Time Limit to Apply for APRN Certification

Beginning January 1, 2026, ANCC will implement a policy change to APRN certification eligibility. Candidates for an ANCC APRN certification must apply within five (5) years of degree conferral from their applicable APRN degree or post-graduate certificate program.

Clarification: The five-year timeframe is assessed at the time of application submission, not at the time of testing. Applicants are eligible to apply and test if no more than five (5) years have passed between their degree (or post-graduate certificate) conferral date and the date their certification application is submitted. This policy applies only to initial and retest applications for certification. It does not affect certification renewal requirements. Applicants whose degree conferral date will be more than five years old by the time of application submission will not be able to apply. Please be advised that this policy solely applies to initial and retest applications for certification and has no bearing on the requirements for certification renewal. Applicants who have tested unsuccessfully in the past and have not earned certification, those who are licensed in a state that does not yet require certification, or those whose degree conferral date fall within a timeframe to be affected by this policy should consider testing prior to implementation.