Most Competitive Nurse Practitioner Residency Programs in California
Looking at Nurse Practitioner Residency Programs in California? The competition is fierce. NP and NP/PA postgraduate residency programs have grown to nearly 250 nationwide since 2007, with California hosting 14 of them. The federal Health Resources & Services Administration’s 2018 decision to fund dozens of NP residency programs has in part driven this rapid expansion.
The numbers tell the story. CHAS Health picks just four applicants each year, while VA Northern California NP Residency takes only three residents annually. The competition gets even tougher down south. UC Irvine’s 24-month program helps fill crucial healthcare gaps where the number of primary care providers is nowhere near national recommendations.
These programs are a great way to get valuable experience and compensation. UC Davis Health’s program pays you for full-time fellowship while you gain accelerated clinical practice experience. VA Northern California sweetens the deal with a $90,532 stipend. The spots might be limited and interest keeps growing, so knowing each program’s requirements and deadlines becomes crucial to your success.
CHAS Health Nurse Practitioner Residency
CHAS Health leads the way in nurse practitioner residency programs from its base in Spokane, Washington. This groundbreaking program started in August 2017 and runs through a dedicated Nurse Practitioner Residency Clinic (NPRC) designed specifically to train new practitioners.
CHAS Health Program Overview
New nurse practitioners can join CHAS Health’s complete 13-month full-time training program. The program emerged as part of CHAS Health’s strategy to tackle provider shortages. This need became clear when the organization nearly doubled in size between 2014-2018. The clinic serves over 73,000 patients annually across the Spokane area and Lewis-Clark Valley in Washington and Idaho. CHAS Health stands out from California programs because it created a dedicated residency clinic model. This approach focuses on training while helping underserved populations get better healthcare access.
Curriculum Highlights
CHAS Health’s curriculum blends hands-on clinical experience with rich learning opportunities. Residents take part in:
- Small working groups and one-on-one sessions with seasoned providers
- Procedural training that covers suturing, primary care eye exams, joint injections, and anticoagulation therapy
- Training in anxiety and depression screening, assessment, and diagnosis
- Quality improvement projects
- Specialty rotations that build skills in working across disciplines
- Weekly learning sessions and chart reviews
Residents start with fewer patients and gradually increase their workload to build confidence. The program helps residents work closely with pharmacists, behavioral health providers, and other specialists within the organization.
Eligibility Criteria
CHAS Health residency candidates must:
- Be recent Master’s or DNP graduates or have less than 2 years of experience
- Hold Family Nurse Practitioner certification only (PNP or AGNP not accepted)
- Have active NP and RN Washington state licenses before starting
- Be able to get Idaho licensure
These rules make sure residents can work effectively in both states while developing their primary care expertise.
Application Deadlines
CHAS Health starts accepting applications each December for the next year’s group. The program kicks off annually on the first Tuesday after Labor Day in September and runs for 13 months. Interested candidates should start preparing their applications well before December. Competition is fierce since only four residents join each cohort.
Health Benefits & Unique Features
Residents earn approximately 75% of a base NP salary, about $85,000-$90,000 as of 2023. This is important as it means that residents earn more than many California programs offer. Benefits include:
- Full medical, dental, vision coverage
- Paid time off (PTO)
- Retirement benefits
- Attendance at the Spokane Pain Conference and AANP conference instead of CE allowance
- Possible loan repayment options with full-time employment after graduation
Three experienced CHAS Health providers work on-site to guide the three fully licensed ARNP Residents. Former residents often say the program “was instrumental in preparing for independent practice” and call it “the single most positively influential decision” of their careers.
Health Accreditation Status
CHAS Health made history as the first NP postgraduate program to get pre-accreditation from the National Nurse Practitioner Residency and Fellowship Training Consortium (NNPRFTC) on September 27, 2018. The program later earned full accreditation. This achievement means graduates from the 2018 cohort onward completed an accredited postgraduate NP training program. The program’s excellence showed again in 2021 with a five-year reaccreditation.
This accreditation proves CHAS Health’s dedication to top-quality clinical training and business practices. When first accredited, all but one of these programs nationwide had this status, putting CHAS at the forefront of formal NP residency training. CHAS keeps improving its curriculum through the accreditation process to match evolving healthcare needs.
UC Davis Primary Care APP Fellowship
The UC Davis Primary Care APP Fellowship excels among nurse practitioner residency programs in California. This 12-month, full-time transition-to-practice program shines through its unique collaboration between UC Davis Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing and healthcare partners across Northern California.
Program Overview
The UC Davis Primary Care APP Fellowship (previously called NP Residency PRACTICE program) works through partnerships with UC Davis Health, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), Veterans Affairs Administration, and Sutter Health. The program takes a different approach from traditional residencies by hiring fellows as health sciences clinical instructors for a limited term. New graduate nurse practitioners get accelerated clinical practice experience at an FQHC in an underserved area or at UC Davis Health’s primary care or nurse-led mobile clinics. The program’s main goal is to prepare skilled providers who can deliver high-quality primary care in under-resourced communities.
Curriculum Highlights
The program combines intensive clinical practice with structured educational components. Fellows spend four days at clinical sites and dedicate the fifth day to educational activities. This complete curriculum has:
- Direct clinical care with growing responsibility for practice management
- Online advanced-learning modules
- Simulation training at UC Davis Health’s state-of-the-art centers
- Specialty rotations at assigned clinical sites
- Advanced wound care training that leads to certification eligibility
- Options for educational conferences, grand rounds, and scholarly activities
Fellows learn skills in population health, quality improvement, patient safety, practice management, leadership, and clinical teaching. Each fellow must complete a quality improvement or evidence-based practice project during their fellowship.
Eligibility Criteria
The UC Davis program requires applicants to:
- Have an unrestricted California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) RN license
- Graduate with a master’s or doctoral degree from an accredited family, adult gerontological, women’s health, psychiatric mental health, or pediatric primary care nurse practitioner program
- Have completed their NP program between April 1, 2025, and June 15, 2026 (for the 2026-2027 cohort)
- Hold national board certification in their population category
- Be willing to practice in an underserved or rural setting
- Work full-time (40+ hours weekly)
Applicants who haven’t finished their doctoral degree can still apply if they’ve completed the NP education part of their DNP program. Green card holders may also apply.
Application Deadlines
The program timeline shows:
- December: Optional information webinar
- January: Optional Q&A session for applicants
- Late February-early March: Interview notifications
- March: Zoom interviews conducted
- Late March-early April: Acceptance notifications
- August: Mandatory pre-fellowship onboarding
- October 1: Program begins
The application process happens in two parts: candidates first complete an online application through UC Davis Recruit, then qualified applicants fill out a supplemental questionnaire. Three essay responses about career goals, motivation, and professional development must be submitted.
Benefits & Unique Features
Fellows earn a competitive salary with full benefits, including paid vacation and holidays. The program’s standout features include:
- Clinical locations throughout Northern California’s greater Sacramento region and Sierra foothills
- Faculty appointment status as health sciences clinical instructors
- Training for clinical teaching roles
- Advanced wound care training that qualifies fellows for WTA certification
Fellows work day and early evening hours Monday through Friday, with some required weekend training sessions. The program’s success shows in its numbers – about 81% of UC Davis Health fellowship graduates stay on as employees after finishing.
Accreditation Status
The UC Davis Primary Care APP Fellowship earned a three-year accreditation from the Consortium for Advanced Practice Providers in 2023. This national recognition confirms the program meets the highest standards in preparing expert healthcare providers. The program team started preparing for their 2026 reaccreditation in 2023. This accreditation shows how well the program develops expert healthcare providers ready to meet patient and society’s healthcare needs throughout California.
VA Northern California NP Residency
The VA Northern California Health Care System ranks among the top nurse practitioner residency programs in California. This program is a chance to focus on veteran-centered care. New nurse practitioners can combine clinical training with academic excellence to prepare for independent practice within the VA healthcare system.
Program Overview
The VA Northern California NP Residency is a 12-month post-graduate program that helps new graduates become independent practitioners. The Mather medical center in Sacramento runs the program and accepts three residents yearly for its Primary Care track and four residents for its Mental Health track. The program’s mission accelerates growth beyond entry-level competence in patient-centered care, operational services, and leadership skills. The main goal is to give newly graduated NPs a foundation in scientific knowledge, clinical expertise, and professionalism while making healthcare better and more accessible for veterans.
Curriculum Highlights
The curriculum follows four anchor themes: APRN role development, cooperative collaboration, systems improvement and leadership, and self-reflective practice. Experienced Nurse Practitioners and physicians supervise residents who manage about 200 patients in primary care. Clinical experience has:
- Long-term panel management with routine follow-up
- New patient, telephone, and video-based care
- Urgent care visits
- Specialty rotations in different settings
Weekly didactic sessions led by experts from inside and outside the VA give residents protected time to learn. This complete structure helps graduates work confidently in complex healthcare environments.
