SECTION 485:10-15-4. Application

(a)   An applicant for licensure as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse must:

(1)   Hold a current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in Oklahoma;

(2)   Cause submission of an official transcript verifying completion of an advanced practice registered nursing education program in one of the four advanced practice registered nurse roles (CNP, CNM, CNS, and CRNA) and a specialty area recognized by the Board. The transcript must be obtained from an entity approved and recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a primary source for providing education transcripts. Effective January 1, 2016, the applicant shall have completed an accredited graduate level advanced practice registered nursing education program in at least one of the following population foci: family/individual across the lifespan, adult-gerontology (acute and/or primary), neonatal, pediatrics (acute and/or primary), women's health/gender related, or psychiatric/mental health;

(3)   submit evidence of current national certification consistent with educational preparation and by a national certifying body recognized by the Board; and

(4)   submit a completed application for licensure containing such information as the Board may prescribe and the required fee. If the application is not completed within one (1) year, a new application and new fee will be required.

(b)   Changing and adding certifications.

(1)   An Advanced Practice Registered Nurse who wishes to add an area of specialty and national certification must meet initial requirements for advanced practice licensure, as identified in 485:10-15-4(a).

(2)   An Advanced Practice Registered Nurse who changes national certification and certifying body within the same specialty area must notify the Board in writing within thirty (30) days of the change and submit a copy of a current national certification recognized by the Board within the same specialty area.

(3)   An Advanced Practice Registered Nurse holding more than one certification who does not renew or maintain one of the national certifications must notify the Board in writing within thirty (30) days of the change. The license for which the national certification has expired will be placed on inactive status. The Advanced Practice Registered Nurse shall not work in the specialty area upon expiration of national certification.

(c)   Endorsement.

(1)   An applicant who is licensed or recognized as an APRN in another U.S. state or territory may be issued an APRN license by endorsement if current Board requirements for licensure as an APRN are met. A Board-recognized APRN holding recognition may continue to be licensed as an APRN with his or her current certification, even if such certification is no longer included on the list of recognized APRN certifications and certifying bodies approved by the Board, PROVIDED the APRN license remains in an active status and current certification is maintained. The applicant must have met all requirements of the advanced practice certifying body to maintain full certification, including requirements for maintaining continuing competence. An applicant for APRN licensure by endorsement who holds certification on provisional or conditional status may be considered for licensure by the Board.

(2)   In addition to meeting other requirements for endorsement established by the Board in these rules, the applicant for endorsement of the APRN license must demonstrate continued qualifications for practice through completion of one or more of the following requirements within the last two (2) years prior to receipt of a completed application in the Board office:

(A)   Cause submission of an official transcript, from an entity approved and recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a primary source for providing education transcripts, or certificate of completion verifying completion of an APRN nursing refresher course meeting the requirements established by the Board in policy;

(B)   Cause submission of an official transcript, from an entity approved and recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a primary source for providing education transcripts, verifying successful completion of at least six (6) academic semester credit hours of APRN nursing courses in the same role and population focus as was previously held by the APRN in a graduate-level APRN program, which includes classroom and clinical instruction;

(C)   Present evidence of current licensure or recognition as an APRN in another state or territory with employment in a position that requires APRN licensure or recognition with verification of at least 520 work hours during the past two (2) years preceding receipt of the application for endorsement in the Board office;

(D)   Submission of evidence of current national certification consistent with educational preparation and by a national certifying body recognized by the Board.

(d)   Temporary license for endorsement applicants. Temporary licensure may be granted under the following conditions:

(1)   Current unrestricted licensure as an RN in Oklahoma;

(2)   Current unrestricted APRN licensure or recognition in another state or territory in the same role with no history of arrest or disciplinary action requiring further review;

(3)   Demonstrates evidence of meeting continuing qualifications for practice through meeting the requirements of 485:10-15-4(c)(2);

(4)   Evidence of completing an advanced practice registered nursing education program in one of the four roles and a specialty area recognized by the Board;

(5)   Evidence of current national certification consistent with educational preparation and by a national certifying body recognized by the Board;

(6)   Completed application for endorsement and temporary recognition and the required fees; and

(7)   Submission of fingerprints with the fee established by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and/or vendor for the purpose of permitting a state and national criminal history records search to be completed.

(8)   The temporary license may not be issued for a period longer than ninety (90) days.

(9)   The temporary license may be extended, but such period shall be no longer than one (1) year for any applicant.

(e)   Licensure of active duty military or the spouse of an active military individual. Applications must be completed and filed with the Board.

(1)   Submit with the endorsement application a copy of the United States Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card and a copy of the Permanent Change of Station orders for the active military individual;

(2)   The requested Oklahoma license and/or temporary license shall be issued within thirty (30) days for their currently held valid license from another state or territory provided the license from the other state is found to be in good standing and reasonably equivalent to the requirements of this state; and

(3)   The fee for licensure, including temporary license, of active duty military or the spouse of an active duty military individual is waived with the license expiration date extended through the first renewal cycle.

(f)   Certification program. The Board shall identify and keep on file the current list of recognized APRN certifications and certifying bodies approved by the Board. A Board-recognized APRN holding recognition prior to July 1, 2012, may continue to be licensed as an APRN with his or her current certification, even if such certification is no longer included on the list of recognized APRN certifications and certifying bodies approved by the Board, PROVIDED the APRN license remains in an active status and current certification is maintained. A licensee may request that a certification program be considered by the Board for inclusion on the list. Effective July 1, 2012, the certification program shall provide documentation of compliance with the following standards:

(1)   The certification program is national in the scope of its credentialing;

(2)   Conditions for taking the certification examination are consistent with standards of the testing community;

(3)   Educational requirements are consistent with the requirements of the advanced practice role and specialty;

(4)   The standard's methodologies used are acceptable to the testing community such as incumbent job analysis studies and logical job analysis studies;

(5)   Certification programs are accredited by a national accreditation body as acceptable by the Board;

(6)   The examination represents entry-level practice in the APRN role and specialty;

(7)   The examination represents the knowledge, skills and abilities essential for the delivery of safe and effective advanced nursing care to patients;

(8)   Examination items shall be reviewed for content validity and correct scoring using an established mechanism, both before use and at least every five years. When possible, items will be reviewed for cultural bias;

(9)   The passing standard is established using acceptable psychometric methods and is re-evaluated at least every five years;

(10)   Certification is issued based upon meeting all certification requirements and passing the examination;

(11)   A re-take policy is in place;

(12)   Certification maintenance program, which includes review of qualifications and continued competence, is in place;

(13)   Mechanisms are in place for communication to boards of nursing for timely verification of an individual's certification status, changes in the certification status, and changes in the certification program, including qualifications, test plan and scope of practice; and

(14)   An evaluation process is in place to provide quality assurance in the certification program.

[Source: Added at 8 Ok Reg 3579, eff 9-20-91 (emergency); Added at 9 Ok Reg 2103, eff 6-11-92; Amended at 12 Ok Reg 1463, eff 5-25-95; Amended at 23 Ok Reg 1453, eff 7-1-06; Amended at 25 Ok Reg 1415, eff 7-1-08; Amended at 29 Ok Reg 1615, eff 7-12-12; Amended at 32 Ok Reg 1199, eff 8-27-15; Amended at 33 Ok Reg 1026, eff 8-25-16; Amended at 35 Ok Reg 1875, eff 9-14-18; Amended at 36 Ok Reg 1000, eff 7-25-19; Amended at 37 Ok Reg 2028, eff 9-11-20]