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AANPCB Certification and
Recertification Guide
AANPCB Recertification Handbook Summary
This handbook provides nurse practitioners certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) with information regarding certification renewal, application processing, and AANPCB policies. The information in the handbook and on the AANPCB website is regularly updated. AANPCB does not expedite application processing. For guaranteed delivery, a courier service with overnight delivery to the specified street address is recommended.
Contact Information
The AANPCB can be contacted through their website (https:// www.aanpcert.org), email (certification@aanpcert.org for general inquiries, transcripts@aanpcert.org for official transcripts), phone ((512) 637-0500 or toll-free at (855) 822-6727), or mail. The mailing address is AANPCB, Capital Station, LBJ Building, P.O. Box 12926, Austin, TX 78746. The overnight mailing address is AANPCB, 2600 Via Fortuna, Suite 240, Austin, TX 78711-2926.
About AANPCB
The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP) was established in 1993 to evaluate individuals in the nurse practitioner profession. The business name changed to American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) on January 1, 2017. AANPCB is a nonprofit organization.
The vision of AANPCB is for Nurse Practitioners to meet the highest standards of excellence and competence to support quality care and optimal health outcomes. The mission is to provide excellence in testing and certification for nurse practitioners. AANPCB values quality, integrity, respect, and responsiveness.
AANPCB facilitates NP certification application processes, provides entry into practice certification for Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioners, Family Nurse Practitioners, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners, and specialty certification for Emergency Nurse Practitioners.
AANPCB does not discriminate based on age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.
AANPCB certification programs align with the certification accreditation standards promulgated by ABSNC and NCCA. ABSNC is the accrediting body specifically for nursing certification. AANP provides member benefits such as NP advocacy, free CE activities, and reduced conference registration fees.
Applicants and certificants are responsible for keeping their AANPCB account and Online Profile information current. They must notify AANPCB by email of any changes to contact information.
AANPCB Board Certification
Individuals certified by AANPCB have completed specific educational requirements, passed a national certification examination, and demonstrated professional knowledge. Certification is time-limited and granted for 5-year periods. Expired certifications do not authorize the use of the NP-C credential or representation as being certified by AANPCB.
The AANPCB Board of Commissioners has determined that a 5-year cycle of certification meets requirements to ensure continued competence. Nurse Practitioners certified by AANPCB must meet the minimum current requirements for renewal within the 5-year period to maintain certification, the same certification number, and the NP-C credential. Recertification assures the public that nurse practitioners have undergone periodic evaluation and met current professional standards.
AANPCB certification programs meet the Standards for Accreditation of Certification Programs requirements for recertification and continuing competence established by the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC) and the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). NPs must maintain competency based on current information and knowledge affecting clinical practice.
Current, active, professional nurse licensure in the United States, U.S. territory, or Canadian province or territory is required for certification. An individual whose nursing license expires or is revoked is not authorized to use the NP-C credential.
Expired Certification
Renewal of certification is required every 5 years. To renew an expired certification, contact AANPCB by email to submit an expired certification application. Requirements include a paper application, an additional processing fee, and completion of all CE and practice requirements. Certification will be reactivated after all requirements are met and reviewed by AANPCB staff.
Nurse Practitioners whose AANPCB certification expires may not present themselves as an AANPCB-certified nurse practitioner or use the NP-C credential. State Boards of Nursing regulate APRN practice, therefore, an individual whose NP certification has expired is responsible for contacting their SBON regarding their ability to work with an expired certification.
property rights, adhere to the Examination Security Policy, and abide by test administration rules.
NP-C Credential
NP-C, which stands for "Nurse Practitioner-Certified," is a registered mark for individuals who have met AANPCB's standards, qualifications, and testing requirements. AANPCB owns and controls the use of the "Nurse Practitioner-Certified" certification mark.
Renewal Requirements
FNP, AGNP and PMHNP Recertification
Recertification can be achieved through practice hours and continuing education. Requirements must be completed within the current 5-year certification period. A minimum of 1,000 practice hours as an NP in the population focus of certification is required, performing roles such as direct patient care provider, administrator, educator, and/or researcher. At least 25 of the 100 required continuing education (CE) credits must be in advanced pharmacology. Preceptorship hours can be converted to CE credits. Allow approximately 120 days for application processing, exam scheduling, and potential exam retakes.
AGNP Certification for ANP Graduates
Graduates of an ANP program may not qualify for AGNP certification. Contact the academic program to verify if the Adult NP program met Adult- Gerontology Primary Care NP program requirements. Completion of three separate graduate level courses in advanced pharmacology, advanced pathophysiology, and advanced physical assessment; AGNP population of specialization courses; and all didactic and clinical AGNP program coursework (including all faculty-supervised clinical clock hours required) are required.
Conversion of ANP and GNP Dual-Certification to AGNP
Dual-certified Adult and Gerontologic Nurse Practitioners can apply to convert their certifications to the AGNP certification. The application is available under the Recertification Documents tab on the AANPCB website.
ENP Recertification
ENP recertification also requires a current Family Nurse Practitioner certification. Individuals certified by the ANCC as an FNP must provide a copy of their ANCC certificate or wallet card showing current FNP certification with number and expiration date. A minimum of 25 of the 100 required CE credits must be in advanced pharmacology. The Emergency Care Skills and Procedures list is available on the certification website under the Resources tab. Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life
Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) are not accepted. Preceptorship hours can be converted to CE credits. ENPs recertifying by examination should allow approximately 120 days for application processing, exam scheduling, and potential exam retakes.
