Nurse Practitioners are required to have an unrestricted state license, certification from which organization?

• A. American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
• B. American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
• C. American Medical Association (AMA)
• D. National Certification Corporation (NCC)

Answer: (B)

National certification from a recognized certifying body is what NP licensure hinges on, in addition to holding an unrestricted state license. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) is the primary national certifying body for advanced practice registered nurses, including nurse practitioners. It provides certification across the major NP specialties, and state boards commonly require ANCC certification as the credential demonstrating the NP’s competence before granting or renewing licensure. While other organizations like AANP also offer NP certification and may be accepted by some boards, the certification from ANCC is the most widely recognized standard. The other options aren’t aligned with NP certification in the same authoritative way: the AMA is a medical association, not a nursing certification body, and the National Certification Corporation certifies other nursing roles and specialties but not the general NP certification that boards typically rely on.