APRN Scope of Practice and Instructions on How to Add Multiple Certifications to Your License

Hello HAPN,

This is a follow up to our email sent earlier in the month regarding guidance from the Hawaii Board of Nursing about APRN scope of practice with a decision making algorithm.  Practicing with the scope of your education/training and certification is very important. 

https://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/files/2022/12/APRN-Decision-Making-Flow-Chart-2.pdf

We received several follow up questions about adding secondary (and more) certifications that may not currently be listed on your license.  This is communication from the BON on how to add your additional certifications to your license to ensure you are practicing within scope. 

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If a licensed APRN would like to “add” an additional NP specialty, they can do the following:

• Ensure that their Hawaii APRN license is current and active;
• Submit a completed APRN application and if we have their graduate-level transcripts on file they may indicate that on the application, but if they are unsure, they can order another transcript;
• Submit proof of current national certification for “new” NP specialty;
• Signed statement that they are “adding” another NP specialty to their APRN license; and
• Current NPDB self-query report

If the APRN applied/submitted an application within one year of adding another NP specialty, they do NOT have to submit another application, but must submit other documents required above.

The APRN does not have to:

• Be fingerprinted again if they applied for any Hawaii nurse license after July 1, 2017;
• If the APRN has prescriptive authority, no need to submit another 30 hours of pharmacology

Hope this helps, if not please have them email the Board at nursing@dcca.hawaii.gov/

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Please contact Dr. Bradley Kuo if you have further questions at bradleykuonp@gmail.com.