CHEST announces first pulmonary certification program for nurse practitioners and physician assistants

Following a comprehensive discovery initiative examining the needs of advanced practice providers (APPs) in pulmonary medicine, the American College of Chest Physicians^® (CHEST) announces plans to move forward with the development of a pulmonary-focused education and certification program for nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants/associates (PAs). The CHEST Pulmonary APP Certification Program is the first of its kind. The discovery initiative was developed independently by CHEST and supported by a contribution from Sanofi and Regeneron, Inc.

APPs are increasingly important members of pulmonary care teams, helping practices expand capacity, maintain continuity of care, and meet the needs of patients with complex respiratory disease. As that role continues to grow, physicians need confidence that the clinicians working alongside them have a strong foundation in pulmonary medicine. A standardized educational pathway paired with a certification process can help establish that shared foundation, support more consistent onboarding, and strengthen the entire pulmonary care team."

Frank Leone, MD, MS, FCCP, member of the Pulmonary APP Steering Committee and Professor of Medicine at Penn Medicine

CHEST conducted national surveys of 226 qualified pulmonary APPs and 116 physicians, stakeholder interviews, workforce and market analyses, and a consultation with a multidisciplinary steering committee of pulmonary APPs and physicians. The findings demonstrated strong interest in structured pulmonary education and formal competency validation.

"The discovery findings confirm what many pulmonary APPs experience every day: There is a need for a recognized pathway that both strengthens our knowledge and validates the benefit we bring to patient care," said Corinne Young, MSN, FNP-C, FCCP, member of the Pulmonary APP Steering Committee. "A pulmonary credential provides an opportunity for APPs to demonstrate their specialized knowledge in a meaningful, standardized way. That recognition matters to APPs, to the physicians and health systems we work alongside, and, ultimately, to the patients who rely on us."

The research identified significant variation in how APPs are prepared to enter pulmonary practice. Through the CHEST Pulmonary APP Certification Program, a standardized pathway that recognizes the skills of pulmonary APPs will be created, providing practical education to support workforce readiness, team-based care, and high-quality patient care.

The CHEST Pulmonary APP Certification Program will provide an exam blueprint based on job task analysis to identify the knowledge, skills, tasks, and judgment required for pulmonary APP practice, followed by a competency framework, eligibility and maintenance requirements, and APP-specific education modules. CHEST will engage pulmonary APPs, physicians, health care organizations, and other stakeholders throughout the development process.

The program will build on CHEST's experience launching the first-ever Critical Care APP (CCAPP) Certification in 2025, designed to validate the clinical knowledge and competence of APPs practicing in critical care. In its first year, more than 300 APPs earned the CCAPP credential, demonstrating strong interest in specialty-specific recognition and professional development for APPs.