Registered Nurse to Master of Science in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner Online
Accelerate your progress toward becoming an FNP in this unique program, the only one of its kind in Texas. Earn this high-demand degree from the nation's largest public college of nursing.
Program Overview
See a snapshot of the online RN to MSN-FNP program
The Registered Nurse to Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner (RN to MSN – FNP) program at UTA prepares advanced practice nurses to implement evidence-based care in a variety of primary care settings, emphasizing health promotion and primary care management of acute and stable chronically ill patients.
This accelerated nursing program allows you to progress past your BSN to complete your MSN in less time—and save you more—than if you enrolled in the RN to BSN and MSN programs separately.
The RN to MSN – FNP online program equips you to take your nursing practice from bedside-focused hospital care to caring for the overall health of patients at all points within the lifespan. By developing research, diagnostic and clinical skills, this program prepares you to assume the in-demand role of a healthcare treatment provider and health management resource for diverse groups of patients in a wide variety of clinical settings, independently or as part of a healthcare team. In addition to a flexible online learning environment and expert instructors, students benefit from a curriculum that combines the latest nursing theory with hands-on practicum experience.
Graduates of the program are prepared to take the Family Nurse Practitioner National Certification Exams through the American Nurse Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and to be licensed as an advanced practice registered nurse by the state board of nursing.
Your BSN will be awarded when undergraduate requirements are met. Clinicals can be completed in your geographical area. You can apply by clicking the Apply Now button. This unique online delivery format is cost-efficient and an efficient way to earn an MSN degree.
In this program, you will learn how to:
- Conduct health screenings and advanced patient assessments
- Perform complete physical examinations of patients
- Order lab testing
- Prescribe therapeutics
- Educate patients, families, and caregivers
- Conduct health screenings and advanced patient assessments
- Perform complete physical examinations of patients
- Order lab testing
- Prescribe therapeutics
- Educate patients, families, and caregivers
This CCNE-accredited RN to MSN - FNP program can prepare you for career opportunities in a variety of settings including:
- Primary care/ambulatory clinics
- Urgent care clinics
- Health department family care clinics
- Primary care/ambulatory clinics
- Urgent care clinics
- Health department family care clinics
Family Nurse Practitioner Clinical and Preceptor Overview
Clinical experiences are intended to provide students in the online-enabled FNP program with experiential learning opportunities to enable them to transition successfully into the role of the Nurse Practitioner. You will begin your clinical courses in your second year of the program.
Clinical placement at The University of Texas at Arlington in the graduate nursing department is a collaborative process with each student. Students are asked to locate a preceptor which is aligned with their program requirements; however, the Graduate Nursing Department will provide assistance with clinical placement when a student is experiencing difficulty. Clinical placement policies are available in the Graduate Nursing clinical management system, Exxat, and are available to all students upon admission.
Successful fulfillment of clinicals requires following these steps:
- Clinical requirements:
- Drug test – not to be performed before 30 days in advance of first clinical course
- Background check – not to be performed before 30 days in advance of first clinical course
- Verification of immunization records
- Identification of preceptors and clinical sites
- Guidelines on best practices in recruiting your preceptors, forms to use, and other resources will be made available in Exxat. The graduate nursing department will provide assistance with locating a preceptor for students experiencing difficulty.
- Approval of preceptors and clinical sites by the Clinical Coordinator and/or course faculty
- All preceptors must sign a Preceptor Agreement using proper forms
- Clinical sites may require a written agreement or contract with the UT Arlington College of Nursing
Nurse Practitioner Clinical Overview
An essential part of each clinical experience is active, hands-on practice guided by a licensed and certified preceptor with expertise in the therapeutic management of patients and their families. The expectation is that students will grow and develop accuracy, completeness, and independence in evaluating, diagnosing, and managing patients. Experiences may include, but are not limited to the following:
- Provide evidence of clinical skills in performing advanced health assessments that include:
- Collecting a complete health history
- Examining all body systems
- Performing functional assessments to determine ability for self-care and independent living
- Collect additional data as needed (ECG, vision and hearing screening, urinalysis, blood sugar determination, hematocrit, pap-smear, wet-mount, hanging drop smear, nose and throat culture and others)
- Making appropriate decisions regarding priority needs for episodic data collection
- Determining which problems/data collection can be deferred
- Making an appropriate and accurate assessment of client's health status (rule outs, differential diagnoses, nursing diagnoses, etc.)
