What does this mean? PA BON question

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Specializes in CEN, CFRN, PHRN, RCIS, EMT-P.

Just received this email after I asked whether Chamberlain's FNP would be good for PA. I'm not sure I fully understand, I emailed back for clarification but wanted to get your thoughts.

Message:

" I am responding to your email regarding this NP program. The Board does not pre approve out of state NP programs. All CRNP applicants from out of state programs must have their program curriculum reviewed to determined whether that program is equivalent to PA State Board approved CRNP program regardless from when they graduated."

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What part of that message don't you understand? The PA BON only formally approves programs within PA. If you attended a school outside of PA and apply for licensure, they will review your transcript and the program's curriculum at that time (once you've applied for licensure) to make a determination about whether it meets their standards or not. That's how it works in every state -- state BONs only grant approval to programs located within their geographical boundaries. People applying for licensure who attended schools in other states have to have attended a program that meets the licensure standards for the state to which they're applying. State BONs can be as strict or as lenient as they see fit (as long as they treat all candidates equally).

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Specializes in CEN, CFRN, PHRN, RCIS, EMT-P.

Thank elk, I guess I have to find PA requirements and compare Chamberlain's curriculum

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What part of that message don't you understand? The PA BON only formally approves programs within PA. If you attended a school outside of PA and apply for licensure, they will review your transcript and the program's curriculum at that time (once you've applied for licensure) to make a determination about whether it meets their standards or not. That's how it works in every state -- state BONs only grant approval to programs located within their geographical boundaries. People applying for licensure who attended schools in other states have to have attended a program that meets the licensure standards for the state to which they're applying. State BONs can be as strict or as lenient as they see fit (as long as they treat all candidates equally).

Hmm, I could figure out what the OP was getting at.....

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Specializes in Emergency.

Just as a point of clarification, not all states do this. I certainly am not an expert on 'all states', but I do know a bit about one state (NM) because, well, it's where I'm at! From the NM BON website:

REQUIREMENTS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR INITIAL NURSE PRACTITIONER LICENSURE

[sNIP]

2. Successfully complete a graduate level nursing program designed for the education and preparation of nurse

practitioners as providers of primary, and/or acute, and/or chronic, and/or long-term, and/or end of life health

care. The program must be offered through an accredited institution of higher education or through the armed

services.

a. Nurse Practitioners who are initially licensed by the board after January 1, 2001 must be educated in a nurse

practitioner program that is at the master’s level or higher.

--- END INCLUSION ---

So, in this particular state, the state requires you to graduate from a program offered at an "accredited institute of higher learning". There is no difference between an instate or out of state institution, nor is their an "approved list". I know there are states that have differences between instate and out of state institutions and that have approved lists.

I'm not arguing if this is a better model, or what the ramifications are of this policy, just wanted to clarify that not all states work in the same manner, and one should check with the BON of the state they plan on getting licensed in to find out the specifics of that state's policies.

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