Nurse Practitioner at UC Davis
The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis exemplifies excellence in nursing education. This 14-year-old institution began in March 2009 through a $100 million commitment from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. The school opened its doors to its first students in fall 2010 and has built a strong reputation for developing healthcare leaders.
UC Davis takes a unique approach compared to traditional nursing schools. Students learn more than clinical skills – they become skilled at creating meaningful improvements in healthcare systems. The programs give graduates the skills, confidence, and vision to become change agents in healthcare delivery organizations. This philosophy shines through their nurse practitioner programs that blend clinical excellence with leadership growth.
The Nursing Science and Health-Care Leadership Graduate Group oversees all graduate programs. This team includes more than 50 faculty members from fields like nursing, medicine, health informatics, nutrition, biostatistics, pharmacy, sociology, and public health. Their varied backgrounds help students gain a detailed understanding of modern healthcare’s collaborative nature.
The school’s excellence shows in its recent accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). This recognition validates the quality of its curriculum, faculty, student support, and clinical experiences. The graduate nursing program features 43 full-time faculty members and serves 188 graduate students.
Current program offerings include:
- Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Science and Health-Care Leadership
- Doctor of Nursing Practice — Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP-FNP)
- Doctor of Nursing Practice — Nurse Anesthesia
- Master of Health Services – Physician Assistant Studies
- Master of Science in Nursing (Master’s Entry Program in Nursing)
- UC Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate Program
The school’s DNP-FNP program serves future nurse practitioners. This three-year hybrid program combines online learning with campus visits. Students learn to lead healthcare innovation and promote health equity through patient-centered, evidence-based primary care.
The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing strives to make healthcare available and fair. Their graduates work to enhance health policies, champion health equity, and break down patterns of inequality.
Types of Nurse Practitioner Programs Available
UC Davis provides several targeted pathways for students who want to become advanced practice nurses. The core of these offerings is the Doctor of Nursing Practice — Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP-FNP) program. This program has replaced the previous Master of Science — Family Nurse Practitioner program.
The DNP-FNP post-baccalaureate program prepares new family nurse practitioners through a three-year hybrid format. Students benefit from a combination of distance-based education and four on-campus immersions throughout their studies. The curriculum runs mostly asynchronously, which works well for nursing professionals working part-time or per diem. Scheduled synchronous sessions happen at consistent times each week.
DNP-FNP students focus on patient- and family-centered, evidence-based primary care. The program uses a concept-based curriculum model that merges online content with immersions and clinical rotations. Students complete assigned clinical rotations in years two and three. The school arranges placements near students’ California residences.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice — Nurse Anesthesia program is another key offering. This full-time, three-year integrated curriculum helps experienced critical care nurses become Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs).
The UC PMHNP Certificate Program serves mental health professionals through a 12-month hybrid postgraduate certification program. This program prepares new psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners. The multicampus initiative wants to expand the mental health provider workforce throughout California.
UC Davis also offers related nursing pathways that build foundations for future NP studies:
- The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – Master’s Entry Program helps graduates with non-nursing bachelor’s degrees become registered nurses through an accelerated 18-month program
- The Master of Health Services (MHS) – Physician Assistant Studies program prepares graduates to deliver care as physician assistants
These programs showcase UC Davis’s steadfast dedication to preparing healthcare leaders who meet the evolving needs of patients from all backgrounds.
Flexible Learning Formats
UC Davis makes its nurse practitioner programs flexible to help working professionals balance their commitments. The flagship Doctor of Nursing Practice-Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP-FNP) program uses a hybrid model that maintains high standards throughout its three-year duration.
Nursing professionals can continue their part-time or per diem work schedules thanks to the program’s mostly asynchronous design. Regular weekly sessions happen at set times to provide faculty guidance and peer interaction. This setup creates an academically rewarding experience that fits different work schedules.
The hybrid format’s life-blood includes four mandatory on-site immersions at the Sacramento campus. These immersions:
- Last three to five days based on content needs
- Take place once yearly in the first two years
- Include two sessions in the final year
- Combine clinical skills simulations, hands-on labs, and skills verification before clinical placements
Students start clinical rotations in year two and continue through year three while working on scholarly projects. This approach helps them build practical expertise as they grow academically. The school tries to arrange clinical placements close to students’ California homes, which lets them serve their local communities.
The 24-month Family Nurse Practitioner program takes a more traditional approach with core courses running through all quarters (summer, fall, winter, spring). First-year students attend classes four days weekly from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Second-year students complete several 4-to-6-week clinical rotations throughout California.
The UC Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate offers a 12-month hybrid option. Students learn online and attend three immersion sessions with regional clinical training across California. Virtual clinical case conferences happen on Wednesdays, plus immersions during summer, fall, and winter quarters.
Small student-to-faculty ratios increase learning quality through group interactions. The programs blend synchronous and asynchronous components to encourage personal growth and shared virtual classroom experiences.
Admissions & Prerequisites
Students who want to join the nurse practitioner programs at University of California, Davis need proper preparation and must watch their deadlines closely. Applications for the DNP-FNP program open each fall (mid-September) with a January 5 deadline to guarantee consideration. The school reviews applications received between January 16 and June 1 only when spaces remain available.
UC Davis family nurse practitioner programs have specific requirements. Candidates need a current unencumbered RN license and a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum 3.0 GPA. They must also complete prerequisite science courses with at least a 2.7 GPA.
Science prerequisites consist of human anatomy with lab, human physiology with lab (or combined anatomy/physiology series), organic/biochemistry with lab, and microbiology/bacteriology with lab. Students should complete these courses within five years before applying.
Applicants need three recommendation letters that outline their strengths, potential, and weaknesses. The program doesn’t require GRE scores. However, international students must submit their English language examination scores before the deadline.
Accepted students receive financial support that covers about 30% of in-state tuition and fees. Clinical placements require background checks, and the results could affect program completion.
The application fee stands at $135 for first-time applicants and $155 for international students. Students must complete all prerequisite coursework before submitting their applications.
What Sets the NP Programs Apart at University of California, Davis
The University of California, Davis’s nurse practitioner programs stand out with their fresh approach to nursing education. These programs offer several unique advantages compared to other schools. The programs feature interprofessional education through a talented faculty of over 50 experts from nursing, medicine, health informatics, biostatistics, pharmacy, and public health.
A concept-based curriculum model makes these programs unique by connecting theoretical knowledge with practical application. Students become more than clinically skilled practitioners – they emerge as healthcare leaders ready to create meaningful impact in healthcare settings of all sizes.
UC Davis puts health equity at the forefront of its nurse practitioner training. Graduates learn to improve health policies, deliver equitable care, and tackle systemic inequality patterns in healthcare delivery.
The school combines distance education with hands-on campus experiences. This hybrid format gives students both flexibility and practical training opportunities.
The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, 14 years old, has quickly become a leader in nursing education. The school’s CCNE accreditation verifies the quality and rigor of its nurse practitioner programs.
UC Davis offers nurse practitioner education that balances clinical excellence with leadership development in a shared, forward-thinking learning environment.