NP Specialties Guide

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) is the most common NP specialty, while Psychiatric-Mental Health NP (PMHNP) offers the highest salary ($130,000-$160,000) due to mental health provider shortages, according to AANP salary survey data. Your specialty determines patient population, practice settings, and earning potential.

What are the NP specialties and how do they compare?

Specialty	Population	Common Settings	Avg. Salary
FNP	All ages	Primary care, urgent care	$115,000-$130,000
AGNP	Adults/geriatrics	Primary care, hospitals	$110,000-$125,000
PMHNP	All ages (mental health)	Psychiatry, clinics	$130,000-$160,000
PNP	Pediatrics	Children’s hospitals, clinics	$105,000-$120,000
ACNP	Adults (acute)	ICU, hospitals, ER	$120,000-$145,000
WHNP	Women	OB/GYN, women’s health	$105,000-$120,000
NNP	Neonates	NICU	$115,000-$135,000

What does a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) do?

The FNP is the most versatile and popular NP specialty, preparing you to care for patients across the entire lifespan. According to AANP, FNPs make up approximately 70% of all nurse practitioners.

Overview

• Population: Infants through geriatrics
• Focus: Primary care, health promotion, disease prevention
• Certification bodies: AANP, ANCC

What FNPs Do

• Conduct comprehensive health assessments
• Diagnose and treat acute and chronic conditions
• Prescribe medications
• Order and interpret diagnostic tests
• Provide preventive care and health education
• Manage chronic diseases (diabetes, hypertension, etc.)
• Perform minor procedures

Practice Settings

• Private primary care practices
• Community health centers
• Urgent care clinics
• Retail clinics
• Rural health clinics
• Telehealth

Certification Options

AANP FNP-C (American Association of Nurse Practitioners)

• 150 questions, 3 hours
• Focus on clinical knowledge

ANCC FNP-BC (American Nurses Credentialing Center)

• 175 questions, 3.5 hours
• Includes professional role questions

Salary & Job Outlook

• Average salary: $115,000-$130,000
• Job growth: 40%+ through 2032
• Why it’s growing: Primary care shortage, rural health needs, healthcare expansion

Best For

Nurses who want maximum flexibility, enjoy variety, and prefer building long-term relationships with patients of all ages.

What does a Psychiatric-Mental Health NP (PMHNP) do?

PMHNPs specialize in mental health and psychiatric care—the fastest-growing and highest-paying NP specialty. Per BLS data, psychiatric NPs earn 15-25% more than other NP specialties due to severe provider shortages.

Overview

• Population: All ages (across the lifespan)
• Focus: Mental health assessment, diagnosis, treatment
• Certification body: ANCC

What PMHNPs Do

• Conduct psychiatric evaluations
• Diagnose mental health disorders
• Prescribe psychotropic medications
• Provide psychotherapy (individual, group, family)
• Manage medication regimens
• Coordinate care with other providers
• Crisis intervention

Conditions Treated

• Depression and anxiety disorders
• Bipolar disorder
• Schizophrenia and psychotic disorders
• PTSD and trauma-related disorders
• Substance use disorders
• ADHD
• Eating disorders
• Personality disorders

Practice Settings

• Outpatient psychiatric clinics
• Inpatient psychiatric units
• Community mental health centers
• Private practice
• Telehealth (high growth area)
• Correctional facilities
• Substance abuse treatment centers

Certification

ANCC PMHNP-BC

• Only certification option for PMHNP
• 175 questions, 3.5 hours
• Must be renewed every 5 years

Salary & Job Outlook

• Average salary: $130,000-$160,000
• Experienced/high-demand areas: $180,000+
• Job growth: 50%+ through 2032
• Why it’s growing: Mental health crisis, psychiatrist shortage, telepsych expansion

Best For

Nurses passionate about mental health who want high demand, excellent salary potential, and the ability to build therapeutic relationships.

Adult-Gerontology NP (AGNP)

AGNPs specialize in adult and older adult care, with two distinct tracks:

Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP (AGPCNP)

Focus: Outpatient, primary care for adults

• Health promotion and disease prevention
• Chronic disease management
• Wellness exams and screenings
• Management of multiple comorbidities

Settings: Primary care, geriatric clinics, long-term care, home health

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP (AGACNP)

Focus: Acute and critical care for adults

• Complex, unstable patients
• Hospital and ICU management
• Procedures (lines, intubation, etc.)
• Post-surgical care

Settings: ICU, step-down units, emergency departments, hospitalist teams

Certification Options

Primary Care Track:

• AANP AGPCNP-C
• ANCC AGPCNP-BC

Acute Care Track:

• ANCC AGACNP-BC (only option)

Salary & Job Outlook

AGPCNP:

• Average salary: $110,000-$125,000
• Strong demand in geriatric care

AGACNP:

• Average salary: $120,000-$145,000
• High demand in hospitals and ICUs

Best For

• AGPCNP: Nurses who prefer outpatient settings and building long-term relationships with adult patients
• AGACNP: Nurses who thrive in fast-paced acute care and enjoy critical thinking in complex situations

Pediatric NP (PNP)

PNPs specialize in the care of infants, children, and adolescents, also with primary and acute care tracks.

