Last year, we looked back at how far nurse practitioners have come, from Loretta Ford and Henry Silver’s first NP program in 1965 to a profession hundreds of thousands strong. This year, we’re turning our gaze forward. Here’s a speculative, forecast-informed look at what may lie ahead for the NP profession.
For six decades, NPs have stepped in wherever patients needed care and providers were scarce. The next chapter asks a bigger question: what happens when NPs are no longer just filling gaps in the healthcare system, but actively shaping it? Based on today’s workforce data, policy momentum, and emerging technology, here’s our best guess at the milestones to come. (The years are our predictions. The progress is up to all of us.)
2026—A Profession Over 460,000 Strong
The NP profession has never been bigger. The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) counted 461,246 licensed NPs in its 2025 data. And the growth isn’t slowing down. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects NP employment will grow 41% from 2025 to 2035, far outpacing the average for all occupations. That’s roughly 137,800 new NP jobs in a single decade.
That momentum sets the stage for everything that follows.
2027—Forward Momentum Toward Full Practice Authority
Today, 27 states plus Washington, DC, grant NPs full practice authority. In the years ahead, we expect that map to keep filling in. Rural communities, primary care shortages, and growing evidence on NP outcomes all make a strong case for removing outdated barriers.
The debate won’t disappear overnight. But if the last 60 years have taught us anything, it’s that NPs make their case best by delivering safe, high-quality care, one patient at a time.
2030—Care Moves Closer to Home
Telehealth, hospital-at-home programs, and retail clinics are shifting where and how patients receive care. NPs, with their focus on prevention, education, and whole-person health, are a natural fit for this new landscape.
Expect more NPs leading virtual practices, managing chronic disease remotely, and serving as the first point of contact in team-based care models.
2032—Occupying a Spectrum of Niches
The demand for NPs in specialty areas will continue to climb. Psychiatric-mental health, dermatology and aesthetics, oncology, and functional and integrative medicine are just a few of the fields where NPs are carving out expertise.
As specialties grow more complex, so does the need for focused, ongoing education. Certificate programs and targeted CE will become essential tools for NPs looking to expand their scope and stand out.
2035—NPs Lead the Way
If BLS projections hold, the U.S. will have about 474,100 NP jobs by 2035. With those numbers comes influence. We predict more NPs in executive leadership, health policy, research, and academic roles, shaping the systems they once worked around.
And just as Loretta Ford mentored the first generation, today’s NPs will precept, teach, and inspire the next.
The Future Starts Now
No one can predict exactly what the next decade holds. But one thing is certain: the NPs who thrive will be the ones who never stop learning. Whether you’re preparing for certification, adding a new specialty, or building the skills to lead, now is the time to invest in your future.
This NP Week, we’re celebrating the profession’s bright future with our biggest savings of the year:
- NPWEEK – 25% off all CE + Review
- MEMBER28 – 28% off Memberships
- CERT33 – 33% off Certificate Programs
