Top 10 Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certifications
Updated 18 min read
Certifications are important for an acute care nurse practitioner in the job market because they demonstrate a level of knowledge and experience that employers look for when hiring. Employers want to know that their hires have the necessary qualifications and certifications to provide safe and effective patient care, so having certifications serves as a way to show employers that a candidate is qualified to work in a particular area. Additionally, certifications can open up opportunities for advancement. Having certification shows potential employers that you have invested in your career development and are committed to staying up-to-date on the latest advances in acute care nursing.
This article reviews some of the top certifications for Acute Care Nurse Practitioners and explains how they can enhance an acute care nurse practitioner's career.
What are Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certifications?
Acute care nurse practitioner (ACNP) certification is a professional credential that demonstrates an advanced level of clinical knowledge and expertise in the acute care setting. This certification is offered through the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) and is designed to recognize nurses who have achieved a high level of expertise in providing comprehensive care for acutely ill patients.
The ACNP certification can help nurses develop the specialized skills required to provide advanced nursing services in a variety of acute care settings, such as emergency departments, intensive care units, medical-surgical floors, and post-acute rehabilitation facilities. With this certification, nurses can gain greater recognition for their specialized skills and expertise.
In addition to gaining recognition for their specialized skills, ACNP certification can also help nurses increase their job prospects as it demonstrates to employers that they possess the necessary qualifications to work in acute care environments. Furthermore, it may also lead to better job opportunities with higher salaries due to the increased demand for certified ACNPs.
Finally, having an ACNP certification can help improve patient outcomes by ensuring that those providing acute care are highly knowledgeable and skilled in their field. This can help ensure that patients receive safe and effective treatment while receiving high quality care from experienced professionals.
Pro Tip: Before beginning the process of certification as an acute care nurse practitioner, become familiar with the certification requirements of your state and national certifying bodies. Many states have different requirements that must be met before you can become certified. Additionally, make sure to keep up on any changes in these requirements.
Related: What does an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner do?
Top 10 Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certifications
Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Acute Care Nurse Practitioners today.
1. American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification is an advanced practice certification for registered nurses who have a master’s degree in nursing and specialize in the care of acutely ill patients. The certification is designed to demonstrate the nurse’s expertise in providing acute care services, and it is recognized by many employers as a sign of excellence.
To get AACN Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification, candidates must first meet the eligibility requirements. These include having a current RN license, a master’s degree in nursing from an accredited program, and at least 500 hours of direct clinical experience in acute care within the past three years. Candidates must also pass the AACN Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Exam.
The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions covering topics such as patient assessment, diagnosis and management; pharmacology; and professional issues related to acute care nursing practice. The exam takes approximately 3 hours to complete.
The cost for taking the exam is $375 for AACN members or $475 for non-members. After passing the exam, nurses are required to renew their certification every five years by completing continuing education activities relevant to their specialty area.
2. American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification
The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification is a professional certification program for nurse practitioners who specialize in providing acute care services. This certification is designed to recognize the advanced knowledge and clinical skills of nurse practitioners who provide acute care services.
To become certified, applicants must meet the eligibility requirements, which include having a current, unrestricted RN license and completing an accredited nurse practitioner program. Applicants must also have at least 500 hours of supervised clinical practice as an acute care nurse practitioner within the past three years. In addition, applicants must pass the ANCC Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification exam.
It typically takes between four and six months to complete the application process and receive certification from the ANCC. The application fee is $395 for members of the American Nurses Association or $495 for non-members.
3. National Board for Certification of Acute Care Nurse Practitioners (NBC-ACNP)
The National Board for Certification of Acute Care Nurse Practitioners (NBC-ACNP) is a certification program that recognizes the advanced knowledge, skills, and experience of acute care nurse practitioners. It is designed to validate the competency and expertise of acute care nurse practitioners in providing high-quality patient care. The NBC-ACNP certification is offered by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN).
It typically takes approximately six months to complete the application process and receive your certification. To get certified, you must first meet the eligibility requirements, which include having an active RN license and at least two years of full-time clinical practice as an acute care nurse practitioner. You will also need to pass an exam that covers topics related to acute care nursing practice.
The cost for the NBC-ACNP certification varies depending on whether you are a member of AACN or not. For non-members, it costs $495 for the application fee plus $395 for the exam fee. For AACN members, it costs $295 for the application fee plus $395 for the exam fee.
Once you have received your certification, it is valid for five years. After this period, you will need to renew your certification by completing continuing education credits and passing a recertification exam every five years in order to maintain your credentialing status.
4. American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification
The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification is a comprehensive certification program designed to recognize qualified nurse practitioners who specialize in acute care. This certification is valid for five years and must be renewed every five years.
