Taking NP boards...

zenman · Nov 4, 2011

I don't think that makes any difference. I took ANCC boards and mine were scheduled online with a private company that gives all kinds of exams. After you're stripped search and ID is verified, you are escorted to a cubicle and take the exam on a computer. You're also camera monitored. Soon as you're finished you're either happy or sad.

You can check on the ANCC web.

mammac5 · Nov 8, 2011

There is no regulation stating that MSN-prepared nurse practitioners will be disallowed to sit for ANCC or AANP certification exam(s). Not for 2015. Not for any date.

The wheels of nursing move VERY slowly, as evidenced by the fact that there was a recommendation that all RNs be BSN-prepared back in the 1980s, which has obviously not happened. Don't get me wrong, I believe that nursing needs one, clear educational level for entry to practice in order to be taken seriously as a profession. But I don't see that happening in my lifetime.

As for the DNP/PhD "requirement" for some day in the future...I think there will be an awful lot of people that will apply to PA programs, which will have to expand to fill the demand for students. Why would someone (who is not planning on being in academia) spend the time, effort, and cash to earn a doctorate degree in nursing when he/she could do a MPAS instead and earn the same amount of money when he/she hits the job market?

Just my 2 cents...

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Nov 8, 2011

Best to check directly with the certification boards involved. You are an ACNP student from your previous posts and your choices are either ANCC or AACN for your boards. You may call either and get your answer that way. I highly suspect that this is another rumor being spread on this forum.

Mookiepsychnp · Nov 9, 2011

What your friend may be referring to is the ANCC retiring certain certifications in 2014. If you go to the ANCC website under the FAQ for consensus model it will explain that Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult Nurse Practitioner, Adult Psychiatric & Mental Health Nurse Practitioner , Gerontological Nurse Practitioner, and several Nurse Specialist certifications will be retired in 2014 and replaced with certifications that meet the requirements of the new model. There are several new certifications that will be introduced: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist. They will also continue to offer: Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Family Psychiatric & Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. I would speak to your advisor at school to determine if they are making adjustments to your curriculum to meet the qualifications for new certifications as you are not allowed to substitute for another certification that your program isn't qualified for. For example I am currently in an Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program. I graduate in 2013 and will take the Adult PMHNP certification. I can't instead try to sit for the Family PMHNP if my program didn't include clinical hours and content that covered the requirements for Family PMHNP. For those who are already certified under the pending retired certifications once they are retired as long as you don't let your certification lapse you will be able to continue practicing with that certification. Hope that helps.

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Nov 12, 2011

ANCC is retiring the ACNP, ANP, Adult PMHNP, GNP, and the equivalent CNS certifications in 2014 in preparation for the full implementation of the APRN Consensus Model in 2015. The new certification exams will combine Adult and Gerontological tracks in one and will have a planned launch in 2013 (i.e., new credentialing titles such as: A-G ACNP, A-G PCNP, A-G CNS). You're right, your school should be making appropriate changes to the affected curricular offerings in order for grads to sit for the new certification exams in 2013. Some schools have already imposed an admissions moratorium on their ACNP, ANP, and GNP programs while they reorganize their curriculum.

NPmimzy75 · Nov 13, 2011

I just graduated this summer and towards the end my instructors were telling us that they were adding certain amounts of geriatric information to the existing curriculum to meet the new requirements.

I'm assuming this won't affect re-certification for those of us with certifications that will be retired?

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Nov 14, 2011

I just graduated this summer and towards the end my instructors were telling us that they were adding certain amounts of geriatric information to the existing curriculum to meet the new requirements.
I'm assuming this won't affect re-certification for those of us with certifications that will be retired?

It shouldn't and that is per the ANCC website but that is as long as you keep your certification current and never let it lapse. If for some reason, the certification expires, recertification will be difficult because the NP will have to meet the new educational requirements.

resilientnurse · Apr 26, 2013

Hi MookieBSNRN,

I, too, graduate in 2013 but from a Family Psych NP. Do you know what the test is changing from in August 2013? Thanks.

Thanks Mr. juan de la cruz for your post. I have been searching for the answer to the question as to how the certification exam is going to change come August 2013. I am trying to take my test before then. I did a Family program, but I do not feel as though the Gero population was heavily covered.