How to Become a Nurse Practitioner in Maryland 2026
The Maryland Board of Nursing certifies nurse practitioners based on three requirements: an active RN license, completion of a Board-approved graduate program, and national certification in your specialty. All applicants must also clear a criminal background check. Maryland’s Full Practice Authority Act allows certified NPs to practice and prescribe independently. No physician collaboration agreement is required.
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The Maryland Board of Nursing (MBON) issues APRN certificates in five categories: nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife, certified registered nurse anesthetist, clinical nurse specialist, and nurse psychotherapist. A nurse practitioner is the most common. The certification path is sequential: an RN license comes first, graduate education and national certification follow, and the MBON application closes. Maryland’s 2015 Full Practice Authority Act means certified NPs practice at the full extent of their training, without a required physician oversight arrangement.
Use the links below to jump to each stage of the Maryland NP certification process.
- APRN roles recognized in Maryland
- RN licensure requirements
- Board-approved graduate program requirements
- National certification requirements
- Criminal background check
- How to apply for APRN certification
- Prescriptive authority in Maryland
- License renewal requirements
APRN Roles Recognized in Maryland
The MBON certifies five advanced practice categories. Each has its own education and national certification requirements, but all share the same foundational requirement: an active RN license. All share the same application process through the Board.
| APRN Role | Abbreviation | Practice Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse Practitioner | CRNP | Diagnoses, treats, and manages patients across specialties, including family, adult-gerontology, pediatric, women’s health, psychiatric mental health, and acute care |
| Certified Nurse Midwife | CNM | Maternity care, reproductive health, and gynecologic services |
| Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist | CRNA | Anesthesia administration in surgical, obstetric, and procedural settings |
| Clinical Nurse Specialist | CNS | Expert clinical consultation and direct patient care within a specialty area, including adult health, gerontology, pediatric, oncology, and critical care, requires a master’s degree or higher and national certification. |
| Nurse Psychotherapist | APRN/PMH | Independent psychiatric and mental health treatment; a Maryland-specific designation not widely used under that name in other states |
The CNS certification pathway differs from the nurse practitioner pathway in how the MBON evaluates applications. Maryland accepts CNS licensure certifications from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). Accepted ANCC specialties include adult health, home health, gerontological, pediatric, and public/community health; accepted AACN specialties include adult clinical, neonatal clinical, and pediatric clinical. Some certifications previously approved by the MBON are no longer available to new candidates — verify the current accepted list with the MBON before applying. An alternate certification pathway also exists for nurses who have practiced as a CNS; this pathway has somewhat more flexible certification requirements but still requires a master’s degree in nursing.
Step 1: Hold an Active RN License
Every APRN application in Maryland starts with an active, unencumbered registered nurse license. Maryland is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state, so a valid multi-state license from another compact state satisfies this requirement. Applicants with a compact-state RN license do not need a separate Maryland RN license before applying for APRN certification.
If your RN license is from a non-compact state, you’ll need to meet the Maryland RN licensing requirements for endorsement before submitting your APRN application. Endorsement requires documentation of either 1,000 hours of active nursing practice over the past five years or completion of a Board-approved refresher course, plus a $100 fee. The MBON processes endorsements through the NETS (Nurse Endorsement and Temporary License Application System).
Step 2: Complete a Board-Approved Graduate Program
Nurse practitioner applicants must complete a graduate-level program (either a master’s degree, MSN or MN, or a doctoral program, DNP) that the MBON has approved. The approved list includes programs from across the country, not only Maryland institutions. If the program you’re considering isn’t on the list, the school submits a Program Approval Form to the MBON Education Department. That form is the institution’s responsibility, not the student’s.
Programs must include coursework in pharmacology, physical and health assessment, and clinical reasoning appropriate to the intended specialty. The MBON requires that an NP’s certification align with the clinical training area of their approved program. An applicant who wants to practice in a population focus outside their original program will need to submit documentation of additional education or training.