Eligibility Criteria
This competitive program requires applicants to meet several criteria:
- S. citizenship
- Graduation from an accredited advanced practice nursing program (Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP or Family NP for Primary Care track; Psychiatric nursing program for Mental Health track) within the past 12 months
- No prior experience as an NP in the same specialty[211]
- Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a registered nurse in a U.S. state, territory, or commonwealth[211]
- NP state licensure with prescriptive/furnishing license and DEA number (must be obtained within 90 days of program start)
- Current BLS certification
- Proficiency in written and spoken English
- Completion of security background investigation, pre-employment health screening, tuberculosis testing, and required vaccinations
Application Deadlines
The Primary Care track accepts applications from January 1st through March 1st. Interviews happen from March 10th through March 31st. Applicants hear decisions by April 5th, and the residency starts in early October. The Mental Health track takes applications from January 1st through February 28th. March interviews lead to decisions by April 5th. This track starts July 28, 2025.
Benefits & Unique Features
Residents get a competitive stipend of $90,532 (as of 2024)[211]. The complete benefits package has:
- Vacation days (4 hours accrued per pay period)
- Sick time (4 hours accrued per pay period)
- 11 paid holidays
- Optional group medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Optional Federal Employee Group Life Insurance participation
- Fee-exempt DEA Number (approved for activities within VHA)[211]
On top of that, residents get hiring preference for open positions after completing the residency. They also receive ongoing professional development opportunities, including recruitment into positions at VA Northern California and other VA facilities[211].
Accreditation Status
The VA Northern California Health Care System started the accreditation process with the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The U.S. Department of Education recognizes CCNE as an accrediting body for Nurse Practitioner residency programs. The CCNE accepted the application and scheduled a site visit for October 21-23, 2024. This visit will review both Mental Health and Primary Care tracks. The final determination on accreditation is pending. The program’s steadfast dedication to high standards of educational quality and professional development shows through this accreditation process.
UC Irvine FNP Residency Program
UC Irvine’s Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing will launch a groundbreaking Family Nurse Practitioner Residency Program in 2025. The program tackles the critical shortage of primary care providers in southern California. This innovative program differs from other nurse practitioner residency programs in California with its unique two-year structure and community service focus.
Program Overview
The UC Irvine FNP Residency Program runs for 24 months with two equal components. Residents get intensive, hands-on training with interdisciplinary mentorship, observational clinical experiences, and a rigorous didactic curriculum during their first year. The second year sees residents fulfilling their service commitment by providing healthcare to CalOptima members, with a focus on Orange County’s most vulnerable populations. Nisa Zacharias, D.N.P., UC Irvine assistant clinical professor of nursing states, “This residency will bridge the gap between graduation and clinical mastery”.
Curriculum Highlights
The curriculum builds on UCI’s Doctor of Nursing Practice with Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration, a program that emphasizes complete primary care in a variety of patient populations. First-year residents receive:
- Interdisciplinary mentorship from experienced healthcare professionals
- Observational clinical experiences in a variety of healthcare settings
- A well-laid-out didactic curriculum designed for real-life application
The program puts sustainability and health equity first. It prepares nurse practitioners who mirror their patient populations. This community-centered approach promotes trust and improves care continuity while creating culturally responsive practice—key elements needed to address ongoing health disparities.
Eligibility Criteria
UC Irvine FNP Residency Program candidates must be:
- Recent graduates of accredited Family Nurse Practitioner programs
- Passionate about improving health equity
- Dedicated to helping vulnerable populations
- Committed to community-based healthcare
The program now seeks its first cohort. Future residents need to complete both the Nurse-OC Family Nurse Practitioner Residency Application and the job posting in AP Recruit.
Application Deadlines
The program welcomes applications for its first cohort. Here’s the timeline:
- Program Launch: October 2025
- Service Commitment Begins: October 2026
This schedule lines up with the program’s structured approach. Residents get a full year of intensive training before starting their service commitment. California’s nurse practitioner residency programs are highly competitive, so early applications are recommended.
Benefits & Unique Features
UCI Nursing’s track record of community participation through the NURSE-OC program sets a strong foundation. The program offers several key benefits.
