Louisiana’s NP education landscape reflects the state’s unique healthcare challenges and opportunities. From major academic health centers in New Orleans and Shreveport to universities serving rural and underserved communities, Louisiana schools prepare nurse practitioners to work across primary care, acute care, mental health, women’s health, and specialty practice settings. This guide explores Louisiana NP programs, specialty options, and key considerations to help prospective students find a pathway that fits their goals.
Featured NP Programs in Louisiana
Louisiana’s NP programs are concentrated at a relatively small number of universities, but collectively they offer a broad range of advanced practice specialties and educational pathways. Featured programs highlight different approaches to NP education—from research-intensive doctoral pathways and academic medical center training to flexible online options designed for working nurses. Comparing these schools can help prospective students better understand differences in specialty availability, clinical training models, delivery formats, and long-term academic opportunities before exploring the broader directory section that follows.
| Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans | |
| Nursing School | School of Nursing |
| Selected Programs | BSN to DNP, Post-Master’s DNP, Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Anesthesia, Nurse-Midwife, Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist, Executive Nurse Leader, Nurse Educator, Public Health/Community Health |
| DNP Pathways | The Doctor of Nursing Practice program offers both BSN-to-DNP and Post-Master’s-to-DNP pathways. |
| Specialty Tracks | Advanced practice roles include Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Anesthesia, Nurse-Midwife, and Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist. Aggregate and systems-focused roles include Executive Nurse Leader, Nurse Educator (Post-Master’s DNP only), and Public Health/Community Health. |
| Program Focus | The DNP curriculum emphasizes evidence-based practice, research translation, organizational leadership, interdisciplinary collaboration, information technology, quality improvement, health policy, and systems-level practice. |
| Career Preparation | The program is designed to prepare nurses for advanced clinical practice, executive leadership, education, and organizational roles focused on improving patient and population health outcomes. |
| Accreditation | LSU Health New Orleans is accredited by SACSCOC. The BSN, MSN, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The Nurse Anesthesia program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, and the Nurse-Midwifery concentration holds ACME preaccreditation status. |
| Overview | LSU Health New Orleans School of Nursing offers doctoral education through BSN-to-DNP and Post-Master’s-to-DNP pathways that prepare nurses for advanced practice, leadership, education, and systems-focused roles. Specialty options include nurse practitioner, nurse anesthesia, nurse-midwifery, and clinical nurse specialist preparation, while the curriculum emphasizes evidence-based practice, leadership development, healthcare innovation, and improved patient outcomes. |
| About the School | LSU Health New Orleans is a public academic health sciences center located in New Orleans, Louisiana. Its School of Nursing is part of a comprehensive health sciences campus dedicated to nursing education, research, and clinical practice. |
| Loyola University New Orleans | |
| Nursing School | School of Nursing |
| Selected Programs | MSN–Family Nurse Practitioner, MSN–Nurse-Midwifery, MSN–Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Post-Graduate FNP Certificate, Post-Graduate Nurse-Midwifery Certificate, Post-Graduate PMHNP Certificate, Post-Graduate Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate, BSN–DNP Family Nurse Practitioner, BSN–DNP Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, BSN–DNP Nurse Anesthesia, BSN–DNP Dual Nurse Anesthesia + AGACNP, MSN–DNP Executive Leader |
| Learning Formats | Program formats vary by specialty and include online, hybrid, and on-campus options. FNP programs are offered online, while Nurse-Midwifery, PMHNP, AGACNP, and Nurse Anesthesia pathways include hybrid delivery formats. |
| Nurse-Midwifery Focus | The Nurse-Midwifery program is committed to increasing the number of Certified Nurse-Midwives to help address maternal health disparities and improve access to obstetric and gynecologic care in underserved communities. |
| Student Support | The School of Nursing offers flexible scheduling options and allows eligible students participating in employer-sponsored tuition reimbursement programs to defer up to 90% of tuition and fees until the end of the semester. |
| Accreditation | Loyola University New Orleans is accredited by SACSCOC. The BSN, MSN, DNP, and Post-Graduate Certificate programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). |
| Overview | Loyola University New Orleans School of Nursing offers graduate and doctoral nursing education through nurse practitioner, nurse-midwifery, nurse anesthesia, leadership, and specialty certificate pathways. Programs are available in online and hybrid formats and emphasize leadership, healthcare innovation, and service to underserved populations. The school also highlights its commitment to improving maternal health outcomes through its Nurse-Midwifery program and provides flexible options for working nurses. |
| About the School | Loyola University New Orleans is a private Jesuit university located in New Orleans, Louisiana. The School of Nursing is part of the College of Nursing and Health and emphasizes service, leadership, and professional preparation within the university’s Jesuit educational tradition. |
| University of Louisiana at Lafayette | |
| Nursing School | LHC Group · Myers School of Nursing |
| Selected Programs | MSN–Family Nurse Practitioner, MSN–Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, MSN–Nursing Education, Post-Master’s DNP |
| Learning Format | The MSN concentrations are delivered online. Clinical experiences for MSN students must be completed in Louisiana. The Post-Master’s DNP is designed for working nurses and follows a part-time format, with clinical hours that may be completed in Louisiana or the student’s home state. |
| Tuition | Online graduate tuition is $480 per credit hour. Additional course fees may apply, but online students are not charged operational fees, activity fees, or out-of-state tuition. |
