April 2013 - The essential elements of the Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) Regulatory Model includes: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification, and Education (LACE). As the 2015 target date for implementation of the national Consensus Model approaches, changes have been made or are in the process of being implemented by these 4 LACE entities that may significantly affect APRN's certification, RN licensure, or ability to practice as a NP.

With implementation of the Consensus Model, there is a real possibility that a Certificant currently certified as an Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP) or a Gerontologic Nurse Practitioner (GNP) who allows their certification to lapse, will be unable to renew their existing certification. The Gerontological National Certification Examination was retired in December 2012, and the Adult National Certification Examination is anticipated to be retired within the next 2 years. To date, AANPCP has not yet determined the exact date of retirement for the Adult examination.

Until recently, Certificants had only a 6 month window in which to renew their certification. Effective January 1st, 2013, AANPCP began allowing Certificants who have met the current CE and clinical practice requirements for recertification to begin the Recertification process as early as 1 year prior to expiration of their current certification. AANPCP is committed to providing quality service for our applicants and Certificants. Providing a longer window of opportunity to renew allows our Certificants greater flexibility and will hopefully decrease the potential loss of one's certification due to expiration that could occur as a result of significant life events or other issues that result in delays.

To ensure continued certification, Certificants applying to recertify by CE and Clinical Practice must complete the renewal application process online no later than 8 weeks prior to the expiration date of one's current certification. Certificants applying to recertify by Examination must complete the renewal process online no later than 4 months prior to the expiration date of the current certification to allow for testing and release of scores. Failure to apply within the given timeframes may result in lapse of certification. Without current certification, a nurse practitioner may be unable to obtain credentialing.

In our continuing efforts to help our Certificants maintain current certification, AANPCP mails courtesy reminder postcards to Certificants one year prior to the date of their certification expiration date. If the Certificant has not initiated their renewal process at 6 months, a 2nd postcard reminder is mailed.

AANPCP encourages Certificants to create /update their On-Line Profile. (If creating an On-line Profile for the first time, please allow 2 business days for linking of a new On-Line Profile to existing account information in our database).

Questions?? E-mail us at: certification@aanpcert.org