Steps to Becoming a Nurse Practitioner in New York

new york nursing

1Get your Graduate Degree in New York
2Earn your National Certification in New York
3Apply for your NP Certificate in New York
4Renewing your Certificate in New York

The New York State Board of Nursing, (518-474-3817 ext. 120, nursebd@mail.nysed.gov), under the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions, regulates the certification and practice privileges of nurse practitioners (NPs) in the following specialties:

  • Acute Care
  • Adult Health
  • College Health
  • Community Health
  • Family Health
  • Gerontology
  • Holistic Nursing
  • Neonatology
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Oncology
  • Palliative Care
  • Pediatrics
  • Perinatology
  • Psychiatry
  • School Health
  • Women’s Health

To be approved to work as an NP in New York, you must first hold a valid, unencumbered New York RN license. If you do not hold an active RN license in New York, you can obtain one by completing the Nursing Licensing Application Packet, which includes:

New York Job Statistics

  • As of May 2020, NPs in New York earn an average of $126,440 per year.
  • NPs in New York earn about 84% more than the state’s median household income.
  • RNs working in New York make $89,760 on average, annually.
  • 2020 NCLEX-RN first-time pass rates for nursing school graduates in New York: 83.2%
  • Approximately 178,550 RNs and 14,850 NPs are licensed in New York.
  • Form 1: Application for Licensure
  • Form 2: Certificate of Professional Education*
  • Form 3: Verification of Other Professional Licensure/Certification
  • Form 5: Application for Limited Permit (To become eligible for a limited permit, you must meet all requirement for licensure except the examination requirement)

If you are a new graduate or a graduate from another jurisdiction (licensure by examination), you must complete:

  • Form 1
  • NCLEX Exam Registration Form (found in Form 1)
  • Form 3 (must be submitted for all professional licenses/certificates you ever held)
  • Certificate of Exemption (Form 1 CE)

If you are licensed as an RN in another jurisdiction (licensure by endorsement), you must complete:

  • Form 1
  • Form 3 (This form must be submitted for all professional licenses/certificates you ever held)
  • Certificate of Exemption (Form 1 CE)

If you completed your RN education outside of the United States, you must first have your education credentials verified by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS). You must contact the CGFNS (215-349-8767, www.cgfns.org) for the application and instructions to complete the CGFNS Credential Verification Service for New York State.


Step 1. Get Your NP Education

To work toward your NP certificate in New York State, you must provide evidence of having earned a master’s, postgraduate, or doctorate degree through a program registered with the New York State Education Department, or a program determined by the Department to be equivalent.

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Your program should include:

  • A classroom and supervised clinical designed to prepare NPs to diagnose illness and physical conditions and perform therapeutic and corrective measures within a specialty area of practice
  • Pharmacotherapeutics (see below)
  • A preceptorship experience that is at least one semester in length supervised by an NP or a physician

Core course requirements that are part of all advanced practice nursing programs include:

  • Advanced pathophysiology/physiology (that includes general principles applicable across the human lifespan)
  • Advanced health assessment (that includes assessment of all systems of the body, advanced assessment methods, techniques, and concepts)
  • Advanced pharmacology (that includes pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics of broad categories of agents)

National Certification

The New York State Board of Nursing also defers to certification agencies to qualify candidates for NP certification in the state. National certification is not required in New York, but by meeting educational requirements required to become nationally certified, the New York State Board of Nursing will consider you to be an eligible candidate.

All certification agencies independently establish and maintain education and experience standards that must be met before sitting for one of their national exams. In most cases, educational criteria include a graduate degree, although in some cases a bachelor’s degree is accepted. Contact the agency offering certification in your specialty area or patient population focus for information on becoming nationally certified.

The New York State Board of Nursing will consider you as having met the educational requirements for state-issued NP certification if you have earned national certification through one of the agencies named here:

Pharmacotherapeutics Requirements

Prescriptive authority is granted to New York NPs as a matter of standard protocol. As such, the New York State Board of Nursing maintains specific pharmacotherapeutic requirements, which must include one of the following:

  • At least three semester hours (or the equivalent) in pharmacotherapeutics, including drug management specific to your specialty area or patient population focus, as well as instruction in New York State and Federal laws and regulations as they relate to prescriptions and record maintenance
  • A program or a combination of courses equivalent to the content and scope of pharmacotherapeutics courses covering drug management specific to your specialty area or patient population focus, as well as instruction in New York State and Federal laws and regulations as they relate to prescriptions and record maintenance
  • Passing an examination in pharmacotherapeutics acceptable to the New York State Education Department or one that is nationally recognized and acceptable for licensure in New York State as a physician assistant or for certification as a nurse midwife

If your pharmacotherapeutics course did not include instruction in New York State and Federal laws, you may contact one of the following professional associations for continuing education opportunities that will satisy this requirement:


Step 2.  Become Nationally Certified

Becoming nationally certified in your specialty area or patient population focus in not mandatory for becoming certified as an NP in New York, but is one way to meet New York State Board of Nursing eligibility requirements.

