I was just wondering, what dictates the letters after your name when you become an NP? I've noticed some NPs, even at the same practice, gave different letters. I have seen: RN, APN APRN FNP FNP-BC NP NP-C is this state dictated??

The designation ending in C means the NP has taken their boards with and is credentialed by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). The designation ending in BC means the NP is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and passed the ANCC boards. Both are national certifying bodies and the NP can choose which exam he or she wishes to be certified by. This is copied off of the Fitzgerald website: The credentials for the American Certification Credentialing Center (ANCC) certified NPs is NP-BC preceded by a letter indicating the particular specialty, - Family nurse practitioner: FNP-BC - Adult nurse practitioner: ANP-BC - Adult-gerontologic primary care NP: AGPCNP-BC - Acute care nurse practitioner: ACNP-BC - Adult-gerontologic acute care NP: AGACNP-BC - Pediatric nurse practitioner (primary care): PNP-BC - Gerontological nurse practitioner: GNP-BC - Psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner: PMHNP-BC Here is an example of an ANCC-certified family nurse practitioner: - Hugo Moreno, MS, FNP-BC Family, adult-gerontologic, adult, and gerontologic nurse practitioners certified by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) are granted the designation of NP-C, or nurse practitioner-certified. Here is an example: - Melissa Hammond, DNP, NP-C The NP-C can be modified, if desired, to include a first letter consistent with area of certification such as a family NP using the designation FNP-C.

Letters after name? FNP, APRN, etc

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futureeastcoastNP

533 Posts

Good summary of recommendations:
What NP Graduates Need to Know About Certification on ADVANCE for NPs & PAs

Thanks Juan.

i just read that article and I have a question...it says the AANP is only offering the FNP exam until 2015? So after that the only choice is the ANCC exam? Any idea why they are no longer offering exams from AANP? I'm really bummed out about that because the AANP exam always seemed more clinical based from what I've heard and I'm more interested in studying that than therapeutic assessment and other fluff that is on the ANCC...

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futureeastcoastNP

533 Posts

Agree. It's called a Nurse Practitioner and yet that's not the official title??

no member of the public says "I just saw an advanced practice registered nurse today for my blood pressure!"

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nursegreen

179 Posts

Here in Florida we use ARNP.

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CSARmedic

37 Posts

Specializes in ICU and Dialysis.

"what dictates the letters after your name when you become an NP? "

Ego...

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allnurses Guide

BostonFNP, APRN

2 Articles; 5,582 Posts

Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

Ego...

Law...

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Julia77

77 Posts

How do you know what your state requires if you are new to the state? Thanks.

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LadysSolo

411 Posts

Go to the state board of nursing web site, they should have it listed somewhere on the site (I know where it is in my state, but it may be in different areas in different states.

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Jules A, MSN

8,864 Posts

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Law...

Although sadly the law doesn't curb the plethora of additional, imo frivolous, certifications, undergrad, non nursing ABCs that I have seen trailing behind some's sigs which certainly seems ego driven.

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