The APRN certification examination must be directed toward measuring the essential competencies in the professional APRN role. It should be noted that many certification programs do use varying degrees of these criteria in their certification programs; however, all of these criteria are mandatory for licensure examinations. This authority cannot be relinquished to certification programs.5 Boards of nursing must be assured that the examination is psychometrically sound and legally defensible for use as a basis for licensure through established criteria aimed at the evaluation of examination content, procedures, and scoring process. While the Washington State governor’s emergency proclamation is in effect for COVID-19 response, the Department of Health supports enrollment and activation of volunteer health practitioners (paid and unpaid) under the Uniform Volunteer Health Practitioner Act (chapter 70.15 RCW). Nurse.org has compiled an alphabetical list of 183 different nursing certifications along with the appropriate acronyms and links to their certifying organizations. It is important for the APRN to understand that only after APRNs are licensed by a board of nursing can they practice legally as an advanced practice nurse. License VS Certification. This trend toward narrow specialties has decreased the flexibility of nurse practitioners to practice in a variety of settings and has compromised their ability to practice safely. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons; 2000. Examinations used for licensure must be based on established testing standards and criteria to be legally defensible and psychometrically sound. National Council of State Boards of Nursing. A license is a state’s grant of legal authority to practice a profession within a designated scope of practice. The difference between licensure and certification seems very distinct in many healthcare roles. This certificate may. Registered nurse … However, with the advent of APRN certification examinations being used by boards of nursing as a measure of APRN competence, the stakeholders for APRN certification programs now include the public. The Requirements for Accrediting Agencies and Criteria for APRN Certification Programs. Uniform Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Licensure; Authority to Practice Requirements. A license is granted to those individuals who meet prerequisite qualifications to perform prescribed health professional tasks and for the use of a particular title.” RCW 18.120.020, Certification may be defined as, “a written assurance, or official representation, that some act has or has not been done, or some event occurred, or some legal formality been complied with.” Lawdictionary, The federal government has defined “certification” as the process by which a non-governmental organization grants recognition to an individual who has met predetermined qualifications specified by that organization. Available: www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/… Advanced practice registered nurses need to be aware of the regulatory issues associated with APRN examinations such as the fact that not all examinations are accepted by boards of nursing for purposes of obtaining licensure. Identification of the knowledge, skills, and abilities to be included in the examination is based on a job analysis study. This is accomplished by submitting the certification from Bellevue College. Boards of nursing very carefully review APRN examinations before determining which APRN certification programs meet their licensure requirements. It is required in order to practice or to call oneself a licensed professional. [Context Link], 4. Licensure examinations measure entry-level practice to prevent unnecessary barriers to individuals aspiring to practice and the minimal competency level necessary for the protection of the public. Requirements for licensure can vary from state to state but usually include successful completion of an approved nursing education program and the NCLEX-RN. Certification organizations, being accountable only to themselves, are free to establish criteria in the interest of their members.4 They are not accountable to the public. © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Licensure authorizes a legal scope of practice for a nurse, provides legal use of a title, and includes standards of practice. Nurse Practitioner License Requirements: Change is in the Air A future nurse practitioner will have the most options if his or her education and third party certification meet the national standard. Before practicing as an RN, candidates must apply to a board of nursing and submit evidence that they have completed requirements. Chicago, IL: National Council of State Boards of Nursing; 2002. For instance, RNs can take certification examinations in the areas of oncology nursing, emergency department nursing, or informatics. If licensure guarantees that a nurse has the qualifications to deliver a level of care, certification is focused on a nurse’s specialized ability and competence, providing a powerful means to distinguish nurses from their peers. The law of tax exempt organizations. How have the stakeholders changed? The flagship certification offered by NBCC is the National Certified Counselor (NCC), and it is the largest national certification in the world. It does not embellish one's licensure or procure additional rights. If you have been certified to assist in surgical procedures, you are not allowed to perform surgery, however, you are allowed to assist under the direction of a licensed provider; again most commonly a physician. Licensure is the process by which boards of nursing grant permission to an individual to engage in nursing