New FNP Questions

Specialties NP

Updated:   Published

Hello everyone. I just passed my ANCC board certification exam and received my certification letter in the mail. However, my FNP program was not very clear on the steps needed to be able to practice and work once graduated. They only told us we needed to pass the boards and then submit for drug prescribing lisence, but nothing else. So, I had some questions on the next steps required to practice in Florida and renewal requirements. 

1) What do I need to be lisenced to practice as an FNP? Does the ANCC board certification grant us our lisence number? Do I still need my RN license and the FNP-BC is tacked on? I ask because I was under the assumption that once passed the boards we receive a license in similar fashion to passing NCLEX. Because of poor communication I let my RN license lapse a month ago because I thought it would become redundant and I'd receive a new one for NP. 

2) Our program said that once we were board certified we need to apply for our DEA license in order to prescribe. However, they gave no further information about how to go about doing that, the site to apply through, or what info is required in order to be approved. 

3) Finally, Florida's website concerning FNP renewals was a bit confusing, and other classmates weren't sure exactly on requirements either. I know every 5 years you need to complete CMEs in order to renew, but wasn't clear if CME were the only requirement or if we needed to teach/mentor/patient hours in addition to the required CME. The website gives a bunch of subsections, but didn't make it clear if they were other options for renewal or they were required to renew as well. 

I am both excited at becoming board certified, but panicking because due to poor communication with program and our final semester being interrupted due to pandemic that I may not currently have the requirements to practice since I thought we only needed to maintain RN license if we intended to practice at that level.

Thanks for the help. 

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Specializes in Psych/Mental Health.

ANCC board is a certification body, not a licensing body. You'll need to get your RN license reactivated and apply for your state's APRN license. Then you need to figure out how your state's controlled substance registration works (you might need to have a job/supervising MD in order to apply). Once you have a controlled substance registration number from your state, then you can apply for the DEA. You cannot prescribe anything without your APRN license and can't prescribe controlled without the DEA.

It is a fairly lengthy process. Look through your state's board of nursing website.

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Specializes in NP, ICU, ED, Pre-op.

You will also need to apply for your NPI #. This should be done prior to DEA# as it identifies you as a provider and allows you to prescribe nonscheduled legend medications.

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So, I need to reactive my RN license to apply for my APRN license? Seems kind of redundant since the one you are applying for supercedes the RN. I hope that is not the case that I need to reactivate the license just to apply. Seems like a waste of money since it lapsed within a month of FNP certification and to have to do CMEs and pay for RN just so I can swap it over. Ugh. Really wish this was conveyed better by our program. All they mentioned was go pass your boards and apply for your DEA # would of been helpful to let us know the smaller details. 

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I’m not aware of any state in which you wouldn’t have to hold an active RN license before applying for An APRN license. There are a few states in which you can apply for both at the same time

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1 hour ago, 203bravo said:

I’m not aware of any state in which you wouldn’t have to hold an active RN license before applying for An APRN license. There are a few states in which you can apply for both at the same time

Well if you can apply for both at the same time, wouldn't that mean you didn't have an active RN lisence since you are applying for both at the same time? I hope this is an option so I can just supply them with the info from accredited program and board certification so I don't have to purchase and do the CME for RN renewal and cost to renew just so I can acquire the APRN in order to use the board certification to practice ?

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Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.

It is liCense:)  Did you ever work as an RN?  I'm wondering if that is a source of confusion for you.  Anyone who worked as an RN would know that you have to maintain your RN to become an advanced practice nurse.  Won't your CME's for maintaining your FNP apply towards your RN CME's?

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Specializes in Occupational Health.

You need to renew your RN license in order to apply for your APRN

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Specializes in DHSc, PA-C.

Wow...PA looking in from outside perspective, but how can someone become an NP without a clue about any of this? Yes, some states are confusing when applying for a license, but to become an NP without any knowledge you must still maintain your RN license?!?  And I believe the nursing profession refers to maintaining CEs/CEUs and not CMEs.  

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Specializes in Psych/Mental Health.
On 9/12/2020 at 8:26 PM, drbeckrn said:

Well if you can apply for both at the same time, wouldn't that mean you didn't have an active RN lisence since you are applying for both at the same time? I hope this is an option so I can just supply them with the info from accredited program and board certification so I don't have to purchase and do the CME for RN renewal and cost to renew just so I can acquire the APRN in order to use the board certification to practice ?

If you just graduated from an FNP program, that might count toward your CEUs for renewing your RN license.

When people apply to both RN and APRN at the same time, it's usually because they already have licenses in another state and just want to add another state.

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4 hours ago, DizzyJ DHSc PA-C said:

Wow...PA looking in from outside perspective, but how can someone become an NP without a clue about any of this? Yes, some states are confusing when applying for a license, but to become an NP without any knowledge you must still maintain your RN license?!?  And I believe the nursing profession refers to maintaining CEs/CEUs and not CMEs.  

Well, doing it for the first time and when your program just states you need to pass your boards and get DEA number to practice one takes them at face value. Also, when getting your RN license all that is required is that you pass your NCLEX. So, assuming it was similar to RN license process it is easy to see how one can be confused and assume the ANCC certification exam was all that was needed to acquire your APRN license. For example do you need to maintain your LPN license to apply for RN one? No, because the RN supercedes the LPN and is redundant to have. So, one could assume the same for APRN license. You needed to be an RN practicing to get into a NP Program and been one and passed boards to become NP. So, it seemed a bit redundant to require it to apply for APRN since the other requirements supercede it anyways. The only reason I didn't bother to renew was because my license expired August 31 and I took ANCC exam before end of August and received certification begining of September. I assumed since applying for higher license and with certification and graduation FNP program would be that was required and seemed redundant to pay for CE and license renewal just so I could apply and pay for APRN application. 

Jeeze, not everyone has the answers to all things. Sometimes people are misinformed or using other similar experiences as basis for their decision. Should have some empathy for these people, like nursing has taught you, by just pointing them in the right direction instead of subtle insults like a few responders have done. 

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Yes, the FNP classes do count towards your CME for the general requirements, but of course you still need to take the usual HIV, Domestic Violence, Medical Errors, Laws, Human Trafficking, etc. in addition to general requirements. 

At the end of the day, it is just a minor inconvenience. I need to complete these quick CME and pay the fee to renew RN license and once that has happened apply for APRN. I thank the people who were able to let me know this. 

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