Special Review Policy

Applicants not meeting the educational criteria set by AANPCP to sit for national certification examinations may appeal or petition the Certification Commission for a special review after submitting the appropriate application and associated fees. If the Appeals Committee deems that the program of study undertaken by the applicant meets the requirements established for masters and post-masters programs of study in the specialty, the applicant will be allowed to sit for the examination listed in the petition.

Procedure

1. Applicants desiring to make a special appeal or petition to the Certification Committee to sit for a certifying examination will complete a special petition application and submit it, along with the required fees and documentation, to the Appeals Committee of the Certification Program for consideration. Applicants will be required to document both formal didactic course work and clinical experience equal to the graduate, post-graduate, or doctoral program requirements for the specialty being tested in order to be approved to sit for the certification examination.

Nurse practitioners graduating from nurse practitioner programs after the year 2000 are required to graduate from a graduate, post-graduate or doctoral program of study in order to sit for the certification examinations of AANPCP.


2. The submitted application will be reviewed by the Appeals Committee to determine the validity of the appeal and evaluate the applicant's documentation of didactic and clinical experience to determine the equivalence of the applicant's course of study to the criteria established for the graduate and post-graduate Programs. Only applicants who can document an equivalent course of formalized study will be considered in this process.


3. Applicants who are determined eligible to sit for the examination will be notified in writing by the Committee. Applicants who are determined not eligible will be notified in writing of their ineligibility and areas for further formalized study including clinical experience will be identified.

**In the event of an appeal, the AANPCP Appeals Committee shall review the information by telephone, email, mail, or teleconference within 30 days of receipt of the appeal. The Committee’s decision is final. Notice of the determination shall be provided to the appellant within 10 business days of the decision via electronic or paper methods to include email and postal service.

For further information regarding requirements contact AANPCP at (512) 637-0500.