§ 17-87-302 - Advanced practice nurses.
17-87-302. Advanced practice nurses.
(a) Qualifications. In order to be licensed as an advanced practice nurse, an applicant must show evidence of education approved by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing, and national certification approved by the board under one (1) of the following:
(1) Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner. In order to qualify as an advanced registered nurse practitioner, an applicant must be currently certified as a nurse practitioner by a nationally recognized certifying body;
(2) Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. To qualify as a certified registered nurse anesthetist, an applicant must:
(A) Have earned a diploma or certificate evidencing satisfactory completion, beyond generic nursing preparation, of a formal educational program that meets the standards of the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs or another nationally recognized accrediting body and that has as its objective the preparation of nurses to perform as nurse anesthetists; and
(B) Hold current certification from the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists, the Council on Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists, or other nationally recognized certifying body;
(3) Certified Nurse Midwife. To qualify as a certified nurse midwife, an applicant must:
(A) Hold current certification as a nurse midwife from the American College of Nurse Midwives or other nationally recognized certifying body; and
(B) Have an agreement with a consulting physician if providing intrapartum care;
(4) Clinical Nurse Specialist. In order to qualify as a clinical nurse specialist, an applicant must hold a master's degree evidencing successful completion of a graduate program in nursing, which shall include supervised clinical practice and classroom instruction in a nursing specialty, and must be nationally certified in a specialty role as a clinical nurse specialist.
(b) Issuance of License. A license to practice as an advanced practice nurse may be issued:
(1) By Application. Any person holding a license to practice as a registered nurse and meeting the educational qualifications and certification requirements to be licensed as an advanced practice nurse, upon application and payment of necessary fees to the board, may be licensed as an advanced practice nurse; and
(2) By Endorsement. The board may issue a license to practice advanced practice nursing by endorsement to any applicant who has been licensed as an advanced practice nurse or to a person entitled to perform similar services under a different title under the laws of another state, territory, or foreign country if, in the opinion of the board, the applicant meets the requirements for advanced practice nurses in this state.
(c) Title and Abbreviation. Any person who holds a license to practice as an advanced practice nurse shall have the right to use the title of "advanced practice nurse" and the abbreviation "A.P.N.".