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Adult Nurse Practitioner

Credential Awarded: ANP-BC

This is a primary care certification. Once you complete eligibility requirements to take the certification examination and successfully pass the exam, you are awarded the credential: Adult Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified (ANP-BC). The National Commission for Certifying Agencies and the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification accredits this ANCC certification.

NOTICE: The last application for this exam will be accepted on December 31, 2014. Eligible applicants may take the exam until the final test administration on December 31, 2015. Applications to renew this certification using professional development activities plus testing (option B or D) will be accepted until December 31, 2014. Eligible applicants may take the exam to renew until the final test administration on December 31, 2015. Beginning January 2015, the credential may be renewed if professional development and practice hour requirements are met.

APPLY MAINTAIN RENEW

Apply For Certification

Initial Certification Application

Read Eligibility Criteria. Choose to apply online or by mail; not both. You may apply for this computer-based test year round and test during a 90-day window at a time and location convenient to you. The exam allows 3.5 hours to answer 175 questions (150 scored plus 25 pretest questions that are not scored). For exam prep resources, scroll to view Study Aids in the left sidebar of this page! If you do not pass a certification exam, learn about retesting.

2013 Pricing & Discounts

 Initial Certification
Non-member
$395
American Nurses Association member
$270
American Association of Nurse Practitioners member $340
American Association of Nurse Practitioners student member $290
  • Prices above include $140 non-refundable administrative fee. Additional fees for special services may apply.
    See application for details.
  • Discounts may be claimed for up to 5 business days after ANCC receives your application. Discount claims received after this time will not be honored and refunds will not be issued.
Required with Online & Mail Applications
  1. Final, degree conferred transcripts
  2. Validation of Education Form [pdf] signed by your faculty
  3. Mail or email to ANCC
    PO Box 8785
    Silver Spring, MD 20907-8785
    APRNValidation@ana.org
Apply Online
Apply Online
  1. Read Eligibility Criteria for how to qualify
  2. Click Apply Online at right.
  3. Questions? Refer to General Testing & Renewal Handbook [pdf]
    Email Customer Care or call 1.800.284.2378
Apply by Mail
  1. Read Eligibility Criteria for how to qualify
  2. Download Application Form [pdf]
    This is a fillable PDF form. Type directly into the application, then save to your computer. The latest version of Adobe Reader is required. Download Adobe Reader (Free)
  3. Print and mail with required attachments and payment to the address on the application.
  4. Questions? Refer to General Testing & Renewal Handbook [pdf]
    Email Customer Care or call 1.800.284.2378

Maintain Certification

To maintain certification, complete professional development requirements between the start and end dates of your certification, and provide this information on your renewal application.

Calendar Your Renewal Date

Certifications are renewed every 5 years. You must submit a renewal application at least 8 weeks before the expiration. You may be ineligible to practice beyond your expiration date.

To maintain certification, complete professional development requirements between the start and end dates of your certification, and provide this information on your renewal application.

Track Professional Development with ANCC

Track Professional Development
  1. After each activity, gather proof of professional development.
  2. Click Track Professional Development to the right.
  3. Enter and save professional development activities.
  4. From account summary, top right column, under Professional Development find links to enter continuing education (contact hours), academic credits, presentations, publications/research, preceptorship and professional service.
  5. Log out.
  6. Questions? Email Customer Care or call 1.800.284.2378

Renew Certification

Renewal Certification Application

Renew online OR by mail; not both. Renewal applications are due to ANCC at least 8 weeks prior to your certification expiration.

2012 Pricing & Discounts

 Renewal
Non-member
$350
American Nurses Association member
$200
American Association of Nurse Practitioners member
$280
  • Prices above include $140 non-refundable administrative fee. Additional fees for special services may apply.
    See application for details.
  • Discounts may be claimed for up to 5 business days after ANCC receives your application. Discount claims received after this time will not be honored and refunds will not be issued.

Renew Online
Required: BEFORE starting a renewal application online, proof of professional development must be entered and stored in your ANCC online account. To record professional development activities go to Maintain Certification: Track Professional Development with ANCC. Then return to renew online. Questions? Email Customer Care or call 1.800.284.2378

Renew Now
  1. Download Renewal Requirements [pdf] and read renewal FAQs
  2. Click Renew Now at right.
  3. Questions? Refer to General Testing & Renewal Handbook [pdf]
    Email Customer Care or call 1.800.284.2378
Renew by Mail
  1. Read Renewal Requirements [pdf] and read renewal FAQs
  2. Download Renewal Application [pdf]
  3. This is a fillable PDF form. Type directly into the application, then save to your computer.
    The latest version of Adobe Reader is required. Download Adobe Reader (Free)
  4. Complete and mail to address on renewal application form.
  5. Questions? Refer to General Testing & Renewal Handbook [pdf]
    Email Customer Care or call 1.800.284.2378
ANCC is the world's largest and most prestigious nurse credentialing organization, and a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association (ANA).
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ANCC is the only nurse credentialing organization to successfully achieve ISO 9001:2008 certification in the design, development, and delivery of global credentialing services and support products for nurses and healthcare organizations.
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