practice after determining that the applicant has attained the competency necessary to perform a unique scope of practice. In this case, a board of experts at the state level in the field of nursing examines the credentials and qualifications of a nurse in order to determine eligibility for licensure. It does NOT grant you permission or authority for the profession. The complete list of criteria for certification programs, "Requirements for Accrediting Agencies and Criteria for Certification Programs," can be found on NCSBN's Web site at http://www.ncsbn.org. In order to function in the profession, you must still apply for certification with the jurisdiction that you are planning to work in. What is the purpose of APRN certification examinations? Passing standards must be established using established psychometric methodology and be reevaluated periodically. All rights reserved. Chapter 4 Nursing Licensure and Certification Susan R. Jacob, PhD, MSN, RN Learning Outcomes After studying this chapter, the reader will be able to: 1. Licensure for Allied Health programs is. To practice beyond treating that specific disease entity could mean that the nurse practitioner has gone beyond his/her scope of practice. Another important point is that a person who successfully takes an APRN certification examination is not licensed until he/she applies to the board of nursing and is notified by the board of nursing that he/she is licensed. To assist boards of nursing in determining if an APRN examination meets licensure requirements, the NCSBN Advanced Practice Committee has developed APRN Certification Program Criteria for consideration by boards of nursing.6 The criteria include the following areas: * essential knowledge, skills, and abilities. An RN degree (sometimes an advanced degree, like an MSN), an unencumbered RN license, a minimum number of direct-care hours in the specialty, and a certification test are usually all required for a nurse to become certified in an area of care. If you hold an active Canadian license, your education program was taught in English, and your nursing license has not been sanctioned , thenyou are not required to obtain CGFNS certification. Board certification means that certification is required for licensure, such as in the example of advanced practice registered nurses (APRN). Part of that application process is to demonstrate that you have received appropriate training and have demonstrated competency. Successful candidates certified in these specialty areas use specific initials after their names to signify excellence in these specialty areas. PLAY. By contrast, certification is usually a voluntary process by which individuals take an examination in a specialty area for the purpose of professional recognition. This way, all credential types held with the Board will be visible. The use of APRN certification examinations by boards of nursing can be an efficient mechanism for boards of nursing to demonstrate an individual's capabilities to promote public protection. government VS private. One thing prospective nurse practitioners can expect is change: Nurse practitioner requirements are set at the state level, but there is also an emerging … As an example, in order to perform surgical procedures, you must be licensed to do so, most commonly a physician. Listing your credentials correctly on your resume is vital. Nurse practitioners educated in, for instance, a disease entity have a very narrow scope of practice. Although these criteria are available for the consideration of boards of nursing, each board of nursing must review available APRN certification examinations to determine if they are appropriate for their specific jurisdiction. Requirements for licensure can vary from state to state but usually include successful completion of an approved nursing education program and the NCLEX-RN. National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) and the National Council Licensure Examination-Practical Nurse (NCLEX-PN) are the nursing licensure examinations for RN and licensed practical/vocational nurses. Chicago, IL: National Council of State Boards of Nursing; 2002. Evidence of the job-related knowledge, skills, and abilities required for entry-level practice must be identified and incorporated into the examination process. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram. 1. [Context Link], 5. To become an LPN, you need to take part in training that lasts up to a year and a half. For instance, the distinction between RN licensure examinations and RN certification examinations is clear. Medical licensure and Board Certification mean very different things for physicians practicing in the United States and the patients for whom they care. Licensure Testing: Purposes, Procedures, and Practices. Nursing licensure is a form of credentialing or regulatory method that is used when the activities being regulated are complex and require specialized knowledge coupled with the ability to make independent decisions. NONE of the Allied Health programs grant or lead to licensure. From a measurement perspective, they may not be constructed psychometrically in a manner appropriate for legal recognition. Boards of nursing have reported cases of APRNs neglecting to apply to their board of nursing for licensure and, instead, practicing as an APRN after successfully taking an APRN certification examination. On the basis of 2007 data (National Council of State Boards of Nursing [NCSBN]), 45 boards of nursing (out of 57 jurisdictions in the United States and its territories) use APRN certification examinations as one of the requirements for advanced practice licensure for nurse practitioners, and 38 boards of nursing use APRN certification