Nearly 1 in 3 new nurse practitioners educated at for-profit schools, study finds
For-profit schools appear to be playing an outsized role in training the nation's expanding nurse practitioner workforce, according to a study that found nearly one-third of newly licensed nurse practitioners in four states were educated at for-profit programs in 2024, up from just 2.4% in 2010.
A study has revealed that nearly one-third of newly licensed nurse practitioners in California, Florida, Iowa, and Texas are educated at for-profit schools, representing a dramatic increase from just 2.4% in 2010. This surge in for-profit training is particularly pronounced in California, where 40.9% of new nurse practitioners hail from such programs, followed by Florida at 35.1%, Texas at 21.1%, and Iowa at 14.8%.
The growth in nurse practitioner numbers is outpacing that of physicians, with projections indicating a 35% increase over the next decade. However, concerns have been raised about the quality of care stemming from this trend, especially given the history of regulatory issues and lawsuits surrounding for-profit nursing education.
Researchers emphasize the need for transparency in data regarding licensure exam pass rates and other student statistics to better evaluate the merits of these programs and the potential impact on patient care.
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