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What Is The Difference Between ANCC And AANP Certification For Nurse Practitioners?

As you finish your MSN or DNP, you have to choose which board certification exam to take. Two organizations administer them: the American Association of Nurse…

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As you finish your MSN or DNP, you have to choose which board certification exam to take. Two organizations administer them: the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Both certifications carry equal weight and let you practice, but the exams and renewal requirements differ. Here is how to decide.

Why Board Certification Is Required

You cannot get licensed as a nurse practitioner without it. States will not approve licensure until you pass, because the exam verifies that you have the education and clinical experience for your specialty. It is the standard way NPs demonstrate their knowledge and qualifications.

ANCC vs. AANP: The Core Differences

Both bodies carry the same weight, so either certification lets you practice. The differences are in the number of questions, what those questions emphasize, and what renewal requires.

Taking the Exam

AANP exam (FNP, AGNP, ENP, PMHNP)

150 questions, with 135 scored and 15 unscored pretest questions
Two domains: assess/diagnose/plan/evaluate, and patient ages, which vary by certification
Three hours to complete
Scored pass/fail on a scale, with 500 as the minimum passing score

You get a preliminary pass/fail result immediately after you submit, with final scores by mail within two weeks. The AANP emergency NP exam uses a different set of domains and is open only to FNPs who completed a post-master's emergency NP certification. Note that the AANP does not offer an AGACNP exam; the ANCC does.

ANCC exam (FNP, PMHNP, AGNP, AGACNP)

175 questions, with 150 scored and 25 unscored pretest questions
Four hours to complete
Five content domains: assessment (21%), diagnosis (26%), planning (19%), implementation (29%), and evaluation (15%)
Scored pass/fail, maximum 500, minimum passing score of 350

Fail the ANCC and you get a diagnostic report with detailed feedback.

Eligibility is nearly identical for both. Each requires completed coursework, and both let you test before the degree is officially conferred, which can lag coursework by several weeks. Both require at least 500 clinical hours before testing.

Renewing Certification

Both certifications renew every five years.

AANP renewal

1,000 clinical contact hours over the five years, counting direct care, research, administration, or teaching in NP programs
100 continuing education hours, 25 of them in pharmacology; precepting NP students can replace the non-pharmacology hours
Or retake the exam if you fall short of the hours
Current RN and APRN license throughout

ANCC renewal

75 continuing education hours, 25 of them in pharmacology
Current RN and APRN license throughout
Completion of one of eight professional development categories: CE hours, academic credit, presentations, a quality improvement project or publication or research, preceptor hours, professional service, practice hours, or portfolio submission
No required clinical hours; if you log them, 1,000 is the minimum to count toward that category

Which Exam Should You Take?

Neither is objectively easier. It comes down to your knowledge and how you test. Weigh the tradeoffs.

ANCC: Pros and Cons

Pros

More time (four hours)
Broader subject matter, including research, therapeutic communication, and clinical practice
No clinical contact hours required for renewal
Offers the AGACNP certification

Cons

175 total questions
Renewal requires professional development work such as research, education, or presenting
Higher fee: $395 for nonmembers, $295 for members

AANP: Pros and Cons