DNP FAQS

questions most frequently asked

  1. What nurse practitioner (NP) options does your DNP program offer?
  2. Who should apply to your DNP program?
  3. I am currently in a BSN program. Can I still apply to the DNP program?
  4. Do I have to have passed the NCLEX to apply to the DNP program?
  5. Do you have options for Adult or PMHNPs who wish to obtain FNP preparation? Do you have an option for FNPs who wish to obtain PMHNP preparation? Do you have an option for Adult PMHNPs who wish to obtain Family PMHNP preparation? Do you have a Post-Master's Option?
  6. How long is the program? Is there a part-time option?
  7. Is the program online? Will I need to come to campus? 
  8. Are students required to live or do clinical practica experiences in Wyoming?  Can I do clinical practica experiences in my home community?
  9. What kinds of clinical experiences do students get?
  10. Can students who are in the DNP program work?
  11. Are there additional DNP application requirements for international students who speak English as a second language? 
  12. Is a thesis or dissertation required in your DNP program?
  13. Is your DNP program nationally accredited?
  14. What scholarship and funding opportunities are available for students in the DNP Program?
  15. Will the program prepare me for national NP certification?
  16. What are the writing expectations?

  • The University of Wyoming Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing DNP program currently has two clinical tracks:
  • Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), preparing students to practice primary care across the lifespan in outpatient settings
  • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), preparing students to practice psychiatric mental health care across the lifespan in a variety of settings

  • The program is open to registered nurses with a minimum of a baccalaureate degree in nursing from a program nationally accredited by CCNE or NLNAC. At this point, the program is not considering RNs who have baccalaureate degrees in non-nursing fields, unless they also have a baccalaureate or master's degree in nursing.

  • Yes, you can apply to the DNP program as long as your BSN anticipated graduation date is prior to the start of the first fall semester. Your admission will be contingent upon proof of successful completion of your BSN degree.

  • All students must have an unencumbered RN license in Wyoming (or multi-state license) by May 1 in their first year of the program. This unencumbered license must be maintained throughout the entire program.

  • Yes, Masters-prepared Adult PMHNPs who wish to obtain preparation for the FNP role in addition to the DNP degree are welcome to apply. These students need to take the Post-BSN FNP curriculum. Adult PMHNPs who are interested in the FNP track are encouraged to contact Ann Marie Hart, DNP Program Director (annmhart@uwyo.edu).
  • Yes, Masters-prepared FNPs who wish to obtain preparation for the PMHNP role in addition to the DNP degree are welcome to apply. These students need to take the Post-BSN PMHNP curriculum. FNPs who are interested in the PMHNP track are encouraged to contact Ann Marie Hart, DNP Program Director (annmhart@uwyo.edu).
  • No, we do not have an option for Adult PMHNPs who wish to obtain Family PMHNP preparation.
  • No, we do not have a Post-Master's Option or a Post-Master's second certificate option. Students in our DNP program who already have a Master's degree, must be seeking the DNP degree and certification as either an FNP or PMHNP. All students in our DNP program need to complete the Post-BSN Program of Study. For questions related to this, please contact Ann Marie Hart, DNP Program Director (annmhart@uwyo.edu). 

  • The program is three years of full-time study (three fall semesters, three spring semesters, and three summer semesters).
  • No, there is not a part-time option. 

  • The program is designed to be distance accessible for students and is not entirely online. During the first year of the program, students are required to come to campus early in the fall semester for several days of orientation and again during the first spring semester for a several-day intensive experience associated with the Human Cadaver and Health Assessment course. During the first summer semester, students need to come to campus for a week-long intensive "Clinical Boot Camp", as well as 3-4 additional multi-day intensives. During the second and third years, students need to come to campus for multi-day sessions 3-4 times a semester for clinical courses.
  • Starting with the fall 2019 cohort, students also must be available every Wednesday morning from 8:30-11:30 a.m. during the fall and spring semesters throughout the entirety of the program for online seminar/webinar participation. Seminar/webinar participation can occur wherever there is reliable internet connectivity! Students are informed of the dates of campus-intensive sessions no later than November 1 for the spring semester, March 15 for the summer semester, and June 15 for the fall semester.
  • Students are required to attend all on-campus intensives and seminars/webinars and should not schedule other activities (work, vacations, weddings, etc.) until they know the required on-campus dates for that time period. The DNP program does NOT schedule on-campus intensives when UW is not in session. View UW’s academic calendar.
  • Inclement weather is common throughout much of the year in Wyoming and frequently impacts roads and travel. Students should check the weather frequently and plan to arrive in Laramie early if inclement weather is expected around required on-campus intensives.

