For instance, the distinction between RN licensure examinations and RN certification examinations is clear. This certificate meets the federal definition of “the process by which a non-governmental organization grants recognition to an individual who has met predetermined qualifications specified by that organization”. Once licensed, you are be able to work while being supervised by a registered nurse (RN). Certification organizations, being accountable only to themselves, are free to establish criteria in the interest of their members.4 They are not accountable to the public. Identification of the knowledge, skills, and abilities to be included in the examination is based on a job analysis study. The difference between licensure and certification seems very distinct in many healthcare roles. Lippincott NursingCenter’s Best Practice Advisor, Lippincott NursingCenter’s Cardiac Insider, Lippincott NursingCenter’s Career Advisor, Lippincott NursingCenter’s Critical Care Insider, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Management of Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding, Management of Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding, Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO), Comparison of Licensure and Certification. If nurses fail to practice within the prescribed scope, they are subject to disciplinary actions by boards of nursing. This certificate may. OSBN will validate your active national certification via the accrediting body’s verification website during the application process. From a measurement perspective, they may not be constructed psychometrically in a manner appropriate for legal recognition. Advanced practice registered nurses ask if they are licensed after taking their APRN certification examination. On the basis of 2007 data (National Council of State Boards of Nursing [NCSBN]), 45 boards of nursing (out of 57 jurisdictions in the United States and its territories) use APRN certification examinations as one of the requirements for advanced practice licensure for nurse practitioners, and 38 boards of nursing use APRN certification examinations for clinical nurse specialists.1 With the adoption of the APRN Uniform Requirements, the number of boards using certification examinations promises to increase.2 The APRN Uniform Requirements were developed to serve as a foundation for the APRN Compact. Certification refers to a voluntary credential that is used to represent the holders to the public, consumers, and employers as proof that they have met certain standards in their area of practice or occupation. Boards of nursing very carefully review APRN examinations before determining which APRN certification programs meet their licensure requirements. A license is granted to those individuals who meet prerequisite qualifications to perform prescribed health professional tasks and for the use of a particular title.” RCW 18.120.020, Certification may be defined as, “a written assurance, or official representation, that some act has or has not been done, or some event occurred, or some legal formality been complied with.” Lawdictionary, The federal government has defined “certification” as the process by which a non-governmental organization grants recognition to an individual who has met predetermined qualifications specified by that organization. PLAY. Some APRN certification programs have changed many aspects of their certification examinations to enable their examinations to be used by boards of nursing such as directing the examination at entry-level competency as opposed to testing excellence and determining the appropriate breadth of the examination based on a job analysis study of newly graduated APRNs in a specialty area. Hopkins BR. An RN degree (sometimes an advanced degree, like an MSN), an unencumbered RN license, a minimum number of direct-care hours in the specialty, and a certification test are usually all required for a nurse to become certified in an area of care. Before practicing as an RN, candidates must apply to a board of nursing and submit evidence that they have completed requirements. Requirements for licensure can vary from state to state but usually include successful completion of an approved nursing education program and the NCLEX-RN. Often this is something that would be illegal with out a license. New graduates can be confused regarding the meaning of APRN certification examinations. It is important for the APRN to understand that only after APRNs are licensed by a board of nursing can they practice legally as an advanced practice nurse. © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Member Board Profiles. Licensure authorizes a legal scope of practice for a nurse, provides legal use of a title, and includes standards of practice. However, not all APRN certification programs have subscribed to the regulatory criteria required for licensure examinations. This is further complicated by the variety of uses for these terms both in statute (law) and common vernacular (or language). The State of Washington, Department of Health, is responsible for issuing professional certifications for Allied Health occupations. The title given to an individual (eg, registered nurse [RN], licensed practical nurse, etc) indicates that he/she has completed eligibility requirements to obtain the title and authorizes him/her to be able to practice within a specific scope of practice. The Nurse License Verification service enables nurses to verify their license(s) from a Nursys verification participating board when applying for endorsement into another state. The certification process provides nurses with a mechanism to distinguish themselves from other nurses. All of the information here is specific to Washington State and Bellevue College. Once you have successfully applied for AND received certification from the Department of Health (again for Washington State) you are able to function in that profession under the authority or delegation of a licensed provider. You will learn about general patient care, human physiology and anatomy and touch on some nursing theories. However, with the advent of APRN certification examinations being used by boards of nursing as a measure of APRN competence, the stakeholders for APRN certification programs now include the public. The complete list of criteria for certification programs, "Requirements for Accrediting Agencies and Criteria for Certification Programs," can be found on NCSBN's Web site at http://www.ncsbn.org. 2. Schmitt K. What is licensure? Traditional certification programs also have the option of determining the breadth of their examination and determine who is eligible to take their examination. This becomes a limiting factor when the practitioner is faced with a wide variety of health disorders in practice. Emergency Volunteer Health Practitioners . Effective January 1, 2017, previously barred health care workers and first time applicants may become eligible for a license. Medical licensure indicates that a physician has met minimum requirements for the undifferentiated practice of medicine. Lincoln, NE: Buros Institute of Mental Measurements; 1995:3-32. The APRN certification examination must be directed toward measuring the essential competencies in the professional APRN role. Nursing licensure is a form of credentialing or regulatory method that is used when the activities being regulated are complex and require specialized knowledge coupled with the ability to make independent decisions. Introduction to Nursing Licensure & Certification. After completing a program at Bellevue College, you must apply to the Department of Health for professional certification in your occupation. To practice beyond treating that specific disease entity could mean that the nurse practitioner has gone beyond his/her scope of practice. 2, No. Licensure results from the enactment of a nurse practice act by state legislatures to regulate nursing. However, the use of APRN certification examinations as a basis for licensure has caused confusion among APRNs and APRN stakeholders regarding the difference between certification and licensure. Nursing Licensure. Examinations used for licensure must be based on established testing standards and criteria to be legally defensible and psychometrically sound. Other locations or institutions may have different requirements, you must check with that location or institution for their requirements. In addition, they meet specific testing practices such as being in compliance with the American Disabilities Act. As advanced practice nursing was being recognized as a distinct role from registered nursing, boards of nursing began to look for assessment methods to evaluate advanced practice registered nurse's (APRNs') competency to practice. The following are some of the striking differences between Certification Vs. Licensure: Meaning. A license is a state’s grant of legal authority to practice a profession within a designated scope of practice. The nurse practitioner with a narrow subspecialty is also limited in his/her ability to change to another specialty practice, which may decrease a practitioner's flexibility in changing work settings. Questions on the examinations are confined to those with a direct relationship to public safety. 1. 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