If you hold a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, you’ve already completed an impressive amount of nursing training that has likely already positioned you near the top of your field. There’s only one final step for you to take if you wish to qualify for the highest-ranking positions in the nursing profession: obtaining a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree.
A DNP degree demonstrates that you have the skill and expertise to take on leadership roles on nursing teams, as well as roles that provide specialized clinical services.
As a terminal degree, it indicates that you have completed the full academic course load of the most seasoned nurses, a formidable distinction within the medical world. This can lead to great career growth, with higher-level job opportunities opening up with salaries to match.
There are several paths for nurses to obtain their DNPs, including for those who don’t yet hold their MSNs. However, having already completed several years of graduate school, MSN-prepared nurses have the shortest possible path ahead of them to “completing” their nursing education. This can make pursuing a DNP an attractive option for MSN-holders who wish to push their nursing careers even further.
A quick path to career advancement
Traditionally, nursing school requirements have been designed for students to complete step by step, making their way from bachelor’s to master’s to, finally, doctorate programs. (If you already hold an MSN, this is the path you have followed yourself.) In recent years it has become more common for students to enroll in BSN to DNP programs (which are longer-term programs designed for students who only hold a BSN) or even direct entry DNP programs (which are even longer term programs designed for those who have become RNs without even obtaining their BSN first).
So what, then, is an MSN to DNP program? In fact, it is a new name for the traditional DNP program model, which is also known as a post-master’s DNP. While the newer program models include a significant amount of MSN curriculum to get students up to speed, those who hold MSNs do not need to repeat the same curriculum, making the program duration much shorter than it is for students of other academic backgrounds.
While obtaining a DNP can take anywhere from three to six years for students who don’t hold MSNs, those who do can complete the final stage of their education in one to two on a full-time schedule.
This is an opportunity for career-minded nurses to gain a significant leg up in a surprisingly short amount of time. Taking the likelihood of a salary increase for DNP holders into account, this is a fantastic chance to accelerate your career without making a particularly long-term commitment to school.
MSNs vs. DNPs: Comparing job opportunities and salaries
If you hold an MSN, you already know that the degree marks a big professional leap for nurses – leaving one eligible for Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) roles, including Nurse Practitioner (NP), Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), Nurse Midwife, or Certified Registered Nurse Anaesthetist (CRNA) credentials. These are advanced roles in the medical world, offering greater responsibilities than those available to RNs and in turn, higher paydays. They are typically focused on clinical duties, providing comprehensive care and diagnosing and treating patients.
Roles for DNPs, meanwhile, typically have leadership responsibilities that go beyond direct patient care and focus more broadly on administration and team management, education, and even policy development. Many of these roles oversee the work of NPs and RNs in clinical settings. (A good number of DNPs are also NPs, though this is not a requirement in order to enroll in a DNP program.) Job titles for DNPs can include Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), Director of Nursing, Nurse Educator, Public Health Program Director, and more.
Comparing the salaries of MSNs and DNPs can be tricky, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not provide data organized by degree level. However, the BLS reports that NPs overall in the state of California earn a mean annual salary of $161,540, making it the top-paying state in the country for NPs. Given that DNP-prepared NPs are qualified for higher-ranking roles than those who only hold MSNs, one can infer that those with DNPs can earn well above this average, while those with MSNs are more likely to earn around or below this average. These impressive salaries are what draw many nurses to invest in higher levels of education.
2023 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures for Nurse Practitioners reflect state data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed September 2024.
The DNP degree experience
Duration, scheduling, and program formats
When taken on a full-time schedule, most post-master’s DNP programs in California, online and in-person, take two years to complete, with some accelerated programs with beefed-up schedules offering them even faster.
That said, the vast majority of MSN to DNP programs offer a part-time option for those who intend to continue working as nurses while in school. This typically takes three years, allowing nurses to keep up their professional lives while working toward the next chapter.
In this day and age, nursing students have the benefit of being able to enroll in post-master’s DNP programs online, a tremendous opportunity that can help you achieve your goals with greater flexibility in your day-to-day life.
