Professional Development and Education
As a nurse practitioner (NP), you never stop improving. Love for your patients drives your desire to constantly learn and develop new skill sets, but it’s also important to place some focus on your career goals, relationships and professional network. The American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP) is here to help!
Professional Development
Build Your Network With AANP Communities
Every day, vibrant conversations about the specialty practice and interest areas NPs value most are taking place within AANP Communities. Comprised of Specialty Practice Groups (SPGs), which support clinical practice and cover specific therapeutic areas, and Specialty Interest Groups (SIGs), which support professional development and practice management topics, AANP Communities allow you to discuss important clinical topics, share documents and network in a dedicated online forum. Available exclusively for members, joining a community requires an annual $20 fee, which is prorated to your membership.
Find Grants and Scholarships for NPs and NP Students
AANP is here with the funding opportunities you need to continue to advance the NP profession and enhance patient care. From scholarships and grants to research awards and external funding information, AANP members have access to a host of opportunities that open the doors to a world of knowledge and educational experiences.
Apply for the AANP Executive Leadership Program
In partnership with curriculum from The George Washington University (GWU) School of Nursing and offering approximately 50 contact hours of continuing education (CE) credit, the AANP Executive Leadership Program includes two weeks of content and ongoing coaching by top experts. Consider completing the prerequisite 12-module AANP Introductory Certificate on Leadership course, available in the AANP CE Center, to begin your leadership journey and to become eligible for the Executive Leadership Program.
Learn How to Become a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP)
The FAANP program was established by AANP in 2000. Comprised of recognized NP leaders who have made outstanding contributions to NP education, policy, clinical practice or research, AANP Fellows work to further the NP profession, develop NP leaders of the future and enhance AANP’s mission. To become a Fellow, candidates must have at least two years of continuous AANP membership and secure an invitation to apply from two current Fellows: one primary sponsor and one secondary sponsor. There is one selection cycle per year. Individuals who are selected to become AANP Fellows are inducted during the AANP national conference.
Recognize Outstanding Contributions Through AANP Awards
AANP honors individuals who have made a positive impact on the NP role within their states, nationally and internationally. By incorporating the AANP mission into the success of their initiatives and prioritizing health equity, these NPs advance the profession and improve health care delivery.
- The State Award for Outstanding Contribution recognizes individuals who have demonstrated excellence that supports the NP role in the areas of practice, education, advocacy, research and leadership (PEARL).
- The Towers Pinnacle Award recognizes an individual who, through policy, practice or education, has made outstanding contributions that resulted in increased national recognition for NPs and increased opportunities for NPs to provide care to patients.
- The Sharp Cutting Edge Award recognizes individuals who have shown leadership through innovative services, technologies or advocacy activities that advanced NP practice and patient care on a national level.
Access Student Resources — Created for NP Students by NPs
AANP supports your NP journey every step of the way, from finding an NP program to applying for grants and scholarships, achieving certification and becoming a lifelong learner dedicated to the health and wellness of your patients. Visit the Student Resources webpage to see the vast amount of information AANP provides for students.
Visit the AANP JobCenter
Where do NPs go when they are ready to take the next step in their career? They go to the AANP JobCenter, which connects leading health care employers with high-quality NP talent — just like you! Set up job alerts to be notified of new opportunities that match your specific criteria, upload your resume so employers can find you and learn how to create the perfect resume and prepare for your interviews.
Education
Continue Your Learning at the AANP CE Center
With your membership, comes access to a catalog of dozens of completely free or significantly discounted CE activities! Simply log in to the AANP CE Center and search the catalog by therapeutic area or delivery type to find CE that fits your needs.
Course of the Month
Members of AANP get more — including free access to a new CE activity each month through the Course of the Month program. As an AANP member, you can now earn up to 12 additional contact hours of free CE credit throughout the year!
Attend AANP Conferences and Events
AANP’s live events are the place to be for NPs. Attend the AANP national conference, health policy conference or fall conference for high-quality educational experiences, the latest research, policy updates and the opportunity to meet NPs from across the country and around the world. AANP also hosts webinars and other online events on important health issues so you can continue your learning virtually from wherever is most convenient for you. Plan how you will get involved by viewing all upcoming AANP events and adding them to your calendar.
View Your CE Records in the My CE Tracker
Keeping track of your CE is easier than ever! Completed CE records, including those from AANP’s conferences, are conveniently maintained in the My CE Tracker area of the AANP CE Center. As an AANP member, you can also upload non-AANP certificates to keep all your CE records in one, easy-to-access location. To access the tracker:
- Navigate to the AANP CE Center homepage.
- Hover your mouse over My Account in the upper right corner.
- Click on My CE Tracker to view your CE credit totals.
Your My CE Tracker meets the standards for submission to the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) when submitted as a PDF document. Contact your certification body and licensing boards for specific instructions to submit CE credit.
AANP offers members the ability to transfer to AANPCB all CE certificates stored within the AANP CE Tracker by using a one-click opt-in link found in the My Education section of MyAccount.