Certification - Need your opinion

Specialties Advanced

Published

  1. Do I take the plunge and recertify?

    • 3
      Yes
    • 2
      No

5 members have participated

I am a nurse practitioner in California. Initially I was certified as a Geriatric NP. However, due to some family circumstances (my father was killed in an automobile accident and I took care of my mother when she was dying of leukemia) my certification expired. When I wanted to recertify I discovered that the GNP was retired. And because I waited too long to reapply I would need to test for the Adult/Gero NP. I was told by both certifying bodies that I would need to go back to the institution from where I obtained my NP and take the courses necessary to fulfill the requirements for the AG NP role. The school I attended does not offer the AGNP. I did a macro search on all other nursing schools to find those who offered that option. My only criteria would be that the courses were offered on-line. However, very few offer distance learning. And those that did required a certain amount of time in the actual classroom. Also, many required 500 clinical hours for completion. So it would be like going back to school for the initial NP designation. I am a working NP, and in addition to that, I am a vibrant 70 year old woman. I have been going back and forth on whether to move forward or to just forget it. A big part of me feels inadequate because I am not certified. Rationally I know I am not. I did find one institution (Kaplan University) offering the courses I need, on-line and without the clinical hours requirement. Courses are very expensive and it will take at least a year to complete. And it's Kaplan....

I am at a crossroads and need some advise on which direction to take. I'm open to all comments.

Thank you.

Trauma Columnist

traumaRUs, MSN, APRN

88 Articles; 21,249 Posts

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Hmm. How are you practicing as an NP now?

ginamazlo

2 Posts

Hmm. How are you practicing as an NP now?

California is one of the few states that does not require certification.

FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP

2 Articles; 1,718 Posts

Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health NP (PMHNP).
California is one of the few states that does not require certification.

In California, you can be certified by having a doctor sign off on your skills.

Trauma Columnist

traumaRUs, MSN, APRN

88 Articles; 21,249 Posts

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Oh wow. Ok then I gues unless you want to move why bother?

FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP

2 Articles; 1,718 Posts

Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health NP (PMHNP).

Try calling some of the AGNP schools that offer a post-master's certificate. Some of them might waive some classes for you and some clinical time. It's worth a try.

Bumex, DNP, NP

1 Article; 384 Posts

Specializes in Assistant Professor, Nephrology, Internal Medicine.

I did my AGNP through university of Cincinnati online and loved it. Try taking a look at them.

bebbercorn

455 Posts

Specializes in Family practice, emergency.

Would it be possible to appeal to the BON?

Specializes in DHSc, PA-C.
Would it be possible to appeal to the BON?

The BON has nothing to do with the OP being able to sit for the exam or not. If she wants to be recertified then she needs to do whatever the certifying bodies tell her she needs to do.

twozer0, NP

1 Article; 293 Posts

Specializes in Urology.

My two cents.

I do not know your situation but IF I were in your shoes, I wouldn't bother. I would probably do something that I've always wanted to do (unless being an NP is that!). If you don't need the income from working full time or even part time, go do something fun. Travel, do double flights of beers, jump out of a plane, etc. I mean I am not you, nor do I know your situation but I can think of a million things I would rather do than work!

Best of luck deciding!

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide

Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP

8 Articles; 4,361 Posts

Specializes in APRN, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

Even though CA does not require national certification for initial NP license application (for in-state NP program grads) and renewal (for everyone else), some employers do ask for current national certification at least in my field of practice (Acute Care). National certification is required for billing with CMS if you became an NP after Jan 1, 2003 (you're grandfathered if you were an NP and already have a billing number prior to that date). If you think you'll work for more than 5 years more, it might be worth it to update your credentials.

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