Can I become a nurse practitioner with a health science degree?

Nurse practitioners assist in diagnosing patient conditions and conducting physical exams. These professionals have completed a four-year nursing program and are licensed RNs. It typically takes two years of full-time study to complete the nurse practitioner training. Hours of patient interaction must be recorded and licensure in most states is necessary.

For those with a four-year health science degree, it will be necessary to graduate from a nursing program prior to applying for nurse practitioner training. This will require an additional six years after having graduated from their health science degree program. As is stated in the title of the position, a nurse practitioner is foremost a nurse. These individuals then go on to receive additional training allowing them to participate more directly in the examination and diagnosis of patients.