Is there an NP licensure exam?

Specialties NP

Published

Does one have to pass a licensure exam to be certified and practice as an NP? I'm getting conflicting information on this. If so, what kind of exam is it - a fluff type regarding scope and health policies or is it a strong patho/pharm/diagnostic/interpretation type exam similar to the usmle?

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Specializes in Anesthesia, Pain, Emergency Medicine.

Not sure how you can get conflicting information on this. It takes at least 5 seconds to google and see what exams are required. Are you really asking if the exams are fluff? Really?

No offense intended, just very surprised. :)

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New York State website for office of professions says:

General Requirements

Use of the title "Nurse Practitioner" within New York requires a certificate issued by the New York State Education Department.

To receive a certificate to practice as a nurse practitioner in New York State you must:

have a currently registered New York State license as a Registered Professional Nurse (RN); and

meet education requirements

I don't see anything about a test...

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

The are three states that do not require a certification via exam to practice as an NP, all the rest do. Almost all NPs are certified via the AANP or ANCC.

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What's the diff between the two and which three states don't require it and why?

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
What's the diff between the two and which three states don't require it and why?

NY, CA, and KS don't require an exam. The BON in those states does not require it. You would find a hard time getting a job without it though.

The AANP and ANCC exams are both basically the same: they provide a defensible legal valuation of competence in advanced practice.

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Specializes in Adult Health.

It is true that in NYS that you do not need certification to practice. You do need it to get Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, so most places will insist that you have certification prior to starting or soon thereafter.

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

California does not require national certification if you graduate from an NP program approved by the nursing board (only California-based programs are listed). NP's like myself who went to graduate school outside of California had to pass national certification to get our license in California.

Majority of employers ask for national certification regardless of state regulations. As mentioned, insurance credentialing requires it.

If California SB 491 passes (allowing independent NP practice), national certification will be required for all applicants for NP license in the state.

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