6 Best Women’s Health NP Programs Online in California

Ready to explore Women’s Health NP Programs Online in California? This field offers exceptional growth potential and great financial rewards. Women’s health nurse practitioners earn a median annual salary of $129,210. The San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area is the sixth-highest paying region nationwide for NP wages.

Healthcare facilities just need more qualified WHNPs, with job growth expected to reach 45% from 2022 to 2032. This rate substantially outpaces most other careers. California shows this trend clearly, as facilities like UC San Diego Health welcome about 5,000 new babies each year. The state’s rising median maternal age has led to more cases that need specialized care, especially when you have conditions like gestational diabetes and complex fetal anomalies.

As you think over WHNP online programs, most BSN-to-MSN paths take 18 to 24 months with full-time study. California’s WHNP programs are a great way to get training for a specialty where professionals typically earn 10-12% above the regional NP mean. In this guide, we’ll get into the six best options to help you chart your healthcare career path.

1. National University – San Diego

National University in San Diego is a leading institution for nursing education in California. The university is known for its Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program. While it doesn’t offer a specialized Women’s Health NP track, its advanced practice nursing education gives you complete training in women’s health as part of the broader curriculum.

Program Overview

The Post-Graduate Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate at National University trains advanced practice nurses to manage care throughout life, including specialized women’s health services. Nurses with an MSN, DNP, or PhD who want to expand their practice into advanced roles will find this program valuable. Students learn critical thinking, differential diagnosis skills, and evidence-based practice—key skills needed to deliver quality women’s healthcare. After graduating, you can take national certification exams through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). National University is also known as the first academic institution to receive Planetree Silver Recognition, showing its steadfast dedication to person-centered, compassionate healthcare education.

Curriculum Highlights

The Post-Graduate FNP Certificate Program has 53 quarter units. The academic year runs in four 12-week quarters, with three 4-week classes in each quarter. This fast-paced format lets you focus on intensive learning blocks to finish the program faster without compromising quality. Students become skilled clinicians, educators, and leaders with strong skills in patient-centered care, health promotion, and disease prevention. You’ll also learn to provide well-woman care and handle both common and complex health issues throughout a woman’s life.

Admission Requirements

You need these qualifications to apply:

• A Master of Science in Nursing, DNP, or PhD
• A current, active, and clean RN license in your state
• A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (GPAs between 2.5-2.99 get special consideration)
• A completed graduate admission application with $0 application fee
• The MSN application packet

If you graduated from a non-NU BSN program, you’ll need to submit official transcripts from all previous schools and two professional recommendations, ideally from people with graduate or doctoral degrees. Everyone must meet with an admission advisor to review program structure and requirements.

Clinical Placement

You’ll need to complete at least 600 clinical hours at approved practicum sites under designated preceptors. This hands-on experience helps you develop expertise in women’s health assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. The practicum courses are immersive experiences conducted in person at faculty-approved, instructor-led clinical settings. You’ll also need to attend three or four one-day objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) either online or at an NU campus.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Program costs vary based on your situation, but National University works hard to make higher education available. You’ll find various financial aid options, including scholarships, grants, and loans. The university gives out yearly tuition scholarships and grants to students who need financial help, based on need and eligibility rules. To get financial aid, you must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each fiscal year. Course materials cost between $20-125 per course on top of tuition.

Career Outcomes

After graduating, you can work in private practice, OB-GYN clinics, family planning facilities, prenatal clinics, and women’s health centers. Recent data shows Nurse Practitioners earn around $128,561 on average, with 32,899 job openings nationwide last year. Employers look for skills in primary care, electronic medical records, treatment planning, and patient education. The program gives you the tools to provide complete holistic care to women as part of interprofessional teams.

2. California State University Fullerton

CSU Fullerton excels with its specialized Women’s Health Care concentration in its Master of Science in Nursing program. The program focuses only on women’s health education, and its graduates achieve outstanding certification exam success rates.

Program Overview

CSU Fullerton’s Women’s Health Care concentration offers two educational paths: Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner only or Nurse-Midwife & Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner combined track. Students who complete the WHNP track become ready to handle women’s primary ambulatory healthcare needs in a variety of settings, such as outpatient offices, hospitals, and community agencies. Students can take the national certifying examination in Women’s Health through the National Certification Corporation after graduation. The dual Nurse-Midwife/WHNP track adds skills in pregnancy care, intrapartum management, and newborn assessment on top of gynecologic health services. Both tracks mix online classes with hands-on clinical placements, making them both detailed and available.

Curriculum Highlights

Normal health processes are the foundations of understanding disease and dysfunction in the curriculum. Faculty members encourage adult learning, self-motivation, and professional ethics. They teach within frameworks of both independent and shared practice. Students in the Nurse-Midwife/WHNP track must complete 59 semester units of graduate nursing coursework. The program lets you choose your pace:

• Two years of full-time study
• Three years with part-time first year followed by full-time second and third years

Students come to campus mainly on Thursdays, usually spending one day each week there. Clinical requirements grow more intense as the program progresses. Students start with one day weekly and finish with an intensive five-day-per-week clinical experience for six weeks in their final semester.

Admission Requirements

The Women’s Health Care concentration needs these qualifications:

• A current, unrestricted California RN license without disciplinary action
• A Baccalaureate degree in Nursing or related field from an accredited institution
• At least a 3.0 GPA in last 60 semester units
• Upper-division Statistics completed with grade C or better

Each track has its own work experience rules. WHNP track applicants should have at least one year of acute care experience as a registered nurse, preferably in OB/GYN. Nurse-Midwifery/NP track candidates need at least six months of acute care experience in Labor and Delivery, though one year works better. The program won’t bend these rules since it’s already full. Non-native English speakers must prove their English skills, whatever their citizenship status.

Clinical Placement

A Clinical Placement Team handles all clinical experiences and provides varied learning opportunities that line up with course goals. Standard track students talk about placement options with faculty coordinators and turn in a Practicum Application by set deadlines. The team then works with partner agencies to find good preceptorships. Students can suggest specific preceptors, but facility academic liaisons make the final arrangements. Clinical placements happen throughout Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. Students must travel to their assigned sites. Clinical courses need between 8 and 40 supervised clinical hours each week.

Tuition & Financial Aid

CSU Fullerton costs 32% less than the national average. The annual in-state tuition is $7,470, much lower than the national average of $11,011 for public four-year schools and $43,505 for private colleges. About 59.2% of students get some type of financial aid as of fall 2024. The university gave out $337 million in loans, grants, and scholarships during the 2023-24 academic year. These economical solutions make CSU Fullerton a great choice for future Women’s Health NPs who want quality training without breaking the bank.

Career Outcomes

CSU Fullerton’s WHNP graduates keep showing excellent results on certification exams. The NCC exam pass rate for Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner graduates hit 100% in 2024. Nurse-Midwifery track graduates achieved a 100% pass rate on the AMCB exam in 2024, though some data shows an 88% pass rate that same year. Every student finds a job within a few months after graduating. Alumni work in many settings providing women’s healthcare throughout their lives. The program’s strong reputation keeps drawing students who want to specialize in women’s health.

3. University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)

UCSF stands out with its unique approach to women’s health education by combining Nurse-Midwifery and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner programs. This blend shows UCSF’s steadfast dedication to detailed reproductive healthcare training.

Program Overview

The Nurse-Midwifery/WHNP Education Program at UCSF has a clear mission: “To improve the health of all people that we serve, through the education and preparation of diverse nurse-midwives and women’s health nurse practitioners as exceptional clinicians, leaders and change agents”. Students who complete the program can get certification from the American Midwifery Certification Board and the National Certification Corporation. The program equips practitioners to deliver high-quality, patient-centered reproductive and primary care to people from all backgrounds, with special focus on tackling structural barriers to health equity. The Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) has given UCSF conditional approval, which ensures quality education that meets professional standards.

Curriculum Highlights

The detailed curriculum needs 85.5-93 total units, split between 56.5 didactic units (565 hours) and 29 clinical units (870 hours). Students learn advanced health assessment, pathophysiology, and clinical pharmacology. The program starts with research methodology and theory basics. Students then build expertise in health indicators, quality assurance, and evidence-based clinical applications. They master skilled communication, shared decision-making, and learn about ethics, human rights, and cultural humility. Clinical rotations in the Bay Area offer varied experiences, though students need a car since some sites aren’t reachable by public transport.

Admission Requirements

You’ll need these qualifications:

• BSN from an accredited institution
• Unrestricted RN license
• Statistics coursework
• Strong academic record

Spanish language skills help but aren’t required, though several clinical sites serve mainly Spanish-speaking communities. The program makes it clear that full sexual and reproductive health care—including abortion and contraception skills—are key parts of the nurse-midwife role. Students must be ready to take part in these vital clinical experiences.

Clinical Placement

Students can work at various sites throughout the Bay Area, with some options possibly available beyond. The Center for Nursing Excellence & Innovation arranges student placements at different UCSF Medical Center locations: Parnassus, Mount Zion, Mission Bay, Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute, and Ambulatory Clinics. Students work in different settings and must complete night and weekend rotations, mostly in hospitals. Each term has its own deadlines to submit clinical placement applications, usually 1-2 months before starting.

Tuition & Financial Aid

UCSF gives nursing students several ways to get financial help. The Student Funding Office manages scholarships, endowments, and fellowships from generous donors. Some scholarships target women’s health specialties specifically—like the Mary A. McCammon scholarship for PhD students studying women’s health. UC employees might pay just one-third of the Student Services Fee and Tuition when taking regular session courses (up to 12 units or four courses per quarter). This benefit lasts until spring 2031. Students can also get travel awards from the Associated Students of the School of Nursing (ASSN) to attend professional conferences.

Career Outcomes

The program leads to multiple certifications:

• California Board of Registered Nursing Nurse-Midwife certificate
• California Nurse-Midwife Furnishing certificate
• National certification as a Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) through the American Midwifery Certification Board
• California Board of Registered Nursing Nurse Practitioner certificate
• California Nurse Practitioner Furnishing certificate

UCSF Medical Center employs more than 300 Nurse Practitioners, creating job opportunities for graduates. UCSF has created a Nurse Practitioner 3 (NP 3) role for practitioners who show exceptional clinical expertise and academic potential. The UCSF Surgical and Critical Care Nurse Practitioner Fellowship offers specialized post-graduate training, and its first fellow received three job offers after completing the program.

4. University of San Diego – Hahn School of Nursing

The University of San Diego’s Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science ranks among California’s top nursing schools with its research-focused environment. The Hahn School blends academic excellence with compassionate healthcare preparation as a community of forward-thinking scholars and practitioners.

Program Overview

USD provides several paths for nurses who want to specialize in women’s health. Their Perinatal (Women’s Health) Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) track offers advanced training in this field. The school integrates women’s health competencies into its Family Nurse Practitioner pathways rather than offering a standalone Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner program. Students can choose between an MSN or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. The School ranks second among Catholic graduate nursing schools nationwide and sits in the top 10% of roughly 700 graduate nursing schools. The BSN to DNP track currently needs 78-83 units and accommodates both full-time and part-time students. Nurses with an MSN can take the Post-Master’s DNP program, which has 34 units and flexible scheduling.

Curriculum Highlights

USD’s curriculum combines challenging academics with cutting-edge technology and innovative teaching methods. The Perinatal CNS curriculum follows AWHONN’s Women’s Health CNS Competencies. The program puts emphasis on evidence-based practice, healthcare quality improvement, and person-centered care. Students become experts in advanced nursing practice, translational science, and healthcare’s socioeconomic factors. The Perinatal (Women’s Health) CNS role provides detailed care throughout the perinatal period, including prenatal care, labor and delivery management, and postpartum support with lactation.

Admission Requirements

BSN to DNP Program requirements include:

• Minimum 3.00 GPA
• Active, unencumbered California RN license
• At least one year of acute-care RN work experience for nurse practitioner tracks
• Experience in emergency nursing, disaster/crisis management, military service, or related work is required for the Family Nurse Practitioner program in Emergency Care

International applicants need an active California state RN license when applying. Domestic applicants with licenses from other states must get a California license after enrollment.

