Advanced Practice Registered Nurse License Requirements in New Hampshire
New Hampshire’s Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) are under the jurisdiction of the Board of Nursing. An APRN license can be granted on the basis of education and training in any of three advanced practice roles:
- Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Midwife
- Nurse Anesthetist
APRNs hold dual licensing as RNs. An RN may hold licensure in New Hampshire or in another compact state.
Select a New Hampshire Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Topic:
- APRN Educational Requirements in New Hampshire
- APRN Certification Requirements in New Hampshire
- New Hampshire APRN Application Materials and Process
- Temporary Licensure for New Graduates
- APRN License Renewal and Reinstatement Requirements
- Nursing Board, Contacts, Associations and Additional Information
APRN Educational Requirements
Education takes place at the graduate level. An APRN program must include at least 228 hours of theory and 480 hours of clinical practice; clinical practice is to include pharmacology. The APRN must have a degree at at least the master’s level (New Hampshire Nurse Practitioner programs).
An advanced practice nurse who completed his or her education prior to July 1, 2004 is not required to hold a graduate degree. In this case, the licensing agency can accept a certificate.
APRN Certification Requirements
A graduate must earn national certification through an approved national organization before he or she can attain full licensure. The APRN must then maintain certification (http://www.nh.gov/nursing/licensure/national-certification-aprn.htm). Initial certification is granted on the basis of credential review and examination. The certificate holder will need to meet continuing education/ continuing competency standards set by the certifying agency.
Nurse midwives are certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board. Nurse anesthetists are certified by the National Board of Certification & Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists. Nurse practitioners may be certified by any of four organizations. The American Nurses Credentialing Center is the approved certification agency for acute care, gerontological, and adult or family psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioners. The National Certification Corporation for the Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing Specialties is the approved certification agency for women’s health and neonatal nurse practitioners. Adult and family nurse practitioners may be certified by either the American Nurses Credentialing Center or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Pediatric nurse practitioners may be certified by either the American Nurses Credentialing Center or the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board.
Examination availability changes periodically. Prospective advanced practice nurses may visit the ‘APRN’ page of the Board website for updates (http://www.nh.gov/nursing/licensure/national-certification-aprn.htm).
The Application Process
The prospective APRN must have state and federal criminal background checks. An in-state applicant may have fingerprints made electronically at the Department of Public Safety Building in Concord or at another approved Livescan site (http://www.nh.gov/nursing/enforcement/obtain-criminal-background-check.htm). Most sites require appointments. An applicant may call (603) 223-3867. Applicants who reside out-of-state may mail their fingerprint cards. The background check process fee is currently $49.75.
Application forms can be downloaded from the website of the New Hampshire Board of Nursing (http://www.nh.gov/nursing/forms/index.htm).
The applicant will mark one of four practitioner categories: adult, pediatric, nurse midwife, or nurse anesthetist.
The Board will require a copy of the current certification.
The applicant will also need to provide an official transcript. If it is not clear from the transcript that the pharmacology requirement was met, the graduate should provide a letter from the director verifying pharmacology content integration.
Individuals who graduated two or more years in the past must provide evidence of continuing education. The Board expects at least 30 total continuing education hours, with at least five in pharmacology. The Board also expects that the applicant will have practiced at least 400 hours in the prior four years.
Applicants who answer “yes” to screening questions (adverse legal or professional history, chemical dependencies or other impairments) will need to provide letters of explanation.
The application fee is $100.
Temporary Licensure for New Graduates
A new graduate is expected to register for the first available examination in his or her practice area. A graduate who has provided documentation of his or her upcoming examination date may be granted a temporary license.
The temporary licensee is known as a TAPRN. The TAPRN will need oversight by an APRN who has experience in the same advanced practice category.
The graduate will need to submit both a standard APRN application and a temporary application, along with supporting documentation. He or she will remit an additional $20.
A temporary license will expire after notification of examination failure or after a standard license has been issued. The temporary credential is valid for a maximum of 120 days.
Renewal and Reinstatement
New Hampshire nursing licenses are renewed every two years. An APRN will need to complete 30 hours in his or her specialty; this is in addition to the 30 required for RN renewal. Specialty certification may be credited toward the RN renewal requirement (http://www.nh.gov/nursing/licensure/continuing-competence.htm).
In order to meet the Board’s continuing competency requirement, an APRN must practice at least 400 hours over a four-year period. An individual who fails to meet this requirement must go through a re-entry process (http://www.nh.gov/nursing/licensure/reentry-aprn.htm). Re-entry programs may be offered by universities or by specialty certification organizations (http://www.nh.gov/nursing/licensure/reentry-options.htm).
Additional Information
APRN licensing information is available from the New Hampshire Board of Nursing (http://www.nh.gov/nursing/aprn/index.htm). The Board can be reached by telephone at (603) 271-2323 or by email at ‘boardquestions at nursing.state.nh.us’.
The state’s advanced practice professional associations serve as additional resources:
- New Hampshire Nurse Practitioner Association https://nhnpa.enpnetwork.com/
- New Hampshire Association of Nurse Anesthetists http://nhana.org/
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