World-class resources, intimate environment

This program is designed for licensed, registered nurses to become advanced practice nurses (APN) as a nurse practitioner (NP). The intensive, flexible program is open to RNs with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). It includes an innovative curriculum with the program length depending on the degree you hold upon enrollment, specialty you choose, and option of full- or part-time study.

Choose the path that is right for you

The MGH Institute School of Nursing offers several advanced practice nursing specialties to become a Nurse Practitioner (NP). Please note that the ability to apply to the advanced practice specialty options for the Master of Science - Nursing program may differ by application cycle. Upon completing the program, you will be prepared to take the advanced practice certification exam for your chosen specialty. 

See All Tracks & Curriculums

Clinical education & on-campus learning opportunities

The Dr. Charles A. and Ann Sanders IMPACT Practice Center houses the Ruth Sleeper Nursing Center for Clinical Education and Wellness, a nurse-led screening, referral, education, and support resource for Charlestown and Greater Boston-area residents.

The IMPACT Practice Center enables student teams from across the health professions to deliver integrated services as part of their uniprofessional and interprofessional clinical education.  By providing this free care under the supervision of the Institute's practicing clinician faculty, students enrolled in the nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, speech-language pathology, and genetic counseling programs receive a priceless benefit: real-life experience.

Students provide care to a variety of clients, tackling complex problems, supported by the latest technology and state-of-the-art facilities. Client populations include those with chronic conditions across the lifespan.

Nursing students at MGH Institute of Health Professions don’t just learn about providing health care. Through their clinical placements and scholarly projects, you will also learn about how providing health care can change the world.  Some students return to their locations of clinical placement after graduation, as these students did with Rosebud Reservation

Institute nursing students were on the front lines treating COVID-19 patients at Boston Hope, the field medical facility inside the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. The MGH Institute was the only school whose nursing students are actively treating coronavirus patients anywhere in the state.

An investment in your degree will pay you back many times over the course of your career. Here are helpful resources to consult as you consider applying.

Tuition & Fees

Tuition Calculator

Financial Aid Office

Tuition Reduction for MGB Employees, Alumni and Affiliates

Application Process

We welcome applications from licensed, registered nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) who seek to become advanced practice nurses (APN) as nurse practitioners (NP). Our professional staff are available to provide information, answer questions you have during the admission and financial aid process, and offer ongoing information on tuition and fees.

 

Dates & Deadlines

For full and part-time programs starting Fall 2024, the application deadline is Rolling.

How to Apply

All applicants are required to submit a complete and verified application through NursingCAS.

Please note that the ability to apply to advanced practice specialty options for the Post-BSN Master of Science in Nursing program may differ by application cycle. 

Apply Now 

Degree

All applicants must have completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university.

Courses

Applicants must have completed a graduate or undergraduate Statistics course with a grade of C or better prior to matriculation.

View online prerequisite courses offered through the MGH Institute

GRE

The GRE is not required for admission to this program. 

TOEFL/ IELTS

The language of instruction and clinical education at the MGH Institute is English and a high level of proficiency in both written and spoken English is required.  Applicants who have not completed either an undergraduate or graduate program where English is the language of instruction must demonstrate English Language proficiency as part of your application to the MGH Institute of Health Professions.  If you have questions about the language requirements, please contact the Office of Admissions.

  • Applicants who are citizens of Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, Guyana, an Anglophone country of Africa, or an English-speaking country of the Caribbean are not required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores.

  • Applicants who are candidates for graduation from an accredited degree-granting program in the United States or at an English-speaking school in one of the countries listed above are also not required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. Acceptance to the IHP will be contingent upon successful completion of this degree prior to matriculation.

Please note that in some circumstances, demonstrating English language proficiency may be required by the academic program even if you are a citizen of a country in which the (or one of the) national language(s) is English. Decisions about the need for TOEFL or IELTS scores are at the discretion of the academic program to which you are applying in coordination with the department of OES.

The IHP accepts either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). The test must have been taken within two years of the application deadline and official score reports are required. The minimum TOEFL (internet-based) score accepted is 89 and the minimum IELTS score accepted is 6.5.  

  • To forward your TOEFL score please contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS).  The MGH Institute of Health Professions code is 3513.

