Leaving NP-Licensure Upkeep?

Julie Love · Jun 19, 2023

I'm not entirely sure what you're asking here....

You have an NP, but are working as an RN but want to maintain both so you could go back?

You could just keep renewing the DEA license; they don't care if you're not using it. Pretty sure the same applies to your state license -- keep paying the higher renewal fee, keep the license alive. And both should have clear instructions for how to renew if it has already expired -- I don't think the gap has to be short. So letting them lapse also not a big deal.

The NP five-year certification includes a minimum number of practice hours -- depending on when you're due to recert that might get impacted. I got through recert when not practicing since I had enough hours in that period before I switched to RN. When the next one came along I was going to let the NP lapse, but my new job wanted me to keep it, so lacking the hours I had to retake the exam (rather stressful to go back to the book answers after 15 yrs of real life practice instead). But worst case scenario there is resitting the exam. I'm pretty sure you can also do that later, after a gap.

Actually, the stickiest part might be malpractice insurance. Of course, if you're working as an RN in a place where you don't feel the need for your own insurance, that's fine. But if you have any kind of live NP license, they insist you have to insure for it. I was in school for Psych NP, had the live Pedi NP still, and they wouldn't give me the student malpractice rate, insisted I had to insure the Pedi NP even though I was not practicing in it at all.

NurseLS · Jun 20, 2023

This is helpful information, thank you. When you returned to RN did you maintain DEA, furnishing and malpractice? If it wasn't because of work, was your choice to let your NP lapse solely because you were returning to school for psych NP?

To clarify, I am currently working as an FNP and after giving the role some time have decided it does not make me happy and would like to return to RN. At this moment in my career I do not have a desire to return to NP after leaving, however I can not predict what occurs in the future and wanted to remain well informed on my choices.

In my search for information it appeared DEA and furnishing wasn't an issue to return to active status if lapsed, however I did see NP licensure and ANCC/AANP certification did require a retest if lapsed. I was somehow unaware of the NP practice hours required to maintain licensure. While I can understand the reasoning behind the practice hour requirement, I am disappointed as I could imagine the difficulty of retesting. This is something I do not want to do

I had a feeling malpractice would be difficult even if no longer working under the NP licensure. I was under the impression that even if working under the RN license, having an active license as an NP would make malpractice insurance a good idea to maintain.

Given uncertainty of ever returning to NP, the costs for maintenance of these licenses and insurance is fairly significant for not actively using them. I don't regret being an NP or going to NP school. I think the expansion of knowledge is never wasted. Just feeling overwhelmed trying to understand the best route to take.

Julie Love · Aug 3, 2023

It was complicated -- I was Pedi NP, but from the very beginning working in RN roles, didn't have DEA or malpractice. (Graduated too scared to try to get an NP job, then fell in love with psych.) Some jobs (school nurse) paid better for my being NP trained, but I wasn't allowed to practice NP since not all schools had one. (But most of my students couldn't afford doctors, so we all valued my being able to help them more, without RX'ing).

Was all ready to just be RN and let the Pedi NP go when a job said they wanted me to keep it so they could use me for admission physicals, etc. (psych residential) -- so I had to abruptly meet the recert requirements by doing about 100 hr of continuing ED, AND take the retest (while helping them set up a new unit, with a nurse out on medical so we all were working ~60hr/wk -- fun times!) And then they didn't want me to do the NP stuff after all. Argh. Plus then when I went back to school for the psych NP, the lingering Pedi NP was inflating my malpractice (fortunately, I precepted at a hospital that covered students in their malpractice coverage). Eventually the PediNP lapsed, and my malpractice went down a few hundred.

Good luck figuring out what to do. The thing to remember is you have the education, forever, so anything you do is reversable, with varying levels of difficulty. You could let it all go, and then in ten years just need to retest and start it all up again, since you never stop having graduated from a school that makes you eligible to test for certification. And once cert is back, you get license, and with that get DEA.

And I'm a strong proponent of doing what you want, not the maximum that your training expects. Years of "You have an MSN! Why are you a floor nurse and not nurse manager?" stupid questions. Because I don't WANT to be a nurse manager. (have to hang out with them, for one thing...)

chare · Aug 3, 2023

When I left advanced practice after ~6 months I returned to the bedside, and have no regrets in doing so, I let my APRN and DEA lapse. Although I currently have no intent to return to the advance practice role, I am able to continue my board certification based on continuing education, without a practice requirement.

Best wishes in whatever option you choose.

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Aug 24, 2023

I think the requirements vary by your state. My state for instance is one of the few that doesn't even require CEU's nor work hours to renew as an RN, but I know most require CEU's and many require work hours to renew your license. So I would check your state's licensure renewal requirements.