The Best Missouri Online Nurse Practitioner Programs and Requirements
- The Best Missouri Online Nurse Practitioner Programs
- Missouri Nurse Practitioner Requirements
- Salary and Career Information
Are you ready to earn your online nursing degree?
Candidates for nurse practitioner (NP) careers should pursue advanced degrees like a master’s or doctorate in nursing. These nurse practitioner programs in Missouri explore assessment and healthcare concepts, requiring fieldwork that prepares for responsibilities like overseeing check-ups, ordering lab work, and treating problems like infections and viruses. NPs may also discuss ways to prevent health issues with patients by .
Missouri nurses may enter collaborative practice arrangements with doctors. These agreements regulate what tasks RNs may perform and should reflect the nurse’s specialization. For instance, a candidate with a pediatric focus should consider a collaborative practice arrangement with a pediatrician. By these arrangements, RNs must work geographically close to their collaborative doctors for the majority of the year.
Candidates for nurse practitioner (NP) careers should pursue advanced degrees like a master’s or doctorate in nursing.
Individuals who want to work as NPs in the state should continue reading for information on the best nurse practitioner programs in Missouri. Our guide also addresses state credentials for nursing, average salaries for NPs, and growth projections for these careers in Missouri.
Popular Online MSN Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Explore the Best Missouri Online Nurse Practitioner Programs
Maryville University of Saint Louis
Saint Louis, MO- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$24,766
- Out-of-state$24,766
- In-State$14,346
- Out-of-state$14,346
- Retention Rate82%
- Acceptance Rate92%
- Students Enrolled10,596
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment84%
- AccreditationYes
Cox College
- Springfield, MO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$10,080
- Out-of-state$10,080
- In-State$10,800
- Out-of-state$10,800
- Retention Rate50%
- Acceptance Rate39%
- Students Enrolled956
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment99%
- AccreditationYes
University of Central Missouri
- Warrensburg, MO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$8,040
- Out-of-state$16,080
- In-State$8,136
- Out-of-state$16,272
- Retention Rate71%
- Acceptance Rate71%
- Students Enrolled11,637
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment51%
- AccreditationYes
University of Missouri-Kansas City
- Kansas City, MO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$9,840
- Out-of-state$27,660
- In-State$10,660
- Out-of-state$27,521
- Retention Rate77%
- Acceptance Rate69%
- Students Enrolled15,715
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment44%
- AccreditationYes
Requirements to Become a Nurse Practitioner in Missouri
Missouri residents can follow these steps to qualify for in-state NP positions.
- The Missouri Nurses Association instructs high school students to take courses in English, math, science, and social studies to prepare for higher education nursing programs.
- After graduating high school, candidates must complete nursing programs that hold approval from the Missouri State Board of Nursing. To earn an RN license, residents can choose from associate, bachelor’s, or hospital programs, which typically take 2-3 years to finish.
- Individuals must apply for RN licenses. Applicants do not pay an application fee, but they must submit transcripts and undergo a criminal background check.
- RN applicants should register to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), which costs $200. The board recommends registering at least four weeks before completing nursing programs. Candidates must receive board approval before testing. If this approval does not occur in 365 days, applicants must re-attempt registration.
- Test-takers should complete NCLEX practice exams to prepare for the assessment.
- Candidates must take the NCLEX on their scheduled testing day. This exam’s structure varies but may include as many as 265 questions and a time limit of five or six hours. Test-takers receive NCLEX exam scores within six weeks of the testing date.
- The board awards RN licenses to qualified candidates. Professionals renew their licenses at the end of April, every other year. Renewal, however, does not call for continuing education hours.
- Individuals must pursue national certification for NP positions. Certifications can come from organizations, such as the American Nurses Credentialing Center, and should reflect specializations. Missouri is currently experiencing a high demand for professionals who specialize in primary care, geriatrics, and acute care. However, the board recognizes other specializations, such as mental health, neonatal, and pediatrics. Certifications may call for fieldwork, programs, and tests that reflect the specialization area.
- Candidates should apply for advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) recognition. The board awards temporary recognition for individuals who are waiting to take certification tests.
- Each APRN applicant must complete an advanced degree in nursing and pay a fee of $150. If an individual meets the state’s criteria, the board awards a Document of Recognition for APRN practice. To renew the Document of Recognition, candidates must submit proof of recertification through a national organization. There is no renewal fee for this credential.
- APRNs can apply for controlled substance prescriptive authority. This recognition calls for coursework in pharmacology, 300 hours of guided fieldwork related to controlled substances, and 1,000 hours of fieldwork that candidates complete after earning nursing degrees. Individuals must renew their RN licenses and Document of Recognition to maintain this eligibility. The board can also revoke this authority due to improper practice.
- Candidates who qualify for controlled substance prescriptive authority can request a Federal Drug Enforcement Administration number and a Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs registration number.
In-Demand Nursing Specialty Eligibility Requirements in Missouri
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certification (AGPCNP-BC)
Years of Experience: Candidates must have earned an RN license.
Clinical Hours Required: Applicants must complete 500 clinical hours that include supervision during their academic programs.
Continuing Education: Renewal requires 75 continuing education hours. Candidates must renew certifications after five years.
Other: Certification calls for scores from a standardized test and a $220-$395 application fee.
Gerontological Nursing Certification (RN-BC)
Years of Experience: This certification calls for two years of RN experience.
Clinical Hours Required: Candidates must complete 2,000 hours of clinical fieldwork and 30 continuing education hours in gerontology. These experiences can be no more than three years old.
Continuing Education: Certifications expire after five years. Candidates must complete 75 continuing education hours to renew these credentials.
Other: The certification exam includes 175 questions. Applicants must also pay a $295 or $395 application fee, depending on membership.
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification (AGACNP-BC)
Years of Experience: The AGACNP-BC calls for an RN license.
Clinical Hours Required: Certification mandates 500 hours of fieldwork. This experience must reflect the specialization and involve supervision.
Continuing Education: For renewal, candidates must earn 75 continuing education hours. Licenses last for five years before renewal.
Other: Applicants must pay a $290-$395 application fee and take a 200-question certification exam.
Salary and Career Information
In 2019, the average U.S. income was $54,099. NPs in Missouri take home mean annual wages of nearly double this amount ($106,870). These professionals also earn higher average salaries than RNs in the state.
Candidates should note that the national average salary for NPs is nearly $11,000 higher than Missouri’s, and the U.S. average salary for RNs is more than $9,000 higher than Missouri’s average pay for RNs. However, certain areas in Missouri, such as Kansas City, boast mean annual wages comparable to national expectations. Residents may also increase their salaries by choosing specializations with higher average pay, such as psychiatric nurse practitioners.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects NP positions in Missouri to grow by 29.7% in the coming years. Nationally, the BLS anticipates NP opportunities to increase by 28.2%. To benefit from these increases, candidates should begin pursuing their nursing credentials by enrolling at nurse practitioner schools in Missouri.
| Statistic | Registered Nurse | Nurse Practitioner |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri Mean Salary | $65,900 | $106,870 |
| US Median Salary | $75,330 | $117,670 |
| Missouri Job Growth | 16.2% | 29.7% |
| US Job Growth | 12.1% | 28.2% |
| Location | Salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville – Springdale – Rogers, Arkansas – Missouri | $117,700 | 350 |
| Kansas City, Missouri – Kansas | $110,650 | 2,910 |
| St. Louis, Missouri – Illinois | $105,360 | 2,790 |
| St. Joseph, Missouri – Kansas | $124,010 | 150 |
| Joplin, Missouri | $105,720 | 150 |
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