Education and Training
Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) at Children’s National Hospital play a vital role in providing high-quality patient care and improving patient outcomes. By working closely with other health professionals, APPs help ensure that patients receive comprehensive, coordinated care throughout their hospital stay and beyond.
Advanced Practice Providers encompass the following professions:
Nurse Practitioner
Nurse practitioners (NPs) are advanced practice registered nurses who are certified in specialties such as acute care, primary care, neonatology, family healthcare, or mental health. They are authorized to diagnose health conditions, order diagnostic tests, and prescribe medications. To become an NP, one must first complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), pass the NCLEX exam, gain clinical experience, and then earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) through an accredited program. These programs require 500 – 1500 hours of clinical training. Certification and scope of practice vary by specialty and state.
Education: In preparation for obtaining an NP degree, applicants must first complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (BSN). This degree takes four years to complete and contains general education, nursing courses and specialty practicums. There are also options for BSN to MSN programs. BSN graduate students must successfully pass the NCLEX exam to practice as a licensed registered nurse (RN) followed by clinical experience in a nursing specialty.
A graduate nursing degree is required to become an NP. NPs must complete at a minimum a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) through an accredited program. An NP program must meet criteria of accrediting agencies, certification organizations and board of nursing requirements. Students must also complete 500 – 1500 hours of clinical training. Graduate programs may be offered online. However, clinical preceptorships must be completed.
Licenses and Certifications: There are five nurse practitioner certification boards in the United States, each of which award certifications across different population-foci.
Recertification: Dependent on certifying body.
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) are Advanced Practice Registered Nurses with specialized clinical expertise who provide care across the health continuum from wellness to acute illness, diagnose, prescribe, and treat patients, and work to improve healthcare delivery by identifying gaps and implementing interventions. CNS certification, based on population focus areas like Adult/Gerontology, Pediatrics, or Neonatal, requires renewal every five years with continuing education, including pharmacology hours, and is obtained by completing accredited graduate programs and passing nationally recognized exams such as those offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Education: Clinical nurse specialists are registered nurses who complete an accredited clinical nurse specialist master’s or doctoral degree program and pass the ANCC certification exam for CNS or other nationally recognized certification board. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) offers ten specialty credentialing certifications including home health, pediatrics, and adult health.
Licenses and Certifications: CNS must obtain certification based on a population area. Current certification examinations based on population include Adult/Gerontology, Pediatrics OR Neonatal. ACCNS-P® is an entry-level advanced practice board certification for clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) educated at the graduate level to provide advanced nursing care across the continuum of healthcare services — wellness through acute care — to meet the specialized needs of the pediatric patient population. ACCNS-P certification is accepted in all states.
Recertification: Certifications are renewed every 5 years. CNS may submit a renewal application up to 1 year prior to the expiration date. All APRNs renewing their CNS certification must complete 25 contact hours (CH) of pharmacology, as a portion of the mandatory 75 CH that is related to the CNS certification.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are advanced practice registered nurses who independently provide anesthesia and pain management across all patient populations, requiring critical care experience and completion of a graduate program transitioning from master's to doctoral level, with certification maintained through a national exam and continuing education every four years.
Education: Applicants must have a minimum of one year of experience as a critical care nurse. Students complete a graduate program that is approved by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs. Programs range from 36–51 months, depending on university requirements. This profession is transitioning from master’s level to doctoral level. The master’s degree will no longer be a choice for students who enter programs in 2022; all entering students will need to graduate with doctoral degrees.
Licenses and Certifications: Initial certification is awarded to CRNAs following the successful completion of the National Certification Examination.
Recertification: CRNAs must submit documentation to the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Accreditation of Nurse Anesthetists every four years showing that they have completed 100 hours of continuing medical education (CME).
Physician Assistant
Physician Assistants (PAs) are licensed clinicians trained as generalists who diagnose illnesses, manage treatment plans, and serve as primary healthcare providers across all medical specialties; they complete a master's level PA program with extensive clinical hours, obtain certification via the NCCPA by passing the PANCE exam, and maintain certification through continuing education and periodic recertification exams.
Education: Entry into a physician assistant (PA) program requires completion of uniform prerequisite undergraduate bachelor’s degree course work, focusing on behavioral and basic health sciences. Applicants with prior healthcare experience are preferred and many schools require shadowing experience as an entry level requirement. PA programs are 27 months in duration, culminating in a master’s degree, completing over 1,200 didactic hours in the first year and logging over 2,000 supervised clinical hours in the second year.
Licenses and Certifications: PAs are certified by the National Commission of Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) after successful completion of a national board exam, the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE).
Recertification: Physician assistants must maintain certification by submitting continuing medical education hours (100 hours every two years) and by passing a board recertification exam every 10 years.
Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant
Certified Anesthesiologist Assistants (CAAs) are highly trained medical professionals who complete a master's degree from accredited programs requiring premedical education and standardized test scores, with extensive classroom and clinical anesthesia training; they assist anesthesiologists in delivering anesthesia care, demonstrating proficiency in patient monitoring and data interpretation, and maintain certification through continuing education every two years and a qualification exam every six years.
Education: Certified anesthesiologist assistants (CAAs) are required to hold a master’s-level degree from one of 12 CAAHEP-accredited training programs. Entry into these programs requires a bachelor's degree with certain pre-medical prerequisites, and completion of either the MCAT or the GRE. These CAA programs are typically 24-28 months in length and offer an average of 600 hours of classroom/laboratory education and 2,600 hours of clinical anesthesia education.
Licenses and Certifications: Initial certification is awarded to a CAA who has successfully completed the Certifying Examination for Anesthesiologist Assistants administered by the National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants (NCCAA) in collaboration with the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME).
Recertification: CAAs submit documentation to the NCCAA every two years showing that they have completed 40 hours of continuing medical education (CME). In addition, every six years they must pass the Examination for Continued Demonstration of Qualifications (CDQ).
Explore Nursing School Placement Opportunities
The Advanced Practice Provider Department at Children’s National offers Advanced Practice Graduate Nursing Clinical Rotation for prospective students and current employees. Visit our Nursing School Placement site for more information.