Nurse Practitioner Programs at CSUB
CSUB’s Department of Nursing delivers outstanding education that prepares students for rewarding healthcare careers. The department builds on academic excellence and professional growth to create a shared, welcoming, and dynamic learning space. Students experience excellence in teaching, scholarship, service, and practice.
The nursing curriculum at CSUB revolves around four key concepts: the client, environment, health, and nurse. Students learn a systematic approach to help clients achieve and maintain their best health. The department continues to explore new ways to improve nursing practice while tackling complex healthcare needs in California’s Central Valley.
CSUB currently offers four nursing programs to meet students’ educational goals:
- Traditional (pre-licensure) BSN Program – A three-year program with summers off, accepting new students each fall
- RN to BSN (post-licensure) Program – Designed for ADN graduates seeking a Bachelor’s degree
- MSN-FNP Program – Preparing nurses for advanced practice roles
- DNP-FNP Program – A doctoral program launching in Fall 2025
The Master of Science in Nursing/Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN/FNP) program helps nurses build advanced theory and clinical experience. Students develop expertise to assess health needs, apply family theories, and analyze professional issues relevant to nurse practitioners.
The MSN/FNP degree program holds two prestigious accreditations: approval from the California Board of Registered Nursing and accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The department has secured a four-year grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration. This grant provides a limited number of $25,000 yearly traineeships for students who commit to serving underserved communities.
FNP program graduates will be:
- Qualified for certification as a Nurse Practitioner by the State of California
- Eligible to earn an NP Furnishing number from California
- Prepared for national FNP certification examinations
- Ready to enter doctoral programs in nursing or related fields
The department values professionalism and ethics. Core principles include altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity, and social justice as foundations of nursing practice. Students learn evidence-based practices in an interprofessional healthcare setting, with special focus on healthcare challenges in multicultural communities, while being a part of a highly regarded nurse practitioner school.
Types of Nurse Practitioner Programs Available
CSUB adapts to changing national standards in nurse practitioner education that require a Doctor in Nursing Practice (DNP) degree for all entry-level NPs by 2025. The university now offers specialized nurse practitioner pathways that match different career stages and educational backgrounds.
Students can choose between two doctoral-level nurse practitioner programs:
DNP-FNP ProgramThis detailed three-year, eight-semester program helps registered nurses with either a Bachelor of Science or Master of Science in Nursing who want to become Family Nurse Practitioners. Students learn to help address the shortage of primary care providers in California’s Central Valley region. The program requires an active California RN license and at least two years of full-time RN work experience. New students can start in fall semester only, with the program’s first batch beginning Fall 2025.
MSN-DNP ProgramThis quick 15-month, four-semester program targets master’s prepared Advanced Practice Registered Nurses. Current Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Nurse Anesthetists, and Nurse Midwives can earn their terminal degree in nursing through this program. Applicants need an active California RN license, advanced practice registered nurse national certification, and one year of full-time advanced practice experience. Students can choose between full-time and part-time schedules.
Both programs use a hybrid learning format that combines synchronous and asynchronous courses. The MSN-DNP program requires 500 clinical hours with proof of national certification.
The MSN/FNP program won’t accept applications for Fall 2024 as the university prepares to launch the DNP program. This change supports the Department of Nursing’s goal to produce DNP-prepared graduates in line with national standards.
After completing either program, graduates will be:
- Qualified for certification as a Nurse Practitioner by the State of California
- Eligible to earn an FNP furnishing number from California
- Ready to take National FNP Certification examinations
These nurse practitioner programs give you the credentials and expertise you need for independent clinical practice at the highest professional level.
Flexible Learning Formats
CSUB designs nurse practitioner programs that fit the busy schedules of working healthcare professionals. Many nursing students need to balance their careers with education, so the university offers various learning formats for programs of all levels.
California State University, Bakersfield’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs take an integrated approach to course delivery. Students can benefit from weekly in-person sessions, synchronous online meetings, asynchronous coursework, and hybrid classes that combine multiple formats. This flexibility lets you keep your professional commitments while advancing your nursing education.