To become certified, applicants must have a master’s or doctoral degree from an accredited nursing program and have completed at least 500 hours of clinical practice as an acute care nurse practitioner within the past three years. Applicants must also pass the AANP Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam.
The cost for the exam is $395 for AANP members and $495 for non-members. The exam consists of 180 multiple-choice questions and can be taken online or at a Pearson VUE testing center. It typically takes about four hours to complete the exam.
Once certified, nurses must complete at least 45 contact hours of continuing education every three years to maintain their certification.
5. Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Certification
The Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Certification is a certification program designed to recognize nurses who have achieved advanced education and clinical experience in pediatric acute care. The certification is for registered nurses who have completed an accredited master’s or doctoral degree program, as well as a minimum of 500 hours of supervised clinical practice in pediatric acute care.
It typically takes two years to complete the requirements for the PNCB Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Certification. During this time, nurses must complete their graduate-level studies and supervised clinical practice, as well as pass the PNCB's comprehensive examination.
To get the PNCB Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Certification, nurses must first apply to take the certification exam. The application requires documentation of completion of an accredited graduate degree program, 500 hours of supervised clinical practice in pediatric acute care, and an official transcript from the nursing school attended. Once all documents are submitted and approved, nurses can register to take the exam at a testing center near them.
The cost for taking the PNCB Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Certification exam is $350 for members of PNCB and $450 for non-members. If a nurse does not pass the exam on their first attempt, they can retake it at no additional cost within one year of their original test date.
6. American College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP) Acute Care Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certification
The American College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP) Acute Care Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certification is a voluntary certification program designed to recognize nurse practitioners who have achieved advanced knowledge and clinical expertise in the acute care adult-gerontology primary care specialty. This certification is available to nurse practitioners who are licensed and certified in their state, have graduated from an accredited graduate nursing program, and have completed at least 500 hours of clinical practice in the adult-gerontology primary care specialty.
The certification process typically takes six months to one year to complete. To get certified, nurse practitioners must first submit an application and fee to ACNP. Once approved, they must pass a written exam that covers topics such as pharmacology, physical assessment, health promotion and disease prevention, diagnosis and management of acute illness/injury, patient education, research utilization and quality improvement. After passing the exam, applicants must also demonstrate competency in their clinical practice by submitting a portfolio for review.
The cost for the ACNP Acute Care Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certification varies depending on whether or not you are an ACNP member. For non-members, the cost is $450 for the initial application fee plus $400 for each additional renewal cycle. For members of ACNP, the cost is $250 for the initial application fee plus $200 for each additional renewal cycle.
7. American Association of Neuroscience Nurses (AANN) Neurocritical Care Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner Certification
The American Association of Neuroscience Nurses (AANN) Neurocritical Care Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner Certification is a credential that recognizes the knowledge and skills of nurses who specialize in neurocritical care. Neurocritical care focuses on the management and treatment of critically ill patients with neurological conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, aneurysm, spinal cord injury, and epilepsy. The AANN Neurocritical Care CRNP certification demonstrates a nurse’s expertise in providing comprehensive care to these patients.
In order to become certified by AANN as a Neurocritical Care CRNP, applicants must meet certain criteria including: being licensed as an RN in the US; having at least two years of experience working in neurocritical care; having completed at least 30 hours of continuing education related to neurocritical care; and passing the AANN Neurocritical Care CRNP certification exam.
The certification process typically takes four to six months from start to finish. During this time, applicants must complete all necessary paperwork and submit their application materials along with their fee payment. The fee for the AANN Neurocritical Care CRNP certification is $395 for members and $495 for non-members. After submitting all required materials, applicants will receive notification within two weeks as to whether or not they have been approved for the exam.
Once approved, applicants can then register for the exam which is offered twice a year in April and October. The exam consists of 150 multiple choice questions that are divided into three sections: Clinical Practice (50 questions), Professional Practice (50 questions), and Research/Evidence Based Practice (50 questions). Applicants must answer at least 90% of the questions correctly in order to pass the exam. Those who successfully pass the exam will receive their certification from AANN within four weeks after taking the exam.
8. Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Advanced Oncology Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist/Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in Oncology Nursing Certification
The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Advanced Oncology Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist/Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in Oncology Nursing Certification is a credential that recognizes nurses who have achieved advanced knowledge and skills in oncology nursing. The certification is designed to help promote quality care for cancer patients, improve patient outcomes, and increase the visibility of oncology nurses.
To be eligible for the ONS Advanced Oncology Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist/Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in Oncology Nursing Certification, applicants must have an active RN license, a minimum of 2 years of experience as an oncology nurse, and at least 500 hours of practice as an oncology nurse within the past 3 years. Additionally, applicants must pass an exam that covers topics such as cancer biology and pathophysiology, pharmacotherapy, symptom management, ethical decision-making in oncology nursing practice, and more.
