TL;DR
Must-have: National certification (FNP-C/FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, AGACNP-BC, etc.), state NP license, DEA registration, prescriptive authority, BLS/ACLS, EHR proficiency (Epic or Athenahealth).
High-value: Controlled substance prescribing (Sch. II–V), patient panel management, chronic disease management, minor procedures, telehealth platforms.
Differentiators: Quality metrics (HEDIS), research/publications, bilingual (Spanish, Mandarin), specialty dual-certification, DNP degree.
Certifications & licenses
National certification is the credential that gates NP hiring. FNP-C (AANP) and FNP-BC (ANCC) are the two family NP certifications. PMHNP-BC covers psychiatric-mental health. AGACNP-BC covers adult-gerontology acute care. PNP-BC covers pediatrics. WHNP-BC covers women’s health. Your certification determines which patient populations you can see.
List the exact certification abbreviation, the certifying body (AANP or ANCC), and the expiration date. Do not just write “Board Certified Nurse Practitioner.”
Every state requires a separate NP license. Prescriptive authority varies: 30 states grant full practice authority (independent prescribing including Schedule II–V), 12 states have reduced authority, and 11 states require physician collaboration. Name your state, authority level, and whether you can prescribe controlled substances independently.
Write “Full Prescriptive Authority (Oregon) — Schedule II–V” or “Collaborative Practice Agreement (Texas) — Schedule III–V.” The specificity matters.
Required for prescribing controlled substances. All NPs who prescribe need active DEA registration. List it as “DEA Registration (Active)” in your certifications section.
BLS (Basic Life Support) is required universally. ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support) is required for hospital-based, urgent care, and acute care NP roles. PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) is required for pediatric NP roles.
Clinical skills
The core NP competency. Includes history-taking, physical examination, differential diagnosis, treatment planning, and follow-up. In full-practice-authority states, you do this independently. In restricted states, you do it under a collaborative agreement. Either way, your resume needs to show you make clinical decisions, not just execute orders.
Write “Manage an independent patient panel of 1,200” not “Assist physicians with patient care.” The verb choice signals your practice level.
Diabetes, hypertension, COPD, heart failure, depression, anxiety. Name the conditions you manage and quantify outcomes: HbA1c reductions, blood pressure control rates, PHQ-9 score improvements. Chronic disease management is the bread and butter of primary care NP work.
NPs prescribe medications including controlled substances. Name the schedule levels you prescribe (II–V), the types of medications you manage (antihypertensives, insulin regimens, SSRIs, opioid contracts), and your approach to medication reconciliation and adherence monitoring.
Joint injections, skin biopsies, IUD insertions and removals, wound closures (suturing, stapling), incision & drainage, Pap smears, splinting. Procedural competency varies by specialty and practice setting. List the specific procedures you perform and your weekly volume.
EHR systems & technology
The dominant EHR in hospitals and large health systems. If you work in or want to work in a hospital-based NP role, Epic proficiency is expected. Epic modules relevant to NPs include ambulatory, in-basket management, order sets, and e-prescribing.
Dominant in outpatient clinics, private practices, and community health centers. If you work in primary care outside a hospital system, you likely use one of these. Name the specific platform in your skills section.
Telehealth is a growing percentage of NP encounters, especially in primary care and behavioral health. Experience with Doxy.me, Zoom for Healthcare, or platform-integrated telehealth (Epic Telehealth, Athenahealth Telehealth) is increasingly valued.
Specialty-specific skills
Psychiatric diagnostic interviewing, DSM-5-TR diagnosis, psychopharmacology (antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, anxiolytics, stimulants), therapy modalities (CBT basics, motivational interviewing), substance use disorder treatment (MAT, buprenorphine/Suboxone). PMHNP is the highest-demand NP specialty.
Hospital-based patient management, ventilator management, central line placement, lumbar puncture, chest tube management, rapid response, ICU rounding. AGACNP roles require comfort with high-acuity, rapidly changing clinical situations.