Full Independent Practice Credentialing Committee Arkansas Department of Health

Full Independent Practice Credentialing Committee

The Full Independent Practice Credentialing Committee was created by Act 412 of 2021. This legislation provides a pathway to full practice authority for Certified Nurse Practitioners (CNP). The Committee accomplishes this by reviewing the applications submitted by CNPs who apply for full independent practice authority.

Pursuant to ACA §17-87-314(e) the responsibilities of the Committee are:

Review and approve or deny all applications for a certificate of full independent practice authority for CNPs and for renewal of a certificate of full independent practice authority;
Review complaints made against CNPs who have a certificate of full independent practice authority;
Review recommendations made by the Arkansas State Medical Board and the Arkansas State Board of Nursing and notify the CNP of any action taken by the Committee based on the recommendations;
Hold a hearing if the action taken is suspension or revocation of the certificate of full independent practice authority; and
Provide reports quarterly and upon request regarding the number of applicants approved and denied to the Senate and House Committees on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor.

Members

The Full Independent Practice Credentialing Committee is an eight-member committee created within the Arkansas Department of Health and appointed by the Governor. Committee members serve three-year terms, but not more than two consecutive terms. The committee shall consist of the following members:

Three (3) faculty physicians from each of the following institutions:
- The College of Medicine of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
- The Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Smith
- The New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro
One (1) physician from the state at large
Three (3) faculty CNPs from nursing programs in the state
One (1) CNP from the state at large

The Director of the Arkansas State Medical Board and the Director of the Arkansas State Board of Nursing serve as ex officio nonvoting members.

Name	Position	Appointed
Mitzi Scotten, MD	NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine – Fort Smith	9/1/21
Donna Shipley, MD	AR College of Osteopathic Medicine – Fort Smith	9/1/21
Purushottm Thapa, MD	UAMS	9/1/21
William Hawkins, MD	At-Large	9/23/21
Darlene Byrd, DNP, APRN	UAMS	9/1/21
Leonie DeClerk, PhD, DNP, APRN Chair	UAMS	9/1/21
Mark Foster, DNP, APRN	ASU	9/1/21
Julia Ponder, DNP, APRN Vice Chair	At large	9/1/21