examinations for clinical nurse specialists.1 With the adoption of the APRN Uniform Requirements, the number of boards using certification examinations promises to increase.2 The APRN Uniform Requirements were developed to serve as a foundation for the APRN Compact. CNA: Certified Nursing Assistant. Some states have a single license and some have a tiered system, and the names of licenses, as well as requirements, vary from state to state. Traditional certification programs also have the option of determining the breadth of their examination and determine who is eligible to take their examination. Chicago, IL: National Council of State Boards of Nursing; 2007. Today, most boards of nursing use APRN certification as a prerequisite for practice. If nurses fail to practice within the prescribed scope, they are subject to disciplinary actions by boards of nursing. The use of APRN certification examinations by boards of nursing to make APRN licensure decisions has major ramifications for both certification programs and boards of nursing. Foreign Educated Professional or Practical Nurses Must Meet the Following Requirements: National Council of State Boards of Nursing. NCSBN Video: New Nurses - Your License to Practice Video addresses key issues for new nurses. Successful completion of a board approved APRN certification examination is used by boards of nursing as only one criterion for licensure. Advanced practice registered nurse examinations used as a basis for licensure may only consist of job-related knowledge and skills and use a pass/fail at the point of the minimum essential level for safety and effectiveness. Included in the APRN Uniform Requirements is the criterion of "being currently certified by national certifying body in the APRN specialty appropriate to educational preparation." However, the use of APRN certification examinations as a basis for licensure has caused confusion among APRNs and APRN stakeholders regarding the difference between certification and licensure. Certification is granted by national organizations in specialty areas of nursing practice. Miriam-Webster, The federal government further defines licensure as “process by which an agency of government grants permission to persons to engage in a given profession or occupation by certifying that those licensed have attained the minimal degree of competency necessary to ensure that the public health, safety, and welfare will be reasonably well protected.” Duke, Finally, the Washington State Department of Health defines licensure as, “License,” “licensing,” and “licensure” mean permission to engage in a health profession which would otherwise be unlawful in the state in the absence of the permission. Explain the development of licensure requirements in the United States. Once licensed, you are be able to work while being supervised by a registered nurse (RN). When you successfully complete a program at Bellevue College you are awarded a certificate for that program. In the absence of a national licensure examination, many boards of nursing started to use available advanced practice certification examinations. In: Schoon C, Smith I, eds. Nursing credentials and certifications are the various credentials and certifications that a person must have to practice nursing legally. Before practicing as an RN, candidates must apply to a board of nursing and submit evidence that they have completed requirements. Also called nursing aides, you can prepare for this role at some high schools, vocational schools, and community or junior colleges. Certification by the National Registry is a distinct process from licensure; and it serves the important independent purpose of identifying for the public, state licensure agencies and employers, those individuals who have successfully completed the Registry’s educational requirements and demonstrated their skills and abilities in the mandated examinations. Summarize current licensure requirements in the context of historical developments. The state agency is authorized to promulgate regulations to implement the nurse practice act for the purpose of protecting the public health and safety. Some nurses have assumed that by taking an APRN certification examination, they are entitled to practice as an APRN. Lippincott NursingCenter’s Best Practice Advisor, Lippincott NursingCenter’s Cardiac Insider, Lippincott NursingCenter’s Career Advisor, Lippincott NursingCenter’s Critical Care Insider, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Management of Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding, Management of Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding, Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO), Comparison of Licensure and Certification. Introduction to Nursing Licensure & Certification. However, by virtue of a certification examination being private and voluntary, it cannot be used by state as a public protection mechanism. Instead of being free to develop examinations based on their own specifications, they must meet the regulatory specifications of high-stake licensure examinations that are legally defensible and psychometrically sound. This certificate meets the federal definition of “the process by which a non-governmental organization grants recognition to an individual who has met predetermined qualifications specified by that organization”. Traditional certification programs are accountable solely to their members. Some APRN certification programs have changed many aspects of their certification examinations to enable their examinations to be used by boards of nursing such as directing the examination at entry-level competency as opposed to testing excellence and determining the appropriate breadth