Meet Your Match With the Updated AANP Mentorship Program
Learn more about the refreshed and revamped mentoring program led by the AANP Fellows.
Who are the Fellows of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP)? Simply put, the Fellows are nurse practitioner (NP) leaders recognized for their “outstanding contributions to NP education, policy, clinical practice or research.” But Fellowship isn’t just an award or a title. NPs chosen to become AANP Fellows are tasked with continuing to support the NP role — and especially in guiding the next generation of NPs.
One of the programs designed with this purpose in mind is the AANP Mentorship Program, which connects Fellows (as mentors) with current the American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP) members (as mentees). Mentees enroll in the program seeking guidance, professional growth and opportunities to expand their leadership skills, and are paired with mentors who motivate and inspire their mentees, help them develop leadership skills and much more.
In 2026, that process continues, but with important updates and a renewed emphasis on Practice, Education, Advocacy, Research and Leadership (PEARL). Going forward, the AANP Mentorship Program will expand its scope to include a more diverse array of applicants as potential mentees — and will utilize enhanced technology to serve the interests of all involved.
More for Mentors and Mentees
Beginning in 2026, mentors will take an active role in selecting mentees. The mentors will review mentee intake forms and then select mentees based on criteria including areas of professional alignment, goals and more. After the mentor chooses a potential mentee, that mentee is then responsible for defining the relationship, goals and action items of the mentor/mentee relationship.
The AANP Mentorship Program is also growing to include potential mentees who are NP students, career starters and early-career NPs. These groups will benefit greatly from the guidance provided by seasoned mentors, and AANP looks forward to pairing more novice individuals with Fellows ready to guide and assist these mentees in their professional journeys.
Gathering PEARLs and Using Technology
The Fellows have made changes to ensure that the AANP Mentorship Program is more clearly aligned with the domains of PEARL than ever before. This means that each mentor and mentee will select one PEARL domain for their focus. After choosing this domain, the mentor and mentee will have expanded interest areas from which to choose within each domain, allowing for more project opportunities and the chance to identify and pursue specific action areas aligned with shared interests and goals.
In the Practice portion of PEARL, for example, track interest areas could include understanding billing, coding and reimbursement; addressing health equity and reducing disparities in NP practice; and integrating evidence-based practice into daily NP care. Each component of PEARL will have similar pathways for the mentor/mentee to follow, allowing for more variation and flexibility in meeting the different needs of mentee/mentor populations.
As the AANP Mentorship Program refines its focus and continues to diversify its base of mentees, updates are also taking place in the program’s online platform. The platform now includes algorithm-based matching suggestions and a portal where mentors will select their mentees. The platform workspace will also include suggested monthly milestones, online orientation materials, a section on FAQs and more.
Apply for the AANP Mentorship Program
Applications are now open for the AANP Mentorship Program, and close on July 31, 2026, at 5 p.m. (CT). Mentees must be AANP members in good standing with at least six months of AANP membership as of July 1, 2026, and must be part of one of the following AANP membership categories: NP Member, Student member, Career Starter member and Licensed NP Student member.