DNP Minimum Requirement

Specialties Doctoral

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Specializes in Family Nursing & Psychiatry.

With CRNAs recommending the DNP as the entry requirement for practice by 2025 and CNSs by 2030... when do you think state laws will require the DNP for APRN practice?

Do you think this will happen within the next 10 years? 20 years? Never?

I know this is a controversial topic but I think this will eventually be a positive push for APRNs.

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

At the present time, the DNP recommendations are coming from the professional organizations representing some of the APRN groups via "Position Statements" (AANA for CRNA and NACNS for CNS). Both AANP and ACNM representing NP's and CNM's respectively have not made a specific "deadline" for implementation of the DNP for entry to practice. The initial push for DNP for entry to practice came from a Position Statement by AACN in 2004. The 2015 updated Position Statement from AACN no longer includes a statement on an implementation timeline.

Individual states are typically the last entities to jump on board. I personally feel this is going to drag on for a long time. When NP training switched from certificate program to Master's, a few states did not change their regulatory language for a while to require a Master's (i.e., Michigan and California). National certification boards, however, can be a game changer because if they start to require a DNP as entry to practice, then it will be a national mandate since all but a couple of states require national certification for NP practice.

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National certification boards, however, can be a game changer because if they start to require a DNP as entry to practice, then it will be a national mandate since all but a couple of states require national certification for NP practice.

Of course, the states are also free to change that requirement if they see fit (if the certifying board start requiring a DNP and the states don't feel it's necessary).

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Specializes in Family Nursing & Psychiatry.

This is also so difficult because there are so many certifying bodies out there for every APRN and populations. Family NP has 2 certifying bodies. It would be great I think if national certification was administered like the NCLEX so exams would be standardized in the national level.

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.
This is also so difficult because there are so many certifying bodies out there for every APRN and populations. Family NP has 2 certifying bodies. It would be great I think if national certification was administered like the NCLEX so exams would be standardized in the national level.

My preference is a system similar to ABMS for physicians where we have separate dedicated specialty boards for each of the NP specialties. If medicine has the American Board of Family Medicine that administers the Family Practice boards, we should have a similar "board" for Family NP's that not only administers the certification but also monitors all the FNP programs and ensure compliance with a set standards. NCLEX to me is the equivalent of USMLE, NP's are specialist nurses similar to physicians with specialties. That would do away with AANP and ANCC.

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This is also so difficult because there are so many certifying bodies out there for every APRN and populations. Family NP has 2 certifying bodies. It would be great I think if national certification was administered like the NCLEX so exams would be standardized in the national level.

How many? AFAIK, there's one organization that certifies all CNSs, one organization that certifies CNMs, and one group that certifies CRNAs. NPs are the only group that has two boards. Am I missing something?

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.
How many? AFAIK, there's one organization that certifies all CNSs, one organization that certifies CNMs, and one group that certifies CRNAs. NPs are the only group that has two boards. Am I missing something?

NP's have a total of 5 national certification boards depending on specialty: ANCC, AANP, AACN, PNCB, and NCC.

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NP's have a total of 5 national certification boards depending on specialty: ANCC, AANP, AACN, PNCB, and NCC.

Yikes!

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

FNPs have two certifying bodies, the ANCC and AANP. I think it's silly, because you can practice as a FNP either way. I took the AANP boards.

NNPs and WHNPs take their exams via NCC.

PNPs take the PCNB.

Adult-Gero can take AANP (primary care) or AACN for acute care (I *think* that's the distinguishing characteristic).

We have a long way to go in streamlining our certification requirements, so I personally don't foresee a DNP requirement any time soon. I went ahead for mine (graduating in May!!!) so I'd be ahead of the game IF it ever came down the pike, but am not holding my breath on that one. Additionally, I wanted a terminal degree so I'd never be tempted to go back to school again, lol. Once has been more than enough for me. :)

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.
FNPs have two certifying bodies, the ANCC and AANP. I think it's silly, because you can practice as a FNP either way. I took the AANP boards.

NNPs and WHNPs take their exams via NCC.

PNPs take the PCNB.

Adult-Gero can take AANP (primary care) or AACN for acute care (I *think* that's the distinguishing characteristic).

Just for accuracy's sake:

AGPCNP - AANP, ANCC

AGACNP - ANCC, AACN

FNP - AANP, ANCC

PMHNP - ANCC

PNP-PC - ANCC, PNCB

PNP-AC - PNCB

NNP - NCC

WHNP - NCC

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