Pediatric Primary Care NP (PNP-PC)

Focus: Well-child care, common pediatric conditions

• Well-child visits and developmental screening
• Immunizations
• Common childhood illnesses
• Chronic disease management
• Adolescent health

Settings: Pediatric offices, community health, schools, adolescent clinics

Pediatric Acute Care NP (PNP-AC)

Focus: Hospitalized and critically ill children

• PICU management
• Complex medical conditions
• Emergency care
• Surgical and trauma patients

Settings: Children’s hospitals, PICU, pediatric ER, specialty units

Certification Options

Primary Care:

• PNCB CPNP-PC (Pediatric Nursing Certification Board)
• ANCC PNP-BC (being phased out)

Acute Care:

• PNCB CPNP-AC

Salary & Job Outlook

• Average salary: $105,000-$120,000
• Acute care: $115,000-$135,000
• Job growth: 35%+ through 2032

Best For

Nurses who love working with children and families and want to make a difference in pediatric health.

Women’s Health NP (WHNP)

WHNPs focus on women’s health across the lifespan, excluding labor and delivery (which is CNM scope).

Overview

• Population: Women, adolescents through post-menopause
• Focus: Reproductive health, preventive care
• Certification body: NCC (National Certification Corporation)

What WHNPs Do

• Annual well-woman exams
• Contraceptive counseling and management
• STI screening and treatment
• Prenatal care (in some settings, shared with CNMs)
• Menopause management
• Breast and cervical cancer screening
• Infertility evaluation
• Gynecologic problem visits

Practice Settings

• OB/GYN offices
• Women’s health clinics
• Planned Parenthood and reproductive health centers
• College health centers
• Midwifery practices
• Telehealth

Certification

NCC WHNP-BC

• 175 questions, 3 hours
• Renewed every 3 years

Salary & Job Outlook

• Average salary: $105,000-$120,000
• Job growth: 30%+ through 2032

Best For

Nurses passionate about women’s health who want to provide comprehensive reproductive and preventive care.

Neonatal NP (NNP)

NNPs are highly specialized advanced practice nurses who care for critically ill and premature newborns.

Overview

• Population: Newborns (birth to 28 days, or up to 2 years for ongoing NICU conditions)
• Focus: Critical care of neonates
• Certification body: NCC

What NNPs Do

• Manage critically ill newborns in NICU
• Perform procedures (intubation, lines, chest tubes)
• Attend high-risk deliveries
• Stabilize and transport neonates
• Collaborate with neonatologists
• Family education and support

Practice Settings

• Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU)
• Labor and delivery (for high-risk births)
• Neonatal transport teams
• Children’s hospitals
• Follow-up clinics for NICU graduates

Certification

NCC NNP-BC

• Must complete NNP-specific master’s or DNP program
• One of the most specialized NP programs
• Renewed every 3 years

Salary & Job Outlook

• Average salary: $115,000-$135,000
• High-demand areas: $140,000+
• Job growth: Stable demand in NICUs nationwide

Best For

Nurses who thrive in high-acuity settings, enjoy working with the smallest patients, and want procedural skills.

Emerging & Dual Specialties

Dual Certification

Some NPs pursue certification in multiple specialties:

• FNP + PMHNP — Primary care with psychiatric expertise
• AGACNP + FNP — Hospital and outpatient flexibility
• PNP-PC + PNP-AC — Full pediatric scope

Dual certification requires additional education and both exams but increases marketability.

Specialty Populations

NPs can also focus on specific populations through additional training:

• Oncology NP — Cancer care
• Cardiology NP — Heart disease management
• Orthopedic NP — Musculoskeletal conditions
• Dermatology NP — Skin conditions
• Emergency NP — ER-based care
• Palliative Care NP — End-of-life care

These often build on FNP, AGNP, or ACNP certification with specialty-focused experience.

How do I choose an NP specialty?

Factors to consider

1. Patient population — Who do you want to work with?
2. Setting preference — Outpatient, hospital, ICU?
3. Salary goals — Some specialties pay significantly more
4. Job availability — What’s in demand in your area?
5. Work-life balance — Acute care often means irregular hours
6. Long-term goals — Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Questions to Ask Yourself

• Do I prefer predictable schedules (primary care) or variable shifts (acute care)?
• Am I drawn to procedures or prefer non-procedural practice?
• Do I want to specialize narrowly or see diverse patients?
• What populations have I enjoyed most in my RN career?
• Is mental health something I’m passionate about?

Program Selection Tips

1. Accreditation — Ensure CCNE or ACEN accreditation
2. Certification pass rates — Look for 85%+ rates
3. Clinical hours — More is generally better (500-1000+ hours)
4. Preceptor support — Does the program help find preceptors?
5. Format — On-campus, online, or hybrid

Next Steps

Ready to pursue your NP specialty? Here’s what to do:

1. Research programs — Find accredited programs for your chosen specialty
2. Check state requirements — View NP licensing by state
3. Understand practice authority — NP Licensing by State
4. Read our complete guide — How to Become a Nurse Practitioner

Your NP specialty shapes your entire advanced practice career. Take time to explore your options, shadow NPs in different specialties if possible, and choose a path that aligns with your passion and goals.