The MSN-DNP pathway uses a hybrid model with both synchronous and asynchronous learning components. Students can choose between two scheduling options:
- A full-time 15-month track that spans four semesters
- A part-time option for those who need more flexibility
Faculty may schedule specific days and times for special sessions, clinical experiences, or assessments during your educational experience. This scheduling helps you develop all required competencies while maintaining format flexibility.
The university’s flexible learning approach aligns with other California State University institutions that have adopted various delivery methods to make education more accessible. These options help nurses living in California’s Central Valley pursue advanced credentials without having to relocate.
While offering flexible delivery, CSUB’s nurse practitioner programs still maintain strict clinical requirements. The DNP-FNP program includes extensive supervised clinical practice hours to prepare you for independent practice after graduation.
CSUB’s hybrid approach provides a sweet spot between convenience and hands-on skill development, unlike fully online programs. Healthcare professionals find this structure valuable as they develop advanced clinical reasoning while continuing their patient care duties.
Program completion timeframes are also flexible, recognizing that each student’s path to becoming a doctorally prepared nurse practitioner in Bakersfield may need different pacing options.
Admissions & Prerequisites
California State University, Bakersfield has specific eligibility criteria and a detailed application process for nurse practitioner programs. The MSN/FNP program will not accept applications for Fall 2024 as the DNP program launches in Fall 2025.
The DNP-FNP program requires these core eligibility requirements:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from an accredited institution
- Cumulative baccalaureate GPA of at least 3.0
- Active, unrestricted California RN license with no disciplinary actions
- Current American Heart Association BLS certification
- Minimum of two years full-time experience as an RN
The application process consists of several key steps. Students must submit their application to CSUB through Cal State Apply during the filing period from October 1 to April 1. A separate DNP-FNP Program application needs submission through NursingCAS between October 1 and April 15. Students must also pay a $50 non-refundable program evaluation fee.
Accepted students need to complete these additional requirements:
- Background check and drug screening
- Recent physical examination
- Proof of essential physical and mental qualifications
- Professional liability insurance
- Respiratory fit testing
- Maintenance of personal health insurance and required immunizations
CSUB prioritizes applicants from its service area. Candidates with experience serving underserved or rural populations receive special consideration. The university also values applicants with three years of full-time acute care experience in the last five years.
The admissions committee uses an all-encompassing approach for reviewing applications. They look beyond academic metrics to assess each candidate’s unique experiences among other traditional measures like GPA. This creates diverse student cohorts ready to serve various patient populations. Faculty members from the graduate program conduct a blinded review of all applications.
Graduates qualify for certification as nurse practitioners in California. They become eligible for an FNP furnishing number and can take national FNP certification examinations.
What Sets the NP Programs Apart at CSUB
California State University, Bakersfield’s Nurse Practitioner programs deliver outstanding results that benefit the community. The MSN-FNP program has produced five graduating classes since 2014, with 95-100% first-time national certification exam pass rates. Better yet, over 90% of FNP graduates remain in the Central Valley after completing their studies. These graduates help address the severe shortage of healthcare providers in the region.
The Department of Nursing shows its dedication to student success through a four-year Health Resources and Services Administration grant. Students who plan to work in underserved communities can receive traineeships worth $25,000 annually. This financial help matches the university’s goal to improve healthcare access for vulnerable populations.
Faculty expertise drives the program’s success. Every full-time NP faculty member has a doctoral degree and years of clinical experience. They bring real-world knowledge to their teaching in classrooms and clinical settings. Students complete at least 1000 clinical hours and start their hands-on training in the fourth semester with one or two eight-hour clinical days each week.
Students in the DNP-FNP program develop both scholarly and clinical abilities. Each student works on a doctoral project that tackles the most important nursing practice problems. These projects help improve professional practices, shape policies, and enhance patient care. This scholarly work helps graduates take on leadership roles in healthcare teams.
CSUB moved to DNP status in 2025. This change keeps graduates competitive across the country while building on Bakersfield’s tradition of excellent nursing education.