Nurse Practitioner Certifications

After finishing their MSN/DNP degree or post-graduate certification, students are eligible to sit in for the nurse practitioner certification exam. This validates the examinee’s knowledge and qualifications to work as an NP.

Below, we’ll explore the different NP certifications that aspiring practitioners can take, as well as the many post-graduate certification programs that provide educational and clinical requirements for the exam.

Nurse Practitioner Certification Tracks

Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certification

As the name suggests, AGPCNPs help address the varying needs of adults, ranging from young adults to seniors. Mostly employed by hospital clinics, long-term care institutions, and private clinics, these NPs work to:

• Obtain patient history
• Perform physical exams 
• Order and interpret diagnostic tests
• Administer treatments 
• Manage care setting transitions
• Educate patients and their caregivers

The certification exam for AGPCNPs is administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB).

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification

Similar to AGPCNPs, AGACNPs cater to adult and senior patients. The difference, however, lies in the complexity of their conditions. AGACNPs cater to patients with acute, complex maladies, which is why they’re usually employed in intensive care, acute care, or trauma departments. 

Apart from providing care, AGACNPs may also pursue administrative, research, or teaching work. 

The certification examination for AGACNPs is offered by both the ANCC and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Certification Corporation.

Emergency Nurse Practitioner Certification

ENPs manage patients of all ages admitted to emergency departments, trauma centers, urgent care facilities, and institutions with critical access. As such, ENPs are well-versed in resuscitating and stabilizing patients with life-threatening conditions. They’re also qualified to provide a variety of services, including primary care consults and obstetric or gynecological treatment. 

Aspiring ENPs may take the certification exams offered by either ANCC or AANPCB.

Family Nurse Practitioner Certification

FNPs provide care to patients of all ages, from infants and children to adults and seniors. Their duties include performing physical exams and diagnostic tests, prescribing medications, and treating conditions that are categorized under primary care.

FNPs are often employed by health systems, community health centers, and private practices. 

FNPs are certified by either ANCC or AANPC.

Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Certification

NNPs are in charge of caring for high-risk infants with conditions such as low birth weight, prematurity, infections, or heart abnormalities, among many others. In some cases, NNPs may take care of their patients until two years of age. 

NNPs often work in delivery rooms, neonatal intensive care units, emergency rooms, and outpatient clinics. 

The National Certification Corporation (NCC) administers the certification exams for NNPs.

Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certification

A pediatric primary care NP provides care from childhood well to adulthood. Mostly employed by pediatric clinics, hospitals, and school health centers, they offer well-child care services and work to prevent/treat common pediatric conditions. 

The certification exam for pediatric primary care NPs is offered by both the ANCC and the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB).

Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification

Pediatric acute care NPs, meanwhile, provide services to newborns, infants, toddlers, children, and adolescents with acute/chronic, critical, or complex illnesses. They frequently work in hospital pediatric departments, such as the pediatric ICU or the pediatric emergency room. 

Acute care pediatric NPs are certified by the PNCB.

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certification

PMHNPs are certified to assess, diagnose, and treat patients with mental health issues or substance abuse problems. They also provide emergency care and evaluate treatment efficacy as needed.

PMHNPs mostly perform their work in hospitals or private practice settings. The certification exam is administered by the ANCC and AANPCB.

Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner Certification

WHNPs look after the healthcare needs of women throughout their lifespans. They offer preventive care services such as pap smears or cancer screenings. They also perform pregnancy testing, prenatal check-ups, fertility work-ups, and menopausal care, to name a few. 

WHNPs usually work in private practices, hospitals, fertility clinics, women’s prisons, and public health departments. 

Similar to the NNP exam, the WHNP exam is administered by the NCC.

Nurse Practitioner Post-Graduate Certification Programs

Nurses can obtain any of the certifications above by pursuing a Master’s or Doctorate in Nursing. However, RNs who already have a graduate degree can also become APRNs by obtaining a post-graduate Nurse Practitioner certificate. The program provides the credits and experience required to become eligible for the national certification exam.

Here are some institutions that offer the said pathway: