Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Licensed General Information

The online process to apply for an APRN license is active. Please access Online Services to submit an application online.

Who may practice?

An individual licensed as an APRN by the board of nursing and certified by a national nurse certification organization acceptable to the board to practice as a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP), Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), or Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). The APRN must be certified as one of the four APRN roles and one of the six population foci. CNP and CNS beginning practice after July 1, 2014 must practice for at least 2,080 hours within the context of a collaborative management setting in a hospital or integrated clinical setting where APRNs and physicians work together. Collaborative management means a mutually agreed upon plan for the overall working relationship between a CNP or CNS and one or more Minnesota licensed physician or APRN that designates the scope of collaboration needed to manage the care of patients. The CNP, CNS and one of the collaborating physicians or APRN must have experience in providing care to patients with the same or similar medical problems. APRNs that are licensed and are on the Minnesota APRN registry on or prior to July 1, 2014, will complete an affidavit confirming the completion of the required 2,080 hours.

What is the definition of advanced practice registered nursing?

The practice of advanced practice registered nursing means the performance of an expanded scope of nursing in at least one of the recognized advanced practice roles and for at least one population focus. An individual licensed as an APRN by the board of nursing and certified by a national nurse certification organization acceptable to the board to practice as a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP), Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), or Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). The APRN must be certified as one of the four APRN roles and one of the six population foci. APRNs are accountable to patients for the quality of APRN care rendered, recognizing the limits of knowledge and experience, planning for the management for situations beyond the APRNs expertise. APRNs accept referrals, consult with, supervise, and interpret diagnostic studies, excluding interpreting computed tomography scans, magnetic resonance imaging scans, positron emission tomography scans, nuclear scans, and mammography.

Does the Nurse Practice Act define the scopes of practice for clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, nurse mid-wives, and nurse practitioners?

The practice of advanced practice registered nursing means the performance of an expanded scope of nursing in at least one of the recognized advanced practice roles and for at least one population focus. The scope and standards of an APRN are defined by the national professional nursing organizations specific to the practice as a CNS, CNM, CNP, or CRNA in the specific population focus. The scope includes but is not limited to performing acts of advanced assessment, diagnosing, prescribing, and ordering. The practice includes function as a primary care provider, direct care provider, case manager, consultant, educators and researcher.

Are APRNs authorized to prescribe?

Licensed APRNs are authorized to prescribe, dispense and administer drugs, controlled substances (Schedule II through V) and therapeutic devices.

How does an advanced practice registered nurse identify authority to practice?

Jane Doe APRN, CNS
Jane Doe APRN, CNP
Jane Doe APRN, CNM
Jane Doe APRN,CRNA
Educational degrees may be added.

Suggestions for adding other credentials:

Jane Doe DNP, RN, APRN, CNP, FNP-BC
Jane Doe EdD, MN, RN, APRN, CNM
Jane Doe PhD, RN, APRN, CRNA, CCRN

More information of how to display your credentials is available at ANCC.

Is a collaborative management plan required?

CNM and CRNA are not required to have a collaborative management agreement nor a written prescribing agreement (except for a CRNA who will provide nonsurgical therapies for acute or chronic pain - see below). CNPs and CNSs beginning practice after July 1, 2014, must practice for at least 2,080 hours within the context of a collaborative management setting in a hospital or integrated clinical setting where APRNs and physicians work together. A written prescribing agreement is not required.

CRNA practice of nonsurgical therapies for acute and chronic pain:

Acute and chronic pain: A CRNA may perform nonsurgical therapies for acute and chronic pain symptoms upon referral and in collaboration with a Minnesota licensed physician. The CRNA and the one or more physicians must have a mutually agreed upon plan that designates the scope of collaboration needed for providing nonsurgical therapies to patients with acute and chronic pain. The CRNA must perform the nonsurgical therapies at the same licensed health care facility as the physician.

Chronic pain: A CRNA must have a written prescribing agreement with a Minnesota licensed physician that defines the delegated responsibilities related to prescribing drugs and therapeutic devices within the scope of the agreement and the practice of the CRNA.

How many hours of continuing education does the APRN license need for each licensing period?

