Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with additional education. Extra schooling allows these health care professionals to take patient histories, perform physical exams, order labs, analyze lab results, prescribe medicines, authorize treatment plans and educate patients and their families on continued care.

Nurse practitioners, also known as advanced practice registered nurses, specialize in treating specific patient populations, training to work in areas like women’s health or pediatrics. They may also work in research or academia.

While their job duties sounds similar to a physician’s, the main difference is the amount of formal education required. Physicians have more training, and their breadth of knowledge and their salaries are usually commensurate with their additional work. However, nurse practitioners are increasingly providing primary care to patients.

Many nurse practitioners first worked as registered nurses, where their patient care may have extended to holistic and wellness care; they can bring that background to the diagnosis, treatment and management of medical issues.

Nurse practitioners are handsomely paid for their work, with the majority taking home six-figure salaries. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 44.5% employment growth for nurse practitioners between 2022 and 2032. In that period, an estimated 118,600 jobs should open up.

Future nurse practitioners spend a considerable amount of time in school. All nurse practitioners must first be registered nurses, so a bachelor’s degree, associate degree or other approved diploma is a requirement. Passing the National Council Licensure Examination is also required.

The next step is obtaining a master’s or doctoral degree from an accredited nursing program, which can take two to four years. NPs need additional certification to use the APRN title. They must also attain board certification in their specialty, such as pediatrics, adult-gerontology or women’s health. Exact requirements vary by state, so NP hopefuls should check with their state’s board of nursing for certification exam details and other requirements.