[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":3,"doc-seo-325822-105":59,"doc-detail-325822-en":131},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,13,18,23,28,33,38,43,48,51,55],{"id":8,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":10,"show_sort_weight":11,"slug":12},1,"Document","Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":14,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":15,"show_sort_weight":16,"slug":17},2,"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":19,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":20,"show_sort_weight":21,"slug":22},4,"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":24,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":25,"show_sort_weight":26,"slug":27},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":29,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":30,"show_sort_weight":31,"slug":32},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":34,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":35,"show_sort_weight":36,"slug":37},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":39,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":40,"show_sort_weight":41,"slug":42},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":44,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":45,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":47},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":46,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":49,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":50},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":53,"show_sort_weight":52,"slug":54},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":56,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":57,"show_sort_weight":24,"slug":58},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":60,"data":61},"ok",{"site_id":62,"language":63,"slug":64,"title":65,"keywords":66,"description":67,"schema_data":68,"social_meta":124,"head_meta":126,"extra_data":128,"updated_unix":130},105,"en","certified-nurse-practitioner-steps-become-certified-and-licensed-exam-licensure-process","Certified Nurse Practitioner Steps - Become Certified and Licensed - Exam & Licensure Process","","Steps to becoming certified and licensed as a nurse practitioner, including how to complete degree requirements before certification, request official transcripts, and choose an exam pathway among AANP, ANCC, AACN, or PNCB. Guidance covers exam formats, question counts, timelines, retake rules, preparation resources, scheduling at the testing center, required identification, and post-exam reporting and validity. The process continues with applying for state licensure through the Iowa Board of Nursing, transcript submission, board notifications, certificate and license issuance, and Controlled Substance and DEA registrations.",{"@graph":69,"@context":123},[70,84,106],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":35,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/healthcare/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/certified-nurse-practitioner-steps-become-certified-and-licensed-exam-licensure-process/325822/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/certified-nurse-practitioner-steps-become-certified-and-licensed-exam-licensure-process/325822.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Pentious","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-26","2026-09-21",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":105},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",11,{"@type":107,"mainEntity":108},"FAQPage",[109,115,119],{"name":110,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":112},"What must be completed before starting the certification application process?","Question",{"text":113,"@type":114},"All degree requirements, including coursework and the graduate project, must be completed before initiating the application to sit for the certification exam.","Answer",{"name":116,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":117},"How do you choose between AANP, ANCC, AACN, and PNCB exams?",{"text":118,"@type":114},"Select the examination you want to sit for from the listed entities (AANP, ANCC, AACN, or PNCB), and follow the guidance provided for each exam’s format and scope.",{"name":120,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":121},"What are the next steps after passing the certification exam in Iowa?",{"text":122,"@type":114},"Apply for state licensure through the Iowa Board of Nursing, arrange for official transcripts to be sent to the licensing authority, and then apply for Iowa Controlled Substance Registration before applying for a DEA number.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":125,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":127,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":129,"site_id":62},325822,1790447667,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":132},{"doc_id":129,"user_id":133,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":134,"doc_module":4,"category_id":34,"category_name":35,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":135,"file_id":136,"file_url":137,"file_type":138,"file_size":139,"view_count":105,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":81,"language":140,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":144,"read_time":39},1374404730887,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_6f874abed73319feea01a86fa6f0fab8","Steps to Becoming Certified and Licensed as a Nurse Practitioner  \n(**Please note that different states have different regulations. Be sure to contact the Board of Nursing in your state of practice for detailed information)  \n1. You MUST complete all degree requirements (course work and graduate project) prior to initiating the application process to sit for your certification exam.  \n2. While you are preparing to graduate, go to Student Services to request that your official transcript be sent directly to the appropriate certifying body listed in the table below , as well as the IBON. Two requests need to be completed.  \n3. Determine which examination you want to sit for: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) , American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) , or Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) .  \n\n| ANCC | AANP | AACN | PNCB |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Computer based | Computer based | Computer based or paper and pencil | Computer based |\n| Available for ACNP, ANP, FNP, GNP, & PMHNP | Available for ANP, FNP, & GNP | Available for Acute Care only | Available for Acute Care Pediatric only |\n| 175 questions (150 scored, 25 sample) | 150 questions (135 scored, 15 sample) | 175 questions (150 scored, 25 sample) | 175 questions (150 scored, 25 unscored) |\n| 3.5 hour time frame | 3 hour time frame | 3 hours | 3 hours |\n| Passing score =>350/500 | Passing score =>500/800 | Criterion based | Criterion based |\n| Incorporates scope of practice, ethics, reimbursement, clinical content and more | Incorporates clinical content only | Incorporates 73% clinical judgement, 27% non-clinical judgement | Incorporates assessment (45 questions), diagnosis\u003Cbr>(38 questions), management (60 questions), professional practice role (7 questions) |\n| If fail: can reapply to take again after 90 days | If fail: can retake after 15 contact hours of continuing education | If Fail: can retake 4 times in 1 year | If fail: can retake once each testing window (~6 per year) |\n| Credentials: _NP-BC with letter in front indicating specialty-FNP-BC, ACNP-BC, ANP-BC, GNP-BC, PMHNP-BC | Credentials: All specialties utilize NP-C | Credentials ACNP-C | Credentials: CPNP-AC |\n\nTimelines can be found on the respective websites.  \nAANP: [https://www.aanpcert.org/](https://www.aanpcert.org/)  \nANCC: [https://www.nursingworld.org/our-certifications/](https://www.nursingworld.org/our-certifications/)  \nAACN: [https://www.aacn.org/certification/get-certified/acnpc-ag](https://www.aacn.org/certification/get-certified/acnpc-ag)  \nPNCB: [https://www.pncb.org/cpnp-ac](https://www.pncb.org/cpnp-ac)  \n4. Shortly after you have applied to take the exam, you will receive a letter from the organization stating that they have received your application and information. If you do not receive this confirmation within 2 weeks, you may want to call to confirm orto see if they are missing information. Once your application has been approved, you will also receive information from a testing center with details about the exam and how to schedule your exam and location.  \n5. Schedule your exam with the testing center. Most applicants test in Des Moines or Iowa City.  \n6. Prepare for the exam: Certification entities provide test content outlines, reference lists, and sample suggestions for each certification, free of charge. Additional review materials may be purchased separately. You should also consider enrolling in a nurse practitioner certification review course (e.g. , Barkley and Associates, Fitzgerald Health Education Associates, and Advanced Practice Education Associates), some of which are offered electronically and/or in face-to-face sessions. The recommendation for attending a review course is 9-12 months prior to graduation.  \n7. Take the exam: Make sure that you have the required ID to be admitted to take the exam. You are not allowed to bring anything into the testing center-no pens/pencils, keys, good luck c","cbCaitvnHs8fowa4","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaitvnHs8fowa4","pdf",109424,"English","# Certification and Degree Requirements\n## Transcript Requests and Examination Choice\n# Exam Preparation and Testing Steps\n## Scheduling, Required ID, and Results\n# State Licensure and Registrations\n## Iowa Board of Nursing and Controlled Substance/DEA","[{\"question\":\"What must be completed before starting the certification application process?\",\"answer\":\"All degree requirements, including coursework and the graduate project, must be completed before initiating the application to sit for the certification exam.\"},{\"question\":\"How do you choose between AANP, ANCC, AACN, and PNCB exams?\",\"answer\":\"Select the examination you want to sit for from the listed entities (AANP, ANCC, AACN, or PNCB), and follow the guidance provided for each exam’s format and scope.\"},{\"question\":\"What are the next steps after passing the certification exam in Iowa?\",\"answer\":\"Apply for state licensure through the Iowa Board of Nursing, arrange for official transcripts to be sent to the licensing authority, and then apply for Iowa Controlled Substance Registration before applying for a DEA number.\"}]","Certified Nurse Practitioner Steps - Become Certified and Licensed - Exam & Licensure Process | PDF",1789971500]