Which certification, AANP or ANCC

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I had been told by a NP (that was ANCC Cert) that ANCC is more prestigious. One of my nsg professors at school said that is completely untrue, that they are completely on par w/ one another, but that AANP does more for it's members. Your thoughts?

OMG- I took the ANCC FNP today and failed by 3 questions. It was not at all what I had expected!

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Specializes in Emergency, MCCU, Surgical/ENT, Hep Trans.

And neither will your patients! Take the AANP and be done with it.

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OMG- I took the ANCC FNP today and failed by 3 questions. It was not at all what I had expected!

Without sharing any info you're not allowed to do, in what way was is not at all what you expected?

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Specializes in retail NP.

I was told to study the PA review books by my pharm instructor to pass the FNP boards. Who knew?

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Specializes in Nurse Practitioner-Emergency Room.

I looked at the recertification requirements, and it just seemed like the AANP seemed easier to deal with and more fair. My employer, and I think most, didn't care as long as I was certified. They are both recognized in all states I believe. I think the majority of jobs and employers could care less as long as you're licensed and certified. Like mentioned before, since the ANCC does the Magnet hospitals, they may print something like ANCC preferred, but as you can see, it says preferred, not required. The main thing is, you gradute from an accredited program, you pass a certification exam, and you get licensed by your state. Most employers really don't care. The tests are similar in difficulty by most accounts, similar in pass rates, number of questions, etc. I'm certified by the AANP, and I couldn't be happier. I'm an NP, just like a few of my classmates that took the ANCC. I agree it seems like it would make more sense if there was one certifying body, but then again, competition breeds innovation! Both groups seem to try to do more for their members, work on making the whole testing process faster, etc. so that gradutes will certify with them. It's great that you know immediately if you passed! It wasn't always that way with eiter of the accrediting bodies, I'm sure (of course I'm new to the NP profession, only graduated in December, and by the age of 30, which was my goal, lol) and I heard it used to take weeks for them to get your authorization to test back to you after they processed all your paperwork. Doesn't take that long for either, because I heard that over the years one would take longer than the other and was causing students to take one test over the other. Of course, when you graduate, you want to get that stuff done so you can test and get to work and make that moolah!! LOL. So, there is I guess some good things about having competing certifying bodies. Boy, I've gotten off topic. Just glad we don't have to re-test like PAs and MDs every few years!!!! :lol2:

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Mommac5

Hi, I actually now took the AANP and passed. THe ANCC was focused on psychology, sociology and much research designs. In my opinion a NP should be familiar with research designs and there like but to have all that outweigh the actual clinical decision making seems puzzling.

Sorry I was not aware that I was divulging and compromising myself with my information.

AANP seems more to the point- and go figure I took the exams 24 hours apart and succeeded in the end. :

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