Why should DNP graduates take an exam designed for physicians?
The certification is voluntary and requires national certification by one of the existing well-established and strong APRN specialty certification examinations. These exams are testing current APRN competency with psychometric soundness and legal defensibility. To be eligible for the exam, the candidate must be licensed as a registered nurse and an APRN, hold current national certification in an APRN specialty and have a DNP degree. The content of the exam is focused on evidence based clinical care. Clinical evidence is applied to practice by many direct care providers; its application is not limited to the medical discipline. The exam is not intended to test graduates from the diverse DNP models of education, but rather to test clinical competency in comprehensive care for the graduate whose doctoral education is focused on direct clinical care. It should be viewed as an option for APRN’s with the DNP degree who are interested in adding this credential to their accomplishments. The te
