AANP Vs. ANCC: Choosing An NP Certification

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Becoming a nurse practitioner (NP), a type of advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), requires significant education and training, as well as knowledge, skills and competencies. Aspiring NPs must be licensed registered nurses (RNs), hold a bachelor of science in nursing and complete a masters in nursing or a doctorate of nursing program graduate programs.

The last step on the long journey to becoming an NP is passing a national nursing certification exam in your specialization. Passing the right exam demonstrates your advanced clinical knowledge and skills and shows employers you can succeed as an NP in your specialty.

Two national organizations, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), offer nurse practitioner certifications. You must pass a board certification exam from either AANP or ANCC to become an NP.

NPs specializing in family or adult-gerontology primary care can take either an AANP exam or an ANCC exam. For other practice specialties, like psychiatric-mental health, only one organization offers the relevant exam and credential.

Learn more about AANP vs. ANCC nursing certifications, and figure out which path is right for you.

AANP and ANCC both offer NP certifications and board certification exams. AANP is a membership organization representing more than 121,000 nurse practitioners across North America. Its credentialing arm is the AANP Certification Board (AANPCB), which only offers NP certifications.

ANCC is an offshoot of the American Nurses Association (ANA), a professional group with 4 million members in the United States. ANCC administers certifications to both NPs and registered nurses with an associates degree or bachelor’s degree in nursing.

If you’re pursuing NP certification in family or adult-gerontology primary care, you can do so through AANPCB or ANCC. Other NP specializations do not offer a choice; you must take the relevant certification exam from whichever organization offers it.

For example, aspiring emergency nurse practitioners can only pursue certification through AANPCB. NPs seeking to specialize in psychiatric mental health, on the other hand, must earn their credentials through ANCC.

AANP created AANPCB, a nonprofit credentialing organization for nurse practitioners, to offer NP certifications in the following specialties:

AANP members receive a $75 discount on AANPCB certification applications.

The A-GNP certification demonstrates clinical knowledge of adults from age 13 until advanced age and end-of-life. This certification qualifies you for NP licensure specializing in adult patients. A-GNPs have demonstrated expertise and competencies in health exam, pathophysiology, pharmacology, treatment and management of acute and chronic conditions, and evidence-based practice.

The certification’s competency-based exam includes 150 questions, including 15 pre-test questions that do not count toward your score. The test covers exam, diagnosis, plan and evaluation domains, including questions about all age parameters. Online applications cost $240 for AANP members and $315 for nonmembers. Prices may change over time and discounts may be available for members of specific nursing organizations. Members should check with their association membership offices to see if discounts are applicable.

A-GNP applicants must hold an active RN license. Other eligibility requirements include a minimum of 500 graduate level clinical practicum hours and successful completion of a graduate or postgraduate adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner program at an accredited school of nursing.

To find out more about earning RN licensure, review their guide on how to become an RN.

The FNP certification qualifies holders to apply for a state license to practice as an FNP offering primary care across the life span, from prenatal patients to older adults.

The competency-based exam includes 150 questions (135 scored questions and 15 unscored pretest questions). The test assesses knowledge of various age and practice domains like exam, evaluation, diagnosis and planning. It covers courses like cultural competence, crisis management, pain management and anatomy.

FNP applicants with AANP memberships pay $240 to apply online, while nonmembers pay $315. Eligibility requirements for the FNP include an active RN license, completion of a graduate or postgraduate family nurse practitioner program at an accredited school and at least 500 clinical hours.

To learn more, see their guide on how to become a family nurse practitioner.

As part of ANA, ANCC offers various certifications to help NPs and RNs advance their careers. ANCC’s NP certifications include:

In addition to providing certifications, ANCC also accredits healthcare organizations that offer or approve continuing education for nurses. ANCC recognizes healthcare organizations that encourage safe and effective nursing practice as well. ANA members can save $100 on ANCC’s NP certification application fees.

ANCC’s AGPCNP-BC credential qualifies you to practice as an entry-level adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner. To qualify for the AGPCNP-BC, you must hold RN licensure and pass a national certification exam.

To obtain this credential, you must earn an accredited AGPCNP master’s in nursing, a DNP or a postgraduate certificate including at least 500 supervised clinical hours. Applicants must complete three APRN core graduate courses in advanced physiology or pathophysiology, advanced health exam and advanced pharmacology.

The Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification provides accreditation for this certification, which requires renewal every five years. For initial certification, ANA members pay $295, and nonmembers pay $395. AANP members, AANP student members and Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association (GAPNA) members also receive discounts.

