Healthcare License Verification
How to Verify a Nurse Practitioner (NP) License
Nurse practitioners practice under Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) licenses issued by state nursing boards. Verification involves the state board, national specialty certification, and — for prescribers — DEA registration.
Quick answer
Verify NP licenses through the state nursing board in the state(s) where they practice. For multi-state lookup, use nursys.com (NCSBN's national database). Also verify the NP's national specialty certification through AANP (aanp.org) or ANCC (nursingworld.org/ancc). For prescribers, confirm DEA registration at apps.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/webforms/validateLogin.jsp.
NP licensing structure
Nurse practitioners hold multiple credentials that must all be verified:
- RN license: The foundational registered nurse license (Nursys or state board)
- APRN license/authority: State recognition of advanced practice status, often embedded in the RN license or as a separate endorsement
- National specialty certification: From AANP or ANCC (required for most state APRN licensure)
- DEA registration: If prescribing controlled substances (Schedule II–V)
- State collaborative agreement: In some states, NPs must have a supervising physician — not universally required
Nursys: National license verification
Nursys (nursys.com) is maintained by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) and aggregates license data from participating state boards. It is the most efficient starting point for verifying both RN and APRN status:
- Go to nursys.com
- Select the “License Verification” option
- Enter the nurse's name, license number, or state
- Results show all license records on file, including RN license status and any APRN designations
State-specific APRN verification
Not all states report APRN designation details to Nursys. In some states, APRN authority is embedded in the RN license record; in others it is a separate license. Always follow up with the specific state nursing board to confirm APRN scope of practice if Nursys does not clearly show it.
NP specialty certifications
National specialty certification is required to obtain APRN licensure in most states. The two primary certifying bodies are:
AANP (American Association of Nurse Practitioners)
AANP offers the FNP-C (Family Nurse Practitioner-Certified) and several other specialty exams. Verify at aanp.org/education-resources/certification/verify-an-nps-certification.
ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Center)
ANCC (a division of the ANA) offers the AGNP-C, PMHNP-BC, NP-C designations and many specialty certifications. Verify at nursingworld.org/ancc through the credential verification tool.
| Specialty | AANP Credential | ANCC Credential |
|---|---|---|
| Family Practice | FNP-C | FNP-BC |
| Adult-Gerontology (Primary) | AGNP-C | AGPCNP-BC |
| Psychiatric-Mental Health | (via ANCC only) | PMHNP-BC |
| Pediatric (Primary) | PPCNP-BC (via PNCB) | CPNP-PC |
| Neonatal | (via NCC) | NNP-BC |
Prescriptive authority and DEA verification
NPs who prescribe controlled substances must hold a DEA registration (Schedule II–V). Full practice authority (no physician collaboration required) varies by state — as of 2026, over 25 states and D.C. grant full practice authority to NPs.
Verify DEA registration through the DEA Diversion Control Division lookup at apps.deadiversion.usdoj.gov. A valid DEA number confirms the NP is registered to prescribe in the appropriate Drug Schedules.
Also verify state-level prescriptive authority — some states limit NP prescribing to specific drug schedules (e.g., no Schedule II) even with DEA registration.
APRN Compact
The APRN Compact is an interstate licensure agreement allowing APRNs to practice across member states. As of 2026, implementation is in progress — fewer states participate than in the RN Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). Verify APRN Compact participation and privileges at ncsbn.org/aprn-compact.
Red flags
- State board shows RN license but no APRN designation — the NP may have let their APRN authority lapse while maintaining their RN license
- National specialty certification is expired — most require recertification every 5 years (AANP) or 5 years (ANCC) with continuing education
- Specialty mismatch — an FNP-C practicing in a specialty outside family/adult medicine (e.g., NICU) without the correct NICU-specific certification
- No DEA registration for a prescribing role — either the role does not require prescribing or this is a red flag
- Claims practice in a state without APRN license — APRN authority is state-specific; verify for each state where they practice
- Collaborative agreement requirement in restricted-practice states — verify whether the required physician collaboration agreement is in place
Verification checklist
- 1. Verify RN + APRN license status via Nursys or state nursing board
- 2. Confirm national specialty certification through AANP (aanp.org) or ANCC (nursingworld.org) — active and current
- 3. Check for disciplinary actions on state nursing board record
- 4. For prescribers: verify DEA registration at apps.deadiversion.usdoj.gov
- 5. Verify specialty certification matches the practice setting and role
- 6. Check OIG exclusion list at oig.hhs.gov/exclusions/exclusions_list.asp (required for Medicare/Medicaid billing roles)
Verify the nursing program accreditation
NP programs must be accredited by CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education) or ACEN (Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing). Use VerifyED to confirm whether a school's nursing program is properly accredited.
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