- Presenting pertinent data to preceptor in a succinct manner
- Presenting a cost-effective, clinically sound plan of care which may include:
- Advanced nursing management
- Medical intervention
- Pharmacotherapeutics
- Diagnostic testing
- Teaching/counseling
- Follow-up plan
- Discussing with preceptor personal strengths and needed areas of improvement
- Selecting patients that reflect the content being taught in the specific course and program
- Show increasing evidence of ability to develop, implement and evaluate an appropriate management plan for common episodic, acute, chronic and rehabilitative health concerns for clients
- Show increasing evidence of ability to develop, implement and evaluate an appropriate plan for health maintenance and health promotion of clients
- Show evidence of ability to integrate health promotion/disease prevention activities into each client encounter
- Provide evidence of advanced nursing activities to promote and maintain health of children
- Demonstrate ability to provide quality, culturally sensitive healthcare for individuals of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds
- Provide evidence of the ability to formulate and administer advanced nursing care and medical therapeutics in a variety of settings
- Integrate current research findings into the development and implementation of healthcare for children and their families
- Continue personal development of the various roles of the nurse practitioner as evidenced by didactic and clinical work
General Preceptor Guidelines
- Preceptors and clinical sites must be approved by the Clinical Coordinator and/or course faculty.
- All preceptors must sign a "Preceptor Agreement." The agreement must be sent to the Clinical Coordinator no later than the first day of the clinical experience.
- The UTA College of Nursing and Health Innovation requires that an affiliation agreement be in place with clinical agencies in order for the student to complete clinicals.
Clinical experiences are intended to provide students in the online-enabled FNP program with experiential learning opportunities to enable them to transition successfully into the role of the Nurse Practitioner. You will begin your clinical courses in your second year of the program.
Clinical placement at The University of Texas at Arlington in the graduate nursing department is a collaborative process with each student. Students are asked to locate a preceptor which is aligned with their program requirements; however, the Graduate Nursing Department will provide assistance with clinical placement when a student is experiencing difficulty. Clinical placement policies are available in the Graduate Nursing clinical management system, Exxat, and are available to all students upon admission.
Successful fulfillment of clinicals requires following these steps:
- Clinical requirements:
- Drug test – not to be performed before 30 days in advance of first clinical course
- Background check – not to be performed before 30 days in advance of first clinical course
- Verification of immunization records
- Identification of preceptors and clinical sites
- Guidelines on best practices in recruiting your preceptors, forms to use, and other resources will be made available in Exxat. The graduate nursing department will provide assistance with locating a preceptor for students experiencing difficulty.
- Approval of preceptors and clinical sites by the Clinical Coordinator and/or course faculty
- All preceptors must sign a Preceptor Agreement using proper forms
- Clinical sites may require a written agreement or contract with the UT Arlington College of Nursing
Nurse Practitioner Clinical Overview
An essential part of each clinical experience is active, hands-on practice guided by a licensed and certified preceptor with expertise in the therapeutic management of patients and their families. The expectation is that students will grow and develop accuracy, completeness, and independence in evaluating, diagnosing, and managing patients. Experiences may include, but are not limited to the following:
- Provide evidence of clinical skills in performing advanced health assessments that include:
- Collecting a complete health history
- Examining all body systems
- Performing functional assessments to determine ability for self-care and independent living
- Collect additional data as needed (ECG, vision and hearing screening, urinalysis, blood sugar determination, hematocrit, pap-smear, wet-mount, hanging drop smear, nose and throat culture and others)
- Making appropriate decisions regarding priority needs for episodic data collection
- Determining which problems/data collection can be deferred
- Making an appropriate and accurate assessment of client's health status (rule outs, differential diagnoses, nursing diagnoses, etc.)
