If you plan to take the nurse practitioner certification exams through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), you’ve likely noticed that the registration fees differ for members and non-members. You may be asking yourself, is it worth becoming a member to save on exam registration?
Here’s a quick comparison of the costs for the two major NP exams:
AANP Exam:
AANP Members: $240
Non-members: $315
ANCC Exam:
ANA Members: $295
Non-members: $395
AANP Members/Students: $340
At first glance, you can see that both organizations offer a significant discount if you are a member. For the AANP exam, members save $75. For the ANCC exam, ANA members save $100, while AANP members or students get a $55 discount.
Membership Costs and Benefits:
AANP Membership:
Cost: $150/year for NPs
Benefits:
- Access to continuing education (CE) opportunities, including free and discounted CE activities
- Advocacy efforts at the state and federal levels to support NPs
- Discounts on AANP conferences and clinical resources
- Access to AANP Communities for networking with fellow NPs
- A subscription to the Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (JAANP)
ANA (for ANCC exam) Membership:
Cost: Varies by state but typically around $191/year for RNs
Benefits:
- Free and discounted CE courses
- Advocacy for nurses at various government levels
- Access to ANA Career Center and job resources
- Discounts on conferences and publications Subscription to American Nurse Today
Is Membership Worth It?
If you are solely looking at saving money on the exam registration, joining may not always be worth it unless you plan to maintain an active membership or take advantage of other member perks. For example, with the AANP exam, you save $75, but membership costs $150 annually, so you’d be paying more in the short term if your only goal is to save on the exam fee. HOWEVER, continuing education is a requirement for maintaining certification, and both organizations offer significant savings on CE activities for members. If you plan to participate in these CEs, membership could help you recoup the costs over time. Believe it or not, I get most of my CMEs completed from my membership because they offer a lot of free CMEs which basically covers the cost of my yearly membership. Plus, the networking opportunities and professional support can be invaluable as you advance in your NP career.
Finally, If you’re interested in attending conferences or staying up to date with the latest research, becoming a member offers discounts and subscriptions that could enhance your practice and improve patient outcomes.
Bottom line, if you’re only looking for a short-term cost reduction on your exam, becoming a member might not make financial sense. However, if you see value in the professional resources, networking opportunities, and continuing education discounts offered by either the AANP or the ANA, membership could provide long-term benefits for your career. I have been very happy with my membership and becoming a member has been more than just about saving money on my exam—it’s been a nice investment in my professional development as a nurse practitioner.