  • For IELTS, a Test Report Form may be mailed to MGH Institute of Health Professions and score information will be verified by the IHP directly. You may designate up to 5 schools to receive Test Report Forms at the time you register for the test.  To request additional Test Report Forms, contact your test center.

Please contact the Office of Admissions if you have any questions about the MGH Institute’s English Language requirements. 

Applicants are required to submit an official transcript from each college and/or university attended directly to NursingCAS, even if a degree was not received from that institution. For transcripts to be considered official they must be in their original signed and sealed envelopes when received. Please visit our Program Page in NursingCAS for additional information and requirements.

Applicants that have earned a degree from a non-US institution are required to submit a course-by-course credential evaluation from one of the following NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) members: Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc., SpanTran: The Evaluation Company, World Education Services (WES), or the Center for Educational Documentation. If you earned your bachelor's degree outside of the U.S. this credential evaluation must document minimum equivalency of a US baccalaureate degree or higher.

Personal Statement

A personal statement is required for all applicants and must be submitted directly to NursingCAS. The prompt should address:

In what way(s) do you envision that your entry into the nursing profession could help address pertinent issues in nursing?  The MGH IHP’s core value is to uphold justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. In what ways do you envision you will foster an inclusive environment at the IHP? How will you contribute to the IHP community to make it a welcoming and inclusive place to learn?


The personal statement should be approximately three (3) pages in length, double spaced.
 

Recommendation Letters

Applicants are required to provide two (2) recommendation letters directly to NursingCAS. Recommendation letters should come from individuals who are able to address your academic ability, character, and integrity, as well as your potential for post-baccalaureate study. At least one letter should come from an academic reference and one should come from a professional reference. 

No more than three (3) recommendation letters will be reviewed as part of your application.

Resume or CV

Applicants are required to submit a current resume or CV.

Full-Time Option:

What is the duration of the full-time Master of Science in Nursing program at MGH Institute of Health Professions? 

The full-time Master of Science in Nursing program is a two-year program.

What is the class schedule for the full-time Master of Science in Nursing program?

The full-time Master of Science in Nursing program has a rigorous and demanding class schedule, that varies depending on track.  Some theory classes are held during the day on weekdays while other courses are in the early evening hours.  Course delivery includes on-campus, hybrid, and online courses.  Generally, classes are limited to 1-2 days per week to allow for scheduling of clinical placements.

 

Part-Time Option (Adult-Gerontology Acute Care, Family and Psychiatric/Mental health tracks only):

What is the duration of the part-time Master of Science in Nursing program at MGH Institute of Health Professions? 

The part-time Master of Science in Nursing program can take up to three years to complete, depending on the course load.

What is the class schedule for the part-time Master of Science in Nursing program? 

The part-time Master of Science in Nursing program is designed for working nurses with lower per semester credit loads.   Most theory classes are held during one day per week while other courses are in the early evening hours.  Course delivery includes on-campus, hybrid and online courses.  Generally, classes are limited to 1-2 days per week at the most to allow for the scheduling of clinical placements. 

How do the curriculums plans for each of the advanced practice specialty tracks differ?

Each advanced practice nursing specialty within the Master of Science in Nursing (Post BSN) degree has its own curriculum plan. You can find the curriculum plans under each track.

Who do I contact for more information about the academic program, curriculum, or course requirements?

Please nursing [at] mghihp.edu (subject: Requesting%20information%20about%20the%20DEN) (contact the School of Nursing).

Who do I contact for more information about the application process, my application status, or what documents to submit?

You may admissions [at] mghihp.edu (email the admission office), or contact us.

Can I defer my admission to a future term?

Though generally not permitted, deferral requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis and are generally approved only in extreme circumstances or military deployment. To request a deferral, admissions [at] mghihp.edu (subject: Deferral%20Request) (email the admission office).

Are there other Conditions of Admission?

Yes.  If applicable, final transcripts and test scores must be submitted to satisfy the conditions of admission.

I’m an international student. Can I receive an F-1 Visa?

Please see General Information for Prospective International Students.

