Vermont Nurse Practitioner Licensure Steps - 2025

How to Become a Nurse Practitioner in Vermont: Step-by-Step Licensure Guide

The path to becoming a nurse practitioner (NP) in Vermont is both rigorous and rewarding. Whether you’re starting fresh or upgrading from your current RN or LPN license, Vermont requires a structured process that ensures every NP is clinically competent and well-prepared to meet patient needs across the state.

Here’s a clear roadmap to earning your nurse practitioner license in Vermont.

Get Your Registered Nurse (RN) License

If you’re not already a licensed RN, this is your first and most essential milestone. Vermont does not issue NP licenses unless you already hold an active RN license.

Two Routes to RN Licensure:

A. RN by Examination (First-Time Applicants)

• Graduate from a Vermont-approved ADN or BSN program.
• Submit an online application to the Vermont Board of Nursing (VBON) and pay the $60 application fee.
• Provide verification of education:
  • Vermont graduates: Your school must submit a signed and sealed verification form.
  • Out-of-state or international graduates: Submit a transcript and a Credential Evaluation Service (CES) report via IERF or CGFNS.
• Register and take the NCLEX-RN exam:
  • Apply to VBON for eligibility.
  • Once approved, register with Pearson VUE (exam fee: $200).
  • Schedule and take the NCLEX-RN within 90 days of receiving your Authorization to Test (ATT).

Learn more about the NCLEX-RN: Pearson VUE – NCLEX

B. RN by Endorsement (Already Licensed in Another State)

• Submit the RN endorsement application via the VBON online portal and pay the $150 fee.
• Provide verification of your out-of-state RN license:
  • If your state participates in NURSYS, submit verification through www.nursys.com.
  • If not, contact your state’s board of nursing to send verification to VBON.

Meet Advanced Educational Requirements

Vermont mandates that all nurse practitioners hold at least a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Some candidates opt to go further and earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), which can enhance clinical skills and open leadership opportunities.

Degree Timeline:

• MSN: Typically 18–24 months.
• DNP: Usually 2–3 years, often pursued after or alongside an MSN.

Your program must include:

• Advanced Pathophysiology
• Advanced Pharmacology
• Advanced Physical/Health Assessment

💡 Consider accredited online or hybrid programs if flexibility is a priority.

Obtain National Certification

After completing your graduate education, the next step is earning national certification in your specialty area. This certifies that you’re competent to practice as a nurse practitioner within a specific population focus.

Approved Certification Bodies by the VBON:

• American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
• American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
• Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB)
• National Certification Corporation (NCC)
• American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
• American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM)
• National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA)

Complete the Transition to Practice

Vermont requires new NPs to complete a “Transition to Practice” period before gaining full independent practice authority.

Requirements:

• 2 years or 2,400 hours of supervised practice.
• Must work under a collaborative agreement with a physician or APRN in your specialty area.
• Submit documentation to the VBON:
  • Start and end dates of supervised practice.
  • A collaborative agreement form signed by both parties.

Transition to Practice Form – VBON

Apply for Your Vermont NP License

Once all prior steps are complete, you’re ready to apply for your Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) license in Vermont.

Application Checklist:

• Complete the VBON APRN application and pay the $75 fee: Vermont APRN Application
• Submit your graduate transcripts (must include core advanced practice coursework).
• Provide a copy of your national certification.
• Submit your completed Transition to Practice documentation or an in-progress collaborative agreement.
• Arrange for your prior state board(s) to send official license verifications to the VBON.