Instructions for Applying for a Nurse Practitioner (NP) Certificate
NOTE: Read all instructions carefully! You must ensure that all required application forms and records are complete and sent to the New York State Education Department (NYSED). You are responsible for asking organizations to send written verification of your education or other credentials directly to NYSED. Please be advised that NYSED will not review your application for an NP certificate until you are licensed and registered as an RN in New York State.
IMPORTANT: You must be licensed as an RN in New York State - or - you must apply for a New York State RN license BEFORE you apply for a New York State NP Certificate.
If you are NOT licensed as an RN in New York State, you can learn more about applying for a New York RN license and registration here.
NYSED will not review your application for an NP certificate until you are licensed and registered as an RN in New York State. If you are licensed as an RN in New York State, but not currently registered, you can renew your RN registration here.
Choose a pathway for applying for a New York State NP certificate:
NP Pathway #1 - Graduates of NYSED registered Nurse Practitioner (NP) education programs
These instructions apply to applicants for an NP certificate who:
- are licensed and registered as an RN in New York State and,
- graduated from a NP education program registered (approved) by NYSED as qualifying for an NP certificate.
- STEP 1: SUBMIT Online NP Form 1 - Application for Certification.
You must pay the $85 license and first registration fee by credit card.
If you started filling out Online NP Form 1 within the past 30 days, you can continue filling it out by using this link. You will need your Application ID, social security number, and date of birth to access your application. If you already completed Online NP Form 1 and want to upload additional documentation to your application use this link. You will need your Application ID, and date of birth to access your application.
- STEP 2: HAVE YOUR SCHOOL (COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY) VERIFY YOUR NP EDUCATION.
Complete Section I of NP Form 2 - Certification of Professional Education and send the entire form to your school. Section II must be filled out by your school and signed by the registrar. The school must send the completed from (or a scanned copy of it) directly to NYSED by EMAIL at DPLSEDUC@nysed.gov or by regular mail at the address at the end of the form.
NP Pathway #2 - Applicants who are currently NP Certified by an Acceptable National Certifying Organization
These instructions apply to applicants for an NP certificate who:
- are licensed and registered as an RN in New York State (or who have applied for an RN license in New York State) and,
- are currently NP certified as described below:
| New York NP Certification Category | National Certifying Organization |
|---|---|
| FAMILY HEALTH NP |
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board
American Nurses Credentialing Center
|
| ACUTE CARE NP |
American Association of Critical Care Nurses
American Nurses Credentialing Center
Pediatric Nursing Certification Board
|
| ADULT HEALTH NP |
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board
American Nurses Credentialing Center
American Association of Critical Care Nurses
|
| GERONTOLOGY NP |
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board
American Nurses Credentialing Center
|
| PEDIATRIC NP |
Pediatric Nursing Certification Board
American Nurses Credentialing Center
|
| NEONATAL NP |
National Certification Corporation
|
| PSYCHIATRIC NP |
American Nurses Credentialing Center –
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board
|
| ONCOLOGY NP |
Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation
|
| WOMEN'S HEALTH NP |
National Certification Corporation
|
- STEP 1: SUBMIT Online NP Form 1 - Application for Certification.
You must pay the $85 license and first registration fee by credit card.
If you started filling out Online NP Form 1 within the past 30 days, you can continue filling it out by using this link. You will need your Application ID, social security number, and date of birth to access your application. If you already completed Online NP Form 1 and want to upload additional documentation to your application use this link. You will need your Application ID, and date of birth to access your application.
- STEP 2: HAVE THE NATIONAL CERTIFYING ORGANIZATION VERIFY YOUR NP CERTIFICATION.
Complete Section I of NP Form 3 - Verification of National Nurse Practitioner Examination and send the entire form to the national certifying organization that issued your NP certification. The organization must complete Section II and return the entire form (or a scanned copy of it) directly to NYSED by EMAIL at DPLSVERIF@nysed.gov by regular mail at the address at the end of the form.
- ALERT! If you were initially NP certified before January 1, 2011, you must demonstrate that you passed an acceptable NP certification examination offered by the National Certifying Organization after January 1, 2011. If you have not, you must complete at least 3 semester hours of graduate level pharmacotherapy coursework. If you completed this coursework, fill out, sign, and date Section I of NP Form 2C - Verification of Pharmacotherapeutics Course. Send the entire form to the school/institution/professional association where you completed pharmacotherapy coursework and have them complete Section II. The school/institution/professional association must send the entire completed form (or a scanned copy of it) directly to NYSED by EMAIL at OPUNIT4@nysed.gov, or, by regular mail at the address at the end of the form.