Clinical Placement

Program faculty and the clinical placement coordinator work together to determine clinical placements based on course objectives. Students must complete a DNP scholarly practice with clinical hours in their specialty area and a translational science project. The program is demanding, but students receive steadfast support from faculty in a peaceful environment that promotes deep learning.

Tuition & Financial Aid

USD’s tuition varies by program:

Students pay additional costs: a $55 application fee ($85 for MEPN), $500 enrollment deposit, and semester fees including the Student Life Pavilion Fee ($35) and Health Services Fee ($170). Books and supplies cost about $1,080 annually, San Diego housing runs around $22,166, and personal expenses average $5,052.

USD Career Outcomes

USD’s nursing graduates are ready to practice and lead in their fields. They learn to apply science in clinical practice, lead teams, use research in patient care, and improve healthcare systems. Family Nurse Practitioner graduates can get certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (FNP-BC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (FNP-C). National certification organizations don’t offer specific Women’s Health CNS certification, but the Perinatal (Women’s Health) CNS curriculum prepares graduates to handle mothers’ and newborns’ physical, emotional, and psychological needs. USD’s nursing students graduate ready to become confident healthcare leaders.

5. Azusa Pacific University

Azusa Pacific University with its faith-based approach to nursing education, blends Christian views with advanced clinical training. The School of Nursing runs several nurse practitioner programs focused on women’s health through hybrid formats that mix online learning with hands-on clinical experiences.

Program Overview

The university gives nurses multiple paths to explore women’s health components. Students can choose the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) specialization or Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) tracks. These programs build advanced clinical skills, evidence-based practice, and comprehensive patient care. The university now offers BSN to DNP paths for Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioners. This innovative hybrid program removes the traditional MSN requirement and spans 67-73 units. The School of Nursing holds accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and approval from the California Board of Registered Nursing.

Curriculum Highlights

The core curriculum strengthens nurses’ reasoning, leadership, and research skills to enhance patient care in complex healthcare systems. Students take essential courses like GNRS 504 Bioethics and Healthcare Policy, GNRS 506 Spiritual Concept Analysis in Health Care, and GNRS 508A Research and Theory in Advanced Practice Nursing. Advanced practice core courses cover pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health assessment. Each specialized track requires clinical experience courses. The FNP certificate program needs 36 total units and prepares graduates for California licensure and national certification.

Admission Requirements

Prospective students must meet these criteria:

• Master’s degree in nursing for certificate programs (or BSN for MSN tracks)
• Minimum 3.0 GPA (provisional admission possible for lower GPAs)
• Current, active, and unencumbered RN license
• Completion of prerequisite courses in health assessment, pathophysiology, nursing research, statistics, nursing leadership, and community health nursing

New applicants need to submit a graduate application with a $45 non-refundable fee, official transcripts, a written statement describing professional goals, copy of RN license, current résumé, and two professional recommendations.

Clinical Placement

The university handles clinical placements for advanced practice nursing students. Students must keep updated documentation of RN licensure, CPR certification, TB screening, and appropriate immunizations. Clinical coursework starts early in the program, so students need a background check before placement. Students are responsible for these costs. Fall 2025 clinical placement requirements must be completed by September 1, 2025, though deadlines vary by program. Students can ask clinical placement coordinators specific questions.

Tuition & Financial Aid

For 2025-26, the cost per unit is $895, making the total program cost:

Extra costs include books and supplies ($968), housing ($13,528), food ($6,696), and personal expenses ($4,504). Students can access federal loans, state grants, and program-specific scholarships. The university’s status as a Yellow Ribbon University and Military Friendly School makes it available for military members and their families. The Nurse Faculty Loan Program offers up to 85% loan forgiveness for students who become full-time faculty at nursing schools after graduation.

Career Outcomes

The university’s graduates show strong results. About 72% finish their programs within six years, placing the school in the top 25% nationwide. The university ranks in the top 35% with its 53% four-year graduation rate. Health Professions degree holders earn median salaries of $53,479. Career services include job fairs, career counseling, employer recruitment events, interview workshops, resume help, and career testing. California nurse practitioners earn an average of $158,130, showing the program’s strong value.

