Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner Requirements in Florida
The Florida Board of Nursing credentials the state’s Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners, or ARNPs. There are multiple specialties. Nurse anesthetists and nurse midwives are eligible for state credentialing as ARNPs. Clinical nurse specialists (CNSs), on the other hand, have a separate licensing process.
In order to be eligible for ARNP credentialing, professionals must also be licensed as registered nurses in the state of Florida.
Select a Florida Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner Topic:
- ARNP Education and Certification Requirements in Florida
- ARNP Certification Requirements
- Additional ARNP Requirements..Liability Insurance, etc.
- The ARNP Application Process
- The ARNP Renewal Process
- Clinical Nurse Specialist Requirements and Application Process
- Nursing Board, Contacts, Associations and Additional Information
ARNP Educational Requirements in Florida
Current advanced practice nursing students must complete a master’s or post-master program (Nurse Practitioner Programs in Florida). However, the degree requirement does not apply to some individuals who graduated in the past. In order to be credentialed as a nurse practitioner without a master’s degree, a person must have graduated prior to October 1, 1998; in order to be credentialed as a nurse anesthetist without a master’s degree, he or she must have graduated prior to October 1, 2001.
ARNP Certification Requirements
An advanced practice nurse must hold certification from a recognized specialty board. The following are referenced in state administrative code:
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
- American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
- American College of Nurse Midwives
- American Nurses Credentialing Center
- Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists (or Council on Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists)
- National Certification Corporation for OB/GYN
- National Board of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and Associates
- National Board for Certification of Hospice and Palliative Nurses
- Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation
The licensing agency also has the authority to accept other certifying bodies not included in the list.
The Board may not, however, accept all examinations offered by approved organizations. Restrictions are noted in state administrative code (http://floridasnursing.gov/licensing/advanced-registered-nurse-practitioner).
Additional ARNP Requirements
The licensing agency also mandates a two-hour course in prevention of medical errors.
An ARNP must carry liability insurance.
Many duties can only be performed according to protocols, or collaboration agreement with a doctor or dentist; protocol must be submitted on a set timeline after employment commences.
The ARNP Application Process
Applications can be downloaded from the Board website (http://floridasnursing.gov/licensing/advanced-registered-nurse-practitioner/). The same application form is used for nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, and nurse midwife; the applicant will select his or her specialty.
The licensing agency can accept either official verification of certification or a notarized copy of the current certification card.
An applicant who answers affirmatively to the criminal history question will need to provide various supporting documents, including disposition and recent letters of recommendation.
An applicant who already holds a Florida RN license pays $100; an applicant who is applying for both credentials at the same time pays $210. An applicant who withdraws the application is entitled to a partial refund.
Nurse anesthetists and nurse midwives are eligible for provisional status pending certification. The application packet includes a verification form to be completed by the educational institution. The licensing agency will also require transcripts.
An applicant will need to have a fingerprint-based background check. Fingerprints are to be made through Livescan providers approved by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). The Board has provided a link to a list of providers (http://www.floridahealth.gov/licensing-and-regulation/background-screening/livescan-service-providers.html). The applicant will need the correct ORI number (http://floridasnursing.gov/licensing/advanced-registered-nurse-practitioner); the results will be transmitted to the licensing agency.
The licensing agency notes that some Livescan providers can scan ‘hard cards’. The list includes Biometric Information Management, Fieldprint, Ideal Information, and L-1 Solutions. The application packet includes contact information for these four organizations.
The ARNP Renewal Process
The ARNP credential is renewed at the same time as RN licensure. The applicant must document liability insurance and current certification. He or she must submit protocols unless exempt.
Clinical Nurse Specialist Requirements and Application Process
A clinical nurse specialist must hold a master’s degree and must also hold national certification unless he or she has pursued a specialty for which there is no recognized certifying agency.
The licensing agency recognizes the following specialties (and can potentially recognize others):
- Adult Health (Medical Surgical Nursing)
- Adult Psychiatric and Mental Health
- Advanced Diabetes Management
- Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse
- Advanced Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatric and Mental Health
- Certified Critical Care Nurse Specialist
- Gerontological Nursing
- Pediatric Nursing
- Public/Community Health Nursing
The following certification agencies have been approved for clinical nurse specialists (as per state administrative code):
- American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- National Board for Certification of Hospice and Palliative Nurses
- Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation
In cases where there is no recognized certifying agency, the applicant will need to document 1,000 hours of clinical experience; 500 must be post-graduation.
CNS applications are also available from the Florida Board (http://floridasnursing.gov/licensing/clinical-nurse-specialist). A CNS applicant must already hold a Florida registered nursing license. He or she will pay a $75 upgrade fee.
Additional Information
Information about advanced registered nurse practitioner credentialing is available from the Florida Board of Nursing (http://floridasnursing.gov/licensing). The Customer Contact Center can be reached at (850) 488-0595. Interested individuals can add themselves to the Board of Nursing email update list.
Florida’s professional associations serve as additional professional resources:
Florida Association of Nurse Practitioners http://www.flanp.org
Florida Association of Nurse Anesthetist http://fana.org
Florida State Affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives http://florida.midwife.org/
Florida Nurse Practitioner Network https://fnpn.enpnetwork.com/
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