Recertification for NP licensure

core0 · Jul 3, 2008

I have asked the Dept of Health person at our state office and haven't heard back, I have combed through the state laws and haven't been able to really figure this out for SURE. I am in WA.
Do Nurse Practitioners ever have to sit for re-certification exams like MDs and PAs do? I don't think so, our requirements are CME and working a certain number of hours. I haven't heard anything about a recert exam in these forums either. I dont' think something this major would be different state by state.....
Can anyone help me?

If you let your certification expire or don't work in the NP specialty then you have to recertify. There is no separate recertification test, you just take the certification test again. From AANP:

"

RECERTIFICATION FOR ADULT AND FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONERS

Nurse practitioners certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program may become recertified every five years by sitting for the appropriate examination or by meeting the clinical practice and continuing education requirements established for recertification. These requirements include a minimum of 1000 hours of clinical practice as a nurse practitioner in the area of specialization, and 75 contact hours of continuing education relevant to the nurse practitioner area of specialization.

Applications will be sent to certificants six months prior to their expiration date. It is the candidates responsibility to make sure they have received these materials and that they are returned prior to the expiration date of their current certification. The Academy certification program should be advised by the candidate of address changes and if materials are not received by six months prior to the expiration date.

ANCC has similar requirements but I don't think they have the work requirement. The testing requirement is being looked at by the State BONs according to their representative.

David Carpenter, PA-C

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Jul 3, 2008

I have asked the Dept of Health person at our state office and haven't heard back, I have combed through the state laws and haven't been able to really figure this out for SURE. I am in WA.
Do Nurse Practitioners ever have to sit for re-certification exams like MDs and PAs do? I don't think so, our requirements are CME and working a certain number of hours. I haven't heard anything about a recert exam in these forums either. I dont' think something this major would be different state by state.....
Can anyone help me?

Are you asking about renewal of certification as an ARNP from Washington state or renewal of national certification through AANP or ANCC? Those are two different things. It looks like Washington state only requires CME's and practice hours to renew. ANCC and AANP both require CME and practice hours. ANCC will accept practice hours earned from volunteer work as a nurse practitioner. In addition ANCC requires practice hours and 2 categories of documentation (75 hours of CME and then you need to add one category of requirements which can include 160 hours of preceptorship for a NP student, publishing an article in a journal, completion of 6 credits of graduate level courses, and lecturing at a NP program). You can retake the ANCC test to recertify if you do not have the above requirements.

I've renewed my Michigan NP license twice since my initial certification as a nurse practitioner in the state. My state only requires CME's. I'm renewing my ANCC certification next year and I'm adding up my CME's. I also precepted a nurse pracitioner student last semester and I have another coming this fall. I think that and my practice hours should meet all my requirements for ANCC re-certification.