Faculty Support 

Tonya L. Page, DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC, LSSGB, FCCS-C
APRN Educational & Faculty Outreach Program Manager

School Code Information: 

• It is imperative that we have your up-to-date information. Schools/Universities requesting to be added to the school code list, or for official school name changes/updates, faculty members must complete the ANCC School Code Add/School Name Change Form and send to certificationoutreach@ana.org.
• The school code designation is a unique identifier for your ANCC school aggregate data/pass rate report information. 
  
  

Introducing the APRN Core Course Review for Faculty 

• Is your student currently pursuing or starting a post-graduate program? We now offer a new service to help educators prepare their students for certification success. Documents for this service can be submitted before or during a student’s program for review by our team. The APRN Core Course Review allows faculty members to submit Advanced Pharmacology, Advanced Health Assessment, and Advanced Pathophysiology courses for review against current ANCC certification eligibility criteria. Please follow the steps below to request review: 
  • Submit a request via the Core Course Review survey. 
  • Provide details and supporting documentation from time of course, such as syllabi and/or course descriptions. 
  • Receive an official notification letter confirming course review status within two weeks. 
• Start the process today by completing the survey here. For questions, contact us at aprnvalidation@ana.org. 

Additional APRN Faculty Resources

• For important updates and policies, visit the APRN Faculty page.

Success Pays® for U Pilot Program

Lourdes B. Careaga, MSN, RN, NE-BC

Certification Outreach Program Manager

Meet Lourdes Careaga, the manager of our ANCC Success Pays® program. Since 2013, this program has empowered healthcare organizations to boost nursing certification rates while minimizing financial risk. We are excited to expand this opportunity through a pilot program, inviting colleges and universities with APRN and other select specialty programs to support their students in achieving lifelong professional development through ANCC certification. Provide a helping hand to your students! 

ANCC certification supports nurses throughout their professional journey, offering meaningful renewal options aligned with clinical practice. Our programs prestigiously meet national accreditation standards, such as the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC), and we are the only nurse credentialing organization in the world to attain full International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification, ensuring adherence to rigorous quality management principles.

How the Pilot Program Works: 

1. Take away up front cost for students. 
2. The school only pays for those who pass at a discounted rate of only $265 per student.
3. Alleviate test taking anxiety as students are able to attempt the exam twice within a contractual period.
4. You select the 8-month period contract that is most convenient for your cohort. For example:
   
   • If your students are scheduled to graduate in May of 2025, you may wish for your contract period to be between June of 2025 – February of 2026.
5. Monthly progress reports to stay up to date on student success.
6. Monthly townhalls with university POC to stay connected with our ANCC Advanced Practice Initiative & Certification Outreach Team representative.
7. The POCs can schedule information sessions with us and their cohort to walk students through the ANCC APRN certification application steps.
   
   

Eligible Programs: 

1. Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification (AGACNP-BC^®)
2. Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certification (AGAPNP-BC^®)
3. Family Nurse Practitioner Certification (FNP-BC^™)
4. Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Across the Lifespan) Certification (PMHNP-BC™)
5. Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Certification (AGCNS-BC^™)
6. Nurse Executive, Advanced Certification (NEA-BC^®)
7. Informatics Nursing Certification (NI-BC^™)

Pilot Signup Deadline: 

• If interested, please contact Lourdes Careaga at successpays@ana.org no later than January 15, 2025

Stories of Inspiration from ANCC Certified Nurses

Meet Katelyn Bern who manages customer engagement through social media and at ANCC tradeshows. Her new initiative is storytelling to motivate both current and prospective ANCC certified nurses.

Katelyn Bern, MA
Outreach Engagement Manager & Tradeshow Liaison

Be sure to follow us on Facebook for these stories and other important updates:  

Dr. Page's Corner:

Students, Start Preparing for Your Journey!

I am proud of your decision to advance your nursing career by pursuing your APRN degree. Graduating and earning your certification will be a remarkable achievement, marking both the completion of your education and the beginning of a new, exciting chapter in healthcare. Your professors have the responsibility of preparing you for what extends beyond clinical knowledge which requires equipping you with the tools to navigate the complexities of real-world practice. The good news is that while transitioning into practice brings its challenges, it is also a transformative and rewarding journey.

Starting with a Holistic Approach 

Your professors are the cornerstone of an APRNs journey, blending academic rigor with practical insights. The challenge lies in balancing theoretical education with the realities of clinical practice. My goal is to provide both APRN faculty and students with practical tips in preparation for fulfilling careers ahead. 

Important Topics to Prepare Students 

1. Bridging the Education-Practice Gap:
   • Students report feeling underprepared for the fast-paced, high-pressure clinical environment. Faculty can address this by integrating case-based simulations, interprofessional collaboration exercises, and clinical decision-making scenarios into the curriculum.
2. Cultivate Resilience and Confidence:
   • The transition from student to independent provider can be daunting. Faculty should emphasize soft skills like communication, leadership, and adaptability to build resilience.
3. Mentorship and Networking:
   • Facilitating mentorship programs and fostering professional connections helps students establish support systems as they step into their roles.
4. Teach them about Expectations and Challenges:
   • The leap into practice brings a mix of anticipation and reality checks. Common challenges include:
     • Balancing autonomy with responsibility and scope of practice
     • Seeking reassurance from seasoned colleagues.
5. Time Management and Workflow Efficiency:
   • Learning to balance patient care, documentation, and administrative duties is a steep learning curve.
6. Building Patient Trust:
   • Establishing rapport and demonstrating competence to patients takes time and patience.
7. Imposter Syndrome:
   • Many new providers experience self-doubt, questioning their readiness despite years of training.

Looking Forward to Our Continuous Collaboration

The journey from APRN student to independent provider is one of growth and learning. With the support of dedicated faculty and a commitment to personal and professional development, APRNs can thrive in their roles and make an impact on the patients and communities they serve.

Again, your journey begins now—embrace it with confidence, curiosity, and compassion. I am truly honored to provide you with a helping hand in every step of your academic progress.

Article by:
Tonya L. Page, DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC, LSSGB, FCCS-C
APRN Educational & Faculty Outreach Program Manager

I hope you found this information helpful and wish you the best of luck in your future academic and professional endeavors. Should you decide to pursue certification through ANCC, I strongly recommend visiting our Certification FAQs page and to also take advantage of the below promo codes: