The RN Licensing Process All states license registered nurses, and in all states, they are referred to by the same title: Registered Nurse or RN. 1994. what is the difference between licensure and certification? , #1 in Nursing Careers View Nurse Practitioner Degree Programs, Home | Program Directory | Articles | Methodology | Privacy Policy | School Program Listings. Generally speaking, the objective evaluation is accomplished through an examination (NCLEX-RN; NCLEX-PN) that must be passed before the individual can practice. An example of such a voluntary accrediting agency is the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities International (CARF International). 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. Requirements usually address the candidate’s RN licensure status, educational preparation, and number of clinical practice hours in the chosen specialty. Commonly there is overlap, but sometimes there are distinct differences. A full-time class load takes about four years. View BSN Programs. Board certification means that certification is required for licensure, such as in the example of advanced practice registered nurses (APRN). The Joint Commission is one example of an external entity that accredits hospitals. The term certification is sometimes used synonymously with the term accreditation. For example, the American Nurses Credentialing Center offers certifications in over 40 areas of nursing practice. Occupational Therapy Licensure Vs. Certification. Certification is becoming the new standard measure for excellence in nursing care in this quickly changing healthcare system. The NCLEX examination measures the competencies needed to perform safely and effectively as a newly licensed, entry-level nurse. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Medical licensure indicates that a physician has met minimum requirements for the undifferentiated practice of medicine. However, licensure and certification are two different terms that carry different meanings both professionally and legally. Certification is the granting of credentials that indicate a person has achieved a level of specialization higher than the minimal level of competency indicated by licensure. licensure establishes minimal levels of practice while certification recongnizes excellence on practice. View Nursing Assistant Programs. Before we explore those differences, there are a few points to highlight: what are the 2 duties of … View MSN Programs. If an applicant successfully meets all these requirements, then a state nursing board or licensure body may grant the applicant a nursing license. The licensure process addresses both qualification and disciplinary activities. Certification by the National Registry is a distinct process from licensure; and it serves the important independent purpose of identifying for the public, state licensure agencies and employers, those individuals who have successfully completed the Registry’s educational requirements and demonstrated their skills and … In some states, LPNs can administer prescription medications, start IVs, and care for ventilator-dependent patients. The passing level for the exam is set to ensure that at a minimum, a sufficient skill set is demonstrated to protect the public. Certification can be either a prerequisite for licensure or, in some cases, an alternative. You typically take the same nursing courses as BSN candidates, but your electives may be in subjects such as history and literature. DNP: doctor of nursing practice. Licensing can also be thought of as mandatory certification. Over time, the practice of nursing has expanded, with regulatory focus on professional accountability. Licensure The major difference between the two involves the administering authority. With a focus in nursing, this degree prepares nurses to conduct research … (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 EdD: Doctor of Education. After the approval, nurses can schedule an exam date through Iso-Quality Testing. The DNP may eventually be the required degree for nurses who want to enter advanced practice specialties. Simply stated, RN is an acronym for Registered Nurse, a certification earned to work as a Registered Nurse in a healthcare setting. The two processes seem to be very similar, so it can be difficult to understand the differences. RN: Registered Nurse. The HIV/AIDS Nursing Certification Board must then approve the application. All rights reserved. Citation: Barnum, B., (August 13, 1997). APRN certification is in an earlier phase of evolution than is RN licensure. Licensure and certification, however, differ in terms of legal status. Although some very specific forms of certification carry a legal status, most certifications only imply a specialized skill or knowledge set associated with specific professional status. View PhD Programs, EdD: Doctor of Education. The Difference Between Certificate Education and Specialty Certification Understanding the difference between nursing certificate education and becoming certified in a nursing specialty is important as you determine the course of study and practice necessary to achieve your career and employment objectives. 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… Depending upon your license or certification, your scope of practice will differ. The terminology is determined by the licensing state—Texas and California, for instance, use LVN whereas most other states use LPN. It is required in order to practice or to call oneself a licensed professional. From the 1930s through the 1950s, nurse licensure laws were enacted to help define the practice of nursing and to prevent unlicensed individuals from practicing nursing. Organizations, like individuals, also can be certified. In most states you must ensure the vehicle is well-maintained by getting yearly emissions testing and an inspection. View Nurse Educator Programs. Your license will give firms, clients, and the public confidence in your skills and ability to properly protect their health, safety, and welfare. LPNs will likely earn lower salaries than RNs. Organizations such as hospitals or healthcare institutions can be certified by external/reviewing entities. Licensure is a formal recognition by a regulation agency that someone is proficient in a skill to practice it in an area, often a state. A license is required to practice medicine in this country. Another type of organizational recognition that has particular meaning for nurses is “magnet status.” Magnet status is an award given by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, an affiliate of the ANA, to hospitals that satisfy specific criteria based on the strength and quality of nursing in that facility. Specialty certification provides positive benefits for patients, families, nurses, and employers. The NCSBN was instrumental in developing the national licensure exam for RNs, which changed in 1982 to