| Recognition | The nursing program has been recognized as a National League for Nursing Center of Excellence in Nursing Education, earned Stellar School designation from the National Student Nurses’ Association, and has been ranked among the nation’s top nursing programs by U.S. News & World Report. |
| Certification Preparation | The Family Nurse Practitioner MSN concentration meets educational requirements for graduates to sit for the Family Nurse Practitioner national certification examination and apply for advanced practice licensure. |
| Overview | The University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s LHC Group · Myers School of Nursing offers online graduate nursing education through Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Nursing Education MSN concentrations, along with a Post-Master’s DNP pathway. The school emphasizes evidence-based practice, student success, and career advancement opportunities for practicing nurses. Graduate programs are designed to support working professionals while preparing graduates for advanced clinical, educational, and leadership roles. |
| About the School | The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is a public research university located in Lafayette, Louisiana. The LHC Group · Myers School of Nursing is part of the College of Nursing & Health Sciences and offers undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral nursing education. |
Louisiana NP Program Directory
| Institution | Pathway Options | Selected Specializations | NP Certificates |
| Grambling State University Grambling, LA | Master’s | Family Nurse PractitionerPediatric Nurse Practitioner | |
| Louisiana State University Health Sciences Ctr New Orleans, LA | RN to Master’s, Master’s, Bachelor’s to DNP, Master’s to DNP | Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse SpecialistNurse MidwifeNurse Practitioner | |
| Loyola University New Orleans New Orleans, LA | RN to Master’s, Master’s, Bachelor’s to DNP, Master’s to DNP | Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse PractitionerFamily Nurse PractitionerNurse-MidwiferyPsychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner | Y |
| McNeese State University Lake Charles, LA | Master’s, Master’s to DNP | Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner | Y |
| Nicholls State University Thibodaux, LA | Master’s | Family Nurse PractitionerPsychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner | |
| Northwestern State University Shreveport, LA | Master’s, Bachelor’s to DNP, Master’s to DNP | Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse PractitionerFamily Nurse PractitionerPsychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner | Y |
| Southeastern Louisiana University Hammond, LA | Master’s, Bachelor’s to DNP, Master’s to DNP | Family Nurse PractitionerPsychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner | Y |
| Southern University and A&M College Baton Rouge, LA | Master’s, Master’s to DNP | Family Nurse Practitioner | |
| University of Louisiana at Lafayette Lafayette, LA | Master’s, Bachelor’s to DNP, Master’s to DNP | Family Nurse PractitionerPsychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner | |
| University of Louisiana at Monroe Monroe, LA | Master’s | Family Nurse Practitioner |
How to Choose an NP Program in Louisiana
Louisiana’s NP programs are shaped by the state’s healthcare realities: large urban medical centers, persistent rural provider shortages, and ongoing demand for primary care, mental health, and maternal health services. As you compare schools, focus on specialization availability, delivery format, clinical training support, and how each pathway aligns with your long-term professional goals.
Match your specialization to your goals
Louisiana schools offer a wider range of specialties than many students expect, but the options are concentrated at a relatively small number of institutions. Loyola University New Orleans offers pathways in Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric-Mental Health NP, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP, and Nurse-Midwifery, while LSU Health New Orleans supports advanced practice preparation through nurse practitioner, nurse-midwifery, nurse anesthesia, and clinical nurse specialist pathways. Students interested in behavioral health may find strong options at both Loyola and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, which offers online MSN tracks in Family NP and Psychiatric-Mental Health NP. When comparing Louisiana schools with other top NP programs, think carefully about which patient populations you hope to serve and whether your desired specialty is available locally.
Consider how the program is delivered
Many Louisiana NP programs are designed for working nurses, though delivery models vary significantly. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette delivers its MSN concentrations online, while Loyola offers a mix of online, hybrid, and campus-based formats depending on the specialty. LSU Health New Orleans combines doctoral study with on-campus learning experiences and clinical mentorship. Students still exploring the process of becoming an NP should compare campus requirements, scheduling flexibility, and clinical expectations before selecting a program.
Think about your geographic context
Location can influence both clinical opportunities and future career options. Students in New Orleans benefit from proximity to major academic health centers, specialty hospitals, and diverse patient populations. Students in Lafayette and other parts of the state may encounter different workforce needs, particularly in primary care, behavioral health, and rural health settings. Geography can also affect clinical placement logistics. For example, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette requires MSN clinical experiences to be completed within Louisiana, a detail that may matter for students considering relocation or cross-state enrollment.
Look at program pathways and long-term flexibility
Louisiana schools offer MSN, BSN-to-DNP, post-master’s DNP, post-graduate certificate, and leadership-focused pathways. LSU Health New Orleans supports both BSN-to-DNP and Post-Master’s-to-DNP progression, while Loyola offers multiple certificate options for APRNs seeking additional specialty preparation. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette provides a Post-Master’s DNP designed for working nurses pursuing leadership and advanced practice growth. Before selecting a pathway, students should review the NP program accreditation standards and confirm that the curriculum aligns with Louisiana nurse practitioner licensure requirements and national certification eligibility.
