Finally found an 18-month doctorate without dissertation that fits my crazy schedule!

[Gabriella]

Hey everyone! I'm a nurse practitioner with 12 years of clinical experience, and I've been wanting to get my DNP for what feels like forever. But here's the thing—I work full-time, I have two kids, and the thought of spending 4-5 years on a doctorate plus writing a massive dissertation has kept me stuck in "someday" mode for way too long.

Then a colleague mentioned something that changed everything: there are actually legitimate 18-month doctorate without dissertation programs out there! I honestly didn't believe her at first. I thought all doctorates required years of research and a dissertation the size of a novel.

Well, I did my homework (because that's what we do, right? ), and I found some amazing options. I'm currently enrolled in Frontier Nursing University's online DNP program—it's 30 credit hours, can be completed in 18 months, and instead of a dissertation, we do a "rapid cycle quality improvement project" at our clinical site . It's practical, it's relevant to my actual job, and I don't have to become a full-time student to make it happen!

Here's what I've learned about these programs that I wish someone had told me years ago:

1. They're called "professional doctorates" —degrees like DNP, EdD, DBA, DHA, DPT, and PsyD often offer alternatives to the traditional PhD dissertation . They focus on applying knowledge to real-world problems rather than producing theoretical research.
2. Capstone projects are the secret sauce —instead of a 200-page dissertation, you do an applied project that actually matters in your workplace. For me, it's a quality improvement initiative at my clinic. For a DBA student, it might be a strategic business plan . You're still doing doctoral-level work, but it's practical!
3. Your experience counts —many of these programs accept transfer credits from your master's degree and value your professional experience. That's how they condense everything into 18 months .
4. Accreditation matters most —whether it's a dissertation or a capstone, what employers care about is that your degree comes from a regionally accredited institution. The diploma doesn't say "no dissertation" !

My question for the community: Has anyone else pursued an accelerated professional doctorate? What was your experience with the capstone project versus a traditional dissertation? I'd love to hear your stories! Also, if you're in healthcare, what DNP programs have you found that respect your time and experience? Let's share recommendations!