The AGPCNP exam assesses competency in clinical knowledge and skills for this specialty. The competency-based test lasts 3.5 hours and includes 175 questions (150 scored and 25 unscored pretest questions). Questions cover the patient exam process, plan of care and professional practice, spanning different age groups, body systems and drug agents.

You can take ANCC’s Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Readiness Test to assess your preparedness for the official exam. You can use ANCC’s study aids to prepare for the test.

ANCC’s FNP-BC credential qualifies you to apply for state licensure to work as a family nurse practitioner. This certification requires renewal every five years.

To earn this credential, you must pass the competency-based FNP-BC exam to demonstrate that you have the clinical skills and knowledge necessary for FNP work. The 3.5-hour test includes 175 questions (150 scored questions and 25 unscored pretest questions). exam content covers exam, diagnosis, planning, implementation and evaluation with questions about different age groups, drug agents and body systems.

ANA members pay $295 for initial certification; nonmembers pay $395. AANP members, AANP student members and GAPNA members also receive discounts.

Eligibility requirements for the FNP-BC certification include a current RN license and an FNP master’s, postgraduate certificate or DNP from an accredited school. The FNP program must include 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours. Applicants must also complete three graduate-level APRN core courses covering advanced physiology or pathophysiology, advanced health exam and advanced pharmacology.

You can take ANCC’s FNP readiness test to assess your exam readiness and to get a better idea of what to expect. ANCC also provides other study aids, including trial questions and a test content outline.

AANP and ANCC both offer national certification exams for nurse practitioners. AANP, a professional organization for nurse practitioners, only offers NP certifications. ANCC is a wing of ANA and offers certifications for RNs at various levels, including NPs.

NPs must earn certification to apply for a state license to practice their specialty. To obtain certification, you must pass a national board exam in your NP specialty area. You must also meet other requirements, including holding an RN license, earning a BSN degree and completing a graduate NP program with at least 500 clinical hours.

Post Baccalaureate Teacher Certification Program

The​ ​Post​ Bachelor’s​ Baccalaureate​ ​Teaching​ ​Certification​ ​program​ ​in​ Elementary Education​ ​(grades​ ​PreK-4)​, Middle Level (grades 4-8), ​and​ Secondary​ ​Education​ ​(grades​ ​7-12)​ ​are​ ​designed for​ ​professionals​ ​who​ ​hold​ ​a​ ​bachelor’s​ ​degree​ ​and​ ​who​ ​seek​ ​to​ ​qualify​ ​for Pennsylvania​ ​state​ ​teacher​ ​certification​ ​at​ ​the​ ​elementary, middle,​ ​or​ ​secondary​ ​level. Students take courses online that satisfy Pennsylvania teaching certificate requirements while completing the required number of weeks of students teaching. Pennsylvania has reciprocation agreements with nearly every state in the U.S. meaning you can transfer your teaching certificate to another state. 

The​ ​curriculum​ ​for​ ​this​ ​teacher​ ​certificate​ ​program​ at Drexel University ​is​ ​designed​ ​for​ ​those​ ​changing careers​ ​into​ ​the​ ​education​ ​field,​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​those​ ​who​ ​already​ ​serve​ ​as​ ​temporary, emergency,​ ​or​ ​substitute​ ​teachers​ ​and​ ​wish​ ​to​ ​earn​ ​a​ ​formal​ ​teaching​ ​credential.

Students​ ​who​ ​wish​ ​to​ ​complete​ ​a​ master’s​ ​degree​ ​in​ ​Teaching,​ ​Learning​ ​and Curriculum​ ​have​ ​the​ ​opportunity​ ​to​ ​transfer​ ​the​ ​credits​ ​earned​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Post​ ​Bachelor’s Teaching​ ​Certificate​ ​into​ ​the​ ​MS​ ​in​ ​Teaching,​ ​Learning​ ​&​ ​Curriculum program.

The​ PA teacher​ ​certification​ program​ requirements at​ ​Drexel​ ​University’s​ ​School​ ​of​ ​Education​ prepares ​students​ ​for​ ​a​ ​Pennsylvania​ ​Instructional​ ​I​ ​Certificate.

A commonly asked question regarding their programs, is "how long is the teacher certification program"? If you already have a bachelor's degree, the elementary, middle level and secondary education programs typically take two years to complete. Drexel also offers a dual certification option for secondary and special education. A bachelor's degree program typically takes up to 4 years to complete.

