ENP-C Certification: Overview and FAQ

ENP-C (Emergency Nurse Practitioner – Certified) is a specialty credential that shows an NP has the education and skills to care for patients in acute emergencies. Clinicians with this certification may work in emergency rooms, urgent care, trauma centers, and other high-pressure environments to save lives and give patients the best outcomes.

Nurse practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who help expand care access and improve care quality. They’re especially essential in rural areas, where there are fewer physicians and more need for medical services. In some states, they work under a physician supervisor, while in other areas, they can prescribe and diagnose independently. To serve patients in this way, NPs go through additional schooling and certification after their RN training.

What Is ENP-C Certification?

This is a specialized credential for emergency nurse practitioners. It is designed to validate the knowledge and skills required to manage acute health conditions, and it’s administered by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). This is a secondary advanced-practice credential that can be earned after becoming a family nurse practitioner (FNP), and it’s the only national certification for ENPs.

The certification process for this credential is demanding because the skills required for the ENP role vary from shift to shift. NPs who pursue this credential typically do so after practicing in primary care, and many of the issues seen in the ED overlap with family medicine. On any given day as an ENP, you might see:

• Life-threatening emergencies, such as heart attacks, cardiac arrest, strokes, and shock.
• Exacerbations of chronic health conditions, such as heart failure, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and more.
• Obstetric emergencies, such as premature births, ectopic pregnancies, postpartum hemorrhage, and gynecological problems.
• Allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis, hives, swelling, and rashes.
• Traumas resulting from motor vehicle collisions, violence, and accidents.
• Orthopedic problems, such as strains, sprains, and broken bones.

Why Become an ENP-C?

Depending on the style of work you prefer, and the setting you like to see patients in, becoming certified as an ENP could have many benefits. These include:

• Career opportunities: Earning specialty credentials can make you a more competitive candidate, especially when applying for roles in large medical facilities where there may be many applicants.

• Earning potential: Specialty clinicians typically have increased earning potential, and ENPs may have an even greater income because of the high-pressure environment in which they work.

• Acute care schedule: While primary care NPs typically work 5 days a week in a clinic, ENPs may only work 3 shifts or less depending on the facility.

• Specialty skills: ENPs have an expanded practice scope within their specialty, which can be gratifying. Skills include inserting arterial devices and chest tubes, intubations, and more.

• Updated knowledge: Earning and maintaining a specialty certification can help keep your skills sharp, and make you a more confident clinician.

How to Earn ENP-C: 4 Steps

This is an advanced practice credential, so before you can qualify you’ll need to first become an RN, then complete a graduate NP program. Here’s how:

Step 1: Complete ENP Certification Requirements

To qualify for the ENP exam, you’ll need to meet one of these requirement tracks:

Option 1:

• Complete at least 2,000 hours of emergency care experience as an FNP in the past 5 years.
• Complete at least 100 hours of continuing education in emergency care.
• Complete at least 20 continuing education hours in emergency care procedural skills in the past 5 years.

Option 2: Complete an approved graduate or postgraduate emergency nurse practitioner program.

Option 3: Complete an approved emergency fellowship program.

Step 2: Apply for Certification

Once you meet the application requirements, create an AANP account to get started. You’ll apply through your account, submit forms, and view your application status. Here are the documents you’ll need:

• Current nursing license
• Official transcripts from your postgraduate emergency NP academic program, if applicable
• A letter from the director of your ENP fellowship, if applicable

You’ll also need to pay a fee to apply. AANP and American Academy of Emergency Nurse Practitioner (AAENP) members get a $75 discount on certification applications. If you need to retake the exam, you’ll have to pay the fee again. See the fees below:

• Online applications: Members pay $240, nonmembers pay $315.
• Paper applications: Members pay $290, nonmembers pay $365.

Once you start your application, it’s best to complete it within 30 days to avoid losing your progress. It typically takes 3–6 weeks for AANP to process applications.

Step 3: Take the Certification Exam

Once your application is approved, you’ll receive an email to schedule your exam through Prometric. You’ll have a window of 120 days to take the exam.

The ENP certification test has 150 multiple-choice questions, and 135 of them are scored. To arrive on exam day with confidence, review the exam content outline. Here’s what the test covers:

• Medical screening
• Medical decision-making/differential diagnoses
• Patient management
• Transitions of care
• Professional practices

To prepare, AANP recommends taking their ENP practice test, which includes 75 questions, administered online within a 90-minute timeframe. It costs $50 and you can take it through your account. You’ll also find practice test questions in the ENP candidate handbook.

Step 4: Maintain Your Credential

Your ENP certification is valid for five years, and there are two pathways for recertification with differing fees:

1. Recertification by practice hours and CE requirements:

1. • Valid RN and APRN licenses
   • 1,000 hours of practice as an NP in emergency settings as a care provider, administrator, educator, or researcher within the past 5 years
   • At least 100 contact hours of advanced continuing education
   • Pay the recertification fee:
     • Online: Members pay $120, nonmembers pay $195.
     • Paper: Members pay $170, nonmembers pay $245.

2. Recertification by exam requirements:

1. • Valid RN and APRN licenses
   • Pass the certification exam
   • Pay the recertification fee:
     • Online: Members pay $240, nonmembers pay $315.
     • Paper: Members pay $290, nonmembers pay $365.

ENP-C FAQs

What salary could I earn as a certified ENP?

The average NP in the emergency room makes $135,365 in a year. The exact number will depend on the setting and geographic location of your workplace, as well as your experience and other credentials.

Related Certifications

• Family Nurse Practitioner – Certified (FNP-C)
• Family Nurse Practitioner – Board Certified (FNP-BC)
• Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Primary Care (CPNP-PC)
• Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner – Board Certified (WHNP-BC)
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner – Board Certified (PMHNP-BC)

Find Roles For APRNs

Whether you’ve earned your ENP-C or not, IntelyCare has roles for NPs in primary care, emergency medicine, and other areas. Learn more with personalized job notifications.