The ONS Advanced Oncology Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist/Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in Oncology Nursing Certification can be obtained through self-study or through a course offered by ONS. The certification exam is offered twice per year and typically takes about 4-6 weeks to complete.
The cost to take the ONS Advanced Oncology Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist/Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in Oncology Nursing Certification exam is $325 for members of ONS and $425 for nonmembers.
9. National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN) Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner Certification
The National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN) Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner Certification is a specialty certification for nurses who work in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). This certification recognizes the specialized knowledge and skills required to provide high-quality, evidence-based care to critically ill and medically fragile newborns.
To obtain this certification, nurses must have an active RN license, a minimum of two years of full-time clinical experience in a NICU within the past three years, and successful completion of an approved NANN Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing course. The course must be completed within the past three years and include at least 30 hours of classroom instruction with an additional 20 hours of clinical practice.
Once all requirements are met, nurses can apply for the exam through NANN's website. The exam consists of 150 multiple choice questions that cover topics such as neonatal physiology, pharmacology, nutrition, assessment and management of common conditions in the NICU. The exam fee is $225 USD. Upon successful completion of the exam, nurses will receive their NANN Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner Certification.
10. National Organization for Associate Degree Nursing (NOADN) Advanced Practice Registered Nursing Specialty Certifications
National Organization for Associate Degree Nursing (NOADN) Advanced Practice Registered Nursing Specialty Certifications are credentials that recognize the advanced practice of a Registered Nurse who has earned an Associate Degree in Nursing. This certification is designed to demonstrate the nurse’s commitment to excellence and professional growth.
The certification process typically takes between 6-12 months, depending on the individual’s experience and background. To obtain this certification, nurses must meet certain eligibility requirements, such as having an active RN license, completing an approved program of study, and passing a comprehensive exam.
The cost of obtaining NOADN Advanced Practice Registered Nursing Specialty Certification varies depending on the individual’s state of residence and the type of specialty chosen. Generally speaking, it can range from $400-$1,000 or more.
Do You Really Need a Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate?
Whether or not you need an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) certificate depends on your individual career goals. Becoming certified as an ACNP can open up a variety of career opportunities, such as working in a hospital setting or providing medical care in the emergency room. It can also provide you with higher pay and more job security.
For those who are already established in the nursing profession and have achieved some level of success, becoming certified as an ACNP may be beneficial. It allows them to expand their knowledge base and use their skills in more specialized areas of healthcare. In addition, it can help them to advance their career by giving them the opportunity to pursue new job opportunities that require a higher level of expertise.
On the other hand, for those just beginning their nursing careers, becoming certified as an ACNP may not be necessary right away. Although it is important to continue learning and developing your skills so that you can eventually become certified, there are many other aspects of nursing that must be mastered first before attempting to obtain the ACNP certificate. These include learning how to effectively communicate with patients and families, understanding how different treatments work, and gaining experience in various clinical settings.
In summary, whether or not you need an ACNP certificate depends on your individual goals and where you currently stand with your nursing career. If you feel that obtaining certification would give you the opportunity to advance your career or gain access to new job opportunities then it may be worth considering. However, if you are just starting out in the field then it is likely better for you to focus on building up your skillset first before attempting to obtain certification.
Related: Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Resume Examples
FAQs About Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certifications
1. What is an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) certification?
Answer: An Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) certification is a specialized certification awarded to registered nurses who have completed advanced training in the care of acutely ill patients. ACNPs are qualified to assess, diagnose, and manage the medical conditions of acutely ill patients in settings such as emergency rooms, intensive care units, and other acute care settings.
2. What qualifications do I need to become an ACNP?
Answer: To become an ACNP, you must have a valid registered nursing license and a minimum of a master’s degree in nursing from an accredited program. You must also complete additional clinical training specific to the role of an ACNP before sitting for the national certification exam.
3. How much does it cost to get certified as an ACNP?
Answer: The cost of obtaining an ACNP certification can vary depending on your educational background and experience level. Generally speaking, you should expect to pay for tuition fees for your master’s program and any additional clinical training courses required by your state or national board of nursing. Additionally, there may be fees associated with taking the national certification exam itself as well as any recertification fees required every few years thereafter.
4. How long does it take to become certified as an ACNP?
Answer: The time it takes to become certified as an ACNP depends on your educational background and experience level. However, typically it takes at least two years after earning your master’s degree in nursing before you are eligible to sit for the national certification exam to become certified as an ACNP.
5. What areas can I specialize in as an ACNP?
Answer: As an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP), you can specialize in areas such as cardiology, critical care medicine, trauma surgery, emergency medicine, pulmonary medicine, geriatric medicine or pediatrics depending on your preference or area of expertise.