The first step towards becoming a K-12 teacher is to earn a bachelor’s degree. If you earn a bachelor’s degree in a program that leads to teaching certification, such as elementary education or teacher education, you will graduate with all the requirements necessary to become a licensed teacher. If your bachelor’s degree is in a non-teaching program, you will need to follow the next steps on this list to complete your educator certification program..

If you already have a bachelor’s degree, you can become a teacher through their teacher certification program. The first step is to determine what subject you would like to teach. Some students choose a subject that reflects their bachelor’s degree experience while others may choose a new subject that they are passionate about.

Once you have decided on a subject, you should enroll in a teacher certification program and focus on your chosen subject. You will complete required coursework for certification and gain the knowledge needed to complete the required Praxis exams.

While you complete your required coursework, you will also gain the required hours of student teaching experience. Most teacher certification programs require 12 weeks of student teaching experience. The School of Education’s Field Placement Office assists students with identifying student teaching opportunities in school districts close to where they live, anywhere in the U.S. and other parts of the world.

Once you have completed your required courses and student teaching experience, you will schedule and sit for your Praxis exams. Passing the required exams is a critical final step to become a certified teacher. Passing the exams will allow you to begin teaching in classrooms on your own. Some school districts may allow emergency certifications to allow teachers who have not completed their exams to teach in their schools for a certain period of time until they can pass the required exams.

Once you have passed the required exams, you will be issued an Instructional I teaching certificate in the state where you took the exams. As a certified teacher, you will be eligible for teaching positions in the subject in which you are certified. You can add additional certifications or complete requirements for an Instructional II teaching certificate as you advance in your career.

Drexel's Post Bachelor's Teaching Certificate in Middle Level (grades 4-8) is ideal for students who would like to teach middle school students in the areas of Math, Science, English, and Social Studies. In addition to gaining knowledge of effective teaching methods, students will also learn how to create culturally responsive pedagogy and create a safe, productive, and positive classroom environment that facilitates learning for all students.

The coursework for a certificate for middle level education consists of 33 credit hours (13 courses) and includes mandatory field-based experiences and 12 weeks of student teaching.

The Post Bachelor's Teaching Certificate for Middle Level (Grades 4-8) curriculum and course descriptions may be found in the Drexel Online Course Catalog.

The Post Bachelor’s Teaching Certificate in Secondary Education (Grades 7-12) is designed for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree and who seek to qualify for PA state teacher certification at the secondary level. The curriculum is designed for those changing careers as well as those who already serve as temporary, emergency, or substitute teachers and wish to earn a formal teaching credential.

The coursework for a general certificate of secondary education consists of 30 credit hours (11 courses) and includes mandatory field-based experiences and 12 weeks of student teaching.

The Post Bachelor's Teaching Certificate for Secondary Education (Grades 7-12) curriculum and course descriptions may be found in the Drexel Online Course Catalog.

The School of Education offers eight content-specific areas of study each leading to their own certifications with required courses and Praxis exams:

Once​ ​a​ ​student​ ​has​ ​successfully​ ​completed​ ​their​ ​course​ ​of​ ​study​ ​and​ ​all​ ​exams required​ ​by​ ​the​ ​Pennsylvania​ ​Department​ ​of​ ​Education​ ​(PDE),​ ​Drexel​ ​recommends the​ ​student​ ​to​ ​PDE​ ​for​ ​issuance​ ​of​ ​the​ ​appropriate​ ​teaching​ ​certificate.

Pennsylvania’s​ ​initial​ ​state​ ​certification​ ​is​ ​known​ ​as​ ​“Instructional​ ​I”​ ​and​ ​is​ ​valid​ ​for​ ​a total​ ​of​ ​six​ ​years ​(the​ ​six​ ​years​ ​need​ ​not​ ​be​ ​continuous).​ ​To​ ​continue​ ​teaching​ ​after six​ ​years,​ ​teachers​ ​must​ ​receive​ ​an​ ​Instructional​ ​II​ ​Certification.

