Certification for Advanced Practice: Family and Community Health Nursing
In order to become licensed to practice as a Nurse Practitioner, you must successfully complete a certification exam following graduation from VCU School of Nursing, an NLNAC accredited program:
- AANP Exam
- ANCC Exam
- NCC Exam
- PNCB Exam
Women's Health Graduate Students
- NCC Exam (National Certification Corporation for the Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing Specialties)
Child Health Graduates
- CPNP (Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner from Pediatric Nursing Certification Board)
- CS, PNP (Certified Specialist, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner from ANCC)
Family Health Graduates
- FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner) from ANCC
- NP-C (Nurse Practitioner, Certified) from AANP
Applying for your Exam
Each application for each exam is different so be sure to review the process of applying by clicking on the exam you are planning to take. You will receive correspondence from the department informing you of what you need to do to receive your document(s) which need to be included with your application exam. If you do not, the administrative professional of Family and Community Health Nursing will not be able to complete any documents you may need in order for you to apply to take your exam. All applicable documents will be mailed one to two weeks after graduation.
Practicing as an NP
Graduation from this program and/or certification by one of the exam bodies above does NOT provide you with the legal authority to practice as an NP. The legal authority to practice as an NP in Virginia is delegated to you through the Virginia Board of Nursing. If you wish to have prescriptive authority, you must apply for this independently. If you plan to live in another state, you should obtain information from that state's board of nursing about requirements to practice as an NP in that state.
Accrediting Agency for the School of Nursing is The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.