Michigan Nurse Practitioner Licensure Steps - 2024

Nurse Practitioner Licensure Requirements in Michigan

Follow below to learn how to become a nurse practitioner (NP) in Michigan.

Initial Registered Nurse (RN) License

Already have your RN License?  Skip to the next section

All advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) are fundamentally nurses, so they must hold a valid RN license to practice in Michigan before their NP application can be processed. There are two main routes applicants can take for licensure: RN by Examination and RN by Endorsement.

RN by Examination

If you don’t hold an RN license in another state or territory, RN by examination is the route for you. First, you’ll have to complete a program approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing. The minimum academic qualification for a prospective RN is a bachelor’s degree.

Besides completing the program, you must also pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) exam. You can register for the test using the Pearson Vue website or contact Pearson Vue Candidate Services by phone to schedule and pay the $200 exam fee.

Practice exams are available on the National Council of State Boards of Nursing  (NCSBN) website, so you can prepare for the big day.

After passing the exam, you can apply for licensure online. The Board no longer accepts paper applications in an effort to reduce paper waste. Should you have any issues completing the application, call (517) 241-0199, and someone will guide you through the process step-by-step. You can also email BPLHelp@michigan.gov with any questions.

Include the application fee of $208.80 to receive a license valid for two years from the issuing date. All applicants also include the following:

• Criminal Background Check – This is emailed along with instructions for you to complete. The fingerprinting fee is $62.75.
• Good Moral Character Questions – You must answer a series of questions related to your moral character.
• Human Trafficking Training – Everyone must complete training to identify victims of human trafficking.
• Social Security Number (SSN) – All individuals need to provide an SSN or proof of exempt status.
• English Language Proficiency – Individuals must show a working knowledge of the English language. That can be done with transcripts showing 60 college-level credits from an English-speaking institution or a passing grade on an approved English proficiency test.
• Implicit Bias Training – Applicants must have completed 2 hours of training within the five years preceding licensure.
• Official Transcripts or the Michigan Nursing School Certification Form (whichever is applicable) should be submitted directly to the Board from the educational program.
• Foreign-trained applicants must either have their credentials evaluated by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) or take the CGFNS certification examination. The result of the evaluation or examination must be made available to the Board.

All additional information for verification can be emailed to bpldata@michigan.gov or mailed to the Bureau of Professional Licensing:

If you don’t pass the exam, you’ll be notified by the NCSBN and can retake the test after a 45-day waiting period. You have three years from the date of graduation to pass the exam.

RN by Endorsement

The application path for RNs licensed to practice in another state is by endorsement. These applicants are required to complete a Board-approved program or an equivalent and passed the NCLEX-RN examination in addition to fulfilling all other requirements for RN by examination in that state.

The following is a list of requirements for an RN license by endorsement:

• Applicants are required to verify their valid and unencumbered license, which can be done using the Nursys platform for a fee of $30. If the Board of Nursing in your state of licensure does not report to Nursys, you will have to contact them to transmit the documents directly to Michigan’s Nursing Board.
• If you did not complete a board-approved nursing program in the US or Canada, you must take the CGFNS certification program. You are only exempt from this if you have passed the NCLEX-RN and have practiced actively in the US for the five years immediately preceding your date of application.
• The application process is completed online for $208.

Upon receipt of your application, you will receive a confirmation message, including instructions to complete a fingerprint-based criminal background check (CBC). That is routine practice for initial licensure. No license will be issued without a CBC report and a valid social security number or the appropriate SSN-exempt documents.

Beginning from January 6th, 2022, no license will be issued without the completion of a course on the identification of victims of human trafficking. All applicants are also required to be of good standing, which is why you must provide honest answers to questions on character and supporting documents for any sanction, punishments, or past convictions.

Advanced Education Requirement

Nurse Practitioners are expected to have advanced nursing education (master’s or higher) via a program that trains them to serve a particular population focus.

Your chosen program should be accredited by agencies recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE), such as the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or the Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Sort and filter all schools offering nurse practitioner degree programs in Michigan.

Ideally, your program should include coursework and clinical components. The coursework must cover advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology, advanced health assessment, and primary care management. The clinical component must include a minimum of 500 hours of supervised clinical experience.

National Certification

Certification is the process of verifying the quality of your advanced practice education. Hence, if you possess national certification in a given specialty area of practice as an NP, you can be considered for an APRN license. National certifying agencies oversee this licensure, and the process is usually examination-based. Therefore, prospective NPs must pass these exams to be certified.

There are different certifying bodies for each specialty area and population concentration, so you should contact the agency that certifies professionals in your preferred area for their requirements and certification procedure. Some of the approved national certifying agencies for NPs in Michigan are:

• National Certification Corporation (NCC)
• Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB)
• American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
• American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
• Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC)

The certifying agency you choose will be based on your role and target population. Some agencies offer multiple certifications, so select the one right for your specialty. Some of the approved ANCC certifications for NPs are: 

• Adult
• Adult Acute Care
• Adult Psychiatric and Mental Health, Diabetes Management
• Family
• Gerontological
• Pediatric

Getting Licensed to Practice as a Nurse Practitioner in Michigan

Michigan’s Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) receives applications from prospective NPs all year long. The application process is completed online for $40.55 or $55.45. The rate is dependent on your RN license expiration date, and instructions are included on the application.

Temporary permits for practice are not issued for NPs in Michigan. All eligibility requirements must be met for licensure.

Each applicant must provide proof of completing an advanced practice program that awards at least a master’s degree. You must request that an official copy of your transcript be sent from the program directly to the Board in a sealed envelope.

Prospective NPs are expected to hold a valid and unencumbered RN license to practice in Michigan. Proof of licensure is required and can be obtained using the Nursys platform. If your Board does not report to Nursys, you must contact them regarding the procedure for licensure verification.

If you were initially licensed as an RN in another state, you must also submit verification of that license. LARA requires proof of valid certification by an approved national certifying agency in a given specialty area or a population focus. You can request such proof be sent from your certifying agency to the Board. You will also be required to complete a CBC.

After about three weeks, you will receive a confirmation that your application was received and a customer number that allows you to monitor the form’s status online. Processing can take 6-8 weeks, but applicants are encouraged to contact the Board if they haven’t heard anything after three weeks.