the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Numerous state BONs use professional certification as a requirement toward granting authority for APRNs. The difference between licensure and certification seems very distinct in many healthcare roles. Some nurses have assumed that by taking an APRN certification examination, they are entitled to practice as an APRN. NONE of the Allied Health programs grant or lead to licensure. With regard to advancing your education or profession, there is essentially no difference between BSN and BAN. You also need a registration for the vehicle, and liability insurance. Certification, on its face, appears to be very similar to licensure. Potential for confusion exists because regulatory agencies and professional associations may use the term certification differently with individuals and organizations. First, licensure encompasses predetermination of the qualifications that are required to perform a defined scope of practice (e.g., LPN vs. RN) safely and an objective evaluation process to determine that the qualifications for the defined scope of practice are met. the NCLEX was replaced with computer testing in what year? This is a relatively new graduate degree available to nurses who want to be at the highest level of their specialty. "Licensure, Certification, and Accreditation" Online Journal of Issues in Nursing AvailableVol. That meant there was no consistency between states’ nurse licensure exams. Therefore, APRNs today find that both the uniformity of standards and recognition of their advanced practice expertise lag behind those of their RN status (Evans, 2015). • Certification is voluntary. This computer-based exam consists of 250 multiple-choice questions covering ethical and legal issues, epidemiology and prevention, pathophysiology, and psychosocial issues. It is also important to highlight the difference between national accreditation and approval by a state board of nursing. A full-time credit load takes about two years to complete. Less commonly offered in colleges and universities, a BAN curriculum focuses more on liberal arts or humanities. To determine the exact requirements for certification, nurses should check with the specialty organization through which they wish to become certified. To ensure public protection, each state or territory in the United States through its state BON or designated licensure body requires a candidate for nursing licensure to pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) or the NCLEX for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN) and meet other requirements before granting a nursing license. In the United States, nursing licensure is a regulatory function of each state. Read on to learn more about what each degree, license, and certification means. Certification is a form of credentialing that demonstrates attainment of increased knowledge but does not address a legal scope of practice like licensure does. The requirements for nursing licensure for applicants who wish to become licensed RNs include successful graduation from high school or completion of a GED, successful graduation from an approved nursing school, application to the appropriate state agency for licensure, payment of required fees, and criminal background check in some states. Having your RN license makes you a versatile professional and enables you to advance your education or practice in many specialties. Unlike your license, your NCARB Certificate is granted by us, and serves as an official credential that demonstrates you’ve met national standards to practice—offering additional benefits that will help you advance your career. This graduate degree prepares you for a specific career path in nursing, such as a nurse practitioner, anesthetist, clinical specialist, educator, or researcher. FIND SCHOOLSSponsored Content When a … However, sometimes the certification becomes so important to job attainment that it … This degree prepares nurses to conduct research, become professors in universities, or be high-level administrators or policy developers. 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. Nursing licensure is a form of credentialing or regulatory method that is used when the activities being regulated are complex and require specialized knowledge coupled with the ability to make independent decisions. Master of Science in Nursing - Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, RN to BSN to Master of Science in Nursing. First time RN licensing is referred to as license by examination; candidates take the board exam after they have completed their registered nursing educational requirements. Licensure refers to the demonstration of ability or knowledge required by law before being allowed to perform a task or job. The work involves patient care under the supervision of nurses or doctors. industry (Microsoft certification, Novell certification, as examples). State board approval simply means that the state has approved the operation of the program, and in most cases, graduates of that program can sit for licensure or certification exams in that particular state. Requirements for licensure can vary from state to state but usually include successful completion of an approved nursing education program and the NCLEX-RN. For example, the AACN has different certification requirements than the American Association of Operating Room Nurses (AAORN). What’s the difference between board certification and being certified in a specialty? Get an awesome nursing career ahead! To be certified or not depends on where you want to work—most nursing care facilities, for instance, require that you be certified to work there. Occupational therapists, or OTs, … Now take that a step further, and imagine you also need to license and insure any passenger who rides with you. Historically, large numbers of professional and specialty groups have offered certification exams. This approval rating allows consumers to make choices based upon standardized measures that reflect the quality of care provided at that hospital. For employment background screening, the employer uses a specified list of disqualifying offenses pursuant to Chapter 435 and Section 408.809, Florida Statute. Discuss the ethical or legal requirements and responsibilities that a health care organization has in ensuring its facility is licensed, certified, and accredited. Clinical Experience. In general, doctors, nurses or other healthcare career professions earn a license from a state or federal government. This degree prepares you to take the RN licensure exam and work as an RN. Certification, accreditation, and licensure are all professional development opportunities for students and health care workers who want to improve their knowledge and skills in the health care industry. 