Residents gain substantial clinical experience with vulnerable populations that prepares them for work in underserved areas. The program’s focus on health equity creates practitioners who can address healthcare gaps in southern California effectively.
The two-year structure gives residents complete training and lets them apply their skills immediately. While many California nurse practitioner residency programs offer only didactic training, UCI’s program includes direct service delivery.
The program creates a pipeline of community-rooted practitioners who tend to stay in the area, which helps solve long-term primary care provider shortages. The California Health Care Foundation notes that Orange County faces an especially severe shortage, making this program particularly valuable.
UCI’s innovative approach marks a major step forward in nurse practitioner education. It bridges the gap between academic preparation and independent clinical practice while expanding healthcare access for underserved communities.
Santa Rosa Community Health NP Residency
Santa Rosa Community Health runs California’s first accredited Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Residency, making it a standout choice among nurse practitioner residency programs in the state. The program earned its place in history as the first outpatient FNP Residency nationwide to receive American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) accreditation.
Santa Rosa Program Overview
The FNP Residency at Santa Rosa Community Health started as an 18-month program and has evolved into a 12-month paid position. It helps new nurse practitioners become confident primary care providers. The program added a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) track in September 2023 to address the shortage of mental health providers in rural and underserved areas. Advanced Practice Fellows work at the organization’s Lombardi, Dutton, and Vista campuses. Northern California’s largest Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) provides care to more than 45,000 patients annually.
Santa Rosa Curriculum Highlights
Fellows care for patients from underserved communities throughout the program. They handle well-care, urgent care, and chronic disease management visits. The complete curriculum has:
- Weekly didactic instruction in internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, and women’s health
- Research-based training and personal coaching in the Four Habits Model to conduct effective patient visits
- Weekly case reviews that allow collaboration and feedback on complex care
- Specialty rotations including medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder
PMHNP residents learn to combine mental and physical health services. They build expertise in psychiatric assessment, diagnosis, and medication management while working with FNP and PA fellows.
Santa Rosa Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must meet these requirements:
- Completion of an accredited NP or PA program within the last 18 months
- Eligibility for NP or PA certification by the California Board of Registered Nursing or the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants
- Full license and credentials by the program start date
- Eligibility to take the board exam no later than July 27, 2026
The program values cultural competency skills, and Spanish comprehension is an asset.
Santa Rosa Application Deadlines
The 2026 cohort applications will open in late January or early February 2026. Applicants need to submit:
- Completed online application (link available in 2026)
- Resume/CV uploaded through the application
- Two letters of recommendation (one peer and one professional)
- 500-word letter of intent
Interested candidates should prepare their materials early due to limited spots and the program’s reputation.
Santa Rosa Benefits & Unique Features
Fellows earn between $107,000 to $148,000 annually, with benefits like 100% employer-paid health coverage and life insurance.
The program’s ANCC accreditation sets it apart. Santa Rosa received “Accreditation with Distinction” as an Advanced Practice Provider Fellowship in 2025. This recognition came after becoming the first FQHC to earn accreditation as a Practice Transition Program with Distinction from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Fellows learn at their own pace with increasing responsibilities while getting support from preceptors. Graduates gain the skills to practice primary care or psychiatry with confidence. They become part of a learning community dedicated to serving vulnerable populations.
Lifelong Medical Care NP Residency
Lifelong Medical Care has a reliable nurse practitioner residency program through strategic collaborations between healthcare facilities and academic institutions. The 12-month intensive training program runs under Lifelong Medical Care’s sponsorship and works with La Clinica and an academic partner.
Program Overview
The Lifelong Medical Care NP Residency program helps new nurse practitioner graduates transition into their roles. This structured experience helps address the shortage of nurse practitioners and physician assistants in California’s medical community. Yes, it is similar to other nurse practitioner residency programs in California. The program wants to turn theoretical knowledge into practical skills by placing residents in high-volume, diverse care settings. Twelve months give participants enough time to build confidence and handle complex patient care scenarios.
Curriculum Highlights
The curriculum has hands-on clinical training, professional mentorship, and continued academic learning, following successful NP residency models. The program focuses on full-time, structured training that bridges the gap between academic preparation and independent practice. Residents work on eight core competency domains: Person-Centered Care, Knowledge for Advanced Nursing Practice, Practice-Based Learning and Improvement, Interpersonal and Communication Skills, Professionalism, System-Based Practice, Interprofessional Partnerships, and Personal, Professional, and Leadership Development.
