The AANP and ANCC are two exams that are held for nurses in America. Both the exams are organized to qualify the nurses for advanced courses. Even though both the exams are associated with the same thing but they differ from each other in many aspects. The exam differs in many aspects such as in the question patterns, timings, specialities, etc.
AANP vs ANCC
The main difference between AANP and ANCC is that the AANP offers fewer specialization subjects to the nurses as compared to the ANCC. Also, both the associations were set up in different periods. The questions pattern also differs from each other. The syllabus is also different from both exams. The ANCC exam is more expensive as compared to the AANP exam.
The full form of AANP is the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. This is an exam where the nurses have to qualify for their further continuation of education. The AANP exam was established in the year 2013. Its headquarters is situated in Austin, Texas, United States. The AANP exams are inexpensive as compared to the ANCC exam. Also, AANP only certifies with three specializations to the nurses. The AANP offers only three specialties courses to the nurses.
On the other hand, the full form of ANCC is American Nurses Credentialing Center. This is also an exam where the nurses have to qualify for their further education. It is governed by the American Nurses Association (ANA). The ANCC exam was established in the year 1991, therefore it is much older as compared to the AANP. Its headquarters is situated in Silver Spring, Maryland. The ANCC exam is expensive. It offers more specialties as compared to AANP.
Comparison Table Between AANP and ANCC
| Parameters of Comparison | AANP | ANCC |
| Full-Form | The full form of AANP is the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. | The full form of ANCC is American Nurses Credentialing Center. |
| Governing Body | The AANP is governed by the board of directors who are elected by the members of the AANP itself. | The ANCC is governed by American Nurses Association (ANA). |
| Specialties | The AANP has fewer specialties. | The ANCC has more specialties as compared to AANP. |
| Question Pattern | The AANP exam is associated with 150 questions, to be completed within 3 hours. | The ANCC exam is associated with 200 questions, to be completed in 3-4 hours. |
| Syllabus | The AANP syllabus includes assessment, diagnosis, clinical management, and professional role. | The ANCC syllabus includes assessment, diagnosis, plan, and evaluation. |
| Exam Expenses | The AANP exam is inexpensive as compared to the ANCC exam. | The ANCC exam is expensive. |
| Establishment | The AANP exam is new, as it has been established in the year 2013. | The ANCC exam is old as compared to the AANP exam, as it has been established in the year 1991. |
What is AANP?
The AANP is an exam that is organized for the nurses to further qualify for education. The AANP is governed by the board of directors. This board of directors is elected by the other members of AANP. It includes four officers and eleven other regional directors. Mr. Jon Fanning is the current CEO of AANP. The word AANP stands for American Association of Nurse Practitioners. The Nurses Practitioners (NP) are eligible for this exam as it is an advanced course for the nurses.
The AANP has fewer specialties. It has specialties courses like Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (A-GNP), Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP), and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C). The AANP exam is associated with 150 questions to be completed within 3 hours. The AANP exam pattern is also different from the ANCC exam.
The AANP syllabus includes assessment, diagnosis, clinical management, and professional role. The ANNP syllabus differs from the syllabus of ANCC. The AANP exam is inexpensive as compared to the ANCC exam. The fee for the AANP exam is less. The AANP exam is new, as it has been established in the year 2013. Therefore, it is a new exam for the advanced course for the nurses.
What is ANCC?
The ANCC is also an exam that is organized for the nurses to further qualify for education. But, it has a slight difference from AANP. The word ANCC stands for American Credentialing Center. The ANCC is governed by American Nurses Association (ANA). In other words, the ANA looks after or guides ANCC. The Nurses Practitioners (NP) are eligible for this exam as it is an advanced course for the nurses. The eligibility for both exams is the same.
The ANCC has more specialties as compared to AANP. It has specialties courses like Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP-BC), Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP-BC), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-BC), Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PPCNP-BC) and, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHPNP).
The ANCC exam is associated with 200 questions, to be completed within 3-4 hours. The ANCC exam pattern is also different from the AANP exam. The ANCC syllabus includes assessment, diagnosis, plan, and evaluation. The ANCC exam is expensive. The fee for the ANCC exam is higher as compared to the fee for the AANP exam. The ANCC exam is old as compared to the AANP exam, as it has been established in the year 1991.
Main Differences Between AANP and ANCC
- The full form of AANP is the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. On the other hand, the full form ANCC is American Nurses Credentialing Center.
- The AANP is governed by the board of directors who are elected by the members of the AANP itself. On the other hand, the ANCC is governed by American Nurses Association (ANA).
- The AANP has fewer specialties. On the other hand, the ANCC has more specialties as compared to AANP.
- The AANP exam is associated with 150 questions to be completed within 3 hours. On the other hand, the ANCC exam is associated with 200 questions, to be completed within 3-4 hours.
- The AANP syllabus includes assessment, diagnosis, clinical management, and professional role. On the other hand, the ANCC syllabus includes assessment, diagnosis, plan, and evaluation.
- The AANP exam is inexpensive as compared to the ANCC exam. On the other hand, the ANCC exam is expensive.
- The AANP exam is new, as it has been established in the year 2013. On the other hand, the ANCC exam is old as compared to the AANP exam, as it has been established in the year 1991.
Conclusion
The AANP and ANCC are two exams that are held for the qualification of the nurses for the further advanced courses. From the above information, we can see there are many differences between both the exams. The ANCC exam provides more specialties for the nurses as to the AANP exam. The AANP exam has been recently established for the nurses, whereas the ANCC exam has been established long back. Both the exams require the eligibility of the qualification of NP. Hence, from the above-mentioned comparison, we concluded that the ANCC exam is better than the AANP exam.
References
- https://journals.healio.com/doi/full/10.3928/00989134-20161215-01
- https://journals.lww.com/neponline/fulltext/2008/11000/family_nurse_practitioner_certification_intensive.16.aspx