of the examination based on a job analysis study of newly graduated APRNs in a specialty area. There is no advanced practice licensure examination that parallels the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN. Certification vs. Licensure A common problem for those entering the healthcare professions is to define the difference between licensure and certification. Hopkins BR. Therefore, the public cannot make the assumption that the competence of a certified individual differs from that of an individual who is not certified. A license is granted by your licensing board and enables you to … In addition, the certifying body must ensure that the individual meets specific qualification criteria such as ensuring that the educational background of the individual is consistent with the APRN certification examination. Licensure is the legal right and responsibility to engage in an activity or occupation. All of the information here is specific to Washington State and Bellevue College. Achieving board certification demonstrates to patients, employers and the public that a nurse’s knowledge reflects … But which is the appropriate acronym to use? Nurse licensing applications and forms. All of the criteria must be evaluated by the board of nursing before the approval of the APRN's licensure application. Thus, for a state to be able to join the APRN Compact, it must require APRN nurses to take a national certification examination. Licensed Practical Nurse – LPN Certificate. Schmitt K. What is licensure? After enacting a nurse practice act, a state legislature delegates authority to a state agency, such as a board of nursing, to enforce it. Once you are certified by the Department of Health, you are then allowed to participate in that activity or occupation. The State of Washington, Department of Health, is responsible for issuing professional certifications for Allied Health occupations. However, you are required to have your Canadian nursing transcript submitted, and you must take and pass the NCLEX exam to receive a full Michigan license. Because the primary purpose of licensure is public protection and safety, the major stakeholder for licensure is the public.3. OSBN will validate your active national certification via the accrediting body’s verification website during the application process. certification as signifying governmental authority to practice a profession, the difference between licensure and certification is essentially the difference between governmental regulation and self-regulation of a profession. Some qualified individuals may elect not to be certified. Individuals interested in becoming nurse practitioners are advised to only consider a broad APRN educational preparation (eg, adult health, psychiatric mental health, pediatrics, etc) and corresponding APRN certification examination for licensure purposes. However, not all APRN certification programs have subscribed to the regulatory criteria required for licensure examinations. A too broad or too narrow scope would be inappropriate for an APRN examination used for licensure. The intent of this article is to clarify the role of APRN certification examinations in the licensure process and to identify regulatory issues that APRNs should be aware of. Certification is the acknowledgement or assurance that an individual has satisfied and completed the requirements to be competent in an activity or occupation. This certificate recognizes that you have met the qualifications for the profession. A major difference between a certificate and a license for many health-related professions involves who administers the qualification. Duke, Finally, the Washington State Department of Health defines certification as, “‘Certificate’ and ‘certification’ mean a voluntary process by which a statutory regulatory entity grants recognition to an individual who (a) has met certain prerequisite qualifications specified by that regulatory entity, and (b) may assume or use ‘certified’ in the title or designation to perform prescribed health professional tasks.” RCW 18.120.020. The public can rightfully assume that the use of certified professionals will increase the probability of more proficient care. If you are licensed to do something, for example practice medicine, then you have the legal authority to do that. Licensure, certifications, and scope of practice Depending upon your license or certification, your scope of practice will differ. Nursing Licensure. Reasons that a board of nursing may not approve an APRN certification examination could include the following: the examination is not designed to measure entry-level abilities or it does not evaluate the skills and abilities needed to do the job. New graduates can be confused regarding the meaning of APRN certification examinations. National certification required: Active unencumbered national certification from the National Board of Certification and Re-Certification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA) is required for CRNA licensure in Oregon. Other criteria may include a review of educational credentials, criminal background check, and so forth. After completing a program at Bellevue College, you must apply to the Department of Health for professional certification in your occupation. National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Therefore, APRN certification, if used for licensure, is no longer voluntary but instead mandatory for practice. The nurse practitioner with a narrow subspecialty is also limited in his/her ability to change to another specialty practice, which may decrease a practitioner's flexibility in changing work settings. This is further complicated by the variety of uses for these terms both in statute (law) and common vernacular (or language). 