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The Alabama Board of Nursing (334-293-5200 or [email protected]) grants approval for qualified registered nurses to work as Advanced Practice Nurses (APN) in four categories:
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- Certified nurse midwife (CNM)
- Certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA)
- Certified registered nurse practitioner (CRNP)
- Clinical nurse specialist (CNS)
To be approved to work as an APN, you must have an active, unencumbered Alabama RN license. If you are a licensed RN in Alabama, proceed to Step 1. If you do not have an active RN license in Alabama, your options for retaining one are as follows:
- If you currently hold, or have you ever held, an RN license in another state, you must apply for RN licensure by endorsement in Alabama. This must be done through the Alabama Board of Nursing Online Application by Endorsement.
- If you have never been licensed as an RN in Alabama or another state, apply online for Alabama RN licensure by examination here.
- If you received your RN training in another country, have your credentials evaluated by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS). The Alabama Board or Nursing may ask you to take additional coursework to satisfy Alabama’s RN licensure requirements.
- If your Alabama RN license lapsed, you may apply for reinstatement here.
The procedure for becoming certified to work in advanced practice nursing in Alabama is outlined below.
Step 1. Get Your Graduate Degree
You must have at least a master’s degree in advanced practice nursing corresponding to the APN category in which you plan to work. The program from which you graduate must be recognized by the Alabama Board of Nursing and accredited by an organization recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE), or the Council of Higher Education Accreditation.
Applicants for CRNP and CNM are exempt from the master’s degree requirement if one of the following applies:
- You graduated before 1996 from a Board-recognized post-bachelor’s program to prepare NPs or nurse midwives
- You graduated before 1984 from a non-bachelor’s program preparing NPs or nurse midwives
Applicants for CRNA are exempt from the master’s degree requirement if:
- You graduated before December 2003 from an accredited school of nurse anesthesia
Standards of approval set forth by the Alabama Board of Nursing for nursing education programs may be found here. The Alabama Board of Nursing also follows the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Requirements for Accrediting Agencies and Criteria for APRN Certification Programs.
Course Requirements
The Alabama Board of Nursing follows the national APRN Consensus Model, which states that advanced practice nursing education must include the following core courses:
- Advanced pathophysiology/physiology (that includes general principles applicable across the human lifespan)
- Advanced health assessment (that includes assessment of all systems of the body, advanced assessment methods, techniques, and concepts)
- Advanced pharmacology (that includes pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics of broad categories of agents)
Prescriptive Authority
If you can prove completion of a course in pharmacology, or integration of pharmacological theory and clinical application, you may be granted prescriptive authority as a CRNP in Alabama. Additionally, you must be engaged in a collaborative practice with a physician to legally prescribe medications.
You and your collaborating physician must state, in writing, the types of drugs you will prescribe, as well as dosage, quantity and refills. Additionally, you may not prescribe drugs for yourself, immediate family members, or persons who are not patients of your practice.
Specialization
If you are a student who plans to become a CRNP or CNS in Alabama, you may choose to pursue specialized education in an area targeting a specific population.
Graduate programs offered in Alabama for CRNP and CNS specialties include:
- Acute Care
- Family Practice
- Gerontology
- Neonatal/Infant
- Oncology
- Pediatrics
- Psychiatrics
- Trauma
- Women’s Health
Holding a national certification in one or more of these areas allow you to legally practice in that area of specialty.
Step 2. Earn Your National Certification
The Alabama Board of Nursing requires that you first become nationally certified in the area of Advanced Practice Nursing (APN) in which you wish to work. The certification process for each specialty varies according to the rules of its independent national certification organization.
Certification examinations are required for all approved specialties. You must satisfy other certification requirements according to the specialty you choose and the mandates of the certification agency that grants your certification.
You may choose to become certified in one APN area or multiple APN areas.
Advanced Nursing Designation Options
The Alabama Board of Nursing recognizes the following APN categories:
- Certified registered nurse practitioner (CRNP)
- Certified nurse-midwife (CNM)
- Certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA)
- Clinical nurse specialist (CNS)
Certification Programs
If you become nationally certified in an area not currently recognized by the Alabama Board of Nursing, you may petition the Board to include it.
