One university offers an online advanced practice degree in the family nurse practitioner (FNP) specialization in Montana. The University of Montana offers a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) in FNP for registered nurses (RNs) with a bachelor’s of science in nursing (BSN). The program is offered in a distance-learning format, with the majority of instruction delivered online. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) has accredited the online family nurse practitioner (FNP) doctoral program at Montana State University. Certified FNPs are trained to lead change initiatives aimed to improve healthcare systems, patient satisfaction, and outcomes.
Featured Online Programs (RN License Required)
A description of the University of Montana, Bozeman’s online FNP doctor of nursing practice program is provided below, as well as information on FNP licensing requirements in Montana.
Program Information: Online FNP Programs in Montana
The program faculty within the College of Nursing and Engineering at Montana State University, Bozeman prepare future FNPs for leadership positions in the field by drawing upon their vast collective experience in systems and clinical leadership. Courses are delivered mostly online, with the use of video, teleconferencing, and asynchronous online learning activities. The 83 credits of coursework include courses on the design of healthcare delivery systems, diagnostic reasoning, evidence-based practice, and healthcare informatics.
Personalized mentorship and advising are strong components of the DNP program. FNP students are guided through their clinical practice experience by advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) with opportunities in rural or frontier healthcare settings. They also receive mentorship from nationally recognized faculty members while completing their DNP scholarly projects. An oral defense of the project and a comprehensive exam (oral and written) are also required elements of the program. All students participate in three campus visits, one each fall during their course of study. GRE and GMAT scores are not required of applicants.
Montana FNP Licensing Requirements
The Montana Department of Labor and Industry Professional Licensing Bureau oversees the Montana Board of Nursing. Applications can be completed online or downloaded from the website, although applying via the online platform is preferred. Applicants must provide a valid email address as the department communicates its application status exclusively online.
To apply for licensure as an advanced practice nurse in the state of Montana, submit the following along with your completed application:
- Proof of an active RN license in Montana
- Verification of licenses held in other states (through NURSYS or directly from the state of licensure) if applicable
- Official transcripts sent directly to the board from graduate institution upon degree conferral
- Verification of national certification sent directly to the board from a national certifying body
- Documentation explaining criminal history, if applicable
- Completion of a background check with fingerprinting
- Non-criminal notice of applicants rights form
- $75 application fee
To gain prescriptive authority as an FNP in Montana, RNs must:
- Download and complete the application from the Montana Department of Labor and Industry website
- Submit verification of Montana RN license with APRN endorsement
- Submit evidence of coursework in graduate-level advanced pharmacology, diagnosis and disease management, and clinical practice integrating pharmacologic intervention with patient management
- Pay a $100 application fee
A note on renewals: Montana nursing licenses can be renewed by December 31st of even-numbered years with a payment of a $75 fee and the completion of 24 hours of continuing education—12 of which must be in pharmacology, pharmacotherapeutics, or clinical management of drug therapy to satisfy prescriptive authority requirements.
