California Nurse Practitioner License Requirements 2026
California NPs are licensed and certified by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN). You must hold an active RN license, complete an accredited NP program, and earn national certification in your specialty. California is not a Nurse Licensure Compact state, so all practice in the state requires a California-issued license.
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The California BRN certifies five categories of advanced practice nurses: nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, nurse-midwives, clinical nurse specialists, and psychiatric/mental health nurses. Each has its own education and certification requirements, and all require an active California RN license as a prerequisite. This page covers all five, with an expanded section on nurse practitioners, including California’s independent practice framework under AB 890.
Use the links below to jump to certification requirements, independent practice rules, the application process, and renewal information.
- Nurse Practitioner Requirements
- Independent Practice Under AB 890
- Nurse Anesthetist Requirements
- Nurse-Midwife Requirements
- Clinical Nurse Specialist Requirements
- Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Requirements
- Application Process
- Prescriptive Authority
- Out-of-State Nurses
- Renewal Requirements
Nurse Practitioner Requirements
A nurse can become a certified NP in California through one of three pathways: completing a BRN-approved in-state program, earning certification through an accepted national organization, or demonstrating equivalency through clinical experience and competency verification.
The BRN maintains a list of approved Nurse Practitioner programs in California on its website at rn.ca.gov. Programs must meet the board’s education standards, which include graduate-level coursework and supervised clinical hours within your population focus.
California recognizes six NP population focus areas: family, adult-gerontology, neonatal, pediatrics, women’s health, and mental health. Your national certification must align with the population focus of your NP program.
Accepted Certification Organizations
The BRN accepts NP certification from the following organizations:
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
- American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- National Certification Corporation for the Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing Specialties (NCC)
- Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB)
Certification by equivalency requires documentation of clinical experience and verification of competency in primary care. A licensed physician and a licensed NP must both verify clinical competency. You’ll also need to submit course content documentation to the BRN.
Independent Practice Under AB 890
California’s Assembly Bill 890, effective January 1, 2023, created two new NP certification categories that allow qualified NPs to practice without standardized procedures in certain settings. Before AB 890, all California NPs worked under standardized procedures, which are formal written protocols jointly developed with a supervising physician.
103 NP Certification
A “103 NP” may practice without standardized procedures within the population focus of their national certification, but only within an approved group setting that includes at least one physician. To qualify, an NP must complete a transition-to-practice period of 4,600 hours (equivalent to three full-time years) of direct patient care as a licensed NP in California within the past five years. The transition to practice does not need to fall within a single population focus area.
103 NPs have been eligible for licensure since January 1, 2023. SB 1451, effective January 1, 2025, clarified the transition-to-practice requirements and allows applicants to count clinical experience across multiple population categories.
104 NP Certification
A “104 NP” may practice without standardized procedures in any setting, removing the group-setting requirement. This is the fuller independent practice pathway. To qualify, an NP must first hold 103 NP status in good standing and then practice as a 103 NP for at least three additional full-time years (or 4,600 hours). The first 103 NPs became eligible to apply for 104 NP status in 2026.
Both pathways are voluntary. NPs who prefer to continue working under standardized procedures may do so and are not required to pursue 103 or 104 NP status.
NP Salary and Job Outlook in California
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nurse practitioners in California earned a median annual wage of $176,760 as of May 2025. The BLS projects NP employment in California to grow 58.6% between 2022 and 2032, with an average of 2,500 job openings per year statewide.
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage (CA) | Projected Job Growth (2022–2032) |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse Practitioners (29-1171) | $176,760 | 58.6% |
Nurse Anesthetist Requirements
California nurse anesthetists must complete a program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) and earn certification through the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA). The BRN maintains a list of accredited in-state programs on its website.
Nurse-Midwife Requirements
A nurse can qualify for California nurse-midwife certification by completing a BRN-approved California program, completing a program that meets the standards in Section 1462 of state regulation, or earning certification through the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB). The BRN maintains a current list of approved in-state programs on its website at rn.ca.gov.
Unless you’re a recent graduate, you’ll need to submit a recency form verifying clinical experience from the previous five years.
Clinical Nurse Specialist Requirements
A nurse can become a clinical nurse specialist on the strength of a master’s degree in a clinical nursing specialty or a related clinical field.
If the master’s program meets BRN standards, you can qualify by verifying education and clinical experience. The professional who verifies clinical experience must be familiar with the CNS role and have observed the applicant carry out five advanced nursing components: expert clinical nursing practice, clinical leadership, research, education, and consultation.
A CNS qualifying by equivalency must document coursework in all five component areas in addition to clinical experience. Certification-based qualifications are accepted from the following organizations:
- American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC)
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Requirements
A master’s level nurse may be placed on the California psychiatric/mental health nurse list (making them eligible for direct insurance reimbursement in some circumstances) by completing a master’s level mental health nursing program and accruing two years of clinical experience, with at least one year post-master’s. The PMH designation can also be earned through the ANCC national certification.
The BRN notes that placement on the PMH list does not expand the scope of practice beyond what the RN license permits.
Application Process
Application forms for all APN specialty areas are available on the BRN website at rn.ca.gov. Each specialty has a separate application packet. Some specialties can be applied for through the BreEZe online portal; check the BRN website for the current application format for your specialty, as California has expanded online services over time.
