Nurse practitioner programs vary widely. Some require an interview of every admitted student, some invite only a short list, and some, like Vanderbilt’s MSN, interview only certain international applicants. Here is what named NP programs say, from their own admissions pages.
From NP programs’ own admissions pages2027 entryChecked October 28, 2026
Practice with a mock interviewOne-on-one on Zoom with Julie Cunningham, MA, CCC-SLP.
Jump to:FormatsWhat they assessPractice questionsHow to prepareFAQ
Interview formats at named programs
| Program | Format | What their page says |
|---|---|---|
| Wilmington University (BSN to DNP, FNP) | Zoom, up to 2-3 hours | Applicants who pass the first screening are invited to individual interviews. “Interviews will be conducted via Zoom and may require an applicant to be available for up to 2-3 hours.” Source |
| Duke University (MSN) | By invitation | “Interviews for the Master of Science in Nursing program are by invitation only. If you are selected for an interview, you will be contacted via email to schedule.” Source |
| Cal State San Bernardino (DNP-FNP) | Required | For Fall 2027 (applications open October 1, 2026; priority deadline February 1, 2027), admission requires “Successful completion of a personal interview.” Source |
| University at Buffalo (DNP) | Required | “An interview is required for all graduate programs as part of the review process.” Source |
| Vanderbilt University (MSN) | International applicants only | “International student applicants whose native language is not English are also required to have a phone interview with the program director and a member of the admissions committee.” Source |
What NP interviews assess
Wilmington is explicit: “The individual interviews offer the opportunity to evaluate the applicant’s interpersonal skills and personal potential to become an effective nurse practitioner.” Its committee then reviews everything “to determine a candidate’s fit for the program based on academic readiness, personal maturity, and career goals.” Miss the interview and “those applicants will be considered for the next scheduled intake of students.” (Wilmington)
Expect questions about your nursing experience, your chosen population (family, adult-gerontology, psychiatric, pediatric), and the shift from following orders to diagnosing and prescribing.
Practice questions
Most programs don’t publish their questions. These are my practice prompts, not questions any program has published:
- Why become a nurse practitioner, and why this specialty?
- How will your role change from RN to NP?
- Tell us about a patient whose care you would handle differently as an NP.
- Where do you plan to practice, and what need will you fill there?
- How will you balance school, clinical hours, and work?
- Tell us about a time you disagreed with a provider’s plan. What did you do?
- Why our program?
How to prepare
- Know your population focus and why it fits your nursing experience.
- Bring two or three patient stories that show clinical judgment, not just compassion.
- Block the time. Wilmington asks you to be available for up to two to three hours on Zoom.
- Have a plan for clinical placements and work hours. Interviewers ask how you’ll manage.
- Do a mock interview on Zoom and watch your pace and filler words.
Your interviewers may have your application in front of them, so reread your own nurse practitioner personal statement before the interview. If you haven’t submitted yet, see our nurse practitioner personal statement examples, or work with Lauren Hammond, PhD, our personal statement editor.
Applying to nurse anesthesia or midwifery? See our CRNA and nurse-midwifery interview guides, or our nursing school interview guide.
For NP interviews on video, see Zoom interview tips from Julie Cunningham, a licensed speech-language pathologist.
Practice with a real interviewer before the real one. My wife, Julie Cunningham, MA, CCC-SLP, is a licensed speech-language pathologist who runs mock interviews on Zoom for nurse practitioner applicants. She coaches every format: one-on-one, panel, MMI, and recorded video interviews such as Kira Talent. She works on how your answers come across: clear key words, pace, voice, filler words, organizing an answer so it has a point, staying steady when you’re nervous, and how you look and sound on camera. It’s $250 an hour.
Frequently asked questions
Do nurse practitioner programs require an interview?
Some do. Cal State San Bernardino and Buffalo require one, Duke interviews by invitation only, and Vanderbilt’s MSN requires a phone interview only of international applicants whose native language is not English.
How long is an NP program interview?
At Wilmington, interviews are on Zoom and may require you to be available for up to two to three hours.
What do NP programs look for in an interview?
Wilmington evaluates interpersonal skills and your potential to become an effective nurse practitioner, then weighs academic readiness, personal maturity, and career goals.
What happens if I miss my NP interview?
At Wilmington, applicants who can’t attend are considered for the next scheduled intake of students.
Related guides: Nursing school, CRNA school, and Nurse-midwifery. See all interview guides by program.
Every date and quotation on this page comes from the program’s own admissions page, linked where it appears. Some of these pages give no cycle year; we used them only where they describe the program’s current process. Last checked October 28, 2026.