Section 2835.5.

(a) A registered nurse who is holding himself or herself out as a nurse practitioner or who desires to hold himself or herself out as a nurse practitioner shall, within the time prescribed by the board and prior to his or her next license renewal or the issuance of an initial license, submit educational, experience, and other credentials and information as the board may require for it to determine that the person qualifies to use the title "nurse practitioner," pursuant to the standards and qualifications established by the board.

(b) Upon finding that a person is qualified to hold himself or herself out as a nurse practitioner, the board shall appropriately indicate on the license issued or renewed, that the person is qualified to use the title "nurse practitioner." The board shall also issue to each qualified person a certificate evidencing that the person is qualified to use the title "nurse practitioner."

(c) A person who has been found to be qualified by the board to use the title "nurse practitioner" prior to the effective date of this section, shall not be required to submit any further qualifications or information to the board and shall be deemed to have met the requirements of this section.

(d) On and after January 1, 2008, an applicant for initial qualification or certification as a nurse practitioner under this article who has not been qualified or certified as a nurse practitioner in California or any other state shall meet the following requirements:

(1) Hold a valid and active registered nursing license issued under this chapter.

(2) Possess a master's degree in nursing, a master's degree in a clinical field related to nursing, or a graduate degree in nursing.

(3) Satisfactorily complete a nurse practitioner program approved by the board.

(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 344, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2005.)