Online Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree Program
Next Start Date | Jan 08
DNP Programs at a glance:
- Lead clinical practice change
- Advance expertise in a variety of topics
- Understand the foundations of key nursing research
- Build leadership skills that result in quality improvement and increased patient safety
- Provide primary care for vulnerable, culturally diverse populations
- Develop the skills necessary to influence health policy
- Be a mentor and practice nursing leadership among others seeking to influence health care
What is a Doctor of Nursing Practice?
A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a post-master’s degree designed to prepare registered nurses for the highest level of professional nursing practice. Through online DNP programs, you will be prepared to work in leadership roles in a variety of healthcare delivery settings, paving the way for services that could revolutionize patient care.
What is the difference between a DNP and PhD?
A DNP is a doctorate degree in nursing that can help advance your career on the clinical/practice side, while a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in nursing focuses on teaching and nursing research.
What can I do with a DNP?
A DNP degree prepares you for a wide range of roles in a variety of healthcare settings. To learn more call 877.751.5783 to speak to a representative or request more information.
DNP Elective Focus Areas
Doctor of Nursing Practice Admission Requirements
How do I get started?
Get started on earning your DNP degree during one of six program starts per year at Chamberlain. For your doctorate degree in nursing application, you should have the following:
- Current, active, unrestricted RN license in the U.S. or in a jurisdiction that is an associate member of the NCSBN
- A degree in nursing at the master’s level or higher OR a bachelor of science in nursing degree, and a degree in a discipline outside of nursing at the master’s level or higher. A minimum CGPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required.
- Completion of the following courses, or evidence of attainment of each course outcome through transfer credit, a portofolio or coursework completed at Chamberlain:
- NR-500: Foundational Concepts and Applications
- NR-501: Theoretical Basis for Advanced Nursing PRactice
- NR- 505: Advanced Research Methods: Evidence-Based Practice
- NR- 506: Healthcare Policy
- NR-512: Fundamentals of Nursing Informatics
Our online DNP admissions team is available to walk you through the application process and answer any questions on DNP program requirements.
DNP Admission Criteria FAQs
Chamberlain requires a current, active, unrestricted RN license in the U.S. or in a jurisdiction that is an associate member of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN).
Chamberlain reserves the right to admit candidates with nurse licensure from countries outside the U.S. that are not affiliated with NCSBN but where equivalent standards can be demonstrated. These decisions are made on a case-by-case basis according to the general academic principles of integrity outlined by the Academic Standards Committee.
Chamberlain provides qualified DNP Preparatory applicants and students with the opportunity to receive course waivers through completion of a Chamberlain portfolio. To complete the Chamberlain portfolio process for NR-500, NR-501, NR-505, NR-512 and/or NR-506, applicants or students must successfully document and provide sufficient evidence, to reflect attainment of each course outcome. The faculty will assess each course portfolio submitted to determine if attainment is achieved for each course outcome. In order to receive a course waiver, evidence of all course outcomes must be met. Students interested in this portfolio process should contact their academic support advisor immediately upon admission for more details.
Students with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and a non-nursing master’s degree may submit a portfolio for any or all of the courses listed above to earn qualifying course waivers. Find out more about our DNP Preparatory Course - Waiver Portfolio option or request more information
Chamberlain requires a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and a degree in a discipline other than nursing at the master’s level or higher. You must also have a minimum CGPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale from an institution accredited by either a regional accrediting agency or an agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), or the NLN Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA)*
Chamberlain reserves the right to admit candidates with equivalent educational qualifications, from institutions outside the U.S. that are not recognized by CHEA, CCNE, or CNEA as determined by an independent transcript evaluation.
Additional savings for Chamberlain Grads! Now save 20% off your DNP Degree
Earning your DNP is closer than you think. Save 20% on tuition for a total savings of $6,200 — plus, there are never any application fees for alumni. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain!
Tuition & Expenses
DNP Degree Program Costs
Chamberlain provides you with individualized support throughout your educational journey to a DNP degree beginning with the admissions process. Check out the Net Price Calculator for an estimate of federal and institutional aid.
Save up to $3,600 on your DNP with our DNP Nursing Excellence Grant, while funds are still available. See Scholarships & Grants to learn about eligibility and additional scholarship opportunities. View tuition and expenses information for the DNP degree program.
Financial Aid Options
Chamberlain’s DNP degree program can help prepare you for expanded roles within your organization. Chamberlain proudly partners with healthcare institutions, community colleges, associations and organizations to provide accessible educational opportunities for registered nurses.
See if your institution has partnered with Chamberlain, which may provide you with a group-specific tuition rate. We also offer a scholarship to DAISY Honoree Award recipients.
Accreditation
Accreditation, State Authorizations & Approvals
Chamberlain has university accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and Doctor of Nursing Practice program accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA). † Chamberlain continuously earns new approvals from respected agencies across the nation.
The Chamberlain University Doctor of Nursing Practice program is pursuing accreditation from the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA), located at 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, 8th Floor, Washington, DC 20037; phone 202-909-2487. Interested parties are invited to submit third-party comments in writing directly to NLN CNEA, attention Dr. Teresa Shellenbarger, NLN CNEA Executive Director, no later than September 18, 2023 to cneaaccreditation@nln.org.
Chamberlain University confers online degrees from its Main Campus in Addison, IL.
For a complete list, check out our authorizations or view our approvals in your state.
DNP Degree FAQs
A DNP degree, otherwise known as the Doctor of Nursing Practice, is designed to help prepare experts in the nursing field. If you want to expand your clinical practice into a high-level leadership position or become a clinical educator, this could be a great option for you. The DNP is a terminal degree, meaning you will have completed the highest level of nursing education. If you’re exploring how to become a DNP, we encourage you to speak with an admissions representative, who can walk you through the DNP program requirements and process.
Online DNP programs usually consist of 32 to 40 credits and at least 512 clinical practice hours. Chamberlain’s DNP program is two years full-time, taking one course at a time each 8-week session for a total of 12 courses. The first eight courses are didactic and the last four are practicum courses.
The focus of the DNP degree practicum is completing a practice-change project in partnership with their organization's practicum location and their organizational needs. This can be a process improvement, quality improvement or something else that impacts patient care outcomes. Many students will use their current workplace, where they can benefit from the impact of their DNP project.
No. Coursework is completed 100% online.
There are no mandatory login times for our Doctor of Nursing Practice program. Most DNP online classes require that you log in two to three times per week.
Chamberlain has several resources to help you become acclimated and comfortable with the online classroom of our Doctor of Nursing Practice program. You can also ask your admissions representative for a personal tour of the DNP online environment. We also have a view series, Online Classroom Demonstration, to learn about what you can expect when you log into your class.
You go to class by logging into your course from a device connected to the internet such as a computer, tablet or smartphone. Request more information to have an admission representative provide you with a comprehensive full course tour.
At Chamberlain, we require our faculty to hold a DNP or Ph.D. in nursing to teach at the master’s level and above. While you can teach at Chamberlain with a DNP degree, requirements may vary by educational institution - so if you have a specific school in mind, explore their requirements for faculty.
Yes! Chamberlain provides registered nurses with the opportunity to enroll in preparatory coursework to prepare for admission to the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. Registered nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and a master’s degree in a field other than nursing must transfer in or complete at least five designated Chamberlain courses (15 credit hours) prior to being admitted to the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program. See the admission requirements below for more details.
Chamberlain does not accept transfer of credit toward the didactic courses to protect the integrity of our CCNE-accredited DNP program. We will review and consider hours earned in your MSN degree program for transfer of credit towards the practicum credit and hour requirement.