Credentialing advanced practice professionals

Advanced practice professionals (APP) have medical training but are not physicians. APPs have more advanced training and independence than do allied health professionals, and they play an increasingly important role in today’s healthcare industry. Some states allow independent practice by nurse practitioners (NP), physician assistants (PA), and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA), which are the most common APPs in most hospitals. APPs in an organization might also include certified nurse-midwives, optometrists, and psychologists. APPs may be members of the medical staff and are subject to credentialing, privileging, and peer review processes. 

The credentialing process is much the same for APPs as it is for physicians. However, instead of verifying medical school and internship/residency, MSPs must verify relevant graduate-level training. For all APPs, primary source verification must be obtained directly from the school or designated verification source, such as the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC). PAs can be queried through the online AMA profile service. If their profile does not provide the verification needed, then their school or the NSC would need to be contacted. Verifying undergraduate training for APPs is not required, unless the organization specifically requires it in its credentialing policies and procedures.

At the very least, the MSP must verify relevant training for all APP staff—that is, the MSP must verify their highest level of training that is directly related to the clinical privileges they are requesting. Note that verification requirements vary by organization. Some credentialing policies specify that all education and training must be verified. Even if it is not required by accreditation standards, an organization’s policies still apply if they are stricter than the state law or accreditation requirements.

Source: CRC Encyclopedia and Credentialing, Privileging, and Medical Staff Governance: Essential Terms and Guidance