3. STUDY. 2, No. Emergency Volunteer Health Practitioners . 3, Manuscript 1. This becomes a limiting factor when the practitioner is faced with a wide variety of health disorders in practice. In Washington State, for healthcare occupations, this is the Department of Health. Such is the case with medicine; it is illegal or unlawful to practice medicine with out a license. A common problem for those entering the healthcare professions is to define the difference between licensure and certification. The Licensure and Certification Mission; Legal, Social and Political Foundations. 2. There are two types of certification for the Allied Health programs at Bellevue College. Another way of determining what APRN certification examinations are accepted in your state is to call the state board of nursing. Advanced Practice Registered Nurses apply advanced nursing principals in the provision of patient care services to specific patient populations. [Context Link], 2. Registered nurse certification programs are taken after individuals have been granted their registered nursing license. COVID-19 transmission: Is this virus airborne, or not? Once you have successfully applied for AND received certification from the Department of Health (again for Washington State) you are able to function in that profession under the authority or delegation of a licensed provider. This does. However, the use of APRN certification examinations as a basis for entry into advanced practice by boards of nurses raises several issues. [Context Link], 6. Licensure results from the enactment of a nurse practice act by state legislatures to regulate nursing. Primary purpose was, and still is, Nurses new to practice or preparing for their first nursing jobs will learn the ways the profession is regulated - through nursing licensure, boards of nursing and state laws called Nurse Practice Acts. The APRN certification program must determine the degree to which it is willing to assume the obligation to meet the public protection needs of the licensure boards. Medical licensure indicates that a physician has met minimum requirements for the undifferentiated practice of medicine. Licensing can also be thought of as mandatory certification. Due to recent changes in state law, nursing assistant certification and licensing numbers have changed. As healthcare becomes increasingly complex and challenging, the value of certification as a mark of excellence is more important than ever. October/December 2008, Volume :10 Number 4 , page 90 - 93 [Free], Join NursingCenter to get uninterrupted access to this Article. The content may not be consistent with the legal scope of practice, or the specialty area can be inappropriate. An APRN is a registered nurse (RN) with a master's or doctoral degree and national board certification to qualify for licensure. The exception is our nursing program, which prepares for licensure in nursing (RN). Effective January 1, 2017, previously barred health care workers and first time applicants may become eligible for a license. Nurses can verify their licenses by completing the Nursys verification process for $30 per license type, per each board of nursing where the nurse is applying. "Licensure, Certification, and Accreditation" Online Journal of Issues in Nursing AvailableVol. The previous distinctions between certification and licensure have subsequently become blurred, and questions arise regarding the meaning of APRN certification examinations. Individuals are required to have a license to practice as a nurse. A trend of focusing on narrow specialties has occurred among nurse practitioner education programs and certification examinations. Most of the healthcare programs at Bellevue College are professional / technical programs that prepare for certification in a specific profession. These examinations are not suitable for regulatory purposes. Member Board Profiles. An Online Resource for Certified Nursing Assistants, Licensed Practical Nurses, Registered Nurses, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners, Nursing Assistant Training & Pre-Licensure Nursing Education Programs Licensure, Renewal and Information. Although boards of nursing use APRN certification examinations, they must retain the ultimate responsibility of determining if an APRN certification examination meets the board's regulatory criteria to protect the public. There is no national APRN licensure examination, and in lieu of one, most boards of nursing use APRN certification examinations as one of several requirements for entry into APRN practice. Only those certification programs willing to make the necessary changes can be used for licensure. Nursing Licensure. A license is required to practice medicine in this country. – Terms & Conditions – Privacy Policy – Disclaimer -- v7.7.7, Changes to Lippincott Professional Development Program, Calming the COVID-19 Storm - Q&A Podcast Series, Improving Health through Board Leadership, Profiles in Nursing Leadership: Pathways to Board Membership, Trust and Spheres of Influence: An Interview with Karen Cox, PhD, RN, FACHE, FAAN, Uniting Technology & Clinicians: An Interview with Molly McCarthy, MBA, RN-BC, Where are our N95s? Due process must be in place, as well as confidentially for nonpublic candidate data. For instance, the distinction between RN licensure examinations and RN certification examinations is clear. Advanced practice registered nurses ask if they are licensed after taking their APRN certification examination. A retake policy must be established. Questions on the examinations are confined to those with a direct relationship to public safety. 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