With a focus in nursing, this degree prepares nurses to conduct research … However, certification is a concept that is frequently misunderstood by employers, the public, and even other nurses. To get certified or licensed, practitioners must meet specific education, training, or practice standards. Occupational Therapy Licensure Vs. Certification. (fed regulations allow direct reimbursement for some nursing services, yet state and local practices vary) Consensus model for APRN regulation, licensure, accreditation, certification, and education provides guidances for states to adopt uniformity in regulating APRN roles Therefore, the requirements are extremely varied. Simply passing the NCLEX-RN is no guarantee that an applicant will automatically be granted a nursing license. In general, doctors, nurses or other healthcare career professions earn a license from a state or federal government. In the United States, nursing licensure is a regulatory function of each state. Certification is usually required with licensing as an NP, but new graduate NPs should check with their state's board of nursing for specific licensing requirements. As technology advances and the number of nursing specialty areas continue to grow, nurses are pursuing certification to increase their knowledge and skill beyond what they learned in their basic nursing programs. Some states have a single license and some have a tiered system, and the names of licenses, as well as requirements, vary from state to state. Achieving certification usually involves at least 75 hours of training and successful completion of a competency exam. All rights reserved. Learn how your comment data is processed. An example of such a voluntary accrediting agency is the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities International (CARF International). Consensus Model for Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Regulation: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification, and Education. One of the most frequently asked questions we get from organizations, is what the differences are between these three entities: accrediting bodies, licensing authorities, and certification organizations. Running a healthcare facility is far more complex than driving a car, and the various licensing and accreditation requirements are just one aspect of that c… After the approval, nurses can schedule an exam date through Iso-Quality Testing. A magnet hospital is an organization or facility that exhibits nursing excellence through patient outcomes, communication, and delivery of care. For instance, the distinction between RN licensure examinations and RN certification examinations is clear. It is also important to highlight the difference between national accreditation and approval by a state board of nursing. Academic degrees can prepare you for nursing licensure or help you advance your career. This is because RNs … In place of PhDs, some schools offer DNS or DNSc (doctor of nursing science) degrees, which have a similar research-focused program. Each state has the ability through enforcement powers to designate an entity with licensing authority to ensure that each individual who claims to be a nurse can function at a minimal level of competency. The FNP certification is a little different than a post-graduate certificate. The term certification is sometimes used synonymously with the term accreditation. Get an awesome nursing career ahead! Only after all state requirements have been satisfied will a candidate be considered for licensure. Certification is becoming the new standard measure for excellence in nursing care in this quickly changing healthcare system. DNP: doctor of nursing practice. Although these requirements may seem extensive, the responsibility associated with nursing licensure and safely caring for patients demands such consideration. However, the use of APRN certification examinations as a basis for licensure has caused confuse among APRNs and APRN stakeholders regarding the difference between certification and licensure. Requirements for licensure can vary from state to state but usually include successful completion of an approved nursing education program and the NCLEX-RN. LPN/LVN: licensed practical nurse/licensed vocational nurse. Potential for confusion exists because regulatory agencies and professional associations may use the term certification differently with individuals and organizations. The work involves caring for patients in settings such as hospitals, nursing care facilities, doctor’s offices, home health care, or in a private-duty capacity—all under supervision of a doctor or nurse. This approval rating allows consumers to make choices based upon standardized measures that reflect the quality of care provided at that hospital. When you drive a motor vehicle, you need a state-issued license. Organizations such as hospitals or healthcare institutions can be certified by external/reviewing entities. Read on to learn more about what each degree, license, and certification means. Certification is usually issued by a non-governmental agency, entity, or organization, for example, an association of nurses or a dentists’ board. Nursing licensure originally came about to protect the public from unsafe nursing practice. Nursing licensure is defined by the NCSBN as “the process by which BONs grant permission for an individual to engage in nursing practice after determining that the applicant has attained the competency necessary to perform a unique scope of practice”. Medical licensure and Board Certification mean very different things for physicians practicing in the United States and the patients for whom they care. This computer-based exam consists of 250 multiple-choice questions covering ethical and legal issues, epidemiology and prevention, pathophysiology, and psychosocial issues. To become certified you need additional experience, training, and successful completion of a certification exam. Licensure The major difference between the two involves the administering authority. Program requirements and duration are typically similar to a PhD program. Therefore, APRNs continue to face many of the challenges and barriers to practicing in different states that RNs faced prior to adoption of the NLC. NONE of the Allied Health programs grant or lead to licensure. Thanks to the elimination of state-specific licensure exams, nurses can be more mobile and more easily pursue career opportunities in multiple states. Registered nurse … However, licensure and certification are two different terms that carry different meanings both professionally and legally.