- ALERT! If you were initially NP certified before January 1, 2011, you must demonstrate that you passed an acceptable NP certification examination offered by the National Certifying Organization after January 1, 2011. If you have not, you must complete at least 3 semester hours of graduate level pharmacotherapy coursework. If you completed this coursework, fill out, sign, and date Section I of NP Form 2C - Verification of Pharmacotherapeutics Course. Send the entire form to the school/institution/professional association where you completed pharmacotherapy coursework and have them complete Section II. The school/institution/professional association must send the entire completed form (or a scanned copy of it) directly to NYSED by EMAIL at OPUNIT4@nysed.gov, or, by regular mail at the address at the end of the form.
- STEP 3: COMPLETE COURSEWORK ON LAWS GOVERNING PRESCRIPTIONS AND RECORD KEEPING
You must complete coursework on New York State and federal laws governing prescriptions and record keeping. The following organizations offer this coursework online:The Nurse Practitioner Association of New York State
Phone 518-348-0719
Web www.thenpa.orgThe New York State Nurses Association
After you have completed the coursework, fill out Section 1 of NP Form 2B - Verification of Instruction in New York State and Federal Laws Related to Prescriptions and Record Keeping. Be sure to sign and date item 8. Send the entire form to the organization where you completed the instruction. The organization must complete Section II and send the entire form (or a scanned copy of it) directly to NYSED by EMAIL at DPLSEduc@nysed.gov or by regular mail at the address at the end of the form.
Phone 518-782-9400 ext. 377
Web www.elearnonline.net
NP Pathway #3 - Applicants who are currently licensed/certified as an NP in another jurisdiction – and/or - who graduated from an NP program in another jurisdiction
These instructions apply to applicants for an NP certificate who are licensed and registered as an RN in New York State (or who have applied for an RN license in New York State) – and- meet criteria in one or both of the paragraphs (1 or 2) below.
- Currently hold an unencumbered NP license or certification issued by a state, U.S. territory, or another country with licensure standards that are substantially equivalent to New York State requirements for NP certification.
- OR -
- graduated from an NP program in another state or U.S. territory that is equivalent to a New York State registered NP education program.
- STEP 1: SUBMIT Online NP Form 1 - Application for Certification.
You must pay the $85 license and first registration fee by credit card.
If you started filling out Online NP Form 1 within the past 30 days, you can continue filling it out by using this link. You will need your Application ID, social security number, and date of birth to access your application. If you already completed Online NP Form 1 and want to upload additional documentation to your application use this link. You will need your Application ID, and date of birth to access your application.
- STEP 2: HAVE YOUR SCHOOL (COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY) VERIFY YOUR NP EDUCATION.
Complete Section I of NP Form 2 - Certification of Professional Education and send the entire form to your school. Section II must be filled out by your school and signed by the registrar. The school must send the completed from (or a scanned copy of it) directly to NYSED by EMAIL at DPLSEDUC@nysed.gov or by regular mail at the address at the end of the form. You must also arrange to have your official transcript submitted to NYSED.
- STEP 3: HAVE YOUR SCHOOL/INSTITUTION/PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION VERIFY YOUR PHARMACOTHERAPEUTICS COURSE.
You must demonstrate that you completed acceptable graduate level pharmacotherapy coursework. Complete Section I of NP Form 2C - Verification of Pharmacotherapeutics Course and sign and date item 8. Send the entire form to the school/institution/professional association where you completed the pharmacotherapy coursework and have them complete Section II. The school/institution/professional association must return the entire form (or a scanned copy of it) directly to NYSED by EMAIL at DPLSEDUC@nysed.gov, or, by regular mail at the address at the end of the form. - STEP 4: HAVE YOUR NP LICENSE(S) VERIFIED (if applicable)
If you have been licensed or certified as an NP in another state or a U.S. Territory, you must arrange to have information verifying your license/certification provided to the New York State Education Department. Fill out NP Form 3 - Verification of Other Professional Licensure /Certification and send it to the licensing authority that granted your license. The licensing authority will verify your license on Nurse Form 3 and then send it to the New York State Education Department and return the entire form directly to NYSED by regular mail at the address at the end of the form or send a scanned copy of it by EMAIL at DPLSEduc@nysed.gov.
- STEP 5: COMPLETE COURSEWORK ON LAWS GOVERNING PRESCRIPTIONS AND RECORD KEEPING
You must complete coursework on New York State and federal laws governing prescriptions and record keeping. The following organizations offer this coursework online:The Nurse Practitioner Association of New York State
Phone 518-348-0719
Web www.thenpa.orgThe New York State Nurses Association
After you have completed the coursework, fill out Section 1 of NP Form 2B - Verification of Instruction in New York State and Federal Laws Related to Prescriptions and Record Keeping. Be sure to sign and date item 8. Send the entire form to the organization where you completed the instruction. The organization must complete Section II and send the entire form (or a scanned copy of it) directly to NYSED by EMAIL at DPLSEduc@nysed.gov or by regular mail at the address at the end of the form.
Phone 518-782-9400 ext. 377
Web www.elearnonline.net