Nurse practitioner educational programs are designed to prepare students to become certified through national professional examinations as nurse practitioners in one of the specialty areas of practice–pediatrics, adult- gerontology, family, neonatal, gender specific, and psychiatry-mental health.. This national certification is required in order to obtain licensure as a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP) in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
Every nurse practitioner needs to be aware of the changes made in 2008 regarding the role of licensure, accreditation, certification and education recommended by the Consensus Model. The Consensus Model makes an attempt to standardize that approach on a national level. For a brief synopsis of the Consensus Model CLICK HERE.