Upcoming Admissions Events

Learning from nursing experts

The MGH Institute of Health Professions School of Nursing prides itself on its faculty. Being in the Hub of New England's top teaching and research medical centers, and benefiting from our affiliation with the world-class Mass General Brigham system, students are mentored by premier practitioners and researchers in the nursing field.

View All Nursing Faculty

Opportunities & Outcomes

There is a continued nursing shortage in the United States. US News & World Report ranked Nurse Practitioner as the second best job in America and the best job in healthcare.

All four advanced practice specialties – clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners, nurse-midwives, and nurse anesthetists – will be in high demand, particularly in medically underserved areas such as inner cities and rural areas. Relative to physicians, APNs increasingly serve as lower-cost primary care providers.

Earnings

According to a 2021 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report, median annual earnings of RNs were $82,700.

The median annual earnings of nurse practitioners were higher: $118,000, according to the BLS. 

Working Conditions 

Most advanced practice nurses work in well-lighted, comfortable health care facilities. Advanced practice nurses work in hospitals, physicians' offices, home care settings, nursing homes for the elderly, occupational settings, and public health settings (schools, government and private agencies, clinics, and retirement communities). See Advanced Practice Nurses Roles for a more in-depth discussion.

Many nurses say they chose nursing in part because of the scheduling flexibility that enables them both to pursue a career and have a family.

In settings that require round-the-clock care, nurses are needed to work days, evenings and nights. The profession can be physically and emotionally demanding, depending on the environment.

Advanced practice nurse (APN) is an umbrella term that refers to registered nurses prepared at the master’s level or higher with specialized education. An APN can be a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthetist, or nurse midwife. APNs can deliver as much as 80% of the primary and preventative health care services traditionally provided by primary care physicians, including having prescription privileges in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Possessing an in-depth knowledge of one or more specialty areas, APNs care for patients in a variety of settings that include acute care, critical care, intermediate care, long-term care, ambulatory care, and home care.

Over half of all APNs are NPs, most of whom hold a Master’s degree. NPs are well trained at examining patients, ordering and interpreting diagnostic studies, diagnosing and treating disease, as well as working in research and case management roles.

An advanced practice nurse still gives all of the time and attention that they can to a patient, but will have more training to handle more complicated issues.

There is no advanced practice licensure examination that parallels the NCLEX-RN. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) recommends the use of APN certification examinations as a basis for state licensure and board certification decisions.

In the U.S., nurse practitioners are licensed by the state in which they practice, and have national certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Nurse practitioners also have national certification through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP); and for nurse practitioners in Women's Health, through the National Certification Corporation (NCC).

After completing your advanced practice course of study in the Post-BSN Master of Science, you are prepared to take the certification examination for your chosen specialty as a nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist.

Read more about the difference between licensure and certification.

As an advanced practice nurse you are required to renew both your registered nurse's license and your advanced practice nursing specialty certification with state boards on a regular basis.

Each state has its own authorization process for advanced practice nurses – see those for Massachusetts as an example.

The MGH Institute provides Career Services for students and alumni.

Below are links to Web sites, unaffiliated with MGH Institute, that provide valuable information on nursing careers.

  • American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN):
    With a resource section on nursing shortages

  • American Nurses Association:
    Features a Nursing Careers Center with access to the National Healthcare Career Network for new and current nurses.

  • Campus RN:
    Career information, news about nursing, job search and more

  • Registered Nurse: Very comprehensive guide to nursing education and nursing career information

  • Sigma Theta Tau International Honors Society for Nursing:
    Great source for leadership opportunities; excellent Career Map for new and current nurses
    MGH Institute has its own chapter of the Society: Upsilon Lambda.

  • National Health Service Corps (NHSC)
    For more than three decades, the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) has been recruiting caring health professionals to serve in rural areas where the closest clinic could be miles away, and in inner-city neighborhoods, where economic and cultural barriers prevent people from seeking and receiving the health care they deserve.

    NHSC delivers a workforce of caring and culturally sensitive clinicians dedicated to serving the underserved. Through a combination of programs, including an educational loan repayment program, and a scholarship program, NHSC deploys a cadre of primary care clinicians who are motivated by an extraordinary desire to serve, along with a commitment to improve the health of underserved communities.