AANP and ANCC Merger

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Specializes in Urology, Nephology, Internal Medicine.

The merger is official as of Jan 1, 2013. Any thoughts as to how this will effect the FNP/ANP's in the future?

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.
The merger is official as of Jan 1, 2013. Any thoughts as to how this will effect the FNP/ANP's in the future?

ANCC is not merging with AANP.

The merger is between AANP and ACNP.

AANP is the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, a national organization of NP's that also has a national certification arm for FNP's and ANP's.

ACNP is the American College of Nurse Practitioners, a national organization of NP's that focus on lobbying for the advancement of NP's.

ANCC is the American Nurses Credentialing Council, a national certification arm of the American Nurses Asssociation for various nursing specialties and advanced practice nursing fields as well as Magnet designation for health care facilities.

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Specializes in Urology, Nephology, Internal Medicine.

My mistake. Any ideas on the merger and its effects?

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

Anything to simplify the bureaucratic nature of nursing leadership is a welcome change. Personally, I would like to see ANCC relinquish the role of NP certification to the NP-specific specialty groups such as AANP, AACN, PNCB, and NCC. Problem is, there is no specific group that certifies PMHNP's and only ANCC offers that exam.

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Specializes in Mental Health.

Hi Juan,

You seem to be knowledgeable on this subject. I was hoping you could answer something for me. Since ANCC handles the certification for PMHNP (my desired specialty), is there a chance, and is it even possible, that ANCC will change the requirements to be DNP only? I keep reading how people here think that the jump from MSN to DNP as a requirement is only a recommendation and that ANCC can't do anything because each state would have to change its licensing requirements, but this does not seem to be so. If ANCC is who sets the requirements for certification, it seems to me that they could change that if they wanted to. What are your thoughts? I am planning on applying to MSN programs in the Fall and just want to make sure I won't be screwed over in a couple of years.

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

You seem to be knowledgeable on this subject. I was hoping you could answer something for me. Since ANCC handles the certification for PMHNP (my desired specialty), is there a chance, and is it even possible, that ANCC will change the requirements to be DNP only? I keep reading how people here think that the jump from MSN to DNP as a requirement is only a recommendation and that ANCC can't do anything because each state would have to change its licensing requirements, but this does not seem to be so. If ANCC is who sets the requirements for certification, it seems to me that they could change that if they wanted to. What are your thoughts? I am planning on applying to MSN programs in the Fall and just want to make sure I won't be screwed over in a couple of years.

ANCC as an organization was never really involved in the DNP agenda. Historically, the driving forces fueling the DNP push seem to come from academia (American Association of Colleges of Nursing or AACN) and Nurse Practitioner faculty groups (National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties or NONPF). I wouldn't concern myself too much with the DNP as a mandatory requirement because the splintered nature of nursing leadership seem to be working on our favor in terms of this DNP business.

Do concern yourself with the Consensus Model because pretty much every faction of nursing leaderhsip is on board including the BON's. Only thing preventing this from becoming reality is legislation at the state level. In terms of the Consensus Model, what you need to know is that Psych is moving towards a generalist cradle-to-grave, broad-based training as a Family Psych NP and the CNS role in this specialty seem to have been neglected and allowed to fall to the wayside.

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Specializes in Mental Health.

Thank you Juan. Very helpful

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Specializes in ED.

As a new grad from from an ACNP program and seeking a certifying organization to take my certification through. Is there a preference between ANCC, AANP, and AACN (American Association of Critical Care Nurses)? I live in northern Virginia and will be applying for jobs in Virginia, DC, and Maryland due to my proximity to these areas. I've been told there isn't a difference in any of these when going for your certification or applying for jobs but why have so many organizations offer similar certifications? Thank you for any insight someone can offer.

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.
As a new grad from from an ACNP program and seeking a certifying organization to take my certification through. Is there a preference between ANCC, AANP, and AACN (American Association of Critical Care Nurses)? I live in northern Virginia and will be applying for jobs in Virginia, DC, and Maryland due to my proximity to these areas. I've been told there isn't a difference in any of these when going for your certification or applying for jobs but why have so many organizations offer similar certifications? Thank you for any insight someone can offer.

AANP does NOT have an acute care NP exam. My ACNP ceritification is through ANCC (ACNP-BC). I previously worked in a state that didn't recognize AACN certification (ACNPC). Where I am now, both organizations are accepted but many ACNP colleagues are certified with ANCC with only very few certified through AACN. However, most of us have CCRN through AACN. Does your state recognize AACN? Many factors to consider, you get a discount with the ACNPC exam fee if you're an AACN member. You get a discount with the ACNP-BC exam if you're a member of ANA. I've heard comments about the AACN exam being tougher and clinical content heavier.

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I've heard comments about the AACN exam being tougher and clinical content heavier.

As our licensing exams should be. This is the reason why I took the AANP FNP exam. We are training to be clinicians right? I didn't want to fill my head with the mumbo jumbo the ANCC requires on their exam.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

As our licensing exams should be. This is the reason why I took the AANP FNP exam. We are training to be clinicians right? I didn't want to fill my head with the mumbo jumbo the ANCC requires on their exam.

I have to say, having taken both the AANP and the ANCC FNP exams, the ANCC exam is both more clinically challenging and includes material on the full scope of practice. A good primary care clinician understands the clinical component as well as the policy and research component etc. Just my two cents. I always encourage students to take the ANCC exam and my practice prefers it for hiring.

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