APRN vs. NP: Similarities and Differences

Do you want to further your nursing education and practice? Are you interested in having more responsibility and decision-making power? Do you want to take on the role of a provider? If you said yes, an advanced practice nursing degree may be for you. This degree is a higher level of nursing than that of a registered nurse and therefore has additional requirements.

As you research your options, you’ve likely come across the APRN medical abbreviation, which means advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). You may have also heard of nurse practitioners (NPs). Who knew nursing was so full of acronyms, right? But don’t stress it — in this article, we will compare the roles of an APRN vs. NP so you’ll know exactly what they are and what they do.

Key Differences Between APRN vs. NP

Consider APRN like an umbrella term for registered nurses (RNs) with an advanced degree and specialization. A nurse practitioner falls under this umbrella term.

Another difference between an NP vs. APRN is their job responsibilities. Because an APRN is a more general term, not all APRNs perform the same duties as NPs. For example, a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) is a type of APRN who administers anesthesia. This is not a duty of a NP and would be out of their scope of practice.

NP Specialties

A NP specializes in the care and management of a specific patient population, just like a medical doctor. Common NP specialties include:

• Family Practice NP: The majority of NPs (70.3%) pursue the family practice route. This specialty is a type of primary care. Family nurse practitioners (FNPs) see patients of all ages, from children to older adults, and care for a broad variety of health conditions. Much of their focus may be on health promotion, disease prevention, and treatment of chronic illnesses.
• Pediatric NP: These NPs provide care and treatment to children, from newborns to young adults. They tend to work in clinics, schools, and pediatric offices.
• Neonatal: These NPs provide care and treatment to premature and ill newborns. They may work in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), emergency rooms, outpatient care centers, and delivery rooms.
• Women’s Health NP: These NPs provide specialized care to women throughout their life, particularly during their reproductive life. Much of the care focuses on disease prevention, such as breast cancer screenings, and checkup services, such as family planning and gynecological exams.
• Psychiatric Mental Health: These NPs provide care and treatment to patients with mental and behavioral health conditions. They focus their care on assessing a patient’s mental health, making diagnoses, and developing appropriate treatment plans.
• Geriatric: These NPs attend to the medical needs, treatment, and care for older adults. They work primarily in hospital outpatient clinics, hospital inpatient units, and private practice.
• Acute Care: These NPs, specializing in either adults or pediatrics, provide acute care and treatment to patients requiring immediate attention. They may work in critical care, intensive care units, emergency rooms, and urgent care.

APRN Specialties

An APRN will typically specialize in a type of nursing, like a CRNA, rather than a specific population. Common APRN specialities include:

• Nurse Practitioner (NP)
• Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
• Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL)
• Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
• Nurse Midwife (CNM)

Key Similarities Between APRN vs. NP

Both APRNs and NPs are advanced RNs trained through the nursing model. They both went to nursing school, became RNs, and attended graduate school to obtain an advanced degree.

They both have more responsibility and autonomy than a RN. Both have prescriptive authority, meaning they are able to prescribe medications and write orders. Each state has its own set of laws and regulations regarding prescriptive authority, so be sure to refer to your state’s guidelines.

How to Become a NP vs. APRN

The path to becoming an APRN vs. NP are very similar — both require a graduate degree. However, the program chosen will be different, which will affect the timing and classes taken.

Becoming an NP

After becoming a RN and getting a bachelor’s of science in nursing (BSN), you may apply to the program of your choice to become a nurse practitioner. You will need one to two years of nursing experience, preferably in your desired NP speciality.

These programs take about two years, which makes a total of four to six years when you add in the time to become a RN and obtain your BSN.

Becoming an APRN

Similar to NP programs, you’ll first need to become a RN and obtain your BSN. Before applying to the APRN program of your choice, you’ll also need some nursing experience.

• CRNA programs: critical care experience required
• CNS programs: most programs require two years of nursing experience
• NP programs: most programs require one to two years of nursing experience
• CNM programs: one to two years of nursing experience are encouraged

APRN programs will take anywhere from two to six years to complete, depending on specialization, program type, and degree. After you complete the additional education, you need to take a national exam to receive additional licensure.

APRN vs. NP: Salary Differences

The average NP salary is $128,490 per year. The average APRN salary is around $103,750 per year. Within this umbrella, APRNs can make:

• Average salary for a CNM is $131,570 per year.
• Average salary for a CRNA is $214,200 per year.
• Average salary for a CNS is $124,000 per year.

To see current salaries being offered for these various roles, check out the latest NP jobs, CNM jobs, and CRNA jobs.

What Are the License Renewal Requirements for an APRN vs. NP?

The renewal requirements will vary greatly for a NP vs. APRN, depending on the exact license held.

Nurse Practitioner: You have two options. You can either:

• Meet 1,000 practice hours in the population of your specialty, obtain 100 contact hours of continued education, and hold a current RN or APRN license.
• Take a recertification exam and hold a current RN license.

Advanced Practice RN: Your requirements depend on the license held.

• NP: See above.
• CNM: Option 1 – Complete education modules, obtain 20 contact hours of continued education, and pay fees. Option 2 – take a certification exam and pay fees.
• CNS: Complete 75 continued education hours, hold a current RN license and ANCC board certification, complete 1 of 8 renewal categories, and pay fees.
• CRNA: Complete 100 continued education hours, complete education modules, and take an exam every 8 years.

APRN vs. NP: FAQ

Is NP higher than APRN?

These two titles refer to the same level of nursing. To put it simply, all NPs are APRNs, but not all APRNs are NPs.

Is APN higher than an RN?

Yes, an advanced practice nurse (APN) is a higher level of nursing than a registered nurse.

Is APN the same as a nurse practitioner?

A nurse practitioner is a type of APN.

What’s the job outlook for APRNs?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for NPs is projected to grow by 45% in the next 10 years, which is much faster than the average for all other occupations. In comparison, within that same time frame, the job growth for CNMs is projected to increase by 6%, and the job growth for CRNAs is expected to increase by 9%.

Which Will You Become?

Now that you’ve learned the difference between an APRN vs. NP, you’ll be able to make a better informed decision regarding your career path. Need help finding jobs that can help you get there? Learn how IntelyCare can match you with the nurse jobs that align with your goals and interests.