symptoms, and educate a patient on a new diagnosis.

If you’re passionate about mental health and would like to make a difference in the lives of patients who are struggling with psychiatric illnesses, consider becoming a PMHNP.

  • Job outlook: There is high demand for mental health providers nationwide, especially in underserved and rural areas. Plus, they can work in mental health clinics, inpatient psychiatric wards, and private practices.
  • Certifications for psychiatric nurse practitioners: These NPs typically pursue Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner – Board Certified (PMHNP-BC) credentials. Some pursue additional certification as a Certified Addictions Registered Nurse – Advanced Practice (CARN-AP).
  • Psychiatric nurse practitioner average salary: About $117,000 per year

Find psych NP jobs.

9. Surgical Nurse Practitioner

An SNP specializes in helping patients prepare for, undergo, and recover from surgery. Surgical NPs perform tasks like suturing, wound care, and monitoring patients for complications, while also educating them about the surgical process.

This is a great role for nurses who are drawn to the precision and pace of surgery and want to play a critical role in patient care throughout the surgical experience.

  • Job outlook: While there are no statistics on the job outlook of this specialty, surgical NPs are key team members in ORs across the country.
  • Certifications for surgical nurse practitioners: Surgical NPs may be board-certified as FNPs or AGNPs.Some go on to obtainAdvanced Practice Registered Nurse RN First Assistant (APRN RNFA) certification.
  • Surgical nurse practitioner average salary: About $117,000 per year

Find medical-surgical NP jobs.

10. Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner

If you’re dedicated to supporting women’s health with a focus on comprehensive and compassionate care, a career as a WHNP might be perfect for you. These NPs provide specialized care for women throughout their lives, from gynecological exams to prenatal and postnatal care. WHNPs handle a range of issues, including menstrual disorders, menopause symptoms, and reproductive health.

  • Job outlook: While there are no job outlook statistics specifically for this role, WHNPs work in OB-GYN clinics, reproductive health centers, family planning organizations, and academic medical centers.
  • Certifications for women’s health nurse practitioners: These NPs pursue Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner – Board Certified (WHNP-BC) certification. Some go on to pursue additional certification asMenopause Society Certified Professionals (MSCPs).
  • Women’s health nurse practitioner average salary: About $117,000 per year

Find OB-GYN NP jobs.

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Other Types of Nurse Practitioners

Want to learn about even more nurse practitioner roles? Check out these specialized types of NPs, broken down into categories:

Primary and Family-Oriented Care

Acute and Hospital-Based Care

Specialty Care

Holistic, Palliative, and End-of-Life Care

Aesthetic and Surgical Roles

Forensics

  • Forensic nurse practitioner: Provide care to victims of violence and gather evidence for legal proceedings, typically working in collaboration with law enforcement.

Workplace Health

Areas That Employ the Most NPs

If you’re open to a move, consider a role in one of the states that employ the most NPs:

Additionally, the cities that employ the greatest numbers of NPs are:

Find additional roles for nurse practitioners below:

Nurse Practitioner Specialties FAQ

Which NP specialty is the hardest?

The answer depends on your perspective and strengths — what’s emotionally demanding for one nurse might be intellectually challenging for another. Acute care specialties can be difficult due to the high-acuity patient populations, fast-paced environments, and constant critical decision-making. But primary care NPs also take on heavy caseloads, juggling many patients at once and coordinating care.

One of the benefits of becoming an NP is the various forms this career can take, and if you find your job doesn’t suit your needs, you can likely find a new one.

Which type of NP makes the most money?

Income is influenced by several factors — location, experience, certifications, work setting, and much more. View average NP salaries by work setting below:

Work setting isn’t the only thing that determines your income as an NP. Learn more about NP salaries across the nation, and view NP jobs in the states with the highest average NP salary:

What are the four types of APRNs?

Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) are RNs who have completed additional education and training requirements, allowing them to work under an expanded scope of practice within their area of expertise. The four types of APRNs are:

  • Nurse practitioners
  • Certified nurse midwives (CNMs)
  • Nurse anesthetists (CRNAs)
  • Clinical nurse specialists (CNSs)

Which type of NP is in the highest demand?

If you’re overwhelmed by the types of nurse practitioners, consider becoming a family nurse practitioner. FNPs can work in a broad range of settings and become specialists in areas that interest them. This makes them in high demand across the country.

Find Roles for NPs and Other Nursing Professionals

IntelyCare has roles for many types of nurse practitioners. Interested in seeing which NP specialties could use your skills? When you sign up for personalized NP job search notifications, the opportunities will come to you.

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