The​ ​Instructional​ ​II​ ​Certification​ ​is​ ​considered​ ​a​ ​“permanent”​ ​certification.​ ​(It​ ​must, however,​ ​be​ ​renewed​ ​every​ ​five​ ​years​ ​through​ ​the​ ​fulfillment​ ​of​ ​continuing​ ​education requirements.)​ ​A​ ​teacher​ ​applying​ ​for​ ​Instructional​ ​II​ ​Certification​ ​must​ ​have:

The​ ​PA​ ​Educator​ ​Certification​ ​Tests​ ​(PECT)​ ​are​ ​required​ ​for​ ​Elementary Certification​ ​(Grades​ ​PreK–4).​ ​Students​ ​are​ ​required​ ​to​ ​take​ ​the​ ​appropriate​ ​exam for​ ​each​ ​area​ ​of​ ​certification​ ​sought.

For​ ​more​ ​information​ ​about​ ​examinations​ ​and​ ​registration,​ ​visit​ ​the​ PA​ ​Educator Certification​ ​Tests​ ​(PECT)​.

All​ ​Post​ ​Bachelor’s​ ​students​ ​seeking​ ​certification​ ​in​ ​Secondary​ ​Certification​ ​(Grades 7–12)​ ​are​ ​required​ ​to​ ​pass​ ​the​ ​Praxis​ ​II​ ​Series.​ ​Students​ ​must​ ​pass​ ​the​ ​appropriate Praxis​ ​II​ ​Content​ ​Knowledge​ ​test(s)​ ​for​ ​each​ ​area​ ​of​ ​certification​ ​they​ ​wish​ ​to​ ​obtain.

For​ ​more​ ​information​ ​about​ ​examination​ ​and​ ​registration,​ ​please​ ​visit​ ​the​ Praxis Series​.

To​ ​maintain​ ​Instructional​ ​I​ ​and​ ​Instructional​ ​II​ ​Certifications​ ​in​ ​Pennsylvania​,​ ​the PDE​ ​requires​ ​a​ certified​ teacher​ ​to​ ​complete​ ​the​ ​minimal​ ​equivalent​ ​of​ ​six semester-hour​ ​(or​ ​nine​ ​quarter-hour)​ ​credits,​ ​180​ ​professional​ ​development​ ​hours, or​ ​a​ ​combination​ ​of​ ​credits​ ​and​ ​professional​ ​development​ ​hours​ ​every​ ​five​ ​years. College​ ​credits​ ​must​ ​be​ ​acquired​ ​from​ ​an​ ​accredited​ ​four-year,​ ​degree-granting college​ ​or​ ​university.

Note:​ ​For​ ​those​ ​working​ ​to​ ​acquire​ ​Instructional​ ​II​ ​Certification,​ ​the​ ​24​ ​semester credits​ ​or​ ​36​ ​quarter​ ​credits​ ​needed​ ​to​ ​apply​ ​for​ ​Instructional​ ​II​ ​may​ ​also​ ​count toward​ ​Act​ ​48​ ​requirements.​ ​Undergraduate​ ​credits​ ​from​ ​a​ ​community​ ​college​ ​may not​ ​be​ ​counted​ ​toward​ ​Act​ ​48​ ​credits​ ​for​ ​Instructional​ ​II​ ​Certification.

For​ ​more​ ​information​ ​and​ ​to​ ​apply​ ​credits​ ​to​ ​your​ ​state​ ​record,​ ​visit​ ​the​ PA Department​ ​of​ ​Education​ ​Act​ ​48​ ​Continuing​ ​Professional​ ​Education​.

Drexel University's Post-Bachelor's Teacher Certification courses are offered 100% online. You can get started by filling out the appropriate Drexel Online Application for an online Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification:

Best Personal Trainer Certification Programs Of 2023, According To Experts

The cost of personal trainer certification programs varies, ranging in price from $400 to $2,000, according to American Fitness Professionals and Associates. Prices fluctuate depending on the organization providing the certification, the certification level, the study materials and support offered, and the price of the certification exam itself. While many programs offer payment plans to help with financing, some may not include the cost of earning a CPR/AED certification, which is required for most programs and can add about $75 to the total cost of certification.

Minton also recommends considering the costs of personal training once one obtains a certification. For instance, self-employed personal trainers may need to rent space in a gym or fitness club to work with clients. Many trainers also invest in liability insurance, which costs an average of $1,735 per year for small businesses. Equipment, such as hand weights, kettlebells, yoga mats, resistance bands or portable speakers for music, can also add to potential costs should a trainer need to purchase equipment for client use.

Lastly, many CPT certifications require trainers to participate in continuing education courses, keep their CPR/AED certification up to date and pay certification renewal fees every few years, all of which can add significantly to the total cost of maintaining their certification. Some continuing education courses can cost several hundred dollars, and recertification fees can exceed $400.