Too late to take my National Certification????

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I graduated from my FNP program, 12 years ago. I was 9 months pregnant with my second child and delivered 2 weeks after graduation. After taking 6 months off, my preceptorship offered me a part-time job. Although I went through an FNP program I was offered a job in a women's health clinic. A year later I had my 3rd child and was offered another job in a private ob/gyn practice. That was 10 years ago! After all these years, I am feeling ready to move on, but most every job I see requires National Certification. Since I have only practiced in Women's Health, I looked into certifying as a Women's Health NP, but I am not eligible to sit for the exam as it is no longer available to anyone who graduated prior to 2005. Although I went through an FNP program, I haven't practiced in 12 years and certainly am not up to par in Family Practice and not able to take the national certification exam. I'm in California and don't know what to do.

Any ideas out there?

Thanks!

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Go to a review course, get the materials and study!!!!!! and then go take the FNP exam....... that is all u can do!!! I really do not know if there is a time frame in regards to taking it after graduation....... I have no info on that, but if you can take it, then study!!! and go do it!

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Thanks! Any recommendations for an FNP exam review course in CA? thanks again!

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Thanks op for your post. I want to know this very thing. Is there a time limit after graduation and sitting for the certification exam? Hope you get some more answers. Thanks everybody! :)

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cr8tivNP,

I would contact the FNP program that you graduated from as well as the BON California and explain your circumstances. I had a similar situation where I graduated and did not apply for certification exam because of an administrative error with my program (the Dean and Provost never signed my graduation affidavit). I graduated but could not test because of the missing signatures. After meeting after meeting,and contracting with a lawyer, the missing documentation signatures were discovered and signed (by a new dean and provost.... another story in itself). I quickly applied for the AANP certifying exam and passed. When I contacted the BON Texas for NP licensure they informed me because of the two year delay period I would have to go back to the University I graduated from and apply for post-graduate entry and repeat a minimum of 400 hours of clinical practice under a preceptor before the BON Texas would grant me licensure to practice as a NP. They informed me that just because I had passed the certifying exam I could not practice as an NP, and could not sign NP at the end of my name. Within four months I complied with all the demands of the BON Texas, completed 400+ clinical hours under a preceptor, and re-applied for licensure. I received my license to practice and have never looked back. Do yourself a favor and check back with the school you graduated from and your BON before doing anything else. You may have to do more than brush up on studies and take a review.

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Finally2003NP....Will you please let me know what is a post graduate entry from the school. I have a similar situation. I also graduated 2003 from FNP program, got married, moved to another state away from family, had 3 kids, helped husband thru his schooling while working as RN in OB/GYN unit. Finally took the AANP exam and passed this year 2011. Applied for Texas BON for licensure and was informed that I need to do the 400 clinical hours to apply for licensure. Been trying to find a FNP preceptor and have no luck so far. I feel very lost and frustrated and want to kick myself for not doing this earlier. Please let me know how and what you meant about contacting the school for the post entry?

To help me pass the exam I used the Fitzgerald course and the Leik book was the best, cr8tivNP. Keep at it, you will pass!

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julie136,

Post-Graduate courses are are just that, courses taken after completion of Graduate studies. I contacted the Texas BON and they explained that I would have to complete 400 hours of practice under the supervision of a preceptor. When I contacted the school I graduated from they suggested the easiest way to do this would be to enroll post-graduate and do a precepted clinical rotation. I basically took the last course required to graduate with an FNP certificate, but took only the clinical rotation, not the academic course with tests and assignments. The school was very cooperative with me as they had made a costly mistake in my case and kept me out of practice for almost two years. I found my own preceptor ( I worked at a rural clinic with an MD and a PA) which the BON and school agreed to. Both preceptors evaluated my work and reported to a Professor at the school who then wrote the BON explaining my cases,treatment, followup, etc. You are going to have to either contact the school you graduted from and ask to do post-graduate hours, or find a preceptor (practicing NP/PA/MD/DO) acceptable to the BON and have them document the 400 hours and evaluate your diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients.

I graduated in 2001, but the foul up about the signatures kept me from taking the certification exam until November 2002. Then the little problem with the 400 hours came up and I finally got blessed,certified, and licensed in 2003.... which gave me my moniker for this website "Finally2003NP-C". Keep working at the preceptor angle, or contact the school you graduated from and work something out. If I did it so can you.

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