Recertification of dual NP board certification - FNP and ACNP

I had a hard time deciding between FNP and ACNP as well. I loved ICU, ED, and trauma, and wanted all the critical care, acute-setting knowledge of ACNP, but I knew FNP was more marketable and would give me greater options down the road. Ultimately, I made it my goal to eventually become dual-certified so I could maximize my knowledge base and increase my marketability. I decided to go with ACNP first because I knew I wanted to work in a hospital, and I wasn't wholeheartedly interested in primary care the way I was about trauma. It worked out well for me until recently.

My last job was a contract working as an ACNP on an inpatient trauma service that saw patients of all ages. I could only see the adult patients, and had to ask the residents and other NP to see the pediatric patients because I was not qualified to care for them in that scope. I worked alongside an FNP who was able to see everyone. I felt limited, and I didn't want that to be the case anymore. Also, I'm now leaning towards ED or urgent care for my next job, and most of those opportunities in my location are asking for FNPs.

So, to answer your question more directly, I want the FNP cert -first and foremost- for personal enrichment and to broaden my knowledge base, and secondarily, because it really does open the door to more opportunities.

Lubbock - Thank you! That's good news :) What about the 2000 practice hours? Do you have to have 4000? Or will 2000 suffice for both certs?

Witness - There were actually quite a few places for post-master's FNP and ACNP. I didn't find it difficult. I only applied to one though. I graduated from the ACNP program at California State Univ. Los Angeles, so I applied there for my post-master's cert. I find out tomorrow if I got in. I figured that going to the same school would create less of a hassle as far as classes transferring and prerequisites.

I am not exclusively interested in acute care/trauma. It's just that my roots are in ER and I am fascinated by trauma. I am also interested in the primary care aspect. I figure now that I've made the decision to go back to school, I want to soak up as much new information as I can. I think completing the FNP curriculum will not only teach me another side of being an NP, but help me to figure out if a role in primary care is for me. And with so many people coming to ERs and Urgent Cares for primary care issues, I thought it would be valuable for me to pursue FNP to be able to address those needs in addition to granting me access to patients of all ages.

Ok, so I received some information from the the ANCC in regards to my question about renewal for dual certifications. Here is the response:

"Jenifer, you will be holding certifications for 2 distinct populations, therefore you will need 1,000 hours in a 5 year period for the primary care patients, and 1,000 hours in a 5 year period for the acutely ill patients. You also have to keep in mind that the 2 certifications may have different 5 year time frames. If the 5 year time frames somehow coincide, you could obtain 75 contact hours focused on primary care, and 75 contact hours on the acute care, and use the same list for both because the current requirement is that 50 % of the hours should be related to the certification you are renewing."

I responded with some more questions to clarify. Here are the questions I asked her:

"1. Given the fact that ERs and Urgent Cares see both acutely ill patients and primary care patients, would working in this area fulfill the requirement for both the 1000 hrs of primary care and 1000 hours of acute care, for a total of 2000 practice hours in an ER or Urgent Care?

2. If the 5 year time frames do not coincide, which they will not in my case. They will be a year off. Can I renew my ACNP a year early so that it coincides with the FNP?

3. If the time frames do coincide, and I've decided I want to double category 1 to renew my certifications. Would this mean that I would need 150 contact hours to renew my ACNP certification and 150 different contact hours to renew my FNP certification? Or are you saying, if the time frames coincide, I could complete 150 contact hours total (as opposed to 300 contact hours) and use that same list for renewal of both of the certifications to satisfy the professional development requirements when doubling category 1?

4. And lastly, if the time frames do not coincide and I am going to double category 1 to renew, does that mean that I need to complete 300 contact hours, or can I use some of the contact hours twice? For example, if I am going to renew my ACNP and 75 of the 150 required contact hours are primary care oriented, can I also use these primary care contact hours when my FNP is due for renewal the following year? "

I will post the next response I receive from the ANCC as soon as I receive it.

Here is the final response from the ANCC:

"1. Given the fact that ERs and Urgent Cares see both acutely ill patients and primary care patients, would working in this area fulfill the requirement for both the 1000 hrs of primary care and 1000 hours of acute care, for a total of 2000 practice hours in an ER or Urgent Care? That could work. I would suggest that you create a way to keep track of the hours.

2. If the 5 year time frames do not coincide, which they will not in my case. They will be a year off. Can I renew my ACNP a year early so that it coincides with the FNP? Yes.

3. If the time frames do coincide, and I've decided I want to double category 1 to renew my certifications. Would this mean that I would need 150 contact hours to renew my ACNP certification and 150 different contact hours to renew my FNP certification? NO Or are you saying, if the time frames coincide, I could complete 150 contact hours total (as opposed to 300 contact hours) and use that same list for renewal of both of the certifications to satisfy the professional development requirements when doubling category 1? Yes (75 focused on primary care issues, and 75 focused on acute care issues)

4. And lastly, if the time frames do not coincide and I am going to double category 1 to renew, does that mean that I need to complete 300 contact hours, or can I use some of the contact hours twice? For example, if I am going to renew my ACNP and 75 of the 150 required contact hours are primary care oriented, can I also use these primary care contact hours when my FNP is due for renewal the following year? You could use some of the hours if they fall within the appropriate time frame."

Thank you Witness. :)

I am a bit intimidated by the 2000 hours as well, but they can be spread out over five years. And at least if the recertification dates coincide, you only have to complete 150 continuing education hours. Very complicated though, I agree.