A scoping review protocol of ｍethods for evaluating nurse practitioner competencies

This study is a scoping review that aims to map and synthesize the existing literature on methods for assessing Nurse Practitioner (NP) competencies. Competency-Based Education (CBE) has been widely adopted in NP education internationally, and various assessment approaches based on observable behaviors have been introduced. However, the specific methods, indicators, and contexts used to evaluate NP competencies have not been comprehensively organized in the literature. In Japan, although NP education has been implemented through master’s-level programs since 2008, systematic frameworks for assessing clinical practice competencies at program completion remain insufficiently developed. This review will map the types of competency assessment methods, the competency domains assessed, the assessment indicators, and the educational or clinical contexts in which they are applied. The review follows the methodological guidance of the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) and will be reported in accordance with PRISMA-ScR. Findings are expected to inform the development of more systematic approaches to competency assessment in Japanese NP education.