Why do healthcare employers in the Pine Tree State love working with graduates of FNP programs in Maine? Because these employers know there’s a considerable demand for FNP services in the Pine Tree State and that this demand will continue to grow by 35 percent over the coming decade. In Maine, family nurse practitioners have full practice authority, which means once you graduate, you’ll be able to diagnose, treat, and prescribe medications. Since Maine participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact, you’ll be able to work as an APRN in other compact states, too. Find out whether becoming a family nurse practitioner is the right move for you by reading this guide to the 4 best FNP programs in Maine.
(Based on our Ranking Methodology, we have ranked the 4 best campus-based and online FNP programs in Maine.)
MSN Program Details: University of Maine offers one of the best MSN FNP programs in Maine. The Family Nurse Practitioner pathway is a full-time program that admits students yearly in the fall semester.
Most non-clinical classes for the Family Nurse Practitioner program are offered online. Clinical courses require weekly live participation either on campus or via distance learning technology. Other campus visits may be required at the course instructor’s discretion.
The FNP program features a 50-credit curriculum. In this program, you will study Professional Issues in Advanced Practice Nursing, FNP Management of Reproductive, Gender, & Women’s Health, and Population Health for a Global Society. The program includes 755 lab and clinical practicum hours.
Certificate of Advanced Study Program Details: The Certificate of Advanced Study program at the University of Maine is designed for advanced practice registered nurses who want to become Family Nurse Practitioners. The program is designed to build upon prior graduate education. The Family Nurse Practitioner Program Coordinator will work with you to develop a program of study that builds upon your previous academic experience and meets the requirements for national certification as an FNP. Students in the Certificate of Advanced Study program complete a minimum of 33 semester hours.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• A key factor to consider when choosing a nursing school or program is whether there is a solid history of success. The University of Maine introduced its first graduate nursing program in 1992 and has continued to add programs since that time. The School of Nursing has an excellent history of preparing nurses for professional roles as Family Nurse Practitioners!MSN Program Details: At the University of Southern Maine, you can earn a Master of Science in Nursing specializing as a Family Nurse Practitioner. The program is available in both part-time and full-time options, making it easy for you to choose a schedule that accommodates your current lifestyle. Full-time students can complete the program in as few as three years, while part-time students typically finish in four years.
The Master of Science in Nursing FNP program is a campus-based pathway that requires the completion of 49 credit hours. In this program, you will take classes, including Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics, Nursing Theory & Knowledge Development, Behavioral & Psychosocial Health of the Family, Primary Healthcare of the Adult, and Women’s Health in Advanced Practice. The program requires 600 clinical hours, which aligns with national certification examination requirements.
Post-Master’s Certificate Program Details: If you have a master’s degree in nursing and want to become a Family Nurse Practitioner, the post-master’s certificate program at the University of Southern Maine is a program worth considering! The program features a blended learning format, which includes a mix of in-person and online classes combined with a variety of clinical experiences. The program admits students twice per year in the fall and spring and takes as few as three semesters to complete.
Students in the post-master’s FNP program complete 22-34 credits. The curriculum includes classes such as Prenatal Care in Primary Care, Primary Healthcare of the Adult, Primary Care of the Adolescent, and Pediatric Primary Care.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• Certified Healthcare Simulation Educators at the University of Southern Maine have developed student learning labs that provide amazing real-world learning experiences for FNP students. At USM, you will experience diverse patient cases through the use of human simulators and audio-visual technology.MSN Program Details: Husson University is home to one of the top online FNP programs in Maine. The university offers flexible scheduling with six 7-week terms, two 15-week terms, and a condensed winter term. Applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. With no set class times or locations, you can study when it is most convenient without disrupting other obligations, such as family or work responsibilities. Most students complete the program in two and a half years.
The MSN Family Nurse Practitioner program features a 48-credit curriculum. In this program, you will study Sociocultural Perception of Addiction & Population Health, Public Health Policy Issues & Challenges, Family Health: Family-Centered Care of Women, Infants, & Children, and Family Health: Integrating Primary Health.
The MSN program incorporates 540 hours of experiential learning and professional projects to help you gain advanced professional experience before you graduate. The program’s Clinical Coordinator will work with you to identify clinical placement opportunities that match your career goals. You will participate in active learning through clinical placements in a wide variety of clinical settings.