- Presenting pertinent data to preceptor in a succinct manner
- Presenting a cost-effective, clinically sound plan of care which may include:
- Advanced nursing management
- Medical intervention
- Pharmacotherapeutics
- Diagnostic testing
- Teaching/counseling
- Follow-up plan
- Discussing with preceptor personal strengths and needed areas of improvement
- Selecting patients that reflect the content being taught in the specific course and program
- Show increasing evidence of ability to develop, implement and evaluate an appropriate management plan for common episodic, acute, chronic and rehabilitative health concerns for clients
- Show increasing evidence of ability to develop, implement and evaluate an appropriate plan for health maintenance and health promotion of clients
- Show evidence of ability to integrate health promotion/disease prevention activities into each client encounter
- Provide evidence of advanced nursing activities to promote and maintain health of children
- Demonstrate ability to provide quality, culturally sensitive healthcare for individuals of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds
- Provide evidence of the ability to formulate and administer advanced nursing care and medical therapeutics in a variety of settings
- Integrate current research findings into the development and implementation of healthcare for children and their families
- Continue personal development of the various roles of the nurse practitioner as evidenced by didactic and clinical work
General Preceptor Guidelines
- Preceptors and clinical sites must be approved by the Clinical Coordinator and/or course faculty.
- All preceptors must sign a "Preceptor Agreement." The agreement must be sent to the Clinical Coordinator no later than the first day of the clinical experience.
- The UTA College of Nursing and Health Innovation requires that an affiliation agreement be in place with clinical agencies in order for the student to complete clinicals.
State Authorization
Residents of certain states may not be eligible to enroll in all UTA accelerated online programs. See program map for details. Currently enrolled students who reside in ineligible states will need approval to continue uninterrupted in their programs in accordance with applicable state laws. Approval is not guaranteed.
Also available:
UTA offers a wide variety of nursing programs online. Check out all of our online nursing programs.
Accreditation
The baccalaureate, master's and Doctor of Nursing Practice degree programs and the post-graduate APRN certificate program in the College of Nursing and Health Innovation at The University of Texas at Arlington are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Tuition
Our budget-friendly tuition can be paid by the course
The University of Texas at Arlington is committed to providing students with a quality, affordable education. That's why this online program offers pay-by-the course options.
Tuition Guarantee
Did you know if you enroll now and complete your program without interruption, you can lock in your tuition rate? Read more
Tuition breakdown:
“...What I really liked about the program was the fact that I could be online, do the classes on my schedule...”
Roberta Deutsch
RN to MSN online graduate
Calendar
Check out the application deadlines and class schedules
Our RN to MSN – FNP online program offers multiple start dates to accommodate your professional and personal schedule.
| 8-week courses | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Due |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall III | 11/4/24 | 10/18/24 | 10/25/24 | 10/30/24 | 11/1/24 |
| Spring I | 1/6/25 | 12/13/24 | 12/27/24 | 1/1/25 | 1/3/25 |
| Spring I | 1/13/25 | 12/20/24 | 1/3/25 | 1/8/25 | 1/10/25 |
| Spring II | 2/17/25 | 1/17/25 | 1/31/25 | 2/12/25 | 2/14/25 |
| Spring II | 3/31/25 | 2/28/25 | 3/14/25 | 3/26/25 | 3/28/25 |
| Summer I | 5/19/25 | 4/18/25 | 5/2/25 | 5/14/25 | 5/16/25 |
| Summer II | 6/30/25 | 5/30/25 | 6/13/25 | 6/25/25 | 6/27/25 |
| Fall I | 8/18/25 | 7/18/25 | 8/1/25 | 8/13/25 | 8/15/25 |
| Fall I | 9/2/25 | 8/1/25 | 8/15/25 | 8/27/25 | 8/29/25 |
| Fall II | 9/29/25 | 8/29/25 | 9/12/25 | 9/24/25 | 9/26/25 |
| Fall II | 10/13/25 | 9/12/25 | 9/26/25 | 10/8/25 | 10/10/25 |
| Fall III | 11/3/25 | 10/3/25 | 10/17/25 | 10/29/25 | 10/31/25 |
| Course Start | Registration Deadline | Tuition Deadline | Session |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11/4/24 | 10/30/24 | 11/1/24 | Fall III |
| 1/6/25 | 1/1/25 | 1/3/25 | Spring I |
| 1/13/25 | 1/8/25 | 1/10/25 | Spring I |
| 2/17/25 | 2/12/25 | 2/14/25 | Spring II |
| 3/31/25 | 3/26/25 | 3/28/25 | Spring II |
| 5/19/25 | 5/14/25 | 5/16/25 | Summer I |
| 6/30/25 | 6/25/25 | 6/27/25 | Summer II |
| 8/18/25 | 8/13/25 | 8/15/25 | Fall I |
| 9/2/25 | 8/27/25 | 8/29/25 | Fall I |
| 9/29/25 | 9/24/25 | 9/26/25 | Fall II |
| 10/13/25 | 10/8/25 | 10/10/25 | Fall II |
| 11/3/25 | 10/29/25 | 10/31/25 | Fall III |
Now enrolling:
Ready to take the next steps toward earning your degree?