NP Practice Hours
NPs must maintain competency based on current information and knowledge affecting clinical practice. Practice hours include NP role and population/specialty-related administrative, direct patient care, education, and research activities, or a combination of these. NP practice is based on educational training in providing safe and appropriate patient care. A minimum of 1,000 practice hours as an NP is required, performing roles such as direct patient care provider, administrator, educator, and/or researcher. Direct patient care duties can include direct patient care and faculty clinical supervision of NP students. Student clinical practicum hours in an advanced practice program (i.e., DNP) do not qualify as NP practice hours for recertification purposes. Education includes clinical supervision and/or didactic teaching in an NP program or providing education to advanced practice providers in other settings.
Continuing Education
Completing advanced practice nurse practitioner-related CE enhances professional development and maintains currency of knowledge and skills. CE must be relevant to the NP role and area of certification specialty, building upon evidence-based guidelines, national clinical standards, and specialty best practices. Advanced pharmacology CE helps maintain current knowledge and aligns with some State Boards of Nursing requirements for APRN licensure renewal.
CE Documentation
CE documents must include the NP name, CE activity topic, Program Sponsor, CE Accreditor, date of attendance or completion, and the number of non-pharmacology and pharmacology contact hours awarded. CE activities must be completed within the 5-year certification period. Some organizations provide a list (or Tracker) of CE activities an individual has completed (e.g., AANP CE Center, Medscape, UpToDate). The tracker must have the NP name, program titles, dates completed, accreditor, number of pharmacology hours, and total number of CEs awarded.
Activities Not Accepted for Renewal
Basic Life Support (BLS), elected office, serving on Boards and/or Committees, other certification/credentials awarded are not accepted. Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) are not accepted for ENP renewal. Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP), Advanced Burn Life Support (ABLS), Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO) Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) are accepted.
Eligibility and Scheduling
Upon verification of eligibility during the application review, AANPCB will send the candidate's name to Prometric. The candidate will then receive an "Eligibility to Test and Schedule Exam Notification" email from certification@aanpcert.org.
Testing Site Information
Detailed scheduling procedures and testing regulations are available on the AANPCB scheduling page at www.prometric.com. This includes information on scheduling, required identification, special accommodations, testing center regulations, and rescheduling or canceling exams. Certification examinations are administered via computer at Prometric testing centers globally.
Identification Requirements
The name on the AANPCB application, Prometric test registration, and identification presented at the testing center must match for the candidate to be eligible to test.
Late or Missed Appointments
Arriving late, failing to cancel at least 24 hours prior to the exam, missing the appointment, or arriving without proper identification will result in consequences.
Exam Results
A preliminary "Pass" report from the testing site is not an official notification and cannot be used for employment or licensure. AANPCB will email an official "Fail Letter" with the final score and performance in the testing domains.
Retake Requirements
If a candidate fails the exam, they must complete a minimum of 15 hours of advanced practice nursing continuing education from an accredited CE provider in areas of weakness indicated on the score report.
Examination Security Policy
Federal copyright law protects AANPCB examinations and their content. Candidates acknowledge and agree to certain conditions before taking the exam. Retention, possession, copying, distribution, disclosure, discussion, or receipt of any AANPCB examination question, in any form, before, during, or after the exam is strictly prohibited. This includes emailing, copying, printing electronic files, and reconstruction through memorization or dictation. Disclosure, discussion, or receipt of exam questions on social
media, in study groups, or by other methods is also strictly prohibited. Participation in any irregularity, such as giving or obtaining unauthorized information, may lead to termination of participation, invalidation of results, or other disciplinary action.
Recertification
To recertify, an account must be established. Candidates can apply to recertify either by clinical practice and continuing education hours or by exam. A "How-to Apply Video" is available on the AANPCB website for guidance on completing the application process. Certificants meeting the minimum practice and CE requirements can apply as early as 1 year prior to the expiration date.
AANPCB Recertification Information
NPs recertifying by examination should allocate approximately 120 days for application processing, exam scheduling, and potential retakes. The typical application processing time is about 3 weeks, contingent on receiving a complete application, all necessary documents, and applicable fees. AANPCB does not offer expedited application processing or charge expediting fees. Applications undergo screening based on eligibility criteria before being reviewed by qualified advanced practice nurses.
Documents, including NP practice hour documentation, completed CE logs, copies of CE certificates, and a current professional nursing license, can be uploaded to the online application or sent via fax, email, or mail after submission. All documents submitted to AANPCB become its property and will not be returned or copied for future use. By applying for certification renewal, NPs confirm the accuracy of the information provided and are obligated to notify AANPCB of any nursing licensure suspension or revocation. AANPCB may amend its requirements, policies, and procedures.
Applicants recertifying through continuing education and practice hours must attest to meeting the minimum advanced practice CE requirements, completing at least 1,000 hours of NP practice in their role and population focus, and being able to validate practice hours, preceptorship hours, and CE documents if needed.
Fees and Notifications
Current fees are available on the AANPCB website and must be paid in U.S. dollars. There is no charge for processing supporting documents like RPRN licenses, CEs, or unofficial transcripts. Refund information is accessible on the AANPCB website's homepage, FAQs, and Employers/Credentialing Services sections.
AANPCB sends the Approval and Eligibility to Test email to exam candidates from certification@aanpcert.org. Certificants receive email notifications about important information such as Commissioner elections, certification program changes, and invitations to participate in Practice
AANPCB develops and administers nurse practitioner certification programs and controls the use of the NP-C credential. The Disciplinary Policy outlines standards of conduct for certification and recertification and establishes a fair process for addressing noncompliance. AANPCB actions do not constitute law enforcement, but referrals to relevant agencies may be made. Violations of AANPCB policy include cheating on examinations.
Records Retention
Certification records, including nursing licenses, transcripts, CE documents, education records (as defined by FERPA), financial data, and identifiable information (as defined by HIPAA), are considered confidential. AANPCB is not obligated to return or issue copies of submitted documents, which become the property of AANPCB.