Post-Master’s Certificate Program Details: The post-master’s certificate program with Family Nurse Practitioner specialization at Husson University is another excellent FNP program in Maine. The program accepts applications on a rolling admission basis.
This post-master’s program requires a minimum of 18 credit hours. You will study Family Centered Care of Women, Infants, & Children, Integrating Primary Care, and Family Health: Adult-Gerontology Health. Additional credits, up to 48 total, may be required based on the evaluation of your MSN transcript.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• One thing I encourage prospective students to consider when choosing a nursing program is the student success rates associated with the programs the school offers. For example, NCLEX pass rates and national certification exam rates are good indicators of how well a program prepares students for success, not only on the exam but in actual clinical practice. At Husson University, graduates of the Family Nurse Practitioner program have exceptionally high pass rates on national certification exams, consistently exceeding national pass rates!MSN Program Details: Saint Joseph’s College of Maine offers another outstanding FNP program in Maine. The program is available with part-time and full-time options. Part-time students typically take three and a half to four years to graduate, and full-time students graduate in two to three years. The college practices a rolling admissions policy and begins new classes each fall semester.
The MSN Family Nurse Practitioner curriculum incorporates core nursing courses, specialty-specific courses, and clinicals. You will complete 48 credits and 600 clinical practicum hours. FNP core courses, including Family Theory: Young & Middle-Aged Adults, Family Theory: Older Adults, and Pediatric Theory, are complemented by clinical practicums. Clinicals occur in various health settings under the supervision of program faculty or approved preceptors.
Post-Master’s Certificate Program Details: Saint Joseph’s College of Maine also offers a post-master’s certificate option for qualified applicants who wish to become Family Nurse Practitioners. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and new classes are admitted each fall semester.
The program is a 30-credit pathway that features online coursework and in-person clinical practicums near your home area. Because this is a post-graduate program, only specialty-relevant courses and clinicals are needed to complete the MSN Family Nurse Practitioner certificate program. A minimum of 600 supervised clinical hours are included in this post-master’s certificate program.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• In my experience as a nurse educator, I have found that one of the most crucial factors prospective students consider when choosing a school is the program’s cost. Earning a graduate degree can be expensive. Although many students choose to continue working while in school, it is out of necessity, not because they have extra money to pay for school expenses. One thing I like about Saint Joseph’s College of Maine is that it has been voted one of Maine’s most affordable nurse practitioner programs. Affordability means more nurses can pursue their degrees without worrying about financial strain.Hourly | $43.15 |
Weekly | $1,726 |
Monthly | $7,480 |
Annual | $89,760 |
Level of Experience | Hourly | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
Entry-Level | $43.15 | $1,726 | $7,480 | $89,760 |
1-4 Years of Experience | $48.83 | $1,953 | $8,460 | $101,560 |
5-9 Years of Experience | $57.63 | $2,305 | $9,990 | $119,880 |
10-19 Years of Experience | $64.19 | $2,568 | $11,130 | $133,510 |
20 Years or More Experience | $76.70 | $3,068 | $13,300 | $159,540 |
Hourly | $58.65 |
Weekly | $2,346 |
Monthly | $10,170 |
Annual | $122,000 |
Metro | Hourly | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
Bangor | $58.56 | $2,342 | $10,150 | $121,800 |