Specialization tracks commonly recognized by Maryland-approved programs include:
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP (AGPCNP)
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP (AGACNP)
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner — Primary Care (PNP)
- Psychiatric-Mental Health NP (PMHNP)
- Women’s Health NP
See Maryland Nurse Practitioner Programs for a list of in-state and online graduate programs serving Maryland applicants.
Step 3: Earn National Certification in Your Specialty
After completing your graduate program, you’ll need to pass a national certification exam in your designated specialty. Certification must come from a Board-recognized organization and match your clinical training area. An FNP program qualifies you for the FNP-BC or FNP-C exam, for example. A certification outside your specialty requires documentation of additional training before the MBON will accept it.
Accepted certification bodies for nurse practitioners include:
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- American Association of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB)
- Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB)
- National Certification Corporation (NCC) — for women’s health specialties
Not every certification offered by these organizations is accepted for Maryland NP licensure. Check the approved certification list in the MBON application packet for your specialty. The list is updated periodically, and certification availability changes.
For other APRN categories: nurse midwives certify through the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB); nurse anesthetists certify through the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA); clinical nurse specialists certify through the NCC or AACN, depending on specialty; nurse psychotherapists certify through the ANCC in psychiatric mental health.
Step 4: Complete the Criminal Background Check
Maryland requires a criminal history records check (CHRC) by fingerprinting for all initial APRN certification applicants. The check is conducted through the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. Applicants within Maryland complete electronic fingerprinting at an approved Livescan site; out-of-state applicants follow a separate fingerprint card process. After fingerprinting, keep a receipt with a tracking number and attach a copy to your application.
Fingerprint records are maintained by the state’s Criminal Justice Information System Central Repository, and any new criminal information is reported to the MBON. If you’re applying for a second APRN specialty, a new CHRC is required unless you completed one for the MBON within the previous 12 months.
Step 5: Apply to the Maryland Board of Nursing
Application materials are available at health.maryland.gov/mbon, organized by APRN category. A complete initial application includes:
- Official transcript from your graduate program, sent directly from the institution in a sealed envelope or via electronic transcript service
- Copy of your current national certification
- Proof of RN licensure — Maryland license or compact-state multi-state license
- Completed CHRC documentation with tracking receipt
- $50 nonrefundable application fee ($25 for a second APRN credential)
If you attended more than one institution to complete your APRN education, official transcripts from each program are required. Submit a separate, complete application for each APRN specialty you’re pursuing. Each initial certification specialty is treated as a new application.
The MBON also offers Graduate Status for nurses who have completed all program requirements but haven’t yet taken the national certification exam. Graduate Status allows supervised practice by NPs before certification. The applicant must identify a certified nurse practitioner who will directly supervise the graduate. If a certified nurse practitioner is not available in the practice setting, a physician may provide direct supervision if the graduate maintains regular consultation with a certified nurse practitioner identified to the Maryland Board of Nursing.
Prescriptive Authority in Maryland
Certified nurse practitioners and nurse midwives in Maryland can apply for prescriptive authority, including for Schedule II through V controlled substances. Federal DEA registration is required to prescribe controlled substances; the MBON handles the state-level prescribing application separately from the APRN certificate. Contact the MBON directly for current prescribing authority documentation requirements.
Under a federal requirement effective June 27, 2023, all DEA-registered practitioners (including nurse practitioners) must complete a one-time eight-hour training on treating patients with opioid or substance use disorders before their first DEA renewal. APRNs applying for or renewing a controlled dangerous substances registration through the Maryland Office of Controlled Substances Administration (OCSA) must also complete a one-time two-hour training on prescribing or dispensing controlled substances.
Renewal Requirements
APRN certificates in Maryland require periodic renewal. The core renewal requirement is current national certification. The certifying body sets its own recertification schedule, which the APRN must meet independently. The MBON requires documentation that certification is current at the time of renewal.
Maryland also requires documentation of 1,000 hours of active nursing practice over the preceding five years. Qualifying activities include direct patient care, teaching, supervision, administration, and positions that require nursing licensure. Nurses who can’t document 1,000 hours must complete a Board-approved refresher course before renewal is granted.
