The hand book prepared by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP) for Nurse Practitioner (NP) candidates is designed to provide candidates with essential information regarding eligibility requirements, the application process, testing information and other important information related to AANPCP's certification examinations.

What makes a job one of the best? According to U.S. News, the answer is a near perfect mix of employment opportunity, job security, competitive salary, and manageable work-life balance. A career as a nurse practitioner (NP) offers all that and more-landing it in the number four spot on U.S. News 100 Best Jobs of 2014 list. Whether you're in the process of choosing a healthcare profession or already established as an NP, consider the following rankings of top ten cities for nurse practitioner jobs.

Approximately 15% of all NPs have their own private practices. There are also a number of nurse-managed health centers across the United States, in which all of the health care is directed and provided by nurse practitioners, along with other health care professionals