Review the current application packet on the BRN website to ensure you meet the documentation requirements before applying. Third-party verification of eligibility is required: an educational institution representative completes the educational verification form, and the institution provides official transcripts. Some applicants may need additional documentation depending on their qualification pathway. The BRN sets application fees, which are subject to change. Check the current application packet on the BRN website for the fee in effect at the time of your application, as fees have been updated since earlier versions of this page were published.
Prescriptive Authority
Nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives may be authorized to order medication for patients through a “furnishing number” issued by the BRN.
To qualify, an NP must complete an advanced pharmacology course through a nationally accredited NP program. Nurse-midwives must complete a master’s-level or post-master’s advanced pharmacology course that meets the standards outlined in the application packet.
The furnishing number application requires educational verification and a fee. Applicants who completed their pharmacology course more than five years ago will need additional documentation, which may include employment verification, a copy of an out-of-state certificate, a copy of the other state’s prescriptive authority regulations, a copy of the DEA identification card, and a copy of any collaborative agreement if one was previously required.
NPs with prescriptive authority must complete 3 continuing education hours on Schedule II controlled substances, including addiction risks, as part of their 30-hour CE requirement.
Out-of-State Nurses
California is not a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). NPs and other advanced practice nurses licensed in compact states cannot practice in California using their home-state licenses. All practice in California requires a California-issued RN license and the appropriate APN certification.
Out-of-state nurses who don’t yet hold a California RN license must submit an endorsement application. They may apply for temporary NP certification while their RN endorsement is being processed, which allows them to begin work sooner.
Renewal Requirements
Advanced practice certificates renew on the same cycle as the RN license. The BRN does not impose CE requirements beyond those required for RN license renewal, with one exception: beginning January 1, 2025, NPs who provide primary care to a patient population where 25% or more are age 65 or older must complete at least 6 of their 30 required CE hours in gerontology, dementia care, or the care of older patients every two years (CA SB-639 and CA AB-2270, effective January 1, 2025).
Renewal of nurse anesthetist, clinical nurse specialist, and nurse-midwife certificates requires payment of additional fees beyond the RN renewal fee. Furnishing numbers also requires a separate renewal fee.
In some cases, renewal is automatic. Check the BRN website for current renewal instructions and fee schedules.
Professional Associations and Additional Resources
The California Board of Registered Nursing is the primary regulatory authority for all APN certification in the state. The BRN can be reached at (916) 322-3350, and its website, rn.ca.gov, maintains current application packets, fee schedules, and approved program lists for all specialties.
Professional associations for California advanced practice nurses include:
- California Association for Nurse Practitioners: canpweb.org
- California Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists: cacns.org
- California Association of Nurse Anesthetists: canainc.org
- California Nurse-Midwives Association: california.midwife.org
Find nursing licensure requirements by state for RNs, LPNs, LVNs, and advanced practice nurses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does California recognize NP licenses from other states?
California is not a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so there is no reciprocal recognition of out-of-state NP licenses. An NP licensed in another state must apply for California RN licensure by endorsement and then apply separately for California NP certification. Temporary NP certification is available during the endorsement process.
What is the difference between a 103 NP and a 104 NP in California?
Both are independent practice designations created under AB 890. A 103 NP may practice without standardized procedures but must work within an approved group setting that includes at least one physician. A 104 NP has broader authority and may practice independently in any setting. Qualifying for 104 status requires first holding 103 NP certification and then practicing in that role for at least three years.
Do I need a master’s degree to become an NP in California?
Yes. California NP certification requires completion of a graduate-level NP program. The BRN accepts master’s and doctoral programs (DNP). The program must be accredited and approved by the BRN, and it must include clinical hours within your chosen population focus area.
How long does the California NP application take to process?
Processing times vary and are subject to change based on BRN workload. Check the BRN website at rn.ca.gov for current processing time estimates before submitting your application, as timelines can range from several weeks to a few months, depending on application volume and the completeness of your documentation.
Are there continuing education requirements specific to NPs in California?
California NPs are required to complete 30 hours of CE per renewal cycle, the same as RNs. Of those 30 hours, 3 must cover Schedule II controlled substances if you hold a furnishing number. Beginning January 1, 2025, NPs providing primary care to a patient population where more than 25% are age 65 or older must complete at least 6 of the 30 CE hours in gerontology or dementia care.
Key Takeaways
- BRN certifies five APN specialties: nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, nurse-midwives, clinical nurse specialists, and psychiatric/mental health nurses.
- AB 890 created two independent practice pathways — 103 NPs may practice without standardized procedures in approved group settings after 4,600 hours of transition-to-practice. 104 NPs may practice independently in any setting after three additional years as a 103 NP.
- California is not an NLC compact state — Out-of-state nurses must obtain a California RN license by endorsement and apply separately for APN certification before practicing in the state.
- Furnishing numbers require a separate application — NPs and nurse-midwives who want prescriptive authority must apply for a furnishing number and complete an advanced pharmacology course through an accredited program.
- A new CE requirement took effect in 2025 — NPs providing primary care to populations with 25% or more age 65+ must complete at least 6 of 30 CE hours in gerontology or dementia care per renewal cycle.
Find California-approved NP programs, application checklists, and BRN-accepted certification organizations in one place.
2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary data and Projections Central 2022-2032 job growth forecasts for Licensed Practical & Vocational Nurses, Registered Nurses, and Advanced Practice Nurses across roles, reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed June 2026.