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Love your specialty? Show it!  
Please note: Bachelor's degrees, Master's degrees, etc., must be awarded by a recognized, accredited institution; programs must be completed; clinical hours almost always have to be attested to; and licenses must be valid, active, and without restrictions. In both the US and Canada, there are certification opportunities in a wide range of specialties. Below, you will find information about the major bodies. Canadian Nurses Association (CNA)Canada has only one certification body, the CNA. The program was initiated in 1980 and now has more than 10,000 certified nurses. This body offers certification in: • Cardiovascular CCN(C)
• Community Health CCHN(C)
• Critical Care CNCC(C)
• Critical Care Pediatric
CNCCP(C)
• Emergency ENC(C)
• Gastroenterology CGN(C)
• Gerontology GNC(C)
• Hospice Palliative Care
CHPCN(C)
• Nephrology CNeph(C)
• Neuroscience CNN(C)
• Occupational Health COHN(C)
• Oncology CON(C)
• Orthopaedic ONC(C)
• Perinatal PNC(C)
• Perioperative CPN(C)
• Psychiatric/mental health
CPMHN(C)
• Rehabilitation CRN(C) Documents/experience required to write a CNA certification exam – except the Occupational Health exam, which is detailed separately below. • A Canadian RN license. And ... • At least 3,900 hours
in the specialty acquired over the past five years
(verified). Or ... • A Canadian RN license. And ... • A BScN/BN in nursing,
or a post-basic program in the nursing specialty
of at least 300 hours, with 1,950 hours in the specialty
over the past three years (verified). • A Canadian RN license. And ... • At least 5,000 hours
of work in the specialty (verified) and 75 hours
of continuous learning activities specific to occupational
health, both of which must have been acquired over
the past five years. Or ... • A Canadian RN license. • A BScN/BN in nursing
or a post-basic program in occupational
health of at least 300 hours. And ... • At least 3,050 hours
in the specialty (verified) over the past four years,
and 75 hours of continuous learning activities over
the past five years. Exam: The scheduled date for 2008 is April 5. Applications for a 2008 exam must be postmarked by October 19, 2007. Exam Fee: C$450.50 to $C684. The cost varies according to province/territory of residence, whether the applicant is a CNA member or not, etc. Recertification: In all cases, the certification is valid for five years. The nurse can recertify by writing the examination, or by submitting a record showing that s/he has completed 100 hours of continuous learning activities in the specialty and has at least 3,900 hours of nursing practice within the specialty during the five-year term. American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)The ANCC, a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association, was founded in 1973 and administers approximately 40 types of specialty and advanced practice certification examinations each year, with different certifications available based on experience and education. The ANCC offers the following: Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Board Certified (APRN,BC); Registered Nurse, Board Certified (RN,BC). 1.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Board Certified
– APRN,BC:
The APRN,BC certification is for nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, specialists in advanced diabetes management, and in administration. Nurse practitioner certifications include: • Acute Care Nurse
Practitioner
• Adult Nurse Practitioner
(*may be possible to use for endorsement with
the AANP, see below)
• Adult Psychiatric
and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• Family Nurse Practitioner
(*may be possible to use for endorsement with
the AANP, see below)
• Family Psychiatric
and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• Gerontological Nurse
Practitioner
• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
(*may be possible to use for endorsement with
NCBPNP/N, see below) Clinical nurse specialist certifications include: • Diabetes Management,
Advanced (APRN,BC-ADM)
• Cinical Specialist
in Adult Health (formerly Medical-Surgical Nursing)
• Clinical Specialist
in Adult Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
• Clinical Specialist
in Child and Adolescent Psychiatric and Mental
Health Nursing
• Clinical Specialist
in Gerontological Nursing
• Clinical Specialist
in Pediatric Nursing
• Clinical Specialist
in Community Health/Public Health Nursing The advanced diabetes management area also offers certifications for pharmacists (RPh,BC-ADM) and dieticians (RD,BC-ADM) (APRN,BC-ADM). There is also an exam for Nursing Administration, Advanced (RN,CNAA,BC). Documents/experience required to write the APRN,BC exam: • Current RN license.
• Master's degree (or
higher) in nursing.
• Formal training in
the same role and specialty area to which one
is applying (the program must have at least 500
hours of supervised practice).
• Additionally, applicants
for the Clinical Nurse Specialist in Community
Health Nursing exam must either have a
Master's degree or higher in community health
nursing or a Bachelor's degree in nursing
and a Master's (or higher) degree in public health
with a specialization in community and/or public
health nursing, and a minimum of 500 hours of
faculty-supervised clinical practice in a Community
Health/Public Health Nursing CNS role. Documents/experience required to write the Nursing Administration, Advanced (RN,CNAA,BC) exam: • Current RN license.
• Master's degree (or
higher) in nursing, or a Bachelor's in nursing
and a Master's in another field.
• Have held an administrative
position at the nurse executive or a
faculty position teaching graduate students at
the executive level of nursing admin for at least
24 months full-time within the past five years.
• Have a minimum of
30 contact hours of continuing education within
the past two years or hold a Master's
degree in nursing administration. 2.
