Idaho Nurse Practitioner Licensure Steps - 2024

Nurse Practitioner Licensure Requirements in Idaho

Follow below to learn how to become a nurse practitioner (NP) in Idaho.

Initial Registered Nurse (RN) License

Already have your RN License?  Skip to the next section

All applicants for APRN licenses must possess a registered nurse (RN) license to practice in Idaho or multi-state licenses from any of the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member states. Holders of the latter are permitted to practice physically and virtually in member states without necessarily applying for an RN license. They are only expected to apply for an RN license in Idaho if they want to change their primary state of residence. The NLC facilitates the movement of nursing labor from state to state.

If you do not currently possess a multi-state license or an Idaho RN license, there are two major application routes for the RN license which are RN by Examination and RN by Endorsement.

RN by Examination

This is the route of application for recent graduates of accredited nursing programs from board-approved institutions of higher education. The program may have been completed at an institution in Idaho or another state, however, the curriculum must align with what the board recognizes as standard.

• The minimum academic qualification is an associate’s degree in nursing. However, if you are on your way toward becoming a nurse practitioner, a bachelor’s degree would be a wiser choice.
• The application process is completed online and includes the submission of a completed application form, payment of the appropriate fees, and provision of required supporting documents. The fee for graduates of US-based programs is $118.25 and the application option is “RN Initial by Examination”. These applicants are required to request that a copy of their transcript be sent from their institution to the board. The transcript must contain the kind of degree obtained and the date of graduation.
• Foreign-trained nurses are to apply using the “RN Internationally Educated Application” and are required to pay a fee of $118.25 also. This class of applicants must have their credentials evaluated by the CGFNS to see if their education is comparable to what U.S. graduates receive. The report of this evaluation must be sent to the board.
• All applicants using this route are required to register for, take, and pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). You can register for this examination and learn more about it at PearsonVue. Once your application has been sent to the board, it is reviewed, and based on the result, your eligibility for the NCLEX-RN is communicated to PearsonVue. This is why you should register for the examination before or immediately after your application is sent to the board. Once you are declared eligible, you will receive an Authorization to Test (ATT). Make sure to take your examination within the specified window on your ATT. You are allowed multiple trials if you do not pass on your first attempt. You are required to leave 45 days between each attempt and apply using the “RN Retest Application”.

RN by Endorsement

This is the route of application for holders of a valid, unencumbered single-state license to practice in another state/district in the US.

• Applicants who choose this route are expected to have completed a board-accredited nursing program in Idaho or an equivalent program in any other state or district. They are also expected to have passed the NCLEX-RN.
• The application process is completed online using the nursing portal. The application process involves submitting a completed application, paying the prescribed fees, and providing supporting documents as required.
• All applicants are required to have worked as a nurse for at least 80 hours in the last 3 years.
• Applicants are required to provide employment verification and state license verification. You can download the former here and get your former boss to fill it as appropriate.
• The state license verification for most states can usually be obtained using the Nursys platform. However, if your state does not deal with Nursys, you have to request that the board of nursing in that state send verification of your license to the board in Idaho. The required application fee is $138.25.

All applicants are required to have their fingerprints submitted for a fingerprint-based criminal background check to be done on them. You are exempt from this if you have submitted your fingerprint card to the board in the last 6 months. You can request for a copy of the fingerprint card to be sent to you with your application or send a request to IBN-Info@dopl.idaho.gov. Recent graduates can also obtain a copy from the administrative office of their educational institutions.

Advanced Education Requirements

APRNs are required to complete graduate-level education on the journey towards certification and licensure. Your program should focus on a specific population foci and award at least a master’s in nursing (MSN).

Programs are expected to be accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and must include courses such as psychotherapeutics, pathophysiology, advanced assessment, and clinical management concerning specific population foci. All students of these programs are required to cover a total of 500 hours of clinical practice at the advanced level.

People who complete such programs are expected to be capable of passing national certification examinations and maintaining an evidence-based approach to practice. Prospective APRNs who intend to hold prescriptive authority must have at least 30 contact hours of graduate-level pharmacotherapeutics.

National Certification

National certifying agencies certify APRNs for specific fields based on their graduate education. Nurse practitioners are the only class of APRNs who can be certified in more than one specialty area. These agencies conduct examinations and certify only those who show an acceptable level of knowledge and skill required for practice in certain specialty areas. Here is a list of certifying agencies recognized by the IBN for nurse practitioner licensing in Idaho;

• National Certification Corporation (NCC)
• Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB)
• American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
• American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
• National Board of Certification & Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA)

Getting Licensed to Practice as a Nurse practitioner in Idaho

The application process involves the submission of a completed online application, payment of the prescribed fees, and submission of requested supporting documents. All applicants are required to hold a valid and unencumbered RN license to practice in Idaho in addition to having completed a graduate-level nursing practitioner preparatory program.

These programs must align with the board’s standard and have been accredited by board-recognized agencies like the CCNE. The application fee is $118.25.  You are to request that your transcript be sent from the institution where you had your APRN education to the IBN. The transcript must contain the kind of degree obtained and your date of graduation. You are also required to request that verification of your national certification be sent from your certifying agency to the IBN.

All APRN licenses issued from the 31st of December, 2015 have been issued with prescriptive authority since Idaho APRN programs have included the appropriate course material. Hence, you are required to submit proof of at least 30 contact hours of pharmacotherapeutics related to APRN practice. If your specialty area requires you to handle controlled substances, you must obtain clearance for this from the Idaho Board of Pharmacy.