If a program is CCNE accredited can you sit for the boards anywhere?

[just keep swimming]

I contacted the BON for my state and they said that they could not help me determine if a program was acceptable or not. They list schools that are accepted for undergrad, but told me that I would need to check with the organization that licenses me. I am pretty confused since NPs are governed by the BON...can anyone clear this up for me please???

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

What state are you in?

None of the 50 states have their own NP certification exam but there are two common threads in NP certification among the 50 states:

One, states that grant NP certification to those who successfully passed a nationally administered board certification examination such as ANCC, AANP, PNCB, or NCC.

Two, states that do not require successful passing of a nationally administered board certification examination. In these states, the BON has a list of state-approved nurse practitioner programs and all that is required to receive state certification as a nurse practitioner is that you graduate from those state-approved schools. For candidates who did not attend a state-approved program (i.e., attended a distance program based in another state, or attended a traditional classroom program in another state), the requirement of passing a nationally administered certification examination may be required.

In order to sit for many of the nationally administered board certification examination, the program must be accredited. ANCC specifically requires all candidates for examination to have graduated from a CCNE or NLNAC accredited program.

[just keep swimming]

Thank you for responding. I live in MN and believe that it is required to take the certification exam. So if I understand correctly, once I graduate from a CCNE accredited program, I get certified by one of the organizations you listed, and then become licensed by the BON?

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

that is true

[just keep swimming]

Thanks so much!