Admissions
Follow our streamlined admission requirements for the online RN to MSN – FNP
The College of Nursing and Health Innovation admission process is the first step toward changing your life and enriching the lives of others. Familiarize yourself with these admission requirements, along with information on required documentation.
Admission Requirements
- 3.0 GPA
- Online application
- Official transcripts
- Active RN license
Online Admission Requirements
- Completed online application and application fee
- Active and Unencumbered RN License verifiable via Nursys or State Boards of Nursing (BON)
- If the license is unable to be verified, the student must send in a copy via email of the license for verification. Acceptance will be on hold until the license is verified. Use the RN License Upload Form to submit license.
- Students that do not have a license but graduated within 1 year of completion of the ADN program will have the license checklist waived and accepted to the AO RN to BSN program. However, the license will be verified within NURS 3345. If the license is unable to be verified, students will be unable to progress.
- 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) of all courses completed
- TOEFL or TSI may apply.
- The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam is satisfied by resident status, Associate's Degree, or completion of Composition I and II with a grade of C or better plus 24 additional transferrable hours at a college or university located in the U.S. Otherwise, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam is required if the applicant's native or first language is not English. Additional information is available here.
- Completed Texas Success Initiative (TSI). This will NOT prevent admission, but the requirement must be satisfied during the first semester of enrollment.
At this time, the program is only open to United States Citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents (Green Card holders), and individuals who hold an H1-B Visa or other valid U.S. work visa.
Official transcripts from all colleges/universities you have attended should be submitted, along with required documents, from the granting institution(s) to:
Electronic Submission (faster processing)
U.S. Postal Service
UTA Undergraduate Admissions701 S. Nedderman Drive
Box 19114
Arlington, TX 76019-0114
Have a question? Call us at 866-489-2810.
Learn more about our admission requirements, review the nursing handbook and policies, and discover tips for success on the UTA College of Nursing and Health Innovation (CONHI) page.
Courses
Gain the knowledge you need in these online nursing courses
Students begin the program as an undergraduate in the RN-BSN program and must meet all undergraduate requirements prior to transitioning into the MSN program. Prior to completing the BSN requirement, two graduate-level courses must be completed. Those courses will be two of the last three courses needed to complete the undergraduate requirements. The courses will be applied to meet both BSN electives and MSN core requirements.
Once a student officially graduates with their BSN, the student must continue to the MSN program within one semester, excluding summer, to successfully transition. The estimated date of completion is dependent upon the successful completion of the undergraduate program and transition period, as well as the length of the MSN program outlined.
Students in UTA's accelerated online RN to MSN – FNP program must complete the undergraduate general course requirements as listed below, plus the following RN to BSN courses and MSN Common Courses, as well as Family Nurse Practitioner Courses.
One of the literature courses (ENGL 2329, ENGL 2319, or ENGL 2309) must be completed to graduate from the AO RN-MSN program. If you have taken one of these courses in the past, they can be transferred into the AO RN-MSN program.
NURSU 3345 must be completed before enrolling in additional nursing courses.
Additional Information
When you are accepted to any of our online nursing programs, we'll give you access to your nursing degree plan, which indicates which courses you satisfied and which courses you still need to complete, via the MyMav Self Service Student Center.
View upcoming start dates and courses.
*Tuition cost reflects required nursing courses only, and cost may vary if general courses are required. Cost is subject to change by the University.