National certification organizations for APNs currently recognized by the Alabama Board of Nursing include:
Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS):
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC):
- Adult Health CNS (ACNS)
- Adult Psychiatric & Mental Health CNS (PMHCNS)
- Child Adolescent Psych & Mental Health CNS (PMHCNS)
- Gerontological CNS (GNCS)
- Pediatric CNS (PCNS)
- American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN):
- Adult, Neonatal & Pediatric Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist (CCNS)
- Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation(ONCC):
- Advanced Oncology Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist (AOCNS)
- Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB):
- Wound, Ostomy and Continence Advanced Practice (CWOCN-AP)
Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM):
- American Midwifery Certification Board:
- Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA):
- National Board of Certification & Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA):
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
Certified Nurse Practitioners (CNP):
- ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Center):
- Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP)
- Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP)
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Gerontological Nurse Practitioner (GNP)
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
- AANP (American Academy of Nurse Practitioners):
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP
- Adult Nurse Practitioner
- AACN Certification Corporation (American Association of Critical Care Nurses):
- Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP)
- NCC (National Certification Corporation):
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP)
- Women’s Health OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)
- PNCB (Pediatric Nurse Certification Board):
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Acute Care (ACPNP)
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Primary Care (PCPNP)
If you have not yet received national certification from the proper agency, you must do so before moving forward in Alabama’s APN certification process. Contact the agency that offers the credentials you seek for further information.
Step 3. Apply for Your Certificate
Your application for APN certification must include your US social security number. The Alabama Board of Nursing will not process applications without a social security number. Call the Alabama Board of Nursing at 334-293-5200 for further information on this mandatory federal requirement.
Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner:
You must apply to become a CRNP using the Alabama Board of Nursing’s online application system. You may pay the initial approval fee of $150 online via credit/debit card. When filling out the online application, you will be asked to mail the following documentation to the Alabama Board of Nursing:
- Have all colleges you attended to earn your Advanced Practice Nursing graduate degree send sealed, official college transcripts to the Alabama Board of Nursing
- Have your national certifying agency mail the Alabama Board of Nursing a copy of your current national certification
- Complete the Application to Add or Change Collaborative Practice signed by the Alabama physician with whom you will collaborate and send it along with the $50 fee payable via certified check, money order, business or corporate check to the Alabama Board of Nursing.
Certified Nurse Midwife:
You must apply to become a CNM via the Alabama Board of Nursing’s online application system. You may pay the initial approval fee of $150 online via credit/debit card. When filling out the online application, you will be asked to mail the following documentation to the Alabama Board of Nursing
- Have all colleges you attended to earn your Advanced Practice Nursing graduate degree send sealed, official college transcripts to the Alabama Board of Nursing
- Complete the Application to Add or Change Collaborative Practice signed by the Alabama physician with whom you will collaborate and mail it along with a $50 fee payable via certified check, money order, business or corporate check to the Alabama Board of Nursing.
- Have your national certifying agency mail the Alabama Board of Nursing a copy of your current national certification
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist:
Apply online to become a CRNA via the Alabama Board of Nursing’s online application system. You may pay the initial approval fee of $150 online via credit/debit card. When filling out the online application, you will be asked to mail the following documentation to the Alabama Board of Nursing:
- Have all colleges you attended to earn your Advanced Practice Nursing graduate degree send sealed, official college transcripts to the Alabama Board of Nursing
- Have your national certifying agency mail the Alabama Board of Nursing a copy of your current national certification
Clinical Nurse Specialist:
Apply online via the Alabama Board of Nursing’s online application system. You may pay the initial approval fee of $150 online via credit/debit card. When filling out the online application, you will be asked to mail the following documentation to the Alabama Board of Nursing:
- Have your national certifying agency mail the Alabama Board of Nursing a copy of your current national certification
- Have all colleges you attended to earn your Advanced Practice Nursing graduate degree send sealed, official college transcripts to the Alabama Board of Nursing
All documentation must be mailed to Alabama Board of Nursing, P. O. Box 303900, Montgomery AL 36130-3900. It may take up to two weeks to process your application. Notice of your APN approval will be sent to the mailing address listed on your application.