Evaluate clinical placement support
Clinical experiences are often where NP programs differ most. LSU Health New Orleans emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, evidence-based practice, and systems-level healthcare training through its academic health sciences environment. Loyola combines simulation experiences with healthcare partnerships and highlights service to underserved populations. Frontier-style home-community clinical models are less common in Louisiana, making it especially important for students to ask how placements are coordinated and what role they will play in securing preceptors. Before enrolling, ask whether the school assists with placements, whether travel may be required for specialty rotations, and how clinical experiences are structured for online students.
Finding Clinical Placements and Preceptors in Louisiana
Louisiana NP students may complete clinical rotations through academic medical centers, regional hospital systems, community clinics, behavioral health organizations, federally qualified health centers, and rural healthcare networks across the state. Clinical experiences can vary significantly depending on specialty track, geographic location, and program structure.
Major Clinical Training Environments
Several Louisiana universities emphasize healthcare partnerships, simulation training, and service to diverse and underserved populations.
- LSU Health New Orleans prepares students within a comprehensive academic health sciences environment that emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, leadership development, evidence-based practice, and systems-level healthcare improvement.
- Loyola University New Orleans combines simulation-supported learning with healthcare partnerships and a strong emphasis on serving underserved populations, including efforts to expand maternal healthcare access through nurse-midwifery education.
- University of Louisiana at Lafayette supports online graduate nursing education while preparing students for advanced practice roles in family and psychiatric-mental health settings.
Students in Louisiana may encounter clinical opportunities connected to healthcare systems such as:
- Ochsner Health
- LCMC Health
- LSU Health New Orleans
- Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System
- Willis-Knighton Health System
- Terrebonne General Health System
- Our Lady of the Lake Health
How Geography Can Affect Placements
Location can shape both access to preceptors and travel expectations.
Students in:
- New Orleans
- Baton Rouge
- Lafayette
- Shreveport
may have greater access to:
- academic medical centers
- specialty providers
- psychiatric and women’s health clinical sites
- large healthcare systems
Students in rural and medically underserved areas may encounter:
- fewer specialty preceptors nearby
- additional travel requirements for some rotations
- stronger exposure to primary care, community health, and population health settings
Because provider shortages remain a challenge in parts of Louisiana, students pursuing highly specialized clinical experiences should ask early about placement availability.
Online and Hybrid Program Considerations
Many Louisiana NP pathways incorporate online or hybrid coursework, but clinical training still requires in-person participation.
Before enrolling, students should ask:
- whether the school coordinates placements
- if students must identify preceptors independently
- whether travel is required for specialty rotations
- how placements are handled for online students
- whether clinical hours can be completed near home communities
For example, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette requires MSN clinical experiences to be completed within Louisiana, which may be an important consideration for some students.
Program-Specific Placement Models
Clinical support structures vary across Louisiana schools.
- LSU Health New Orleans integrates clinical training within an academic health sciences setting that emphasizes collaboration across healthcare disciplines.
- Loyola University New Orleans combines simulation experiences with community-based healthcare partnerships and specialty-focused clinical education.
- University of Louisiana at Lafayette supports working nurses through online graduate programs while preparing students for advanced practice certification and licensure.
Before enrolling, students should ask detailed questions about placement responsibilities, travel expectations, preceptor support, and specialty-specific clinical requirements.
Professional Networking Resources
Students looking for networking opportunities, continuing education, legislative updates, or potential preceptor connections may find the following organizations helpful:
- Louisiana Association of Nurse Practitioners
- Louisiana State Nurses Association
- Louisiana Primary Care Association
- Louisiana Rural Health Association
NP Programs in Louisiana FAQ
Do NP programs in Louisiana require the GRE?
GRE requirements vary by school and pathway. Many Louisiana graduate nursing programs have reduced or eliminated standardized testing requirements for experienced nurses and doctoral applicants, but students should always confirm current admissions policies directly with the university.
Can I complete an NP program online in Louisiana?
Yes. Louisiana offers several online and hybrid NP pathways. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette delivers its Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner MSN programs online, while Loyola University New Orleans offers a mix of online and hybrid formats depending on specialty. Other programs incorporate campus-based intensives, simulation experiences, or clinical requirements alongside online coursework.
How difficult is it to find a clinical preceptor in Louisiana?
Preceptor availability varies by specialty and geographic region. Students in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and Shreveport may have greater access to large healthcare systems and specialty providers, while students in rural areas may need to travel for some clinical experiences. Students should ask early about placement support, preceptor expectations, and specialty-specific clinical requirements.
Can nurse practitioners practice independently in Louisiana?
No. Louisiana is considered a reduced practice state. Nurse practitioners must maintain a collaborative practice agreement with a physician to provide care and exercise prescriptive authority. APRNs must also meet Louisiana licensing, certification, and collaborative practice requirements before entering practice. Students should review current state regulations and national certification standards as part of their career planning.