What are the differences in nurse practitioner training and scope of practice in the US and UK?

In the US, the role of the nurse practitioner is long established. In the UK, the role is not as well developed and there is neither a separate registry nor a recordable qualification to recognise NPs on the Nursing and Midwifery Council register. This has hindered the development of NPs as there is no specified level of training or scope of practice that applies to all nurses in posts labelled "nurse practitioner". This article examines the differences in NP training, licensing and practice between the US and the UK; recommendations are made for using the lessons learnt in the US to help promote the development of NPs in the UK.