The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) has historically allowed graduates of Canadian nurse practitioner programs to write for the certification exam for the purpose of obtaining licensure in Canada.

As Canada continues to develop its own national certification exam, this arrangement will remain in place through 2026. Canadian applicants may continue to write for the AANPCB exam, and score reports will be provided to Canadian nursing authorities to support the licensure process.

Certification through AANPCB is a distinct process and is generally not required for Canadian applicants seeking licensure. While Canadian nurse practitioner programs may be eligible to write for the exam, not all programs meet the certification criteria outlined in the Consensus Model for APRN Regulation. Applicants who wish to pursue AANPCB certification must submit an individual request, which will be reviewed and evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

This certification process will remain in effect through December 31, 2025. After 2025, AANPCB certification will no longer be available to Canadian applicants. The option to write for the exam for licensure purposes will continue through 2026, and may be extended depending on the progress of Canada's national certification initiative.

For questions or to request certification review, please email AANPCB at certification@aanpcert.org.