No person may engage in advanced practice nursing in Alabama unless that person possesses a certificate of approval from the Alabama Board of Nursing for the category of intended practice. 

Collaborative Practice and Prescribing Authority:

• CRNA and CNS are not required to submit a collaborative practice agreement for ABN approval and are not eligible for prescribing authority.
• CRNP and CNM are required to submit a collaborative practice agreement with a qualified physician, and may request prescribing authority for non-controlled drugs.  CRNP and CNM are not authorized to practice without a collaborative practice agreement.

Requirements for Approval of Advanced Practice Nursing
Licensure:

• Active unencumbered Alabama registered nurse license.  The Board may grant approval for advanced practice nursing to the registered nurse with an encumbered license.

Education:

• Master’s or higher degree in advanced practice nursing corresponding to the APN category identified in the application. 
• Exemptions from this requirement are stated in the rules for CRNP, CNM and CRNA.
• Submit an official transcript directly from the educational institution to the Alabama Board of Nursing.

Certification: 

• Advanced practice specialty certification granted by a national certifying agency recognized by the Board of Nursing in the clinical specialty consistent with educational preparation and appropriate to the area of practice.
• Request the certifying agency to send official verification of specialty certification and recertification directly to the Alabama Board of Nursing.
• Applicants for initial approval as CRNA, CRNP, and CNM may request Provisional Approval prior to the first attempt on the national certification examination.
• On-going certification is required for continued practice and for APN renewal.  There is no exemption from certification and no grace period for recertification. 

Apply on-line for Advanced Practice Nursing approval

Renewal:

• Renew RN license every two years, renew between September 1 and December 31 in even-numbered years.
• 2-year APN renewal fee is due with the RN license renewal, between September 1 and December 31 in even-numbered years.
• CRNP, CNM and CRNA must report six (6) contact hours of pharmacology continuing education for APN renewal, within the total contact hours required for RN license renewal.  Pharmacology contact hours are not prorated.  Refer to CE rules for details.

Alabama Board of Nursing Administrative Code

610-X-5-.02   Qualifications for Approval to Practice as a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner

(1)  The applicant for approval to practice as a certified registered nurse practitioner shall have:

(a)  An active Alabama registered nurse license.  Initial applicants shall have an unencumbered active Alabama registered nurse license unless authorized by the Board. 

(b)  Met all requirements for completion of or graduation from an organized program of study and clinical experience beyond the basic educational preparation as a registered nurse that prepares nurse practitioners and is recognized by the Board of Nursing and the appropriate specialty-certifying agency.

(c)  At least a master’s or higher degree in advanced practice nursing from an accredited program recognized by the Board.

(d)  Current certification as a certified registered nurse practitioner granted by a national certifying agency recognized by the Board of Nursing in the clinical specialty consistent with educational preparation and appropriate to the area of practice

(2)  The applicant for initial approval as a certified registered nurse practitioner who meets one of the following criteria is exempt from the requirement for a master’s degree in nursing: 

(a)  Graduation prior to 1996 from a Board-recognized post-baccalaureate program preparing nurse practitioners.

(b)  Graduation prior to 1984 from a non-baccalaureate program preparing nurse practitioners.

(3)  The Board of Nursing may grant a waiver of the master’s degree requirement at its discretion. 

Author:  Alabama Board of Nursing

Statutory Authority:  Code of Alabama, 1975, § 34-21-84. 

History:  Effective June 26, 1995.  Amended:  Filed August 25, 2003.  Effective September 29, 2003.

610-X-5-.13   Qualifications for Approval as a Certified Nurse Midwife. 

(1)  The applicant for approval to practice as a certified nurse midwife shall have:

(a)   An active Alabama registered nurse license.  Initial applicants shall have an unencumbered active Alabama registered nurse license unless authorized by the Board. 

(b)  Met all requirements for completion of or graduation from an organized program of study and clinical experience beyond the basic educational preparation as a registered nurse that prepares nurse midwives and is recognized by the Board of Nursing and the appropriate specialty certifying agency.

(c)  At least a master’s or higher degree in advanced practice nursing from an accredited program recognized by the Board. The applicant for initial approval as a nurse midwife who meets one of the following criteria is exempt from the requirement for a master’s degree in nursing:

(i)  Graduation prior to 1996 from a Board recognized post-baccalaureate program preparing nurse midwives.

(ii)  Graduation prior to 1984 from a non-baccalaureate program preparing nurse midwives.

(iii)  The Board of Nursing may grant a waiver of the master’s degree requirement at its discretion.

(d)  Current certification as a certified nurse midwife by the American College of Nurse Midwives or American College of Nurse Midwives Certification Council.

Author:  Alabama Board of Nursing

Statutory Authority:  Code of Alabama, 1975, § 34-21-84. 

History:  Effective June 26, 1995.  Amended:  Filed August 25, 2003.  Effective September 29, 2003. 

610-X-9-.01  Qualifications for Approval to Practice as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

(1)  The applicant for approval to practice as a certified registered nurse anesthetist shall have:

(a)  An active Alabama registered nurse license.  Initial applicants shall have an unencumbered active Alabama registered nurse license unless authorized by the Board.

(b)  Met all requirements for completion of or graduation from an organized program of study and clinical experience beyond the basic educational preparation as a registered nurse that prepares nurse anesthetists and is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs/Schools or its predecessor, the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists and recognized by the Board of Nursing.

(c)  Earned at least a master’s degree, or post-master’s certificate in advanced practice nursing from an accredited graduate program in nurse anesthesia recognized by the Board.

(d)  Current certification as a registered nurse anesthetist by the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists or the Council on Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists.

(2)  The applicant for approval as a certified registered nurse anesthetist who graduated from an accredited school of nurse anesthesia prior to December 31, 2003, is exempt from the master’s degree requirement.

Author:  Alabama Board of Nursing
Statutory Authority:  Code of Alabama, 1975, § 34-21-84.
History:  Effective September 29, 1982.  Amended:  Filed August 25, 2003.  Effective September 29, 2003.  Amended:  Filed May 14, 2007.  Effective June 18, 2007.

610-X-9-.07   Qualifications for Approval to Practice as a Clinical Nurse Specialist.

(1)  An applicant for approval to practice as a clinical nurse specialist shall have:

(a)  An active Alabama registered nurse license.  Initial applicants shall have an unencumbered active Alabama registered nurse license unless authorized by the Board.

(b)  A master’s or higher degree, or post-master’s certificate, in nursing from an accredited educational institution in a curriculum designed to prepare clinical nurse specialists.

(c)  Certification by a national certifying agency recognized by the Board in the clinical specialty consistent with educational preparation and appropriate to the area of practice.

(2)  The registered nurse seeking approval as a clinical nurse specialist in a specialty for which no national certification examination is available may petition the Board for a declaratory ruling pursuant to Rule 610-X-1-.09.