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. Consensus Model for Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Regulation: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification, and Education. However, the definition did forbid nurses from diagnosing conditions or prescribing medications. Many states’ nurse practice acts also contain language that provides protection for the title of “registered nurse” to persons who hold a valid license and prevents other persons from using the title or credentials. Licensure for Allied Health programs is NOT available in Washington State. A BSN prepares you to take the RN licensure exam, enables you to work in many professional roles and settings, and acts as a springboard to a graduate education. In addition, applicants must not have a criminal history such as a felony conviction that prohibits them from taking the NCLEX-RN. Conversely, licensure must be issued by a government agency or entity. Learn how your comment data is processed. In 2011, the NCSBN Delegate Assembly adopted the Uniform Licensure Requirements (ULRs) to serve as standards for licensure for RNs and LPNs in all states and territories. Certification distinguishes mastery of skills and knowledge that go beyond the scope of nursing licensure. Most RNs work in healthcare facilities, but they can also apply their professional skills in home care settings, doctor’s offices, schools, private businesses, or government services. A magnet hospital is an organization or facility that exhibits nursing excellence through patient outcomes, communication, and delivery of care. However, the certification process for organizations is very different from individual or personal certification. Licensure is the legal right and responsibility to engage in an activity or occupation. Each has different educational requirements. MAN: a master of arts with a nursing focus. Brilliant Nurse® is a career platform & bridge for all nurses and allied healthcare folks. There are currently 34 states which have enacted NLC legislation, meaning they recognize the multi-state license or have such legislation pending.For a full list of NLC states, see below. LPN/LVN: licensed practical nurse/licensed vocational nurse. For instance, the distinction between RN licensure examinations and RN certification examinations is clear. With a focus in nursing, this degree prepares nurses to conduct research and become professors in universities. In 1955, the ANA issued a model definition of nursing that affirmed that not all nursing duties required physician supervision and that some duties were independent nursing functions. 2, No. Though they might sound similar and do, in fact, share a lot of commonalities, it is important to draw a clear distinction between them. However, certification is a concept that is frequently misunderstood by employers, the public, and even other nurses. Salary and job growth outlook. The requirements for certification are diverse and depend upon the organization granting certification. This undergraduate degree can be obtained from a college or university with a nursing program. Other entities provide voluntary accrediting services for community-based facilities. What does RN mean? States have been encouraged to adopt the ULRs to promote consistency across all U.S. jurisdictions. Achieving certification usually involves at least 75 hours of training and successful completion of a competency exam. To prepare for your licensing exam you need to receive a diploma from a training program (usually one year in duration) from a vocational/technical school or community or junior college. Only after all state requirements have been satisfied will a candidate be considered for licensure. Registered nurse … Program requirements and duration are typically similar to a PhD program. The Regulation of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, U.S. NCLEX Application and Exam Requirements for Foreign/ International RNs and LPNs, NCLEX-RN Case Study: Women’s Health Nursing, Accessing Your State’s Nurse Practice Act and Administrative Rules, NCLEX Strategies: How to Answer Tricky Questions, NCLEX in Canada: Comprehensive Guide on Applications and Requirements, Fluid and Electrolytes Questions in NCLEX, Fundamentals of Nursing Questions with Rationale, Legal Aspects of Nursing: Ethical and Legal Considerations in Intensive Care. As states adopt the APRN Compact, barriers to advance practice across jurisdictions will potentially decrease. Individual certification is the most common type of certification and is awarded when a nurse demonstrates a level of competency above the licensure level for a specific area of nursing practice. The requirements for licensure define what is necessary for individuals to be able to practice the profession of nursing safely and ensure that each person meets those minimal requirements. What about Certification? To get certified or licensed, practitioners must meet specific education, training, or practice standards. 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”. Differences Between Licensure and Certification. The Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) allows nurses to have one license to practice in multiple states. CNA: Certified Nursing Assistant. People often confuse the two and use them interchangeably, which is a big mistake. Nursing home means a home used for the reception and care of individuals who by reason of illness or physical or mental impairment require skilled nursing care and of individuals who require personal care services but not skilled nursing care. By 1923, all states had enacted nurse practice acts. Required fields are marked *. Also called nursing aides, you can prepare for this role at some high schools, vocational schools, and community or junior colleges. This is because RNs … Academic degrees can prepare you for nursing licensure or help you advance your career. Summary: When it comes to the world of nursing, the letters that follow your name can represent your academic degree, type of license, type of certification, or a combination of all. The various State EMS Offices or like agencies serve as the state licensing agencies. View DNP Programs, PhD: doctor of philosophy. The American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) defines certification as “a process by which a nongovernmental agency validates, based upon predetermined standards, an individual nurse’s qualifications for practice in a defined functional or clinical area of nursing”. You can complete a master’s program in about two years with a full-time credit load. A certification, on the other hand, generally does not come from a public entity, but from a private one. 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 might include an association of nurses or … Before a discussion of regulation can take place, it is important to understand the progress to date surrounding the Consensus Model and the Nursing Model Act and Rules for APRN licensure (NCSBN, 2011). 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