As a newly or soon-to-be graduated NP, the challenge of NP certification, licensure and practice are ahead. As you prepared for this role, you have earned new professional credentials. Now for the challenging part, how do you sign your name? Should you omit your academic credentials, drop the RN and just add NP as advocated by many?  This would be a great idea for all NPs, regardless of area of certification, specialization, and practice. Indeed, increasing public and professional awareness of the NP title will benefit all of us. However, at times, such as in your CV, when making up that well-earned desktop nameplate, listing out all your designations, that “alphabet soup” list that now follows your name, is warranted. Here is some advice on how to do this.   

Now that I have a Masters or other advanced degree, how do I list my academic credentials? 

Your highest academic degree should be placed immediately after your surname, before professional designation and certification credential. Most NPs have a Masters degree in Science (MS), with some earning a Masters in Nursing (MN) or Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN), and a growing number with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Doctor of Nursing Science (DNSc).  In addition, some may have returned to school for post Masters NP preparation may have earned a Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS). Check with your school to make sure you are using the appropriate academic designation.

I am now a certified NP. Is there a special way to designate this? 

The NP certification credential differs according to the certifying body. Here are the designations of the various certifying organization. 

The credentials for American Certification Credentialing Center (ANCC) certified NPs is NP-BC (nurse practitioner-board certified) preceded by a letter indicating the particular specialty:

• Family nurse practitioner – FNP-BC
• Adult nurse practitioner – ANP-BC
• Acute care nurse practitioner – ACNP-BC
• Pediatric nurse practitioner –  PNP-BC
• Gerontological nurse practitioner – GNP-BC
• Psych and mental health nurse practitioner – PMHNP-BC

Here is an example of an ANCC-certified family nurse practitioner.

Hugo Moreno, MS, FNP-BC 

Family and adult nurse practitioners certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) are granted the designation of NP-C, or Nurse Practitioner-Certified. Here is an example. 

·        Melissa Hammond, MSN, NP-C 

A comment that I often hear made about this designation is that NP-C clearly denotes that a person is a certified nurse practitioner and that perhaps all NPs should use this. However, NP-C is the AANP’s certification designation and should only be used by those who have earned it.  

Those who are certified by the National Certification Corporation (NCC) include women’s health and neonatal NPs and are granted the designation of RNC.  Here is an example. 

·        Sarah Thiam, DNP, RNC 

A pediatric nurse practitioner certified by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) is granted the designation CPNP. Here is an example. 

·        Clifford Frost, MS, CPNP 

What do I do if I hold more than one certification? 

In general, the most recently earned credential is listed last. Here is an example of a nurse practitioner who is recently passed the AANP adult nurse practitioner certification exam but also an American Diabetes Association Certified Diabetic Educator (CDE). 

·        Maggie Ashley, PhD, CDE, NP-C 

In the state where I am licensed and practice, the Board of Nursing grants a specific advanced practice license designation. Where does this go? 

State law may dictate that a specific mandated title be used, such as Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN, used NH, FL, WA and other states) and Advanced Practice Nurse (APN, used in New Jersey and other states).  Since these titles are not recognized state-to-state, their use as part of your formal credentials is likely not warranted. 

How should I list an honorific designation? 

An honorific designation such as Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN) or Fellow of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP) typically goes at the end of the credentials. Here is an example. 

·        Kathleen Thomas, PhD, NP-C, FAANP 

Conclusion 

For the day to day, keep it simple and use the NP designation. For those special occasions when you need to use your full set of hard earned, well-deserved professional credentials, show them off the right way.

Revised- December 29, 2007

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This article originally appeared in my quarterly certification column in Advance for Nurse Practitioners and is made available here by the courtesy of Advance. For other articles of interest to Nurse Practitioners, be sure to subscribe to this outstanding journal.