Certification & Registration for Nurse Practitioners
You must be certified and registered as a nurse practitioner by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) in order to practice as an nurse practitioner in New York.
NYSED certifies nurse practitioners to practice in the following specialty practice areas:
- Acute Care
- Adult Health
- College Health
- Community Health
- Family Health
- Gerontology
- Holistic Care
- Neonatology
- Obstetrics/Gynecology
- Oncology
- Pediatrics
- Palliative Care
- Perinatology
- Psychiatry
- School Health
- Women’s Health
To become certified and registered by NYSED as a nurse practitioner, you must:
- Be currently registered and licensed as a registered professional nurse (RN) in New York State
- Have graduated from a nurse practitioner education program acceptable to NYSED or be certified as a nurse practitioner by a national certifying organization acceptable to NYSED
- Complete pharmacology coursework acceptable to NYSED
- Apply for nurse practitioner certification with NYSED.
The Nurse Practitioner Application Process
- Download the nurse practitioner application here.
- Applicants who qualify on the basis of programs that are NYSED-approved or equivalent will have their schools submit verification forms. Those who qualify on the basis of national certification will have their certifying agencies submit verification. The Board has supplied forms for both purposes.
- A nurse practitioner who qualifies in multiple specialty areas must submit multiple applications.
- An applicant who completed pharmacotherapeutics coursework through any other than an NYSED-registered program will have his or her school complete an additional verification form.
- An nurse practitioner applicant currently pays $85 for application and initial registration.
- While New York’s state-issued nurse practitioner certifications do not expire, registration must be renewed on a three-year basis.
After you have met all requirements for nurse practitioner certification in a specialty area, NYSED will issue you a nurse practitioner certificate and a registration certificate.
- Your nurse practitioner certification is valid for life, unless it is revoked, annulled or suspended by the New York State Board of Regents.
- Your nurse practitioner registration certificate will authorize you to practice as a nurse practitioner for three years. You must renew your nurse practitioner registration and your RN registration with NYSED in order to continue practicing as a nurse practitioner. You are not legally allowed to provide nurse practitioner services while your nurse practitioner or your RN registration is expired.
New York nurse practitioners have collaborative relationships or written collaborative agreements.
Additional Resources
Information About
Credentialing is available from the New York Office of the Professions. The Office of the Professions can be reached at (518) 474-3817. The Nursing Board Office is extension 120. The Midwifery Unit is extension 250.
State Professional Associations
Nurse Practitioner Association of New York State