How to Display Nurse Practitioner Credentials AANP: The Complete Guide

For a hardworking and dedicated nurse practitioner like you, displaying your hard-earned credentials should be done more often. Showcasing your NP credentials is not only for the sake of showing, but a symbolic gesture that colleagues, patients, healthcare practices, and licensing boards recognize. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (ANPP) have set standards to ensure that such recognition is done in a process, regardless of whether you are a nurse joining a healthcare network or a practitioner who seeks to create a career out of nursing. 

Overview of the CAQH ProView Process 

The credentials of a nurse practitioner are a representation of an NP’s education, licensure, training, and board certifications, if there are any. They provide a story of your professional undertaking and the clinical milestones you have reached so far. 

Nurse practitioner credentials are categorized into these categories:  

• Educational and academic achievement 

• Professional licensure 

• Jurisdictional recognition 

• Federal and regional board certifications 

• Training and additional certifications 

Displaying these credentials in the correct order is a fundamental requirement of the American Nurses Association (ANA) and AANP, as reflected in digital databases, EHR profiles, and other references. 

Sequence for NP Credentials 

According to recommendations from ANA and AANP, nursing professionals should put their post-nominal credentials in proper order, as outlined below:

Highest Earned Academic Title

Your highest nursing degree is permanent and should be listed first.

State Licensure

Your licensure dictates the specific nursing profession you are allowed to practice.

State Designation

State-mandated titles, as designated by your state board of nursing

Federal Board Certifications

These certifications narrow your clinical scope.

Trainings & Fellowships

Titles after completing training and being admitted to reputable organizations

Additional Certifications

Titles that signify the acquisition of specialized clinical skills. 

Educational Credentials for NPs 

Append the highest earned nursing degree you achieved after your name. Academic titles are as follows: 

• DNP (Doctor in Nursing Practice) 

• PhD (Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing) 

• MSN (Master in Science in Nursing) 

Even if you have a degree that is entirely different from your nursing degree, list these degrees according to hierarchy. For example, “Claire Atkins, DNP, MBA” highlights that a doctoral degree in nursing practice is higher than a master’s degree in business administration. 

Requirements for DNP Credentials 

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is the terminal degree for clinical nursing. Garnering and showcasing this title signifies a rigorous academic journey you have completed. It also signifies that you: 

• Completed an accredited CCNE or ACEN DNP program 

• Completed an advanced coursework in healthcare systems policy, leadership, and advanced clinical practice 

• Executed a peer-reviewed DNP case analysis or scholarly work 

• Completed a 1,000+ supervised clinical apprenticeship 

The DNP degree is conferred and precedes your other titles and designations in your credential sequence. 

Licensure, State Designations, & Board Certifications 

After appending your nursing degree, license and federal certifications follow. 

Licensure & State Designations 

• APRN – Advanced Practice Registered Nurse 

• RN – Registered Nurse

Other states may have different names on official documentation: 

• ARNP – Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner 

• FNP – Family Nurse Practitioner 

• AGNP – Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner 

• PMHNP – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner 

National Board Certifications 

These certifications are sanctioned by various nursing organizations and validate your specialized expertise and clinical population niche: 

• FNP-C – Family Nurse Practitioner – Certified by AANP 

• FNP-BC – Family Nurse Practitioner – Board Certified by ANCC 

• AGNP-C – Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner – Certified by AANP 

• PMHNP-BC – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner – Board Certified by ANCC 

• ENP-C – Emergency Nurse Practitioner – Certified by ANPP 

Examples of Credentials in Proper Order 

In accordance with AANP and ANA guidelines, these are the provider profiles with properly ordered credentialing. 

• Jessica Wernicke, MSN, APRN, FNP-C 

• Timothy Leung, DNP, APRN, AGNP-BC, FAANP 

• Clarissa Molina, PhD, APRN, PMHNP-BC 

• Gail Hughes, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, ENP-C 

As you may notice, all profiles properly displayed credentials in order, particularly from academic degrees to certifications. 

When & Where to Display Your Credentials 

Display your credentials across all types of references: 

Professional & Clinical Settings 

• Clinical nameplates and facility signages 

• EHR signatures and prescription pads 

• Professional business cards and correspondences 

• Legal medical documents 

• Academic publications, research papers, and other scholarly works 

Digital Platforms 

• Directory listings and official websites 

• LinkedIn profiles and professional social media accounts 

• Email signatures 

The Importance of Ordered Credential Display 

Showing a properly-ordered NP qualifications provide benefits to your practice: 

Professional Recognition 

Specifies your exact clinical scope, educational attainment, and expertise to others 

Legal Compliance 

Fulfills transparency in medical records and patient communication, as mandated by institutions and regulatory boards 

Patient Clarity 

Helps patients know which providers they are dealing with 

Career Growth 

Conveys advancement when applying for clinical privileges, academic appointments, or insurance enrollment 

Maintaining Your NP Credentials 

Credentials convey a lifelong commitment to the nursing profession, more than just bragging rights or badges of honor. Thus, an NP must maintain it. 

• Keep RN and APRN licenses active. 

• Pursue continuing education and supervised clinical apprenticeship. 

• Monitor renewals and avoid expiration. 

• Update references when you earn a new credential. 

Conclusion 

Flaunting your NP credentials, regardless of how many they are, still requires adherence to AANP guidelines for a well-ordered and accurate representation of your professional practice. While you keep on growing as a nurse practitioner, a standard format will keep you from violating the very practice you are protecting. 

Properly showcasing your credentials honors your dedication to growing your profession. It would be a disservice to you and the patients you serve to flaunt it incorrectly. 

FAQs 

Should I list all my nursing degrees? 

Yes. However, you must list your highest earned nursing degree first. Any related degree, such as an MPH or an MBA, may come after it. 

What if I’m certified by both AANP and ANCC? 

If you hold dual certifications from various specialty boards, it is common to list the ones from AANP first. 

Should I include my RN license when I already have APRN? 

It depends on your state board’s display guidelines. Most states include both RN and APRN titles. 

How do I display credentials if I have multiple specialties? 

Listing multiple specialties typically follows a hierarchy, from primary to secondary to subspecialty certifications.