There are no additional continuing educational requirements for the APRN license renewal. Current certification in the role and population for which the individual is licensed must be on file with the Board. Current APRN certification on file at the Board will meet the 24 contact hours of continuing educaiton during a 24 month period of registration requirement for the RN license. Renewal of APRN certification continuing education requirements are determined by the certifying organization.

Requirements for Licensure as an APRN

Have a current Minnesota Registered Nurse (RN) license or eligibility for licensure.
Must not hold an encumbered RN license in another state or territory.
Complete a graduate level APRN program accredited by a nursing or nursing-related accrediting body that is recognized by the United States Secretary of Education or Council for Higher Education Accreditation as acceptable to the Minnesota Board of Nursing or must demonstrate compliance with the APRN education requirements that were in effect in Minnesota at the time the applicant completed the advanced practice nursing education program. The list of Council for Higher Education Accreditation Organizations as acceptable to the Minnesota Board of Nursing can be found at Minnesota Board of Nursing Education. The education must be in one of the four roles and one of the six population foci appropriate to the education.
- Roles: Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Midwife, Registered Nurse Anesthetist
- Populations: Family and Individual Across the Lifespan, Adult Gerontology, Neonatal, Pediatrics, Women's and Gender-Related Health, Psychiatric and Mental Health
If the APRN program was completed after January 1, 2016, the program must have included at least one graduate-level course in each of the following areas: advanced physiology and pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, and pharmacokinetics and pharmacotherapeutics of all broad categories of agent.
Complete the first page of the Confirmation of Program Completion for Advanced Practice Registered Nurse form and forward the two page form to the APRN program you completed by fax, email, or mail. The APRN program must mail both pages to the Board.
Current certification by a national certifying body recognized by the Board in the APRN role and one of the six population foci.
Certification in the adult- or gerontology- only population for those applicants who obtained certification prior to November 1, 2017 will be considered as certification in adult-gerontology and the individual will be deemed eligible for APRN licensure.
Request documentation of your current certification in good standing be sent directly from the certifying organization to the Minnesota Board of Nursing by mail or email.
Complete the Confirmation of Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Employment form and return to the Minnesota Board of Nursing by fax, email, or mail. If it has been more than five years since you have practiced as an APRN or have completed the APRN program, you will need to complete a Board approved reorientation plan upon licensure. Please contact the Minnesota Board of Nursing for more information.
CNS and CNP applicants only must submit the Post-Graduate Practice Verification form. The applicant will confirm they are not initiating APRN practice upon licensure at this time, or are initiating practice at this time with the location of hospital or integrated clinical setting, or have completed the 2080 post-graduate practice hours. The completion of the 2080 post-graduate practice hours must be within the context of a collaborative agreement within a hospital or integrated clinical setting where APRNs and physicians work together or if the applicant was listed on the Minnesota APRN Registry as of July 1, 2014, which means that you held a Minnesota RN license and the Minnesota Board of Nursing had a current copy of your certification as an APRN. This form may be faxed, emailed, or mailed to the Board. Ensure all signatures are legal signatures. Electronic signatures are not acceptable.
Report any criminal convictions, nolo contendere plea, Alford plea other plea arrangement.
Must not have committed any acts or omissions which are grounds for disciplinary action in another jurisdiction that would be grounds for disciplinary action in section 148.261 or restitution has been met.
Complete criminal background check. If you have already completed a background check with the Board of Nursing, the criminal background check results are valid for one year from the date the background check results were received by the Board and a second background check will not be required. If more than one year has elapsed since the results were received by the Board, then an applicant who has not completed the licensure processs must complete a new background check.
CRNAs who practice nonsurgical pain management must complete the Verification of CRNA Written Prescribing Agreement form. The form can be faxed, emailed, or mailed into the Board.

Population focus areas:

· Family and individual across the lifespan

· Adult-Gerontology (Certification in adult- or gerontology- only population for those applicants who obtained certification prior to November 1, 2017 will be considered as certification in adult-gerontology and the individual will be deemed eligible for APRN licensure)

· Neonatal

· Pediatrics

· Women’s and gender-related health

· Psychiatric and mental health

What national nurse certification organizations are acceptable to the Board?

Based upon criteria established by the Board, the following national nurse certification organizations have been determined to be acceptable as certifying organizations.