Online post-master’s DNP programs offload most classroom time to virtual settings, allowing students to tune in from wherever they are. Indeed, many enroll in online post master’s programs for this reason. However, it’s worth noting that those obtaining their post-master’s DNP online will still be expected to complete their field practicum in person.
Curriculum
Just like in an MSN program, the curriculum of your DNP program will vary depending on your career goals after you graduate. Some nurses enter DNP programs to focus on leadership and systems management, while others enter to build areas of clinical specialization. These goals will define your educational path, ensuring you receive the appropriate training for the nursing role that most appeals to you.
Though they may focus on different subject matter, all MSN to DNP programs in California include a combination of classroom learning and on-the-ground training. Topics can include (but are not limited to):
- Clinical scholarship for evidence-based practice
- Communication and ethics
- Clinical prevention and population health
- Informatics for DNP practice
- Healthcare policy and advocacy
- Organizational systems and economics
These courses equip students with a baseline of advanced knowledge that will allow them to take on enhanced responsibilities in clinical settings.
Beyond this, students will focus on their area of specialization, which will inform their training as well as, in many programs, research projects that will further build their individualized expertise. Since a DNP is a practice-focused degree, prospective students can anticipate that this will be a significant amount of their coursework.
In fact, some MSN-DNP programs include post-baccalaureate tracks in specialized fields, such as the post-master’s DNP PMHNP program (a post-master’s DNP with a psychiatric focus). These are designed to prepare students for roles that require specialized certification.
Indeed, students should anticipate their field practicum to take up a significant amount of their DNP experience. In most programs, this intensive training is included in each semester of class, ensuring that students are getting hands-on preparation throughout their degree program.
Admissions: What you need to know
With so many routes to becoming a DNP available to nurses, it’s important to make sure you meet admissions requirements for your programs of choice before you begin the application process.
Most importantly, you must hold an MSN in order to apply for post-master’s DNP programs. If you don’t, fear not: you are likely eligible for one of the other DNP tracks.
You do not need to be a certified Nurse Practitioner in order to enroll in a DNP program, though many MSN-prepared nurses already are. In most cases, MSNs already hold RN certification, making this an implicit requirement of post master’s DNP programs.
Application materials requested by schools may vary, but you can anticipate that they will include the following:
- Master of Science in Nursing degree from an accredited institution
- Official academic transcript (many schools require a 3.0 GPA minimum)
- Letters of recommendation
- Professional resume
- Personal statement
- Documentation of RN license
Every school has its own unique application requirements, so be sure to review all requested materials carefully as you begin the admissions process.
Are you ready to take your career to new heights with a DNP degree? If you meet the criteria above, your next step is to review the many excellent post master’s DNP programs in California you have to choose from.
DNP Programs for MSN-prepared Nurses in California
California offers a range of post-master’s DNP programs that can help motivated nurses arrive at the highest level of credentialing in their field. Take a look at a complete index of California MSN-DNP programs below.
Azusa Pacific University
Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Location: Azusa (main campus), Inland Empire, Monrovia, San Diego
- Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $63,980 – $77,060
- Format(s): Online (with on-campus intensive)
Azusa Pacific University’s post-master’s DNP program is in fact open to BSN-prepared nurses who hold any other master’s degree – not necessarily an MSN. (The university also offers a BSN to DNP program for those who don’t hold master’s degrees at all.) This program is a “low-residency” online program that features a brief on-campus intensive at the university’s Monrovia location but is otherwise designed to allow working nurses to pursue their education without interrupting their professional lives. When taken on a full-time schedule, it takes about two and a half years to complete.
Those in the DNP program at APU also have the opportunity to pursue an Oncology Nurse Practitioner Certificate, which they can do by adding a prescribed course load to the other DNP requirements. This is an excellent streamlined path for those who know they wish to work with patients who are undergoing cancer treatment, and a unique offering that cannot be found in many other MSN-DNP programs.
It should be noted that Azusa Pacific University is a Christian university that incorporates a spiritual perspective into its nursing curriculum, though students from all religious backgrounds are welcome to apply. It is also a Yellow Ribbon University that offers special initiatives to help support veterans who wish to pursue advanced degrees in nursing.
California Baptist University
Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Location: Riverside
- Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $13,561
- Format(s): Online (with on-campus intensive)
MSN-prepared nurses who are hoping to take the next steps in their careers have an efficient and convenient opportunity to do so at California Baptist University’s DNP program. This program is designed to allow nurses to continue working while in school, offering asynchronous online courses that can be taken at students’ convenience, with occasional on-campus didactic intensives to round out students’ skill-building opportunities. Since it is designed for students who already hold their MSNs (with the requisite practicum experience of a master’s program), the program takes only two years to complete when taken on a full-time schedule.
The curriculum at CBU places an emphasis on leadership, with course offerings including Organizational Systems Leadership, Health Policy and Advocacy, and Innovations in Quality and Safety. Students have the option of taking on subject concentrations while in school, including Adult Gerontology Acute Care, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Educator, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
In order to apply to CBU’s DNP program, one must hold an MSN with proof of completed practicum hours. (According to the program website, it is sometimes possible for students with BSNs and other master’s degrees to be eligible, with applicants considered on a case-by-case basis. If you are in this position, it is strongly recommended to reach out to these programs directly well in advance of the application due date to ensure that you are a candidate for admission). Applicants are also required to hold an active, unencumbered RN license, with preference given to students who have acquired APRN licenses upon obtaining their master’s degrees.
Fresno State University
Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Location: Fresno
- Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $16,112
- Format(s): Online (with two on-campus intensives)
Fresno State’s DNP program is open to those who hold MSNs as well as those who hold just BSNs. It is a two-and-a-half year program (when completed on a full-time schedule) that is almost exclusively offered online, with the exception of two short on-campus intensives taking place during the first and fourth semesters of the program (which is five semesters total). Students are also expected to appear on campus for their oral defenses of their final DNP projects.
Though the program is open to both BSN and MSN-prepared nurses, those who are attending it as a post-master’s program have the opportunity to put many of their MSN practicum hours toward their DNP credits, greatly reducing the number of clinical hours they will be expected to complete while in school. This means that while the technical program duration will be the same for both sets of students, those with master’s degrees will have a significant reduction in the work that is expected from them.
Fresno State’s DNP program is only available on a full-time schedule, but the program is designed to allow students to continue working while in school. It is even possible in some cases for students to design DNP Final Project research to take place in the clinic or healthcare organization where they already work, allowing students a maximum of convenience.
California State University – Fullerton
Doctor of Nursing Practice – Direct Care
Doctor of Nursing Practice – Indirect Care
- Location: Fullerton
- Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $17,576
- Format(s): Hybrid
The post-master’s DNP program at Cal State Fullerton is a hybrid program designed to allow students to continue working as nurses while obtaining their doctorate degrees. Combining a mix of both synchronous and asynchronous online classes alongside occasional on-campus tutorials, the program can be completed in five semesters over a two year period (including summer classes).
There are two tracks for DNP students at Cal State Fullerton: Direct Care and Indirect Care. The program also boasts a wider range of advanced practice courses than many other programs, including the rare offering of faculty development courses for those who wish to become nurse educators. The program also includes a clinical field work requirement. Those who completed practicum requirements in their MSN can put as many as 500 clinical hours toward their DNP practicum requirements, potentially reducing their required hours by half.
Applicants to the Direct Care track are expected to hold an MSN from an accredited university. Those who apply to the Indirect Care track are expected to hold a Master of Nursing Leadership or Administration, Nursing Education, or Community Health Nursing. Applicants to either track are expected to hold an active, unrestricted RN license.
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Location: Willowbrook
- Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): Not provided
- Format(s): Hybrid
Charles R. Drew University’s DNP program is a mostly-remote doctorate program designed for working nurses, in particular those with Nurse Practitioner (NP) certifications. This program features primarily remote courses, with several on-campus intensives taking place throughout the degree process. This is an excellent choice of program for those who wish to complete their education as quickly as possible: taking place over a mere 16 months, including summer sessions, this is as accelerated of a DNP program as one can find.
The emphasis of the DNP program at CRDU is leadership, whether at the level of clinical organizations or policy. Students are also expected to complete 540 hours of clinical practicum, complementing those students will have already earned from their MSN programs. The program culminates in individual DNP projects, which are shared with the rest of the cohort during the on-campus intensive at the end of the final semester.
In order to apply to this program, students must hold an MSN with documentation of 500 completed clinical hours. Applicants must also hold an active, unencumbered RN license, with APRN certification encouraged.
Loma Linda University
Doctor of Nursing Practice – Clinical
Doctor of Nursing Practice – Leadership
- Location: Loma Linda
- Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $33,649 – $37,437
- Format(s): Hybrid
Loma Linda University is a Christian university that delivers a hands-on advanced nursing education through a spiritual lens. The school offers a hybrid MSN to DNP program that encompasses two years of core curriculum coursework and an additional year of DNP project implementation. Courses are primarily offered online, with on-campus intensives four days of every quarter. These academic schedules are designed for full time working professionals. To add to the convenience, students are able to start school in the fall semester (September) or winter semester (January). A part-time option is also available.
There are two concentration tracks applicants may pursue at LLU: the clinical track, which aims to build specialized skills related to particular arenas of care or populations served, and the leadership track, which aims to prepare students for executive and educator roles in medical organizations. Students in both tracks are expected to complete a field practicum and a final research project related to their area of study.
Applicants to either concentration in the DNP program are expected to hold an MSN with a GPA of 3.2 or higher. All applicants are also required to hold an active RN license in the state where they wish to practice. Applicants to the clinical track must additionally hold any type of APRN certification, including NP, CNS, CRNA, CNMW credentials; those applying to the leadership track are encouraged to hold nursing management certification.
National University
Doctor of Nursing Practice – Executive Leadership
- Location: Fresno
- Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $12,020
- Format(s): Online
National University’s post-master’s DNP program has an Executive Leadership focus, designed to prepare nurses for high-ranking roles on nursing teams and clinical organizations overall. This is a fully online program whose only in-person requirements are clinical practice hours (a minimum of 570 hours are required, with some students requiring more, depending on how many they have completed in their MSN programs). When taken on a full-time schedule, NU’s DNP-Executive Leadership program takes 30 months to complete.
The Executive Leadership program is a fully online program that covers the fundamentals of nursing education with an emphasis on building leadership through the lenses of healthcare administration, policy, and informatic, among other subjects. Students are also expected to complete an Applied Doctoral Manuscript as the final stage of the program.
In order to qualify for the DNP program at National University, applicants must hold an MSN from an accredited institution with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Students also must hold an active RN license (an APRN license is not required). NU is a veteran-founded university with a commitment to helping those who have served in the military pursue an affordable education.
Point Loma Nazarene University
Doctor of Nursing Practice – Healthcare Leadership
Doctor of Nursing Practice, Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
Doctor of Nursing Practice, Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Location: San Diego
- Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $18,884
- Format(s): Online
Website: Healthcare Leadership | CNS | FNP
Point Loma Nazarene University is a Christian institution open to students from all faith backgrounds. The school offers online DNP programs that give students the option to choose between asynchronous and synchronous virtual courses, depending on their academic preferences and what is convenient for their professional schedules. Students are expected to attend occasional on-campus intensive sessions.
There are three concentration tracks available at PLNU: a Healthcare Leadership track, which is the school’s only exclusively post-master’s DNP program, a Family Nurse Practitioner track, and a Clinical Nurse Specialist track. The latter two of these concentrations are also open to nurses who only hold BSNs, but those who enter the programs with MSN degrees are able to bypass a significant amount of coursework, reducing credit requirements from 76 to as few as 56 units.
