Nurse Practitioners

Certification or Licensing

Not all states require nurse practitioners to be nationally certified; however, certification is strongly recommended by those in the profession. Certification in a variety of specialties is offered by such organizations as the American Nurses Credentialing Center, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Pediatric Nursing Certification Board, and Society of Urologic Nurses and Associates. Certification typically involves passing a written exam, and requirements for recertification usually include completing a certain amount of continuing education. Exact requirements vary according to the certifying group.

All states and the District of Columbia require a license to practice nursing. To obtain a license, graduates of approved nursing schools must pass a national examination. Nurses may be licensed by more than one state. In some states, continuing education is a condition for license renewal.

State requirements for licensing and registration of nurse practitioners vary. All states license them to prescribe medications independently, although some states have restrictions regarding the prescription of controlled substances. For specifics, contact your state's nursing board. (Visit the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Web site at https://www.ncsbn.org/nursing-regulation.page for information.)