FACTS ABOUT NPs

There are more than 461,000 NPs licensed in the U.S.

NPs are the
fastest-growing primary care provider

In 2024, approximately
87% of NPs
were certified in
primary care

80% of full-time NPs are seeing Medicaid patients and 74% are seeing Medicare patients

Over 42%
of Medicare patients receive services from a nurse practitioner

NPs hold
prescriptive privileges,
including controlled
substances, in all
50 states and D.C.

NPs typically complete at least 6+ years of undergraduate and graduate academic and clinical education

Nearly

3 out of 4

patients support legislation for greater access to NP services

NPs have full practice authority in

27 states, the District of Columbia and two U.S. territories

DISTRIBUTION OF NPs BY PRIMARY CERTIFICATION AREA

CERTIFICATION

PERCENT OF NPs

Family

68.7

Adult and Geriatrics

Pediatrics

15.1

3.0

Women's Health

2.0