6. Loma Linda University

Loma Linda University sits in the heart of the Inland Empire. The university offers a perfect mix of faith-based education and advanced clinical training for nursing students. What makes it special is its whole-person care philosophy that considers mind, body, and spirit in all programs.

Program Overview

The School of Nursing at Loma Linda University runs a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program with a Family Nurse Practitioner concentration that covers women’s health. Students attend core courses in a hybrid format and spend 4-8 hours on campus during each quarter’s Seminar Week. The BSN to DNP pathway lets students complete both Master’s and Doctorate degrees in just 3 years. Working professionals can opt for part-time study. Students learn to become advanced practice nurses with a strong foundation in evidence-based practice and healthcare transformation.

Curriculum Highlights

The DNP program has three main parts: core courses, clinical experience, and DNP project. Core courses teach translational science, evidence evaluation, and population viewpoints. Students must be on campus at least four times each quarter for clinical courses. They learn to turn research into practice, use data for program decisions, and create workable healthcare solutions. FNP students focus on whole-person care throughout life’s stages.

Admission Requirements

You need:

• A baccalaureate degree in nursing from an accredited institution
• At least a 3.0 GPA in both cumulative and nursing courses
• A current RN license (California license needed before clinical courses)
• One year of RN experience (highly recommended)
• Valid American Heart Association BLS certification

You can apply twice a year: by April 15 for Fall quarter (September start) or October 1 for Winter quarter (January start).

Clinical Placement

Students complete about 1,000 hours split between clinician duties and DNP project work. Training happens at six hospitals, including a Level 1 trauma center and several affiliated locations. Faculty arrange all rotations in the Inland Empire region of Southern California, following California Board of Registered Nursing rules. Students work with top physicians in different settings.

Tuition & Financial Aid

The 2021-2022 tuition was $850 per unit with an $875 quarterly fee. Current DNP credits cost $947 each. Clinical courses add $420 per course, plus about $400 for quarterly books and supplies. Students can access scholarships, grants, and loans.

Career Outcomes

After graduation, students can get certified through specialty-specific credentialing bodies. The university’s six hospitals employ over 17,000 staff, creating job opportunities. Women’s Health specialists can join the Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, where recent positions paid between $140,000-$170,000.

Next Steps

Your path to a rewarding career starts with picking the right Women’s Health NP program. This guide explores six outstanding California institutions that offer specialized training in women’s health nursing practice. Each school brings its own unique strengths to the table. California proves to be an excellent choice to pursue this specialization. The state offers great earning potential with median annual earnings of $129,210 and job growth projected at 45% through 2032.

You’ll find multiple ways to advance your women’s health nursing career. CSU Fullerton has dedicated Women’s Health NP tracks. National University and Loma Linda University blend women’s health competencies into their Family Nurse Practitioner programs. On top of that, UCSF offers a complete dual Nurse-Midwifery/WHNP program that expands your scope of practice.

Each institution structures its program differently. Most schools use hybrid learning models that combine online coursework with hands-on clinical experiences. Full-time students usually finish in 18-24 months. Working professionals can opt for part-time study options. Clinical requirements range from 600 to 1,000 hours. These hours help you gain vital hands-on experience under expert guidance.

Program costs play a big role in your decision. Annual tuition starts at $7,470 at CSU Fullerton and goes up to $1,800 per unit at USD. Financial aid packages make these programs more available through scholarships, grants, and loan forgiveness options.

WHNP graduates have many career options. You can work in private practices, OB-GYN clinics, family planning facilities, prenatal clinics, and women’s health centers throughout California. After completing your program, you become eligible for national certification through organizations like the National Certification Corporation (NCC).

The best program for you depends on your situation. Location, schedule flexibility, career goals, and finances all play vital roles in this decision. Whatever path you choose, a Women’s Health NP specialization prepares you to deliver essential healthcare services. You’ll earn competitive pay in a field that grows faster than ever.