AONL comments on effort to accredit NP residency programs

In a letter to the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), AONL stated its support for CCNE’s position that nurse practitioner (NP) “residency/fellowship programs” are voluntary in nature unlike their medical counterparts. Quoting the Nurse Practitioner Roundtable Position on Post-Clinical Licensure Training, the letter stated, “In medicine, a residency is a requirement to obtain licensure to practice and occurs after the physician has completed the general medical education program. In NP education, clinical preparation is embedded throughout the educational program.” AONL also endorsed the Roundtable’s position on the use of the term “fellowship” rather than “residency” to describe optional post-licensure specialty training programs for NPs. The term’s use “prevents confusion and clarifies NP licensure is not contingent upon completion of additional post-licensure training,” the letter states. CCNE draft standards for accrediting NP residency/fellowship programs are available for review online.