Alabama
What is Issued: License
Name of Credential: Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP)
Accreditation Requirements: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Examination(s): Once aspiring FNPs have earned an FNP-focused master’s, they will need to gain national certification and then licensure in the state in which they wish to practice. There are two certifying bodies for FNPs: the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). Different states may recognize one certification or the other, so it is important to know which is required for licensure in your state.
Curriculum Requirements: Additional APRN core content specific to the role and population is integrated throughout the other role- and population-focused didactic and clinical courses. Separate courses in advanced physiology/pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, and advanced pharmacology are not required for certificate students who have already completed such courses, unless the program deems this necessary. Master’s degree requirements mandated by CCNE:
- Advanced physiology/pathophysiology, including general principles that apply across the lifespan;
- Advanced health assessment, which includes assessment of all human systems, advanced assessment techniques, concepts and approaches; and
- Advanced pharmacology, which includes pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacotherapeutics of all broad categories of agents.
Field Experience Requirements: Students may choose to apply for certification through two certifying agencies:
- AANC requirements: A minimum of 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours must be included in your family nurse practitioner program.
- AANP requirements: Successful completion of the APRN core courses (advanced physical assessment, advanced pharmacology, and advanced pathophysiology) and successful completion of all didactic and clinical NP program coursework, which includes all faculty-supervised clinical clock hours required for the accredited NP program.
State Regulation Nurse Practice Act: Alabama Nurse Practice Act
State Board: Alabama Board of Nursing
Federal Disclosure: Meets State Requirements