The American Association of Nurse Practitioners is the national organisation for nurse practitioners across all specialties. It reports representing more than 461,000 licensed nurse practitioners in the United States, and its work runs across advocacy, continuing education, research and certification.
Why it matters beyond its membership
Two of its products are used by people who have nothing to do with the organisation.
The first is its state practice environment classification, which sorts every state into full, reduced or restricted practice. Full practice means a nurse practitioner may evaluate patients, diagnose, order and interpret tests, and manage treatments including prescribing, under the authority of the state board of nursing alone. Reduced practice means state law requires a career-long collaborative agreement with another health provider, or otherwise limits at least one element of practice. Restricted practice means state law requires career-long supervision, delegation or team management by another provider.
That three-way split is the standard shorthand in every discussion of nurse practitioner regulation, including on this wiki. See nurse practitioner practice authority and collaborative practice agreements.
The second is its national count of licensed nurse practitioners, which is larger than the employment figure in federal wage data because it counts licences held rather than people working in the role. Anyone comparing the two numbers should expect them to differ for that reason. See registered nurse pay.
Certification
Its certification board, which operates separately from the membership organisation, is one of the two bodies that certify nurse practitioners in the United States. The other is the credentialing centre attached to the American Nurses Association. Which certification a nurse practitioner holds can matter for state licensure and for some employers, because the population focus of the certification has to match the licence. See American Nurses Credentialing Center and levels of nursing.
The advocacy position
The association campaigns for full practice authority in every state, and against renewal of collaborative agreement requirements. Physician organisations generally oppose that position. The argument is genuinely contested on the evidence and thoroughly settled on the interests, so the useful thing for an individual nurse practitioner is not the argument but the current law in the state where they intend to work, which changes more often than most people expect.
Related
- Nursing organizations
- Nurse practitioner practice authority
- Collaborative practice agreements
- Levels of nursing
- Registered nurse pay
Sources
- About the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. AANP, for its role and the count of licensed nurse practitioners. Accessed September 9, 2026.
- State practice environment. AANP, for the definitions of full, reduced and restricted practice. Accessed September 9, 2026.
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, for employment and pay. Accessed September 9, 2026.