Criminal History Background Check
The Alabama Board of Nursing does not conduct criminal history background checks on applicants for APN approval. However, at the time of application, you must disclose any criminal arrests and convictions in your history, even if the charges were dismissed and/or the case was closed. You may be asked to submit court documentation of any criminal proceedings you were involved in.
The Board will evaluate applicants with misdemeanor or felony convictions on a case-by-case basis and render a decision as to whether or not to issue licensure.
Step 4. Renewing Your Certificate
Your APN approval to practice in Alabama must be renewed every two years for a fee of $50, along with your RN license renewal (which carries a $75 fee). These fees are due between September 1 and December 31 in even-numbered years. APN renewal must be completed online through the Alabama Board of Nursing’s online application system.
Although renewal is handled online, certain documentation must be sent to the Alabama Board of Nursing every two years for APN renewal:
- Proof of active National Certification
- Transcripts/documentation showing 24 contact hours of continuing education from approved providers
Mail all of the above documents to Alabama Board of Nursing, P. O. Box 303900, Montgomery AL 36130-3900.
Continuing Education
You must complete 24 contact hours from approved CE providers to maintain your RN license.
If you are a CRNP, CNM or CRNA, you must also complete six contact hours of pharmacology continuing education every two years for APN renewal.
Additionally, you must complete the continuing education requirements of your national certification agency. Contact your certification organization for details:
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
- American Nurses Credentialing Center
- American Association of Critical Care Nurses
- National Certification Corporation
- Pediatric Nurse Certification Board
- National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists
- American Midwifery Certification Board
Proof of current national certification must be provided to the Alabama Board of Nursing every two years at the time of your APN renewal.
Expired/Inactive Certificate Renewal
If your APN approval has lapsed, you may request a reinstatement here. Send a copy of your current, active Alabama RN license, payment of current renewal ($50) and reinstatement fees ($50), and official notification of your current, active national certification, to the Board at the address above.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Associations in Alabama
There are many professional organizations supporting Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) in Alabama. They include:
- Alabama State Nurses Association
- Nurse Practitioner Alliance of Alabama
- Alabama Association of Nurse Anesthetists
- North Alabama Nurse Practitioner Association
- Alabama Midwives Alliance
Alabama Nurse Practitioner Salary
Registered nurses working in Alabama make $60,230 per year, on average. Experienced RNs pull in more than $80,420 in the top ten percent. In the Deep South, incomes at both ends of the scale can go a long way.
Registered Nurse Salary
Registered nurses working in Alabama make $60,230 per year, on average. Experienced RNs pull in more than $80,420 in the top ten percent. In the Deep South, incomes at both ends of the scale can go a long way.
Nursing Instructors and Teachers Salary
Nursing instructors and teachers in Alabama make a respectable income: $71,950 per year, on average. Just over 1,200 nursing instructors were working in the state as of 2020.
Nurse Administrator Salary
(Includes Nurse Managers, Directors, and Chief Nursing Officers)
Nurse administrators working in Alabama earn $93,330 a year. That’s just the average. The highest-paid nurse administrators in the state can expect to earn $143,710 or more annually. That’s almost triple the state’s median household income.
Nurse Anesthetists Salary
A nurse anesthetist working in Alabama can command an incredibly good living. The average annual income for these specialists is $170,560 across the state. Those who climb up the ladder to make it into the top ten percent earn more than $198,850 per year.
2020 US Bureau of Labor Statistics job market trends and salary figures for 1) Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Practitioners, Nurse Midwives; 2) Medical and Health Services Managers (Nurse Administrators); 3) Registered Nurses; and 4) Postsecondary Nursing Instructors and Teachers reflect state data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. 2019 US Census Bureau figures for state median household income provided for comparison. Data Accessed December 2021.