All certification agencies independently establish and maintain education and experience standards that must be met before sitting for one of their national exams. Contact the certifying body offering certification in your specialty area or patient population focus for information on becoming nationally certified.

The New York State Board of Nursing will accept national certification in the listed specialty areas and population foci through the national certifying bodies named here:


Step 3.  Apply for Your NP Certificate

To apply for your NP certificate in the State of New York, you must complete the Nurse Practitioner Application Packet. The application packet includes the following forms:

Form 1: Application for a Certificate

As an applicants for an NP certificate, you must complete Form 1 and submit it to the Office of the Professions along with an application fee of $85 in a check or money order made payable to the “New York State Education Department”. A Notary Public must notarize Form 1.

Form 2: Certificate of Professional Education

Submit this form If you completed a New York State Education Department -registered program, or its equivalent. Complete Section 1 and then send it to the Registrar of your school to complete Section 2. Your school will then submit it directly to the Office of the Professions.

Form 2B: Verification of Instruction in New York State and Federal Laws Related to Prescriptions and Record Keeping

Submit this form if you completed a program not registered with the New York State Education Department. Complete Section 1, sign and date item 8 and then send it to your school to complete Section 2. Your school will then submit it directly to the Office of the Professions.

Form 2C: Verification of Pharmacotherapeutics Course

Submit this form if you have completed a program other than a program registered by the New York State Education Department. Complete Section 1, sign and date item 8 and then send it to the school where you completed your pharmacotherapeutic course to complete Section 2. Your school will then submit it directly to the Office of the Professions.

Form 3: Verification of National Nurse Practitioner Examination

Submit this form if you are qualifying as a New York State NP through a national certifying agency. Complete Section 1, sign and date item 9 and send the form to the national certifying agency to complete Section 2. Your national certifying agency will then submit it directly to the Office of the Professions.

Form NP: Verification of Collaborative Agreement and Practice Protocol

All applicants must complete this form. It must be submitted to the Office of the Professions no more than 90 days after you have entered practice. Complete Section 1, and complete Sections 2 and 3 with the collaborating physician with whom you have a practice agreement and practice protocol.

Before completing the application packet, review this checklist of forms you must complete:

  • If you are a graduate of a New York State registered, certificate-qualifying program, you must submit:
    • Form 1
    • Form 2
    • Form NP
  • If you are a graduate of a program other than a New York State registered, certificate-qualifying program, you must submit:
    • Form 1
    • Form 2
    • Form 2B
    • Form 2C
    • Form NP
  • If you are certified as an NP from an approved national certification agency, you must submit:
    • Form 1
    • Form 2B
    • Form 2C
    • Form 3
    • Form NP
  • If you are an applicant who completed your alternative certificate requirements prior to 1989, you must submit:
    • Form 1
    • Form 2
    • Form 2B
    • Form 2C
    • Form 4
    • Form NP

Your application and all required forms and documentation are to be sent to the Officer of the Professions Division of Professional Licensing Services P.O. Box 22063 Albany, NY 12201.

The Office of the Professions has an automated customer service system (518-474-3817, 518-473-1426 TDD/TTY) through which you can verify your license, request information and hear automated messages 24 hours a day. Staff is available Monday through Friday, from 8:30AM to 4:45PM EST, to answer your questions and you can also email questions to op4info@mail.nysed.gov.

Prescriptive Authority

All nurse practitioners in New York are authorized to issue prescriptions for legend drugs.

If you plan to prescribe and dispense narcotic and controlled substances, you must obtain a Federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) number (877-883-5789 or 800-882-9539).

Note: All healthcare providers must apply for a National Provider Identifier (NPI) for use in all electronic healthcare transactions. The NPI, which is mandated by HIPPA, will be the only provider identifier for healthcare providers and will replace all other provider identifiers currently being used. You can apply for your NPI online through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Collaborative Agreement

As an NP in New York State, you may diagnose, treat and prescribe legend drugs autonomously with an approved written collaborative practice agreement and practice protocols established between you and a licensed physician.

All NPs in New York State are required to establish a collaborative agreement with one physician before beginning practice. The agreement must be physically located in the practice setting you named in the collaborative agreement so as to available for inspection by the State Education Department.

You may use this sample agreement as a model when writing your collaborative agreement.

Protocol Text Requirements

As an NP, you are required to identify a protocol text, from the Nurse Practitioner: Approved Protocol Texts list, as your official practice protocol. The protocol text with which you identify must reflect your NP specialty area of practice as reflected on your State Education Department issued NP certificate.

Your approved protocol text will include provisions for case management, diagnosis and treatment in your specialty area.


Step 4. Renewing Your Certificate

NP licenses in New York are valid for three years. You may apply for your NP renewal online using the Office of the Professions Online Renewal System if you are within the final 5 months of your current registration period, and are no more than 4 months past the expiration of your valid registration period. NP certificate renewal is $35. A late filing fee of $10 must be paid for each month that your registration has been delayed.

