Faculty Toolkit

Help students navigate through the steps to ensure success.

Student must:

• Create an ANCC account. 
• Complete Validation of Education Form (Updated March 2025)

  Download, complete the VOE with support from your program’s faculty director, and submit the signed form and clinical logs.

  *Online application and/or portal submission options are preferred and will result in faster processing time. Completed VOEs may be sent to aprnvalidation@ana.org.

• Submit transcript(s) relating to all APRN degrees/programs inclusive of universities indicated on the VOE form for transfer courses.

  • ANCC accepts varying levels of transcripts for APRN applicants. Submission of official transcripts without degree conferral and unofficial transcripts may result in Authorized to Test (ATT) status.
    • Final, official transcript (FOT) = transcript sent to ANCC directly from university and must show program of study, degree conferred, and date degree/post-graduate certificate was awarded. Submission of FOT via aprnvalidation@ana.org is preferred.
    • Official transcript (*ATT Status) = transcript sent to ANCC directly from university, either via hard-copy mail or through an electronic transcript submission service missing degree conferral. Submission of official transcript via aprnvalidation@ana.org is preferred.
    • Unofficial transcript (*ATT Status) = copy of a transcript sent to ANCC from university OR applicant showing completion of an academic program OR a comprehensive record showing completion of an academic program. Submission of unofficial transcript via the online application or portal is preferred.
  • Transcripts that appear to be altered will not be processed. ANCC reserves the right to reject any transcript that appears to be altered.
  • ANCC strongly recommends submission of e-transcripts. Sending hard-copy transcripts via U.S. postal service mail will result in a delay of application review. Hard copy transcripts may be sent to:
    
    American Nurses Credentialing Center
    ATTN: Certification
    8403 Colesville Road, Suite 500
    Silver Spring, MD 20910
• Complete application.
• Await their Authorization to Test letter, then schedule the exam through Prometric.
• Study for exam using the study aids available on each APRN certification webpage.
• Take exam. Results are available immediately after testing.
• Students become ANCC certified once they pass the exam.
• Renew their ANCC certification every five years.

Students may apply prior to graduation. If they decide to do so, they must:

• Create an ANCC account.
• Request school to submit unofficial transcripts showing all required courses have been completed along with Validation of Education Form
• Complete Validation of Education Form (Updated March 2025)

  Download, complete the VOE with support from your program’s faculty director, and submit the signed form and clinical logs.

  *Online application and/or portal submission options are preferred and will result in faster processing time. Completed VOEs may be sent to aprnvalidation@ana.org.

• Complete application.
• Await their Authorization to Test letter, then schedule the exam through Prometric.
• Study for exam using the study aids available on each APRN certification webpage.
• Take exam. Results are available immediately after testing.
• If a student passes the exam, they will not be ANCC certified until they have submitted their official transcripts with degree conferral information to ANCC headquarters.
• Renew their ANCC certification every five years.

Recommendation for students:

• Apply for verification so it will be ready as soon as they become certified. The first one is free.

Where documents should be sent:

How to Display ANCC Credentials

ANCC recommends the following order for displaying credentials:

1. Degrees (list highest to lowest)
2. State license
3. ANCC credential
   
   • Nurse Practitioner (NP)
   • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP → AGACNP-BC
   • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP → AGPCNP-BC
   • Psychiatric-Mental Health NP → PMHNP-BC
     (Across the Lifespan)
   • Family NP → FNP-BC
   • Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
   • Adult-Gerontology CNS → AGCNS-BC
   • Specialty
   • Nurse Executive, Advanced → NEA-BC
4. Other nursing or nationally recognized credentials
5. Fellowship

Renewing an ANCC Certification

Renewing an ANCC certification demonstrates a continuing commitment to life-long learning. ANCC certifications are renewed every five years. We make every effort to notify certified nurses of upcoming renewal dates. However, it is the responsibility of each nurse to be aware of his or her expiration date and submit renewal documents on time.

Encourage your students to store their professional development activities in their ANCC account. It will make the renewal process easier.

ANCC recommends renewal applications be submitted up to three months before the expiration date to ensure seamless certification.