Nurse Types / Nurse Practitioner / NP vs MD
If you’re thinking about pursuing a degree to provide advanced medical care to patients, you may be considering either a Nurse Practitioner (NP) or a Medical Doctor (MD) degree.
If you’re having trouble deciding which path to choose, you’re not alone! Many people spend a lot of time agonizing over the choice—it’s a big decision. This article’s aim is to make that decision easier for you. We will cover:
- A comparison between the practices
- Cost commitments
- Program requirements
- General overview
- The differences between the roles of NP and MD
- FAQs
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General overview
To start, we’re going to take a look at an overview of scenarios to help you decide which program makes the most sense for you.
| Stick with a NP pathway program if… | Go with a MD pathway program if… |
|---|---|
| you like a more comprehensive but still personal approach to health care. NPs combine their clinical work with education, disease prevention, and counseling which is not always the focus of MDs. | you like the science of medicine. MDs train in organic chemistry and physics, not typically required in nursing or NP programs. MD school includes more rigorous upper-division science coursework. |
| you’re seeking a faster way to advanced practice. If better work-life balance is important to you, a NP has more flexibility and more options for accelerated training than a MD. | you want to practice more autonomously. No matter how specialized you become as an NP—even with an independent practice—there will always be limits to what you can do legally as an NP that you won’t have as an MD. |
| you’re happy with the options available for specialty care. According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, while the majority of NPs practice in primary care, there are 8 specialty care areas and 13 sub-specialties from which you may choose. | you want to specialize more deeply in a specific area of health care. While there are specialties available to NPs, the broader range of specialties are only open to MD practices. |
NP and MD Comparison
Although there are some similarities between the roles that nurse practitioners and medical doctors have in the healthcare field. There are some factors to help you decide which pathway makes more sense for your nursing journey.
The main point people consider is time and cost. It definitely takes longer to become an MD than an NP. While there are accelerated programs for an NP license, there are very few for an MD.
Cost commitment for each program
Average tuition
The average cost of tuition will vary since there can be such a difference between the type and location of the schools. Some general numbers are available, but you should always do your research on the schools of your choice to determine which is best for you.
- The average tuition costs for an MSN NP degree are between $35,000 and $65,000 but the overall costs can be higher.
- The average tuition cost for 4 years of medical school is $218,792.
Scholarship opportunities
There are a few medical schools that offer a tuition-free degree, with housing and administrative costs being covered by the student. However, obtaining a medical or NP school scholarship is just like any other scholarship.
There are many grad school scholarships available, some are specific to the school, others are available through public and private donors or associations. Finding a scholarship requires diligence, time, and effort but can be extremely rewarding. There are multiple websites to help you search for one that matches your background, skills, and goals.
Employer education reimbursement
Some employers provide reimbursement for attending school but be aware of the conditions to their funding.
For example, an employer typically requires you to work for them for a certain amount of time after becoming licensed. You should be aware of what happens if you leave before that time. If available, tuition reimbursement can be a huge blessing, just make sure it’s not a blessing in disguise.
In making your decision, it is so important to understand your “why”. If possible, you shouldn’t choose one option or the other simply because of the time or money involved.
Ultimately, it may be helpful to think about where you want to be in 10 years and honestly decide which path fits your lifestyle and which career will make you feel the most fulfilled (with the least regret) in the end.
Program requirements
Prior experience and prerequisites
In general, you must be an RN (BSN) with an unencumbered license, 1 year or more of nursing experience, and a strong academic background.
Completed classes and labs should include anatomy and Physiology, chemistry, biomedical statistics, microbiology, and English composition. Some programs require that you pass the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). You also must decide on a specialty, so understand what is offered at your schools of choice and ensure they fit your needs.
You don’t need any specific experience prior to applying to medical school. However, schools are looking for candidates who are well-versed and match their philosophy. Schools also will have a minimum GPA requirement for certain programs, so be sure to check with the institutions you are interested in for their specific requirements.
Medical schools typically require you have at least 1 year each of biology, both organic and inorganic chemistry, and physics classes (and the labs related to each). Some schools also require an English or writing course as well as calculus.
Additional courses will cover material you will need to pass your Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) so you should include those in your curriculum. The Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) is a good resource to understand the admission requirements for specific medical schools.
Reference letters
Most nurse practitioner programs require 2-3 letters of recommendation. Even if they’re not required, it’s a good idea to include at least 1 or 2.
Reference letters should come from someone with excellent writing skills who knows the applicant from their time spent together in the nursing field.
Most medical schools require applying through the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). Letters of recommendation should be sent directly to AMCAS by the writer or school.
In general, 2 letters from a science professor and 1 from a non-science professor are required. Just as for a nurse practitioner, the letter for medical school should come from someone well acquainted with the candidate. If at all possible, having an MD (someone who understands the process) write those letters can be an advantage.
Role differences
Now that you have a good idea of how the pathways vary, we can go over a brief overview of the differences in the job duties of a nurse practitioner and a medical doctor.
Overview of NP job duties
NPs are able to provide health care services covering a wide range of areas in primary, acute, or specialty care. Currently, 88.9% of NPs work in a primary care area.
- Diagnose/manage acute or chronic illnesses
- Order, perform, and interpret diagnostic tests (imaging or labs)
- Prescribe medications
- Disease prevention, health education, and counseling
- Depending on state regulations, licensure, and specialty, some NPs are able to practice independently, but some require more physician oversight
- General overview
- The differences between the roles of NP and MD
- A comparison between the practices
- Cost commitments
- Program requirements
- FAQs
Overview of MD job duties
MDs are also trained to provide care in primary, acute, or specialty areas. However, there are some differences in their day-to-day responsibilities. Some of the duties of a medical doctor are:
- Autonomously diagnose and treat all diseases
- Order, perform, and interpret diagnostic tests
- Independently prescribe medications
- Perform operations (surgeons) and other complex medical procedures
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FAQs
Generally speaking, it takes 2 years for the practicing RN to become Master’s prepared for a NP license. It takes about the same time for the MSN to DNP route.
It typically takes 2 years to obtain the premedical requirements (pre-reqs), take the MCAT, and apply to medical school. Once accepted, there are 4 years of medical school (a few programs offer a 3-year option) and then an additional 3-7 years of training in a specialty.
According to Payscale, the average salary for a MD in the United States is $161,994 – an effective hourly rate of $77.42.
According the the BLS, the average salary for a nurse practitioner in the United States is $118,040 – an effective hourly rate of $56.75.
Sources
- “What’s an MD, DO, NP, PA and MA?” honorhealth.com. Accessed September 24, 2022.
- “NP Fact Sheet.” aanp.org. Accessed September 24, 2022.
- “Nurse Practitioner School Requirements – Admission & Prerequisites.” nursingprocess.org. Accessed September 24, 2022.
- “Medical School Prerequisites.” kaptest.com. Accessed September 24, 2022.
- “10 Sample Letters of Recommendation for Nurse Practitioner School.” nursingprocess.org. Accessed September 24, 2022.
- “Medical School Letters of Recommendation: The Definitive Guide.” shemmassianconsulting.com. Accessed September 24, 2022.
- “Consortium of Accelerated Medical Pathway Programs.” med.nyu.edu. Accessed September 24, 2022.“Average Cost of Medical Schoo.” educationdata.org. Accessed September 24, 2022.
