Do you have to be certified to be a Nurse Practitioner?

Answer 1

That varies from state to state. In New York state, nurse practitioners are not required to be certified by a national certifying body like ANCC, AANP, or NAPNAP. However, you'd have trouble billing for patient visits if you weren't certified.

Answer 2

Yes! You need your Masters degree. As for what in exactly it varies by state but generally a Master's in Nursing along with clincals would do it. You need such a high level of education because in most states they work along with and often in place of an MD or other type of doctor. I'm not sure if midwifes need a degree, but they generally need some sort of certificate to be certified. You might be thinking of a midwife instead of a Nurse Practitoner if you are asking this question.

Answer 3

Sounds like, "Who's buried in Grant's Tomb?" Yes, a certified NP is certified by definition.