Vermont Nurse Practitioner and APRN Requirements 2026
Vermont licenses advanced practice nurses as APRNs across four roles: nurse practitioner, certified registered nurse anesthetist, certified nurse-midwife, and clinical nurse specialist in psychiatric and mental health nursing. The credential requires a graduate degree and national certification. APRNs who have not yet completed the transition to practice period must work under a collaborative agreement until independent practice is authorized.
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Vermont’s APRN licensure process has three components: graduate education, national certification, and a transition-to-practice period. The Vermont Office of Professional Regulation issues the APRN license after education and certification requirements are met. APRNs who have not yet completed the transition-to-practice requirement must work under a collaborative agreement until they do so. Independent practice is authorized once the transition period is finished.
Vermont is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact. APRNs must hold either a Vermont RN license or a compact multistate RN license before pursuing APRN licensure. See Vermont RN licensure requirements if you haven’t yet completed that step.
The state recognizes four APRN roles. Nurse practitioners make up the largest group, but the same licensure framework applies to CRNAs, CNMs, and clinical nurse specialists in psychiatric and mental health nursing. Each role is paired with a population focus, which narrows the scope of authorized practice.
Use the links below to jump to the education requirements, certification, the transition-to-practice period, and application steps.
- Education requirements
- National certification
- Transition to practice
- Recency requirement
- Application process
- Renewal requirements
- Board contacts and associations
Education Requirements
To qualify for APRN licensure, you’ll need a graduate degree or graduate certificate in one of Vermont’s four recognized APRN roles. The program must be approved by the Vermont Board of Nursing or accredited by a state or national agency that the Board has accepted. A list of approved in-state programs is available through the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation, and a directory of Vermont nurse practitioner programs is available on this site.
The curriculum must include three core content areas: advanced health assessment, advanced pathophysiology, and pharmacotherapeutics. Programs also require a supervised clinical component in the role and population focus that matches your intended certification.
Vermont recognizes the following population foci:
- Adult-Gerontology (primary care and/or acute care)
- Family/individual across the lifespan
- Neonatal
- Pediatric
- Psychiatric/mental health
- Women’s health/gender-related
Your role and population focus combination will determine which national certification you pursue and what scope of practice you’re authorized to hold in Vermont.
National Certification
After completing the graduate program, you’ll sit for a national certification exam that matches your role and population focus. Vermont requires certification from an approved organization before issuing an APRN license.
The Board accepts certification from the following organizations:
- American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
- American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
- American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM)
- American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB)
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA)
- National Certification Corporation (NCC)
- Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB)
Nurse practitioners can hold family, pediatric, or psychiatric/mental health certifications, among others. The AANP, ANCC, and NCC all offer NP certifications. Clinical nurse specialists in psychiatric and mental health nursing are certified by the ANCC.
Transition to Practice (Collaborative Practice Requirement)
Vermont issues the APRN license before the transition-to-practice period is complete. APRNs who have not yet accumulated the required hours must practice under a formal collaborative agreement with a physician or another APRN until they do. The collaborating provider must hold an active, unencumbered license in good standing and must practice in the same role and population focus as the APRN.
The transition-to-practice period requires at least 2 years and 2,400 hours of experience. Once the APRN is completed, the APRN can practice independently without a collaborative agreement.
If you later earn certification in a second role and population focus, you’ll complete another transition to practice, though a shorter one. The second transition requires at least 1,600 hours over at least 12 months. The collaborating APRN for any transition period must hold the same role and population focus as the applicant.
Recency Requirement
Applicants who graduated more than 2 years before applying must demonstrate recent practice. Vermont accepts either 400 hours (50 days) earned within the most recent two-year period, or 960 hours (120 days) earned within the most recent five-year period. Volunteer hours are creditable.
If you don’t meet the recency threshold, you’ll need to complete a refresher course. The Board may issue a temporary permit for this purpose, and accepts refresher courses completed within the prior two-year period. The number of required theoretical and clinical hours varies based on how long you’ve been out of practice:
- Out of practice two to five years: partial refresher requirements
- Out of practice five to ten years: more extensive refresher requirements
- Out of practice ten or more years: a new graduate program is required
The full “Refresher Course Options” document is available through the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation.
The Application Process
Applications are submitted through the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation. Check the Office of Professional Regulation website for the current submission method and to download or access the application form, as Vermont has moved many licensing processes online.
