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 practice into a high-level leadership position, become a clinical educator or expand your practice, 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 of your choosing - this can be a process improvement, quality improvement or something else that impacts patient outcomes within the healthcare setting. 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.