Earlier this week, the Board of Nursing sent communication about SB 975. We want to clarify what the APRN designation means to you as a nurse practitioner. Advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) is not a new name but rather a term that aligns Virginia’s code with the APRN Consensus Model. This change does not negate, demote or remove the individual’s national licensure, credentials or designation as an NP.

SB 975’s summary states, “Certified nurse midwives, certified registered nurse anesthetists, clinical nurse specialists, and nurse practitioners; designation as advanced practice registered nurses. Changes references to certain practitioners in the Code to advanced practice registered nurse in order to align the Code with the professional designations established by the Consensus Model for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses Regulation established by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.”

In addition to aligning with the APRN Consensus Model & National Council of State Boards of Nursing, this change also helps decrease confusion in Virginia’s regulatory code language that previously designated other advanced practice registered nurses (including CNS, CNM & CRNA) as “nurse practitioners.” 

Per Virginia Code – “Licensed nurse practitioner” means an advanced practice registered nurse who has met the requirements for licensure as stated in Part II (18VAC90-30-60 et seq.) of this chapter. Under the code, one of these requirements is that the nurse practitioner hold a national certification in the category/specialty of their practice and/or meet the requirements of their national certifying body.

“The boards shall license nurse practitioners consistent with their specialty education and certification in the following categories (a two-digit suffix appears on licenses to designate category).” – See 18VAC90-30-70. Categories of licensed nurse practitioners.