Your application package will need to include:
- Official transcripts (submitted by the school in sealed envelopes, or directly from the institution)
- A copy of your qualifying national certification
- Practice guidelines demonstrating that your practice falls within your certified role and population focus (use the Board’s template)
- A recent 2×2 photograph attached to the application form
- A copy of a driver’s license or other government-issued ID
If you hold a license in another state, include a copy showing the expiration date. Applicants with a condition or addiction that could affect practice, or with a disciplinary or legal history, must provide a written explanation and supporting documentation.
APRNs using volunteer work to satisfy the recency requirement should submit an employer letter and job description. Those who worked in private duty can provide a letter from an employer, client, or attending provider. Contact information is required in all cases.
There is an application fee; verify the current amount with the Office of Professional Regulation fee schedule before submitting.
Renewal Requirements
APRN licenses renew on a biennial (two-year) cycle. At renewal, you’ll need to demonstrate current national certification and, if employed, provide current practice guidelines.
Vermont requires APRNs to meet active practice hour requirements for renewal: 400 hours in the most recent two years, or 960 hours in the most recent five years. If you don’t meet the practice hour requirement, a refresher course will be required before your license can be renewed.
APRNs who prescribe controlled substances must complete two hours of continuing education on controlled substance prescribing every two years. Vermont has no general continuing education mandate for APRNs beyond the practice-hour attestation and national certification requirements.
Board Contacts and Additional Information
APRN licensing is handled by the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation. The licensing page, application forms, approved program list, and practice guidelines template are all available at sos.vermont.gov. Statutes and rules governing APRN practice are available at the statutes and rules page.
Professional associations are useful for staying current on scope-of-practice updates and legislative changes. State-level organizations include the Vermont Nurse Practitioners Association (vtnpa.enpnetwork.com) and the Vermont Nurse Anesthetist Association (vtana.org).
Find nursing licensure requirements by state for RNs, LPNs, LVNs, and advanced practice nurses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Vermont allow APRNs to practice independently?
Yes, but independent practice isn’t authorized immediately upon licensure. Vermont issues the APRN license after education and certification requirements are met. APRNs who haven’t yet completed the transition-to-practice requirement must work under a collaborative agreement with a physician or qualified APRN until they have accumulated at least 2,400 hours over at least two years. Once that threshold is met, the collaborative agreement requirement ends.
Is Vermont a Nurse Licensure Compact state?
Yes. Vermont joined the Nurse Licensure Compact, so nurses holding a multistate compact RN license in another NLC member jurisdiction can use that license to meet Vermont’s RN licensure requirement for APRN applications. Vermont RN licensure alone also satisfies the requirement.
What graduate programs qualify for Vermont APRN licensure?
Programs must be approved by the Vermont Board of Nursing or accredited by a state or national accrediting agency the Board recognizes. The curriculum must include advanced health assessment, advanced pathophysiology, and pharmacotherapeutics, along with a supervised clinical component in your intended role and population focus. The Office of Professional Regulation publishes a list of approved in-state programs.
Do Vermont APRNs have continuing education requirements?
Vermont doesn’t require general continuing education for APRN license renewal. The renewal requirement is to demonstrate active practice hours (400 hours over two years or 960 hours over five years) and to maintain current national certification. The one exception: APRNs who prescribe controlled substances must complete two hours of CE on controlled substance prescribing every two years.
What happens if I’ve been out of practice for several years and want to apply for Vermont APRN licensure?
Vermont requires applicants who graduated more than 2 years ago to demonstrate recent practice. If you can’t document the required hours, you’ll need to complete a refresher course before the Board will issue or renew your license. The scope of the refresher depends on how long you’ve been out of practice. Applicants who have been inactive for 10 or more years must complete a new graduate program.
Key Takeaways
- Transition to practice precedes independent practice, not initial licensure — Vermont issues the APRN license after education and certification are complete. APRNs must work under a collaborative agreement until the two-year/2,400-hour transition requirement is met, at which point independent practice is authorized.
- Vermont is an NLC member — The state joined the Nurse Licensure Compact. APRNs must hold a Vermont RN license or a compact multistate RN license to qualify for APRN licensure.
- Four recognized APRN roles — Vermont licenses nurse practitioners, CRNAs, CNMs, and clinical nurse specialists in psychiatric and mental health nursing, each paired with a population focus.
- Controlled substance prescribers have a CE requirement — Most Vermont APRNs have no general CE mandate, but those who prescribe controlled substances must complete two hours of CE on that topic every two years.
- Verify fees with the Board — Application fees are set by the Office of Professional Regulation and are subject to change. Confirm the current amount before submitting your application.
Find approved nurse practitioner programs in Vermont and review application requirements for your specialty and population focus.