FNP-C vs FNP-BC

[Guest05/31/18]

Is there a benefit of one over the other (FNP-C vs FNP-BC)? Can each advertise they are board certified? If you chose one, would you now in hindsight have chosen the other?

[djmatte, ADN, MSN, RN, NP]

If you pass a board, you are board certified. No matter what the initials are after your name. So far nobody has cared through my interviews which organization I chose (if they could differentiate in the first place).

I think the only annoying part is that AANP doesn't specify by specialty. So all their test takers use NP-C whereas ANCC breaks it down to your specialty.

[Guest05/31/18]

djmatte said:

If you pass a board, you are board certified. No matter what the initials are after your name. So far nobody has cared through my interviews which organization I chose (if they could differentiate in the first place).

I think the only annoying part is that AANP doesn't specify by specialty. So all their test takers use NP-C whereas ANCC breaks it down to your specialty.

Am I understanding correctly that for AANP when you sign your name it is "name NP-C" instead of FNP-C. Whereas ANCC it is "name FNP-BC"?

[djmatte, ADN, MSN, RN, NP]

m-fnp said:

Am I understanding correctly that for AANP when you sign your name it is "name NP-C" instead of FNP-C. Whereas ANCC it is "name FNP-BC"?

You would be understanding correct.

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

I haven't really heard a difference, tbh. I chose AANP (FNP-C) because I will also be sitting for the ENP exam which is also offered through AANP. It would be too much hassel trying to keep up with two different certifying bodies if I was FNP-BC.

[Guest05/31/18]

I am trying to decide whether to take the ANCC or AANP examination. If I take the AANP, can I legally put FNP-C credentials behind my name? I ask because that is all I see. With that being said, on the AANP website, it states that NP-C is the credentials given for FNPs. May I legally use FNP-C instead of NP-C? Also, both the ANCC and AANP are board certified examinations? Is that correct? Do certain states hire more ANCCs over AANP? If so, which ones? I'm leaning towards the AANP because it appears the recertification is much simpler and cheaper. Is that true?

[aprnKate]

You can use NP-C or FNP-C. I use FNP-C for all my signatures so that people know I'm Family Practice. I didn't take the ANCC. I don't think you get hired more if you take one certification over the other.

[AnnieNP, MSN, NP]

I took the AANP exam 11 years ago, so I can't say much about the ANCC. I know a lot of NPs in my area and I have never heard of an employer preferring one over the other.

[AnnieNP, MSN, NP]

When my NP students ask me, I quote Margaret Fitzgerald and tell them to "Pick the one they want to write a check to in five years when they recertify"!!

[BostonFNP, APRN]

Remember that your state may require to use a specific credential when signing official paperwork and this is entirely separate from your board cert credentials.

[Guest05/31/18]

Are the recertification requirements different between ANCC vs AANP? I have been told ANCC recertification is much more difficult and expensive.

[Guest05/31/18]

Which certification body (ANCC or AANP) advocates harder for and support NPs more? Or is there no difference? I have heard AANP is a better advocate.