NP Licensure and endorsement?

Nursing Students NP Students

Published

Hello,

I'm a Virginia RN looking at going back to school this fall for FNP. My question is what kind of licensure exams are out there? Do I take boards for NP and if so are they upheld if I move to another state. My husband is military and we don't know for sure where we want to be when he retires. As an RN, there is a compact that if I move to another compact state, I can work without re-applying for licensure. Is there a similar agreement for NP?

Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

In advanced practice, your basic RN licensure is state-by-state, the same as everyone else, but your certification exam is national and your certification goes with you wherever you go. However, as I'm sure you're already aware, the scope of practice for advanced practice nurses varies somewhat from state to state and you're responsible for practicing within the limits set by whichever state you're in. Moving as an advanced practice nurse is a little more complicated than moving about as a generalist RN, because of the different practice rules in different states, but the licensure shouldn't be any problem.

Just to clarify for you, because there is a lot of confusion and misinformation "out there" about the NLC (Nurse Licensure Compact), you can use your current "compact license" to work in any other compact state as long as you maintain your permanent residence in your current state -- but if you move to another state, even another compact state, you do have to apply for a license in your new state.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you so much for information.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

She is a resident of Virginia, which is a compact state. She is therefore licensed in 23 states under her RN license. If the FNP is natinal - and I am not sure - then there is not a problem where ever she goes. However, I do not believe this to be the case. According to what I have found, FNP is a certification that is attached to your RN license; therefore, it would be active in the compact states, as her nursing license is.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.
She is a resident of Virginia, which is a compact state. She is therefore licensed in 23 states under her RN license.

That is, if she remains a resident of Virginia despite working in the other 23 states that share the RN Compact License.

If the FNP is natinal - and I am not sure - then there is not a problem where ever she goes. However, I do not believe this to be the case. According to what I have found, FNP is a certification that is attached to your RN license; therefore, it would be active in the compact states, as her nursing license is.

National certification as an FNP is granted by ANCC or AANP. Having received certification from either does not automatically grant the individual a state license as a FNP. One still needs to apply to the BON in one's state of residence in order to receive an NP license. As you mentioned, the state NP license is granted with the requirement that the applicant has an active RN license in place . Some BON's do not require applicants for NP licensure to possess national certification. Currently, the Compact License does not extend to Advanced Practice Nursing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

As a travel nurse, RN, I was able to obtain licensure in other states, not part of the compact. Would she not be able to apply for licensure in the state she was moving to? I was issued a temperary license and then a regular license was mailed to me within so many days. Not sure if it works the same for NP?

This whole thing with the certification and licensure is confusing. I live in TN and I have not been able to locate very much information on the topic, on the state BOH website. Why have both? If certified, why obtain licensure? If you are required to have a license, which I assume you would, why be certified? I am applying to the FNP program in the spring, and plan to start the program in the fall of 2011. Need more clarification. This is wild and confusing. :uhoh3:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency, Cardiac, PAT/SPU, Urgent Care.

You really have to check the Board of Nursing's Web site in the state where you wish to practice as an FNP to see what their requirements are. Some states do not require one to sit for the AANP or ANCC exams in order to obtain an NP license in that state. However, no matter where you go, the state BON will require you to obtain licensure through them as an NP in order to practice in that particular state.

To simplify it, it is better to just take the AANP or ANCC exam since most states do require one or the other in order to apply for NP licensure.

ETA: Here you go, RLowery, you do need to sit for the AANP or ANCC in Tennesse in order to apply for NP licensure.

http://health.state.tn.us/Downloads/Advanced%20Practice%20Nurse%20Instructions%20and%20Application.pdf

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

Thanks ! This was very useful. I will probably still get certification first - it should help prepare one for licensure - right? I said that I would never take boards again. lol. Don't know what I was thinking.:lol2:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

According to page one of the DOH website you attached, I do sit for certification then apply for licensure. It does not say anything about taking a state board - are they kidding me? One needs an attorney to interpret all this stuff. lol.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

hello, i realize this is an old thread but maybe someone can help me because this process is confusing and the CA BON will not answer their phone. I applied for my CA RN and NP licenses as a new grad from another state without any work experience (having just passed my boards) but was told by the BON that I couldnt receive my RN bc I was missing a lab so therefore I was not able to practice as an NP. My NP curriculum was fine and passed muster according to the BON. Even though I was granted a temp RN license, I was not eligible for a temp NP license bc the conditions of a temp NP license are that one must hold a permanent CA RN license. That part makes absolutely no sense to me.

Rather than be held up another year trying to get into a class, I decided to work in another state as an NP to gain experience. I'm wondering since I now have experience working as an NP in another state if I can just endorse my NP license from my current state to CA. Or will I need to still take the lab? I'm really confused by CA's process bc it basically seems like I'm just applying for an RN and NP license from scratch rather than essentially "transferring" my licenses over from another state. Maybe someone can shed some light? Do NPs who have been working successfully for 5 years in another state have to take missing CA RN requirements in order to practice? Seems really backwards to me. Thanks, any insight would be helpful.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
hello, i realize this is an old thread but maybe someone can help me because this process is confusing and the CA BON will not answer their phone. I applied for my CA RN and NP licenses as a new grad from another state without any work experience (having just passed my boards) but was told by the BON that I couldnt receive my RN bc I was missing a lab so therefore I was not able to practice as an NP. My NP curriculum was fine and passed muster according to the BON. Even though I was granted a temp RN license, I was not eligible for a temp NP license bc the conditions of a temp NP license are that one must hold a permanent CA RN license. That part makes absolutely no sense to me.

Rather than be held up another year trying to get into a class, I decided to work in another state as an NP to gain experience. I'm wondering since I now have experience working as an NP in another state if I can just endorse my NP license from my current state to CA. Or will I need to still take the lab? I'm really confused by CA's process bc it basically seems like I'm just applying for an RN and NP license from scratch rather than essentially "transferring" my licenses over from another state. Maybe someone can shed some light? Do NPs who have been working successfully for 5 years in another state have to take missing CA RN requirements in order to practice? Seems really backwards to me. Thanks, any insight would be helpful.

Nurse practitioners are advanced practice nurses. Every advanced practice nurse is required (by every state) to be licensed (and maintain licensure) as a generalist RN in order to be eligible for advanced practice licensure. If you don't meet CA's (or any other state's) requirements for "basic" RN licensure, you will not be able to get licensed as an NP in the state -- and that will be true regardless of how many years of NP experience you have somewhere else.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

Agree with PP. California does its own assessment for whether a candidate educated out of state or out of country meets requirement for RN licensure based on California standards. Unfortunately, it would be game over if the board in California determines that a candidate lacks requirements for RN licensure despite having all sorts of nursing licenses in other states. You may be able to appeal the decision but that requires speaking to an analyst with the board.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment