AANP vs ANCC- NP Certification Exams

The AANP (American Association of Nurse Practitioners) and ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Center) are two major organizations that offer certification exams for nurse practitioners in the United States. 

While both exams are designed to test the knowledge and skills of nurse practitioners, there are some key differences between the AANP and ANCC exams:

1. Content: The AANP exam focuses more on clinical knowledge and skills, while the ANCC exam places a greater emphasis on nursing theory, research, leadership,and  health policy topics.
   
   
   
2. Format: The AANP exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions and is administered in a computer-based format. The ANCC exam consists of 175 multiple-choice questions, but also includes a small number of alternate-format questions (such as drag-and-drop or multiple-response).
   
   
   
3. Eligibility: The AANP exam is open to all nurse practitioners who have completed an accredited graduate-level nurse practitioner program. The ANCC exam requires candidates to have an active RN license, a graduate degree in nursing, and specific coursework in advanced health assessment, advanced pharmacology, and advanced pathophysiology. ANCC also requires nurse practitioners to have completed a certain number of clinical practice hours.
   
   
   
4. Cost: The AANP exam fee is currently $315 for members and $375 for non-members, while the ANCC exam fee is $395 for members and $495 for non-members.
   
   
   
5. Recertification: Both organizations require nurse practitioners to recertify their credentials every 5 years and complete continuing education requirements, but the number of required CEUs and the specific requirements differ slightly between the two organizations
   
   
   

It is important for nurse practitioners to carefully review the eligibility criteria, exam content, and recertification requirements for both the AANP and ANCC exams before deciding which one to take. 

** Another certifying body is The National Certification Corporation ( NCC ). The NCC offers certification for nurse practitioners including Neonatal Nurse Practitioners (NNP-BC) and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioners (WHNP-BC). The current cost for examination is around $325.