ANCC Renewal 2026: NP Recertification at ANCC and AANPCB

How does ANCC renewal work from February 1, 2027?

For applications submitted on or after February 1, 2027, the 2027 ANCC Certification Renewal Handbook keeps the 75 contact hours and the 25 in pharmacology. Instead of eight categories, you finish one of three pathways:

More continuing education: another 75 accredited or approved contact hours
Practice: 1,000 practice hours, 120 preceptor hours or 120 volunteer service hours, in your role and population
Scholarship: an evidence-based practice or quality improvement project, a presentation, a publication or research

Retaking the exam isn’t one of the three pathways.

Applications submitted before February 1, 2027

Under ANCC’s renewal requirements effective September 10, 2025, you add at least one of eight professional development categories to the 75 contact hours, completed in full. Two of the categories are 1,000 practice hours in your certification role and population, and retaking and passing your exam.

ANCC renewal fees

ANCC’s NP pages list these renewal prices, with discounts for members of the American Nurses Association, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association (GAPNA):

Applicant	Fee
Non-member	$375
American Nurses Association member	$275
AANP member	$295
GAPNA member	$320

You can claim a member price for up to 5 business days after ANCC receives your application.

ANCC: renewal requirements ↗

AANPCB recertification

You can renew in one of two ways:

Practice hours and CE: 1,000 hours in your NP role and 100 CE contact hours, at least 25 in advanced pharmacology, all in your five-year period, with an active registered nurse license
Exam: retake and pass your exam before your certification expires. The adult NP and gerontologic NP exams are retired, so holders of those renew by practice hours and CE.

CE must suit your NP role and population and come from an accredited provider, such as AANP or ANCC. A semester credit of graduate coursework counts as 15 CE hours, and a quarter credit as 10. Up to 120 hours of precepting NP, physician assistant, medical, pharmacy or dental students can count toward up to 25 of the non-pharmacology hours.

You don’t upload certificates when you apply. You attest that you’ve met the rules, and AANPCB asks for proof if your application is picked for audit.

AANPCB renewal fees

AANPCB charges members of AANP or the American Academy of Emergency Nurse Practitioners less:

Renewal by	Member	Non-member
Practice hours and CE	$120	$195
Exam	$240	$315

AANPCB: renewal options ↗

If your certification expires

A late ANCC renewal starts a new period under its reactivation policy, which may mean passing the exam again, and leaves a gap in your certification dates.

At AANPCB, an expired certification means you may not use your credential or present yourself as certified. Email AANPCB for instructions and an eligibility review.

Showing an employer you’re certified →AANPCB’s exams and fees →ANCC’s exams and fees →

Sources: ANCC · AANPCB and 8 more. Checked November 2026.