Most current list of all possible areas of NP?

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I checked the AANP site, and couldn't find any information on the most current tracks of NP. I remember reading that a few of the tracks would no longer be available (or got merged?). I can't seem to find that information anymore.

Also, what's the difference between "Post Master's Program Option" and "Certificate Only" (on the AANP NP Program Search site). If I had an MSN (direct-entry, no BSN--just the MSN with no NP focus), then which option would I choose?

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

If you have an MSN then you can do a post master's certificate, also called a certificate only at some schools. This will avoid you having to retake all of those core master's classes you already took, like research.

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If you have an MSN then you can do a post master's certificate, also called a certificate only at some schools. This will avoid you having to retake all of those core master's classes you already took, like research.

Thanks for the reply! What's the meaning of a "post master's program" then?

I just checked the Board of Nursing for my state, and there's an option to choose which academic program that you had. "Post-masters" and "certificate" are both listed as options, but I'm still unsure of the difference between the two.

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

Post-master's programs as previously stated are those that admit students who already have a Master of Science degree in Nursing. These programs award a Post-Master's Certificate in the particular NP track chosen by the student.

Certificate programs hark back to a time when graduate degrees were not awarded in nurse practitioner programs. At that time, nurses with BSN's, and if I'm not mistaken even ADN's, could be admitted to these certificate programs and become a nurse practitioner. None of these programs exist anymore but I imagine there are still NP's who were educated in this manner and are still currently in practice. That's why your state still has that option to pick on an application for NP certification. On a national level, only graduate degree program prepared NP's are eligible for certification by the national boards.

The official NP tracks are available via the Consensus Model and they are:

Family Nurse Practitioner

Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Neonatal Nurse Practitioner

Women's Health Nurse Practitioner

Family Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

http://www.nursecredentialing.org/APRN-ConsensusModelReport.aspx

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juan, thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's exactly the information that I was looking for. :)

How often do these tracks get changed?

If you were part of a certain track, and they decided to no longer offer it, then what would happen to your job?

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