Lewiston-Auburn | $61.77 | $2,471 | $10,710 | $128,480 |
Portland-South Portland | $58.18 | $2,327 | $10,090 | $121,020 |
Average Maine FNP Annual Salary | Average National FNP Annual Salary | Difference | |
Number | % | ||
$122,000 | $127,510 | -$5,510 | -4.32% |
State | Average Annual Salary | Difference | |
Number | % | ||
California | $160,310 | -$38,310 | -23.90% |
Nevada | $147,540 | -$25,540 | -17.31% |
Washington | $144,290 | -$22,290 | -15.45% |
New Jersey | $143,920 | -$21,920 | -15.23% |
Oregon | $143,840 | -$21,840 | -15.18% |
Massachusetts | $142,910 | -$20,910 | -14.63% |
New York | $141,740 | -$19,740 | -13.93% |
Connecticut | $135,940 | -$13,940 | -10.25% |
New Mexico | $135,730 | -$13,730 | -10.12% |
Minnesota | $133,980 | -$11,980 | -8.94% |
District of Columbia | $133,820 | -$11,820 | -8.83% |
Rhode Island | $132,440 | -$10,440 | -7.88% |
Hawaii | $131,600 | -$9,600 | -7.29% |
Arizona | $131,550 | -$9,550 | -7.26% |
Delaware | $130,110 | -$8,110 | -6.23% |
Iowa | $129,820 | -$7,820 | -6.02% |
New Hampshire | $129,740 | -$7,740 | -5.97% |
Texas | $129,020 | -$7,020 | -5.44% |
Wisconsin | $127,350 | -$5,350 | -4.20% |
Maryland | $127,010 | -$5,010 | -3.94% |
Utah | $126,850 | -$4,850 | -3.82% |
North Dakota | $126,790 | -$4,790 | -3.78% |
Pennsylvania | $126,480 | -$4,480 | -3.54% |
Illinois | $125,930 | -$3,930 | -3.12% |
Alaska | $125,210 | -$3,210 | -2.56% |
Vermont | $125,140 | -$3,140 | -2.51% |
Montana | $123,690 | -$1,690 | -1.37% |
Idaho | $123,600 | -$1,600 | -1.29% |
Oklahoma | $123,380 | -$1,380 | -1.12% |
Wyoming | $122,620 | -$620 | -0.51% |
Indiana | $122,380 | -$380 | -0.31% |
Maine | $122,000 | $0 | 0.00% |
Ohio | $121,930 | +$70 | +0.06% |
Colorado | $121,060 | +$940 | +0.78% |
Nebraska | $120,750 | +$1,250 | +1.04% |
North Carolina | $120,660 | +$1,340 | +1.11% |
Georgia | $120,230 | +$1,770 | +1.47% |
South Dakota | $120,060 | +$1,940 | +1.62% |
Virginia | $119,950 | +$2,050 | +1.71% |
Michigan | $119,760 | +$2,240 | +1.87% |
Florida | $118,800 | +$3,200 | +2.69% |
Kansas | $118,360 | +$3,640 | +3.08% |
Louisiana | $117,760 | +$4,240 | +3.60% |
Mississippi | $116,590 | +$5,410 | +4.64% |
South Carolina | $116,050 | +$5,950 | +5.13% |
Missouri | $115,790 | +$6,210 | +5.36% |
West Virginia | $112,580 | +$9,420 | +8.37% |
Arkansas | $112,550 | +$9,450 | +8.40% |
Kentucky | $109,530 | +$12,470 | +11.39% |
Alabama | $109,180 | +$12,820 | +11.74% |
Tennessee | $102,930 | +$19,070 | +18.53% |
Type of Nurse | Average Annual Salary | Difference | |
Number | % | ||
Nurse Anesthetist | $227,270 | -$105,270 | -46.32% |
Nurse Midwife | $140,440 | -$18,440 | -13.13% |
Family Nurse Practitioner | $122,000 | $0 | 0.00% |
Registered Nurse | $84,340 | +$37,660 | +44.65% |
Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Post-secondary | $79,240 | +$42,760 | +53.96% |
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse | $71,430 | +$50,570 | +70.80% |
Nursing Assistant | $42,960 | +$79,040 | +183.99% |
Job Title | Average Annual Salary | Difference | |
Number | % | ||
Dentist | $214,810 | -$92,810 | -43.21% |
Podiatrist | $160,390 | -$38,390 | -23.94% |
Optometrist | $147,470 | -$25,470 | -17.27% |
Veterinarian | $137,380 | -$15,380 | -11.20% |
Pharmacist | $133,540 | -$11,540 | -8.64% |
Physician Assistant | $132,790 | -$10,790 | -8.13% |
Family Nurse Practitioner | $122,000 | $0 | 0.00% |
Physical Therapist | $91,720 | +$30,280 | +33.01% |
Audiologist | $88,700 | +$33,300 | +37.54% |
Radiation Therapist | $88,680 | +$33,320 | +37.57% |
Chiropractor | $84,230 | +$37,770 | +44.84% |
Occupational Therapist | $80,590 | +$41,410 | +51.38% |
Dental Hygienist | $80,310 | +$41,690 | +51.91% |
Speech-Language Pathologist | $79,310 | +$42,690 | +53.83% |
S.No. | Accrediting Agency |
1 | Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) |
2 | Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) |
4 |
$58.65 |
$2,346 |
$10,170 |
$122,000 |
10-Year Job Outlook (2022-2032) |
+ 35.34% |