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How do you renew NP certification?

NP certification lasts 5 years. The AANP board asks for 1,000 practice hours and 100 CE hours, or an exam. ANCC asks for 75 CE hours and one category.

Checked November 10, 2026

Short answer: Certification lasts 5 years at both boards. The AANP board requires 1,000 practice hours plus 100 continuing education hours, or a passed exam, and ANCC requires 75 continuing education hours plus one professional development category.

The AANP board is the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB), which now operates under the name NPCB. ANCC is the American Nurses Credentialing Center. The rules are the same for the family nurse practitioner and adult-gerontology primary care certifications at each board.

Renewal rules at each board

Item AANP board ANCC, current handbook
Continuing education (CE) 100 contact hours, with at least 25 in advanced pharmacology 75 contact hours, with 25 in pharmacology
Practice hours 1,000 as a nurse practitioner in your specialty Not required. 1,000 if you choose practice hours as your category
Also required Active registered nurse (RN) license One of eight professional development categories, completed in full, and an active RN license
Renewal by exam Yes. CE and practice hours are then not needed The exam is Category 8, one of the eight categories. The 75 CE hours are still required

Renewal fees

Who you are AANP board, by practice hours and CE AANP board, by exam ANCC
Not a member US$195 US$315 US$375
AANP member US$120 US$240 US$295
ANA member no discount no discount US$275
GAPNA member no discount no discount US$320

AANP is the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. ANA is the American Nurses Association. GAPNA is the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association. Each ANCC price includes a US$140 non-refundable administrative fee.

AANP board details

All hours must fall inside your 5-year certification period.

  • Practice hours may be in direct patient care, administration, education or research.
  • A maximum of 120 preceptorship hours may count toward a maximum of 25 non-pharmacology CE hours.
  • Basic Life Support (BLS) is not accepted as CE.
  • You do not upload CE certificates. You attest, and the board may audit you. Keep your records for two years after your renewal deadline.
  • If you renew by exam, you must pass before your certification expires.

ANCC details today

At least 60 of the 75 CE hours must be formally approved continuing education. Since January 14, 2026, ANCC accepts only activities completed inside your 5-year period and before you submit the renewal application.

Practice hours, preceptor hours, academic credits, presentations and professional service are examples of the categories.

ANCC from February 1, 2027

A new ANCC Renewal Handbook applies to renewal applications submitted on or after February 1, 2027. The CE rule stays at 75 hours, with 25 in pharmacology for advanced practice certifications. Three pathways replace the eight categories, and you complete one:

  • Additional continuing education: 75 more CE hours.
  • Practice: 1,000 practice hours, or 120 preceptor hours, or 120 volunteer service hours.
  • Scholarship: an evidence-based practice or quality improvement project, a presentation, a publication or research.

All CE hours must then be accredited or formally approved. The 2027 handbook lists no exam pathway that we could find. If you plan to renew by exam after February 1, 2027, confirm with ANCC first.

If your certification lapses

ANCC allows no grace period and no backdating.

  • Lapsed up to 2 years at ANCC: you reactivate with an application, the current renewal requirements and the fees.
  • Lapsed more than 2 years at ANCC: you must also pass the certification exam again.

ANCC does not publish the reactivation fee amount.

The AANP board does not publish a grace period, a late fee or a reinstatement rule. Its renewal handbooks say to contact the board by email for instructions and an eligibility review.

What to do next

  1. Find your expiry date in your online account. Both boards accept a renewal application up to 1 year before that date.
  2. Check your pharmacology hours first. Both boards require 25.
  3. If you renew with ANCC, check which handbook applies on the day you will submit.

Common questions

Does the AANP member discount apply to renewal?

Yes. AANP members receive a US$75 discount on AANP board renewal applications.

Can I get a refund if I withdraw an ANCC renewal?

Yes, if you withdraw in writing before the renewal is issued. ANCC keeps the US$140 administrative fee.

What did the first exam cost?

See How much do the AANP and ANCC exams cost?. To compare the two boards, see AANP or ANCC: which FNP exam should you take?.

Prep from our team

NPractitioner has 2,500+ practice questions for the FNP and adult-gerontology primary care board exams, written to American guidelines, with study sheets by topic. All Nursing Exams, NCLEXPace and NPractitioner are run by the same team. See https://www.npractitioner.com.

Sources