The Office of the Professions mails out registration renewal cards. Once you receive your renewal card, you are eligible for online renewal. You can also use the online renewal system to request an optional professional photo ID card, choose to become inactive, or change your address. You must also notify the Office of the Professions of any change in address within 30 days.

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To renew your NP certificate, you must pay by credit card, and provide your seven-character PIN, which appears on the registration renewal card. Once you complete the online renewal process, allow up to three business days for processing.

You can check the status of your online renewal by visiting the Office of the Professions Online License Verification.

Inactive Status

If you are not practicing your profession or using your NP certificate, you may place your registration on inactive status using the Office of the Professions Online Renewal System. There is no fee for this service. If you decide to resume your practice after an inactive period, you must re-register your license, pay the renewal fee of $35 and meet all necessary post-licensure requirements. To reactivate your license, you must also contact the OP Registration Unit at 518-474-3817 ext. 410 to begin receiving automatic renewal notices.

If you want to renew your NP certification after it has become inactive, you need to request a replacement re-registration application by calling 518-474-3817 ext. 410, Monday through Friday, from 8:30AM to 4:45PM. Fees for lapsed NP certificates vary.

Nurse Practitioner Associations in New York

There are a number of professional organizations that support NPs in New York by offering continuing education opportunities and various advocacy services:


New York Nurse Practitioner Salary

The average salary for a nurse practitioner in New York is $126,440 a year – a great living even if you’re living in the city. If you work your way to the top 10 percent in this profession, you can earn a minimum $167,320 annually.

Area Name
Employment
Annual mean wage
Albany-Schenectady-Troy
560
110370
Binghamton
190
110370
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls
1100
111950
Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area
320
115850
Central East New York nonmetropolitan area
250
109920
Elmira
60
115840
Glens Falls
80
119160
Ithaca
150
104360
Kingston
50
129480
New York-Newark-Jersey City
13760
133380
Rochester
1220
110290
Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area
180
106780
Syracuse
550
110920
Utica-Rome
200
108290
Watertown-Fort Drum
80
114420

Registered Nurse Salary

RNs make great money in the Empire State – an average $89,760 per year. If you have ambitions of making a six-figure salary, it’s possible. The top 25 percent bring upwards of $106,330 per year. The top 10 percent bring in at least $126,660 annually.

Area Name
Employment
Annual mean wage
Albany-Schenectady-Troy
9670
73160
Binghamton
2450
70890
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls
12880
77580
Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area
3530
72200
Central East New York nonmetropolitan area
2850
68910
Elmira
920
65830
Glens Falls
1090
69000
Ithaca
810
69290
Kingston
1050
81660
New York-Newark-Jersey City
173570
94920
Rochester
11320
68540
Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area
2870
66020
Syracuse
7350
69840
Utica-Rome
2470
70130
Watertown-Fort Drum
850
70990

Nursing Instructors and Teachers Salary

If becoming an educator entices you, you’re in luck. Nursing instructors in New York report making $98,850 per year, on average.

Area Name
Employment
Annual median wage
Albany-Schenectady-Troy
260
72210
Binghamton
120
90610
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls
380
91550
Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area
70
78830
Central East New York nonmetropolitan area
50
63450
New York-Newark-Jersey City
4650
97630
Rochester
460
84830
Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area
70
52870
Syracuse
220
83340
Utica-Rome
210
34160

Nurse Administrator Salary

(Includes Nurse Managers, Directors, and Chief Nursing Officers)

Nurse administrators in New York make an average of $156,140 per year. The top 25 percent make upwards of $185,030 annually. Thus, transitioning into management will lead to a prosperous career.

Area Name
Employment
Annual mean wage
Albany-Schenectady-Troy
1390
116290
Binghamton
190
153490
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls
1120
134150
Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area
320
131230
Central East New York nonmetropolitan area
310
134300
Elmira
70
105370
Glens Falls
100
112360
Ithaca
100
120170
Kingston
90
117190
New York-Newark-Jersey City
27400
153590
Rochester
980
131970
Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area
230
109710
Syracuse
620
115010
Utica-Rome
300
128300
Watertown-Fort Drum
90
116320

Nurse Anesthetists Salary

Anesthetists are some of the highest paid advanced practice nurses in the state. On average, nurse anesthetists in New York pull in $217,050 annually.

Area Name
Employment
Annual mean wage
Albany-Schenectady-Troy
180
228750
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls
180
181810
Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area
40
284660
New York-Newark-Jersey City
1660
218380
Rochester
100
204990
Syracuse
80
163650

Nurse Midwives Salary

See yourself delivering natal care? Midwives make a great living in the Empire State: $125,780 a year. That’s just the average. Those who have worked their way to the top 10 percent report making $169,010 annually.

Area Name
Employment
Annual mean wage
New York-Newark-Jersey City
400
121050


2020 US Bureau of Labor Statistics job market trends and salary figures for 1)
Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Practitioners, Nurse Midwives; 2) Medical and Health Services Managers (Nurse Administrators); 3) Registered Nurses; and 4) Postsecondary Nursing Instructors and Teachers reflect state data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. 2019 US Census Bureau figures for state median household income provided for comparison. Data Accessed December 2021.

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