Nurse Practitioner Certification Information

Nurse Practitioner Certification Information

Nurse practitioner students become nationally certified through an assessment examination to validate

education, knowledge, and professional expertise associated with the role of the nurse practitioner

(NP).

Certification is required once students graduate from an accredited nurse practitioner program by

regulatory agencies for advanced practice nursing roles.

Nurse practitioners practice independently on their own nursing license and certification

documentation, whereas physician assistance practice with individual certification and the associated

MD partnership medical licensure.

In the state of Utah you are licensed to practice as a nurse practitioner based on the Nurse Practice Act

(NPA) and the Department of Professional Licensing (DOPL) requirements. Nursing licensure is similar in

other states across the nation with practice dependent on the individual state¡¯s NPA. The individual

state Board of Nursing (BON) may also determine scope of practice and policy associated with advanced

practice nursing roles.

Certification Organizations

There are several nurse practitioner certification agencies, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners

(AANP) and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) are the two organizations that most nurse

practitioner (NP) graduates certify with. These organizations have been certifying NP¡¯s for more than 30

years.

AANP

The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) certification program certifies NPs in the following

general specialty areas: Adult, Gerontology, and Family practices. The AANP does not have the variety of

specialty area examinations or certifications available as the ANCC.

This organization was the first national NP organization and has been influential in the development of

NP practice over several decades with attention to education, relationships of certification and

licensure, scope of practice, policy development, the Consensus Model of APRN practice and origination

of the Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree (intended as a clinical practice degree for NPs).

Go to the AANP certification site for individuals @ for details on

certification and entry level NPs.

Go to the AANP certification site for individuals @ for details on

NP certification.

ANCC

The ANCC certifies and credentials nurses with a variety of nursing degrees and areas of nursing

expertise. They continually expand credentialing opportunities for individual RNs who gain expertise in

specific areas of patient care and specialty practice.

Although this organization promotes nursing excellence for the individual RN, they also provide

organization accreditation related to nursing skill competency, practice transition programs, and Magnet

care models.

Go to the ANCC individual certification site @ for

details.

Other Certification Organizations

PNCB

The Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCP) certifies nurses with pediatric specialty skills. This

organization certifies RNs with a variety of educational and specialty practice knowledge. They have

certifications for pediatric nurses as well as nurse practitioners.

Go to the PNCB website @ for details.

NCC

NCC or National Certification Corporation certifies specialty nurse practitioners: Women¡¯s Health Nurse

Practitioner or Neonatal Nurse Practitioner. As a nurse practitioner graduate from Weber State

University you are not prepared for this type of initial certification. You may however in the future

become prepared to sit for this certification exam.

Go to the NCC website @ for details.

AACNCC

The American Association of Critical Care Nurses Certification Corporation (AACNCC) is an organization

that certifies Acute Care Nurse Practitioners. As a nurse practitioner graduate from Weber State

University you are not prepared for this type of initial certification. You may however in the future

become prepared to sit for this certification exam.

Information on AACNCC certification is available @



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