Though applicants will apply directly to whichever program concentration appeals to them, admissions requirements will be consistent no matter which track you are applying for. Those applying to the FNP or CNS programs are expected to hold an MSN degree with a minimum GPA of 3.2, as well as a current RN license and proof of current employment in nursing or a minimum of one year of RN experience in the past five years.
Samuel Merritt University
Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Location: Fresno, Oakland, San Francisco, Sacramento
- Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $57,326
- Format(s): Online
Designed with convenience and long-term career leverage in mind, Samuel Merritt’s post-master’s DNP program is a fully online program designed to support working nurses as they pursue the next stages of their careers. The program can be completed on a full-time, 20-month (5 semester) schedule or a part-time, 40 month (10 semester) schedule, making it an especially expedient route for MSN-prepared nurses to obtain their terminal degrees.
As a post-master’s DNP program, the focus of Samuel Merritt’s MSN-DNP track is on additional practicum experience (1,000 hours are required) and a final scholarly project, which will likely be informed by each student’s individual clinical field experience. The program does not have formal concentration tracks, but students will have the opportunity to direct their studies toward the professional arena that most appeals to them.
Applicants to Samuel Merritt’s post-master’s DNP program are expected to hold an MSN with a 3.0 minimum GPA on their graduate transcripts. They are also required to hold an active RN license. Students are not required to hold APRN certification, but it is encouraged.
San Jose State University
Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Location: San Jose
- Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): ) $15,270
- Format(s): Online (with on-campus intensives)
Nurses in Northern California who are looking to level up professionally have an excellent option in San Jose State University’s post-master’s DNP program. Consisting primarily of online courses with occasional in-person tutorials (three over the course of the program), this 23-month degree path is designed to fit into students’ professional schedules.
The centerpiece of the SJSU DNP program is the Doctoral Project, which students begin to develop in their first semester of school and pursue over the course of their five semesters, incorporating evidence-based research from their field practicum experiences. This project is presented publicly during the last semester of the program.
SJSU only accepts students who are California residents. As a post-master’s DNP program, only those who hold MSN degrees are eligible to apply. Additionally, applicants are expected to hold an active RN or APRN license.
University of California – Irvine
Doctor of Nursing Practice (Post-Master's)
- Location: Irvine
- Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $12,264
- Format(s): Online (with in-person intensives)
The Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing at UC Irvine offers a post-master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program designed specifically for working professionals. This program, which takes approximately two years to complete, is almost entirely online, with courses delivered in synchronous and asynchronous formats to allow a maximum of scheduling flexibility for students with work commitments. There are three on-campus intensives throughout the program, during the Prologue, Intersession, and Epilogue terms.
The emphasis of the post-master’s DNP program at UC Irvine is leadership, with topics including program evaluation, research methods, professional collaboration, and curricular design for health professions, among others. Since all students in the program have completed MSN programs, practicum requirements are lighter than at many other programs, with students expected to complete 510 hours of clinical field work over the course of the program.
Only MSN holders are eligible to apply to the post-master’s DNP at UC Irvine. Applicants are also expected to hold active RN certification with 1800 hours of work experience by the start of the program. It is not strictly required, but is highly encouraged, to hold APRN certification, whether as an NP, CNS, CRNA, CNM, or another advanced degree.
University of California – Los Angeles
Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Location: Los Angeles
- Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $40,104
- Format(s): Hybrid
Los Angeles-based nurses have the opportunity to receive their doctorate degrees from one of the nation’s top-ranked universities at UCLA, which offers a hybrid post-master’s DNP program exclusively for MSN-prepared nurses that takes less than two years to complete. Designed for working professionals, it is aimed at building executive leadership skills as well as evidence-based research abilities, centering around a DNP Scholarly Project that focuses each student’s interests on a single topic in the nursing field.
An especially convenient aspect of the UCLA MSN-DNP program is that students are able to perform their field practicum as well as research for their DNP Scholarly Projects at their existing workplace. This is a tremendous advantage for hardworking students who might otherwise have trouble adding clinical hours to their already busy schedules.