Eligibility Criteria
The program accepts recent graduates from accredited nurse practitioner programs. New nurse practitioners starting their practice or experienced ones entering new specialties within their scope can apply.
Application Deadlines
Application dates change yearly. Lifelong Medical suggests submitting materials when the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) opens. Interview invitations usually go out in the first two weeks after opening.
Benefits & Unique Features
The pay is lower than full NP salaries, but the detailed benefits package includes:
- Medical plan options with Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)
- Dental and vision coverage
- Chiropractic and acupuncture services
Program graduates often get priority in hiring, which creates an easy transition to full-time work. The program’s interprofessional design promotes team-based care that encourages collaboration. This approach improves quality and efficiency, creates workforce flexibility, and boosts job satisfaction. Residents work with experienced preceptors and clinical mentors who guide their learning. These mentors help build reflective practice skills and resilience when tackling complex clinical challenges.
Greater Los Angeles VA NP Residency
The Greater Los Angeles VA stands out among nurse practitioner residency programs in southern California. Its training specifically targets vulnerable veteran populations through the VA’s Center of Education for Interprofessional Academic Patient Aligned Care Team (CoE IA HPACT).
Program Overview
The VA Office of Academic Affiliations funds this 12-month post-graduate residency that started in 2016. The program features three tracks: Primary Care, Psychiatric Mental Health, and Geriatrics and Extended Care. Each track welcomes 3-4 residents every year. New nurse practitioners learn to deliver quality care to vulnerable veterans confidently. The program helps build patients’ self-efficacy and addresses their social, psychological, and physical needs.
Curriculum Highlights
Clinical experience makes up 80% of the program, while didactic training takes up 20%. Residents provide primary care to homeless veterans and rotate through specialty areas including:
- Street medicine outreach
- Medicine specialties (cardiology, diabetes, rheumatology)
- Mental health integration
- Inpatient services
Case presentations, journal clubs, and interprofessional reflection groups take place weekly to boost clinical knowledge.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must be:
- S. citizens proficient in English
- Recent graduates (within 12 months) from accredited NP programs
- Currently licensed as RNs and NPs with applicable furnishing licenses
- Board certified or eligible (must obtain within 90 days of starting)
- Without prior NP work experience in the specialty track applied for
Application Deadlines
The program accepts applications from January 15th to February 15th annually. Candidates need to submit a curriculum vitae, personal statement (600-word maximum), transcripts, and completed VA Form 10-2850D.
Benefits & Unique Features
Residents earn about $91,000 yearly with complete benefits. These include health insurance, ten paid federal holidays, and 4 hours each of sick and annual leave that accumulate biweekly[384]. The program’s focus on interprofessional teamwork in caring for homeless veterans makes it special.
Accreditation Status
A Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) review is scheduled for Spring 2025[384]. This accreditation will officially recognize the program’s high educational standards.
Next Steps
Picking the right nurse practitioner residency program needs careful research and preparation. This piece shows seven highly competitive programs in California and nearby areas. Each program offers unique advantages and specialized training opportunities.
These programs share common goals. They aim to improve clinical expertise, build confidence in independent practice, and prepare nurse practitioners to serve different patient populations effectively. Most programs focus on teamwork and community service, especially when you have underserved populations.
Application requirements differ, but most programs look for recent NP graduates with proper licensure and certification. You should start preparing your application materials well before deadlines. These deadlines usually fall between January and March for programs that start later that year.
Without doubt, these residencies offer substantial financial benefits. Annual stipends range from $85,000 to $148,000 with detailed benefit packages. The programs give invaluable professional development through mentorship, specialized rotations, and structured didactic learning.
Competition is fierce, with programs taking as few as three residents each year. However, completing the program boosts your career prospects by a lot. Graduates often get hiring preference and feel more confident handling complex patient cases on their own.
More programs seeking accreditation shows their dedication to educational excellence. Santa Rosa Community Health and CHAS Health have already earned prestigious accreditations, while others work toward this recognition.
Healthcare needs keep growing, especially in underserved communities. These residency programs play a vital role in preparing tomorrow’s primary care providers. You might choose UC Irvine’s community-focused approach, the VA’s veteran-centered care, or another specialized program. Any of these will give you the essential skills needed in today’s digital world.
Start your application early, show your passion for helping underserved populations, and prove your dedication to professional growth. Your investment in postgraduate training will pay off throughout your nursing career.