  • Students are not required to live in WY but must be able to attend the intensive sessions on the Laramie campus and complete clinical practica experiences in WY, northern CO, or southern MT.
  • With the exception of the Innovative Practice Models course, all DNP clinical practica must occur in WY, north central CO (i.e., Ft. Collins, Greeley, Loveland, Walden), or southern MT. Although we aim to assist students to do clinical practica in their home communities, we cannot guarantee this, and travel or relocation will likely be required.
  • All students will need to have an unencumbered RN license in WY (or a multistate license) by May 1st of their first year in the program. Students who do clinical practica experiences in CO or MT will also need to have an unencumbered RN license in these respective states (or a multistate license), in addition to a WY license.
  • Students who wish to do clinical in CO or MT will need to find their own clinical agencies and preceptors and will need to work in conjunction with DNP faculty and staff to ensure that preceptors meet qualifications and that a legal contract is in place between UW and the clinical agency. Agencies and preceptors in CO and MT must be completely secured (i.e., preceptors approved and legal contracts in place) 3 months prior to the start of the semester in which students are scheduled to do their clinical experience. If students have not completely secured a CO or MT agency/preceptor 3 months in advance, clinical faculty will work on securing a clinical placement/agency in WY.
  • A large number of medical and DNP students are living in Laramie; thus, students who live in and around Laramie should also expect to travel and/or relocate for some clinical placements.
  • With the exception of students who are employed by UW as graduate assistants, we cannot accommodate students’ work schedules when making clinical placements. We also cannot accommodate family schedules. Students must be able to temporarily relocate to another community for their clinical placements (i.e., a community from which you may not be able to return home for 2-3 months or only return home on the weekends).
  • As public transportation is limited in WY, all students should have access to a vehicle for traveling to and from clinical agencies.
  • Students are responsible for all travel/relocation costs associated with clinical practica experiences.
  • Bottom line:  ALL students should be prepared to travel or temporarily relocate for clinical placements.

  • Students who are seeking preparation for the FNP role receive a variety of outpatient clinical experiences in the areas of family practice, adult health, women’s health and pediatrics.
  • Students seeking preparation for the PMHNP will receive a variety of outpatient and inpatient clinical experiences in the areas of health assessment and psychiatric mental health. Clinical courses are still being developed.
  • All DNP students do a one-week practicum with the Innovative Practice Models course at an innovative, integrative health care facility. Previous students have completed this practicum at locations such as: Denver Health, Kaiser Permanente, Mayo Clinic, and Virginia Mason (Seattle).

  • The University of Wyoming School of Nursing offers a rigorous full-time DNP program that requires a major time commitment. Students who are in the DNP program to become certified as FNPs or PMHNPs are going through the program on a full-time basis. This is equivalent to a full-time (40-50 hour) work week, thus we strongly discourage outside work while in the DNP program.
  • With the exception of students who are employed by UW as graduate assistants, we cannot accommodate student work schedules when making clinical placements. Thus all student employment should be flexible (i.e., be able to accommodate student absences for 2-3 months).

  • Yes, international students need to demonstrate proficiency in English. International students also need to be eligible for nursing licensure in Wyoming.

  • No. However, all DNP students need to complete a practice-oriented DNP project that is incorporated into the third year of the curriculum.

  • Yes! Check out our school's page on accreditation.

  • For information regarding scholarship and funding opportunities, check out the following:
  • School of Nursing Scholarship and Financial Aid page at www.uwyo.edu/NURSING/scholarships
  • Graduate Assistantships (GAs). GAs are part-time (18-20 hours/week) teaching or research positions that pay students a monthly stipend AND tuition. The number of GAs the school offers varies from year to year. For more information regarding GAs, see the UW Grad web site.

  • Yes, students who complete the FNP program will be eligible to sit for either of the two national certification exams offered through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).
  • Yes, students who complete the PMHNP program will be eligible to sit for the national certification exam offered through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

  • Articulate communication in all forms is a core concept of the DNP program and an integral part of the curriculum. Students are expected to write professionally; however, the program is designed to assist students to develop their professional writing skills. Additionally, the University of Wyoming’s Writing Center is available to assist students who need more writing support and is even available to off campus students.