Advanced Practice Registered Nurse License Requirements in Utah
Utah’s Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) are licensed by the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL).
Utah recognizes four APRN roles: nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, clinical nurse specialist, and nurse anesthetist. Nurse anesthetists are issued APRN-CRNA licenses. There are some distinctions in requirements between the two types of APRN classification.
APRN-CRNAs (and some other APRNs) will need to apply for controlled substances licensing as well as APRN licensing. They will need consultation and referral plans.
All prospective APRNs must complete graduate nursing programs and pursue examination-based certification. Those working in the field of psychiatric/ mental health have an additional supervised practice requirement.
A nurse must hold an RN license before he or she can be eligible for an APRN license. In some cases, the RN license will be held in a state other than Utah.
Select a Utah Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Licensure Topic:
- APRN Education Requirements in Utah
- APRN Certification Requirements in Utah
- Additional Requirements for Psychiatric/ Mental Health APRNs
- International APRNs
- APRN Application Materials and Process
- APRN License Renewal Requirements
- Nursing Board, Contacts, Associations and Additional Information
APRN Educational Requirements in Utah
The nurse will complete an advanced program (Nurse Practitioner programs Utah). An APRN who has pursued a course of study other than nurse anesthesia will demonstrate coursework in pharmacotherapeutics and in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. An APRN-CRNA will demonstrate that his or her program was approved by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs.
Out-of-state licensees may be licensed in Utah on the basis of lesser educational requirements if the standards they met were equivalent to those that were in effect in Utah at the time of graduation.
Out-of-state licensees who do not have the required patient assessment and pharmacotherapeutics coursework may be issued temporary licenses.
APRN Certification Requirements
The graduate will pursue certification through a third party.
Utah has approved the following nationally recognized certifying organizations:
- The American Nurses Credentialing Center
- The American Association of Nurse Practitioners
- The Pediatric Nursing Certification Board
- The National Certification Corporation for the Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing Specialties
- The American Midwifery Certification Board
- The National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists
A graduate must pass an examination within five years. Otherwise, he or she will need to pursue additional education.
The individual will need to meet educational prerequisites before he or she will be authorized to sit for examination. Qualifications are presented directly to the third party organization.
An APRN who has graduated from an approved program and applies for licensure within a year may be granted an intern license by the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing prior to certification. This option is not available, however, to APRN-CRNAs.
Additional Requirements for Psychiatric/ Mental Health APRNs
A psychiatric/ mental health APRN will need a minimum of 4,000 hours of combined education and clinical practice. The Board will award 1,000 hours for completion of an approved program.
Fully 3,000 practice hours will be completed post-examination. At least 1,000 will be comprised of mental health therapy practice. At least 2,000 will consist of clinical practice that is carried out under a psychiatric mental health advanced practice nurse or other mental health therapist to whom supervisory duties have been delegated. Supervised practice is to be completed in the five-year period following graduation. The supervisor will later verify certification and confirm practitioner competency.
Individuals with psychiatric/ mental health specialization complete their supervised practice while working under intern licenses.
International APRNs
An international nurse who does not have 6,000 hours of professional experience in another state will go through a three-part certification process through the CGFNS. The nurse will need to make one additional demonstration of competence before he or she is eligible to practice in Utah; this could be a achieving a passing score on a language test, gaining professional experience in the United States, or attaining an additional credential. Requirements are described in R 156-31b-301d of the Nurse Practice Act Rules.
International nurses who have practiced 6,000 hours will be required to show evidence of having passed an English proficiency examination.
The Application Process
Application packets can be downloaded from the DOPL website (http://www.dopl.utah.gov/licensing/nursing.html/apps/APRN.pdf).
State and federal background checks are required. Applicants may have fingerprints made free of charge at the DOPL office in Salt Lake City.
The applicant will need to provide DOPL with official transcripts. They can be included in the application package in their original sealed/ stamped envelopes. They may also be mailed or emailed to the licensing agency from the degree-granting institution.
Individuals who answer “yes” to qualifying questions (for example, disciplinary history or drug usage) will need to provide supporting documentation.
A new graduate who is seeking temporary licensure will provide evidence of employment and APRN or physician supervision. This type of interim license is valid for up to 180 days. A candidate who is working under an intern license is expected to have examination results submitted directly to the Utah Board.
A $140 fee is to be submitted with the application package. Applicants who wish to begin work under intern licensure will enclose an additional $35. Those who are seeking controlled substance licensure will pay an additional $100.
Applications may be mailed or delivered to the DOPL office. Two separate addresses are listed in the application packet.
APRN License Renewal
State APRN credentials are renewed biennially. The APRN will need to demonstrate current national certification or recertification.
Continuing education/ continuing competency requirements are typically set by the certification agency. APRNs who were licensed in the past without national certification will provide evidence of continuing education and practice directly to the licensing agency.
Additional Information
Licensing information is available from the Division of Professional and Occupational Licensing (http://dopl.utah.gov/licensing/nursing.html). The Board Secretary can be reached at 801-530-6736.
The Nurse Practice Act and regulations are revised periodically. There were some changes to the Utah Nurse Practice Act in 2015.
Utah’s professional associations can provide additional information about APRN practice:
Utah Nurse Practitioners https://utahnp.enpnetwork.com/
Utah Certified Nurse Midwives https://utahcnms.enpnetwork.com/
Utah Association of Nurse Anesthetists http://www.uana.org/
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