Continuing education requirements that have applied to recent renewals include:
- One-time implicit bias training — required for first renewal on or after April 1, 2022
- One-time two-hour training on prescribing or dispensing controlled dangerous substances — required if applying for or renewing CDS prescribing authority through the OCSA
- One-time DEA eight-hour opioid and substance use disorder training — required for first DEA renewal after June 27, 2023
Maryland has also added a structural racism continuing education requirement applicable to certain renewal cycles. Check the MBON website for the current CE requirements in effect for your renewal date.
Note: Clinical nurse specialists renewing CNS certification submit a copy of their current national certification with a $10 renewal fee to the MBON Renewal Department. CNS renewals are currently processed as paper submissions rather than through the online renewal system.
Contact and Professional Resources
The Maryland Board of Nursing is the authoritative source for current certification requirements, approved program lists, application materials, and fee schedules. Requirements are subject to change. Verify current details before applying.
Maryland Board of Nursing (MBON)
4140 Patterson Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21215
Phone: 410-585-1930
health.maryland.gov/mbon — Advanced Practice Nursing
Professional associations serving Maryland APRNs:
- Maryland Academy of Advanced Practice Clinicians (MAAPC): maapconline.enpnetwork.com
- Nurse Practitioner Association of Maryland (NPAM): npamonline.org
- Maryland Association of Nurse Anesthetists (MANA): crnasofmd.org
Find nursing licensure requirements by state for RNs, LPNs, LVNs, and advanced practice nurses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Maryland give nurse practitioners full practice authority?
Yes. Maryland’s Full Practice Authority Act, passed in 2015, allows certified nurse practitioners to diagnose, treat, and prescribe without a physician collaboration agreement. NPs practice to the full extent of their education and national certification. Prescribing controlled substances still requires a separate DEA registration.
How long does it take to become a nurse practitioner in Maryland?
After earning an RN license, most candidates complete an MSN or DNP in 2 to 4 years, depending on enrollment pace and prior education. The MBON application adds several weeks of processing time after all materials are submitted. Candidates who apply with a compact-state RN license skip the separate Maryland RN endorsement step, thereby shortening the timeline.
Can I use my APRN license from another state to practice in Maryland?
Maryland doesn’t participate in the APRN Compact, so NPs licensed in other states must apply for a separate Maryland APRN certificate. If you hold a multi-state RN license through the Nurse Licensure Compact, that satisfies the RN license requirement, but the APRN certification must be issued separately by the MBON.
Which national certifications does the Maryland Board of Nursing accept for NP licensure?
For nurse practitioners, the MBON accepts certifications from ANCC, AANPCB, PNCB, and NCC, depending on the specialty. Not every certification offered by these organizations appears on the accepted list. Review the current accepted certification list in the MBON application packet for your specialty, as it is updated periodically.
Can I practice as an NP in Maryland before passing my certification exam?
Yes, through Graduate Status. A nurse who has completed all program requirements but hasn’t yet taken the national certification exam can apply for a Graduate Status authorization from the MBON. This allows supervised APRN practice before certification. The supervising practitioner must hold an active APRN certificate in the same practice category as the supervising practitioner.
Key Takeaways
- Five APRN categories — Maryland certifies nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, certified registered nurse anesthetists, clinical nurse specialists, and nurse psychotherapists through the MBON.
- RN license is the starting point — An active, unencumbered RN license from Maryland or a Nurse Licensure Compact state is required before applying for APRN certification.
- Board-approved graduate program required — Programs must appear on the MBON’s approved list; the institution submits the approval form if a program isn’t yet listed.
- Criminal background check required — All APRN applicants must complete a fingerprint-based CHRC through the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.
- Full practice authority in effect — Maryland’s 2015 law allows certified NPs to practice and prescribe independently. DEA registration is required separately for controlled substance prescribing.
Find Board-approved nurse practitioner programs in Maryland and nationwide to start or advance your APRN certification path.