FNP-C vs. FNP-BC—What’s the Difference?

Are you a registered nurse (RN) looking into career advancement options? RN specialization is a path with dozens of exciting and diverse opportunities.

For those of you who desire an advanced degree as well as greater independence and impact, becoming a nurse practitioner (NP) may be right for you.

Do You Want to Become a Nurse Practitioner?

group of family nurse practitioners in clinicals — Nurses may continue their education to become FNPs.

The occupational growth of nurse practitioners through 2032 is projected at an explosive 38 percent—significantly higher than the 6 percent projected for registered nurses. That level of growth means demand and opportunity for a Nurse Practitioner Certified (NP-C).

An NPC must obtain certification in a specialty area, of which there are several. Nevertheless, when we’re talking about impact, a Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C or FNP-BC) is a heavy hitter. An FNP-C or FNP-BC specializes in family health, providing primary care for people of all ages. This training makes them ideal for shoring up the gaps in primary care delivery across our country in the wake of massive physician shortages.

Which Nurse Practitioner Degree Program Is Best for You?

What Does FNP-BC Stand For?

We know the healthcare industry’s love of acronyms can be confusing. Therefore, let’s go over some quick definitions to get you acclimated. The main medical abbreviations for family nurse practitioners are as follows:

FNP: This acronym refers to a nurse who has graduated from a family nurse practitioner program but has yet to be certified.
FNP-C: This means Family Nurse Practitioner-Certified.
FNP-BC: This means Family Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified.

Certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner

Certification is required by most state boards of nursing (BONs) for graduated nurse practitioners to practice. Although there are a few exceptions, these are the minority. Completing a national certification instills in your patients trust in your capabilities, solidifies your knowledge, and demonstrates your commitment to advanced learning in your chosen specialty to other healthcare professionals. Furthermore, as nursing organizations advocate for increased nurse practitioner authority across the country, certification may become necessary even in states that currently don’t require it.

Read Up on Nurse Practitioner Authority Here

What’s the Difference between FNP-C and FNP-BC?

Both FNP-Cs and FNP-BCs are certified. The obvious indication of difference is the variance in the acronym, which points to two separate licensing organizations. An FNP-C earns certification through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), which has been certifying FNPs since 1993. An FNP-BC earns certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Let’s examine what we know about each certification to identify their differences and similarities.

The FNP-C certification issued by the AANP is as follows:

Certification for non-members is $315 and $240 for members.
Renewal for non-members is $195 and $120 for members.
The exam covers four domains: assess, diagnose, plan, and evaluate.
The exam covers four broad areas of knowledge: pathophysiology, pharmacology, physical assessment, and evidence-informed practice.
The exam has 150 questions; 15 are unscored pretest questions for data collection.
FNP-Cs must renew their licenses every five years, either by practice hours and continuing education or by reexamination.
During these five years, FNPs must complete at least 1,000 practice hours in the specialty population focus.
FNPs must submit continuing education (CE) documentation.
Family Nurse Practitioners must complete 100 CE hours, of which 25 must be in advanced practice pharmacology.
Preceptorship hours can qualify as CE hours.

The FNP-BC certification issued by the ANCC is as follows:

FNPs must have an active RN or advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) license.
Certification for non-members is $395; for members of the American Nurses Association (ANA), it is $295; for AANP members, it is $340; and for AANP student members, it is $290.
Renewal for non-members is $375; for ANA members, it is $275; and for AANP members, it is $295.
The exam covers five categories: assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation.
The exam considers secondary classifications, including age groups, drug agents, and body systems.
The exam has 175 questions; 25 are unscored pretest questions for data collection.
FNPs must renew their licenses every five years and can initiate the process up to one year before the expiration date.
Continuing education hours and a professional development activity are renewal requirements. Documentation of both is necessary in case of being audited.
Seventy-five continuing education hours are required, of which 25 must be in pharmacology.
Renewal requirements for professional development fall into eight categories: continuing education hours, academic credits, presentations, research and publication, preceptor hours, professional volunteer service, practice hours, and test or portfolio.

The most obvious contrast between the two types of FNP certification is the specified professional development requirement for renewal of the FNP-BC. The professional development categories for academic credits and research and publication certainly provide the opportunity and motivation to advance in academic learning. The professional volunteer service category encourages administrative participation with a healthcare organization outside your FNP practice.

Family nurse practitioner with a pediatric patient and mother — Family Nurse Practitioners can work with a variety of patient populations.

Certification Eligibility Requirements

Ensure you meet the eligibility requirements before you sign up and pay for your chosen certification.

FNP-C eligibility requirements are the following:

You have an active nurse license in the US or Canada.
You have completed the APRN core courses of advanced pharmacology, advanced physical assessment, and advanced pathophysiology.
You have graduated from a nationally accredited master’s, post-graduate, or doctoral Family Nurse Practitioner program. (The accreditation organization must be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, or the Canadian Council of Registered Nurse Regulators (CCRNR).
You have completed at least 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours from your NP program.
You have an official completed transcript with the date of degree awarded or an unofficial/official transcript that shows academic coursework with the completion date.

FNP-BC eligibility requirements include the following:

You have an active RN license in the US or the professional and legally recognized equivalent in another country.
You are an FNP with a master’s, post-graduate certificate, or doctorate of nurse practitioner from a program accredited by the Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA), the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), or the National League for Nursing (NLN).
You have completed the APRN core courses in advanced health assessment, advanced physiology/pathophysiology, and advanced pharmacology.
You completed at least 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours in your FNP program.
You have the official/unofficial transcripts that detail planning, coursework, and faculty-supervised clinical hour completion.

Can NPs prescribe meds? Find out in our ultimate state-by-state guide.