Licensure/Registration
From a legal standpoint, professional nurse licensure/registration is an affirmation by a duly constituted body, usually a state, that a nurse has met certain prescribed qualifications and recognized under the laws of that state as a nursing professional.  Under the constitution, the power “to guard the health, safety, and welfare of the people” is reserved to the individual states.  Ownership of a state license to practice professional nursing is a condition of employment for USPHS Commissioned Officers and Civil Service nurses.  Nurses must hold a license in any state or territory of the United States.  Specific state information on nursing licensure/registration is in Appendix C, Directory of Nursing Organizations, or on the Internet under the specific state. 

Nurses in the USPHS Commissioned Corps are further required to maintain a copy of their current, valid, unrestricted license in their electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF).

Certification

The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) is a separately incorporated center through which ANA serves its own credentialing programs.  The ANCC bases its credentialing programs on the standards set by the ANA Congress for Nursing Practice.  Goals of the ANCC include promoting and enhancing public health by certifying nurses and accrediting organizations using ANA standards of practice, nursing services, and continuing education. 

Primary responsibility for the ANCC certification and recertification programs rests with the Boards of Certification.  Examples of these boards for nursing practice are:

Community Health
Maternal-Child Health
Medical-Surgical
Psychiatric and Mental Health
Primary Care in Adult and Family Health
Erotological
Nursing Administration
Nursing Continuing Education/Staff Development
General Nursing Practice

In some instances, completion of an accredited educational program qualifies the nurse to sit for the certifying exam.  In most other specialties, a minimum of two years of practice experience in the specialty is required.  Since 1988, all generalist certification programs require a baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing. 

For more information about nurse credentialing/re-credentialing, call (800) 284-2378. Business hours are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time).

The web site is located at  http://www.nursingcredentialing.org/ancc/,

or  write:

American Nurses Credentialing Center
8515 Georgia Ave, Suite 400
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3492

To obtain a copy of the ANCC annual catalog of initial certification requirements, call (800) 284-2378, email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or write:

Marketing Services
American Nurses Association
8515 Georgia Ave, Suite 400
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3492

For information about nursing specialties not already mentioned, contact the appropriate nursing specialty group. Certification is available for Nurse Anesthetist, Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Midwifery and others. Appendix C contains the contact information for these specific specialty organizations. The Internet has numerous listings with their contact data. 

The National Commission on Correctional Health Care certifies Correctional Health Care.  For more information call (773) 880-1460.  Business hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. (Central Standard Time). 

The website is located at  http://www.ncchc.org/,

e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ,

or write:

National Commission on Correctional Health Care
1145 W. Diversey Pkwy.
Chicago, IL 60614