FNP-C vs FNP-BC: Which Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Do I Need?

What's the Difference Between FNP-C vs FNP-BC?

Upon graduation, family nurse practitioner students are awarded the credentials of FNP. But before being allowed to practice, FNPs MUST be certified. 

There are two certification options for family nurse practitioners (FNPs) - FNP-C and FNP-BC. The main difference between these credentials is the certification board. 

The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) awards the FNP-BC certification, while the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) awards the FNP-C certification. Some of the other differences between the two are:

• The ANCC’s FNP-BC certification exam has 175 questions, and the AANP (FNP-C) is 150 questions.  
• FNP-BC has an emphasis on policy, advanced research, and nursing theory.
• FNP-C focuses more on the clinical aspect, including assessment, diagnosis, plan, and evaluation.

What is FNP-BC?

FNP-BC means Family Nurse Practitioner - Board Certified. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) offers FNP-BC certification to eligible family nurse practitioners. In addition to meeting FNP-BC eligibility requirements, you must pass a competency-based exam to earn this FNP certification.

While there are 175 questions on the FNP-BC exam, 25 are pretest questions that are not scored.

FNP-BC Cost

• Non-member- $395
• American Nurses Association member- $295
• American Association of Nurse Practitioners member- $340
• American Association of Nurse Practitioners student member- $290
• Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association (GAPNA) members - $340

FNP-BC Eligibility Requirements

• Hold a current, active RN license in a state or territory of the United States or hold a professional, legally recognized equivalent in another country
• Be a graduate of an accredited master’s, post-graduate, or doctoral family nurse practitioner program
• Schools must be accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
• A minimum of 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours must be included in the family nurse practitioner program
• Three separate graduate-level courses - health assessment, physiology/pathophysiology, and pharmacology

FNP-BC Renewal Requirements

• Recertify every five years
• Must meet all recertification eligibility requirements within the 5-year time limit
• Hold current and active RN licensure
• Complete 75 continuing education hours (CH); 25 CH must be in pharmacology
• Complete 1 ANCC certification renewal category in its entirety
• Pay renewal fee

Learn more details about FNP-BC renewal in the ANCC's Renewal Requirements Handbook. There, you'll find more specific information on CH and the renewal guidelines for expired FNP-BC credentials. 

FNP-BC Exam Competencies

The FNP-BC covers the following competencies, 

• Clinical care
• Nursing theory and research
• Professional role
• Patient age groups
• Body systems
• Health ethics
• Technology
• Coordination of care
• Resource management

 The exam covers the following body systems: cardiovascular, endocrine, gastrointestinal, genitourinary and renal, hematopoietic, immune, integumentary, musculoskeletal, neurological, psychiatric, reproductive, and respiratory systems. 

A full test content outline can be found here. 

What is FNP-C?

FNP-C is a medical abbreviation for the Family Nurse Practitioner Certified credential offered by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). To earn FNPC certification, nurse practitioners must meet all eligibility requirements and pass a competency-based exam.

The FNP-C exam includes 150 questions with 15 pretest questions.  

FNP-C Cost

• AANP Members $240
• Non-Members $315

FNP-C Eligibility Requirements

• Hold a current, valid U.S. or Canadian RN license
• Be a graduate of an accredited master's, post-graduate, or doctoral nurse practitioner program
• Schools must be accredited by an independent national nursing organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, such as the CCNE or ACEN
• Successful completion of the APRN core courses (Advanced Physical Assessment, Advanced Pharmacology, and Advanced Pathophysiology
• Complete a minimum of 500 clinical hours of faculty-supervised clinical hours

FNP-C Renewal Requirements

• Recertify every five years
• Must meet all recertification eligibility requirements within the 5-year time limit
• FNP-C Renewal Option One | Practice Hours and Continuing Education (CE):
  • Complete 1,000 practice hours in a direct patient care, educator, researcher, and/or administrative role
  • Complete 100 hours of advanced CE contact hours that must include 25 advanced pharmacology CE credit hours
  • Hold a current RN or APRN license
• FNP-C Renewal Option Two | Examination:
  • Take the FNP National Certification Examination
  • Hold a current RN license

Review the AANP's FNPC Renewal Guidelines for more specific renewal details.

FNP-C Exam Competencies

The exam blueprint is fairly standard and covers many aspects of becoming a certified FNP. The competencies include, 

Questions are then broken down by age including,

• Newborn
• Infant
• Toddler
• Child
• Adolescent
• Young Adult (including prenatal)
• Middle Adult (including prenatal)
• Older Adult (including prenatal)

Knowledge areas include health assessment, pathophysiology, therapeutics, and evidence-informed practice. 

The full FNP-C exam blueprint can be found here. 

FNP-C vs FNP-BC Career Implications

Deciding between the FNP-C and FNP-BC can be a difficult decision; however, regardless of which certification you hold, you can work at the bedside and directly with patients. 

Ultimately, choosing a certification will depend on your career goals and how you plan to utilize your NP degree.

•  FNP-C is geared toward practitioners who are to work directly with patients in either an inpatient or outpatient setting.
•  FNP-BC degree is a better option for those interested in pursuing academia and/or working in government as a policymaker.

FNP-C vs FNP-BC Salary

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports an average annual salary of $126,260 for nurse practitioners as of May 2023. 

There is little differentiation in salary between those who earn an FNP-BC and FNP-C, practitioners who see patients clinically may have the opportunity to earn a higher yearly wage. 

According to Payscale, FNPs can earn an average annual salary of $105,613. On the other hand, nurse educators can earn an average annual salary of $85.432 according to Payscale. 

Why Do I Need a Family Nurse Practitioner Certification?

The most important reason you should get an FNP-BC or FNP-C certification is so you can legally practice as a family nurse practitioner. However, you should also want certifications to indicate that you have met specific educational requirements and maintained continued professional competence. 

Where Can I Learn More About Family Nurse Practitioners? 

• How to Become a Family Nurse Practitioner
• Family Nurse Practitioner Salary Guide
• Top Family Nurse Practitioner Programs
• MSN FNP vs DNP FNP: Which is Right for Me?
• Top 10 Shortest Post-Master's FNP Programs

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