In order to apply to UCLA’s post-master’s DNP program, students must already hold an MSN from an accredited university. Students are expected to hold some form of APRN certification as well as documentation of completion of 500 hours of practicum during their master’s programs.
University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Location: San Marcos
- Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $18,594 (approx)
- Format(s): Online
University of St. Augustine offers a post-master’s DNP for MSN-prepared nurses who wish to rise to the final level of their educational journey. This is a fully-online program that offers students the option of attending “virtual immersion” sessions throughout their schooling. Classes are scheduled to allow working nurses to maintain their professional schedules while in school. This post-MSN track takes 28 months to complete.
While the University of St. Augustine offers two BSN-DNP programs with specific concentrations, the MSN-DNP program does not have a specified focus area. The broad emphases of the program are executive leadership, nurse educator roles and responsibilities, and evidence-based practice research methods. These come into play in students’ field practicum hours (requirements may vary depending on the amount students have completed during their MSN programs).
Applicants to the post-master’s DNP program at St. Augustine are required to hold an MSN from an accredited institution with a transcript GPA of 3.0 or higher. They are also expected to hold an active, unrestricted RN license.
Western University
Doctor of Nursing Practice – Leadership
- Location: Pomona
- Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $18,396
- Format(s): Online, hybrid (optional)
Western University offers a post-master’s DNP program with an emphasis on leadership for evidence-based practice. It is intended to build students’ executive abilities, with particular attention given to the topics of program evaluation, population perspectives and use of data, and programmatic decision making. Offered in an online/hybrid format – featuring primarily online courses with two intensives held at Western University’s Pomona campus – the program allows students to pursue their doctorate degrees without relocating, with a class schedule that allows them to maintain their current nursing employment.
Though it is not a requirement of the program, those who are interested in pursuing careers as nurse educators have a number of elective courses at their disposal to build this skill over the course of their schooling. This can also become a part of their DNP Scholarly Project, informing the research they conduct during their field practicum.
Applicants to the DNP-Leadership program are required to hold an MSN from an accredited institution as well as an active RN license. In some cases, students who hold a master’s degree in another field and a BSN will be considered, though this is only offered on a case-by-case basis. If this applies to you, it is highly recommended to look into your eligibility in advance of the application deadline to ensure that you are qualified for the program.
Tuition data is taken from program websites and the NCES College Navigator database, accessed September 2024.
FAQs
Can I apply to an MSN-BNP program if I only hold a BSN?
No. BSNs can pursue their DNPs efficiently by enrolling in BSN to DNP programs, which are designed to account for the coursework of an MSN program while allowing students to bypass this middle step. For this reason, BSN to DNP programs are longer than MSN to DNP programs.
Is it necessary to hold a DNP in order to qualify for leadership positions on nursing teams?
Yes. This is a significant reason why many MSN-prepared nurses decide to take the final step in their education, opening up a new frontier of professional opportunities in the medical world.
How long do MSN to DNP programs take to complete?
When taken on a full-time schedule, MSN programs typically take one to two years to complete. Program durations can vary (partly because some shorter programs include summer semesters), so be sure to research each program on your list carefully.
Is it possible to continue working as a nurse while attending an MSN-DNP program?
Yes. Many MSN-prepared nurses continue to work as they attend their DNP programs, allowing them to maintain a steady income and keep the professional ball rolling while in school. This route requires students to take on graduate school on a part-time basis, which typically takes three years to complete.
Is it possible to attend a post-master’s DNP program online in California?
Yes! Thanks to the arrival of remote learning, there are many fantastic online post-master’s DNP programs that allow students to study from wherever they are, alleviating them of the hassle of commuting time and in some cases offering scheduling flexibility. Students should be aware that they will still be expected to complete their clinical practicum in person, meaning they should not expect their DNP experience to be fully remote.
Do I need to be an NP to apply to a post-master’s DNP program?
No. While many MSN-prepared nurses who apply for DNP programs hold NP certification, it is not a flat-out requirement at MSN to DNP programs in California.