Nursing & Healthcare News

Nurse Practitioners on the Rise

The number of licensed NPs grew 9 percent in just one year!

Nurse practitioner in blue scrubs and with a stethoscope around her neck is smiling at her patient

By Aaron SeversonMay 5, 2022

1 min read
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According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), the U.S. added 30,000 licensed NPs between 2021 and 2022, and forecasts predict continued growth through 2030.

Robust Job Growth

Nurse practitioner is one of the fastest-growing healthcare careers in the United States. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that NP employment will increase by a whopping 52.2 percent between 2020 and 2030.

New AANP data shows that in the past year alone, the total number of nurse practitioners licensed in the U.S. grew by about 30,000, a one-year increase of 9 percent. That’s in keeping with previously released AANP data showing that 36,000 nurses completed NP academic programs in the 2019–2020 school year.

Nursing Education

The AANP estimates that as of April 2022, there are now about 355,000 nurse practitioners licensed in the United States.

No. 1 Healthcare Job

Strong job prospects, low unemployment and excellent median salary — more than $110,000 a year — also made the NP role the No. 1 healthcare job in the U.S. News & World Report 2022 Best Jobs rankings. Nurse practitioner ranked No. 2 overall, behind information security analyst.

Hiring Now

“With the challenges of the pandemic and the demand for more accessible and equitable care, NPs continue to enhance healthcare delivery across all settings,” says AANP President April N. Kapu, APRN, DNP, ACNP-BC, FAANP, FCCM, FAAN. “Today’s nurse practitioner count indicates that demand for these highly-qualified clinicians continues to be on the rise — and for good reason.”

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