Ariz. Admin. Code § R4-19-501 - Roles and Population Foci of Advanced Practice Registered Nursing (APRN); Certification Programs

A. The Board recognizes the following APRN roles;

1. Registered nurse practitioner (RNP) in a population focus;

2. Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) in a population focus;

3. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA);

4. Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM).

B. RNPs and CNSs shall practice within one or more population foci, consistent with their education and certification. Population foci include:

1. Family-individual across the life span;

2. Adult-gerontology primary or acute care;

3. Neonatal;

4. Pediatric primary or acute care;

5. Women's health-gender related;

6. Psychiatric-mental health;

7. For Certified Nurse Midwives, women's health gender related including childbirth and neonatal care;

8 7. Other foci that have been recognized by the Board previously and new foci that meet the following conditions:

a. There is an accredited educational program and a national certifying process that meets the requirements of subsection (C); and

b. The focus is broad enough for an educational program to be developed that prepares a registered nurse to function both within the scope of practice of the role and population focus.

C. Certified Nurse Midwives shall practice within a population focus consistent with their education, specifically women's health gender-related care, including childbirth and neonatal care.

C D. The Board shall accept advanced practice certifications from programs that meet the following qualifications:

1. The certification program:

a. Is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification, or an equivalent organization as determined by the Board;

b. Establishes educational requirements for certification that are consistent with the requirements in R4-19-505;

c. Has an application process and credential review that requires an applicant to submit original source documentation of the applicant's education and clinical practice in the advanced practice role and population focus, if applicable, for which certification is granted; and

d. Is national in the scope of its credentialing.

2. The certification program uses an examination as a basis for certification in the advanced practice role and population focus, as applicable that meets all of the following criteria:

a. The examination is based upon job analysis studies conducted using standard methodologies acceptable to the testing community both initially and every five years;

b. The examination assesses entry-level practice in the advanced practice role and population focus, if applicable;

c. The examination assesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities essential for the delivery of safe and effective advanced nursing care to clients;

d. Examination items are reviewed for content validity, cultural sensitivity, and correct scoring using an established mechanism, both before first use and periodically; items are reviewed for currency at least every three years;

e. The examination is evaluated for psychometric performance and conforms to psychometric standards that are routinely utilized for other types of high-stakes testing;

f. The passing standard is established using accepted psychometric methods and is re-evaluated periodically;

g. Examination security is maintained through established procedures;

h. A re-take policy is in place; and

i. Conditions for taking the certification examination are consistent with standards of the testing community;

3. Certification is issued upon passing the examination and meeting all other certification requirements;

4. The certification program periodically provides for re-certification that includes review of qualifications and continued competence;

5. The certification program provides timely communication to the Board regarding licensee or applicant certification status, changes in an individual's certification status, exam results and changes in the certification program, including qualifications, test plan, and scope of practice; and

6. The certification program has an evaluation process to provide quality assurance in its certificate program.

D E. The Board shall determine whether a certification program meets the requirements of this Section. The following certification programs meet the requirements of this Section as of the effective date of this rulemaking:

1. For RNP, and CNM (consistent with R4-19-501(C) and (D)):

a. American Academy of Nurse Practitioner certification programs;

i. Adult nurse practitioner,

ii. Family nurse practitioner,

iii. Gerontologic nurse practitioner,

iv. Adult health-gerontological nurse practitioner.

b. American Nurses Credentialing Center certification programs:

i. Acute care nurse practitioner (adult/gerontology),

ii. Adult nurse practitioner,

iii. Family nurse practitioner,

iv. Gerontological nurse practitioner,

v. Pediatric nurse practitioner,

vi. Adult psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner,

vii. Family psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner,

viii. Adult health-gerontological nurse practitioner,

c. Pediatric Nursing Certification Board certification programs:

i. Pediatric nurse practitioner primary care,

ii. Pediatric nurse practitioner acute care,

d. National Certification Corporation for Obstetric, Gynecological, and Neonatal Nursing Specialties certification programs;

i. Women's health nurse practitioner,

ii. Neonatal nurse practitioner,

e. For a nurse-midwife, the American Midwifery Certification Board certification program in nurse midwifery,

f. AACN Certification Corporation certification programs:

i. Adult acute care nurse practitioner,

ii. Adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner,

2. For CNS:

a. AACN Certification Corporation certification programs:

i. Adult acute and critical care CNS,

ii. Pediatric acute and critical care CNS,

iii. Neonatal acute and critical care CNS,

b. American Nurses Credentialing Center certification:

i. Adult psychiatric-mental health CNS,

ii. Family psychiatric-mental health CNS,

iii. Gerontological CNS,

iv. Adult health CNS,

v. Pediatric CNS.

3. For CRNA, the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists.

E F. The Board shall approve a certification program that meets the criteria established in this Section. An entity that seeks approval of a certification program and is denied approval may request a hearing by filing a written request with the Board within 30 days of service of the Board's order denying the approval. Hearings shall be conducted in accordance with A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 6, Article 10.

Notes

Ariz. Admin. Code § R4-19-501

Former Section IV, Part I. Former Section R4-19-53 renumbered as Section R4-19-501 (Supp. 86-1). Former Section R4-19-501 renumbered to R4-19-502, new Section R4-19-501 adopted effective November 18, 1994 (Supp. 94-4). Amended effective November 25, 1996 (Supp. 96-4). Amended by final rulemaking at 7 A.A.R. 3213, effective July 12, 2001 (Supp. 01-3). Amended by final rulemaking at 11 A.A.R. 3804, effective November 12, 2005 (05-3). Amended by final rulemaking at 19 A.A.R. 1438, effective July 6, 2013 (Supp. 13-2). Amended by final rulemaking at 26 A.A.R. 3289, effective 12/2/2020.