Registered Nurse, Board Certified – RN,BC:
The RN,BC credential is offered for: • Ambulatory Care Nurse
• Cardiac Vascular
Nurse
• Case Management Nurse
• Gerontological Nurse
• Informatics Nurse
(with Bachelor's degree in nursing)
• Medical-Surgical
Nurse
• Nursing Administration
(RN,CNA,BC)
• Nursing Professional
Development
• Pain Management Nurse
• Pediatric Nurse
• Psychiatric and Mental
Health Nurse Documents/experience required to write the RN,BC exam in the above areas except both Informatics Nurse options and the Nursing Administration option: • Current RN license.
• Have practiced the
equivalent of at least two years full-time as
an RN.
• Minimum of 2,000
hours of clinical practice within the past three
years.
• Minimum of 30 CE
contact hours within specialty in the past three
years. Documents/experience required to write the Informatics Nurse exam: • Current RN license.
• Hold a Bachelor's
degree (or higher) in nursing or a Bachelor's
degree in a relevant field.
• 30 continuing education
contact hours applicable to the specialty area
within the last three years.
• Have at least 2,000
hours of experience in informatics nursing within
the last three years or have completed
at least 12 semester hours of academic credits
in a graduate program in informatics nursing/informatics
(e.g., computer programming, information science)
and have practiced a minimum of 1,000 hours in
informatics nursing within the last three years
or have completed a graduate program
in nursing informatics that includes at least
200 hours of clinical practice. Documents/experience required to write the Nursing Administration exam: • Current RN license.
• Bachelor's degree
(or higher) in nursing.
• Have held an administrative
position at the nurse manager or nurse executive
level or a nursing management or executive
consulting position for at least 24 months full-time
within the past five years.
• Have a minimum of
30 contact hours of continuing education (with
20 of these applicable to nursing administration)
within the past two years or hold a
Master's degree in nursing administration. Exams for APRN,BC and RN,BC certifications: Some exams are pencil-and-paper and some are computer-based. To see which type an exam is, check the ANCC certification page. Paper-and-pencil exams are scheduled twice per year (in May and October), and are offered in approximately 50 cities in 30 states. The computer-based exams are scheduled regularly by authorized testing agencies. Exam Fee: US$180 to US$370. (Varies according to factors such as whether a nurse is an ANCC member, is eligible for discounts, etc.) Additional fees may be charged for alternate test dates, etc. Recertification: Certification is for five years. To recertify, a nurse must have a current US nursing license, have met CE requirements and either show evidence of nursing practice in the area of specialty or re-take the exam. American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)The AACN was established in 1969 and has more than 40,000 certified members. The AACN offers examinations leading to CCNS (Advanced Practice Certification for the Clinical Nurse Specialist in Acute and Critical Care), CCRN (Certification in Critical Care Nursing), and PCCN (Progressive Care Certified Nurse) credentials. Additionally, in 2005, two subspecialty certificates were added: Cardiac Medicine Certification (CMC) and Cardiac Surgery Certification (CSC). 1.
Advanced Practice Certification for the Clinical
Nurse Specialist in Acute and Critical Care (CCNS):
CCNS certification is the advanced practice certification program for clinical nurse specialists in adult, pediatric, or neonatal acute and critical care. Documents/experience required to write the CCNS exam: • Current US RN license.
• Master's degree,
with a concentration as an acute/critical care
clinical nurse specialist. (See specific details
of what is acceptable on the
CCNS information page.)
• Demonstrated expertise
via one of: basic or advanced certification in
nursing; publication demonstrating expert knowledge
in the applicant's clinical field; making a presentation
at local, regional, or national conference on
a clinical nursing topic in the applicant's clinical
field; participation in a clinical research in
the applicant's clinical field. Exam: Computer-based and offered year-round at over 100 testing sites across the US. Exam Fee: CCNS exam is US$325 for AACN members and US$450 for others. Recertification: Certification lasts for four years. To renew, candidates must have a current US RN license and have active involvement in the care of acutely ill or critically ill patients (a minimum of 2,000 hours within the past four years, of which at least 400 must be in the last 12 months). Also, candidates must either re-take the CCNS exam, Or ... Complete CE requirements (an option which began March 1, 2005). Or ... Pass the CCNS exam again. 2.
Certification in Critical Care Nursing (CCRN):
CCRN certification is for adult, neonatal, and pediatric critical care nurses. (The CCRN website specifically says that the letters CCRN do not stand for "critical care registered nurse.") Documents/experience required to write the CCRN exam: • Current US RN license.
• 1,750 hours in direct
bedside nursing of the critically ill (adult,
neonatal, or pediatric) patient within the past
two years; 875 of those hours must have been
accrued in the most recent year of nursing. Exam: Computer-based and offered year-round at over 100 testing sites across the US. Exam Fee: US$220 for AACN members and US$325 for others. Recertification: Certification lasts for three years, and certification can be renewed by CERPs (Continuing Education Renewal Points) or by writing the CCRN exam again. 3.
Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN):
This new (2004) certification is for nurses working in areas known as intermediate care, direct observation, stepdown, telemetry, transitional care, or progressive care units. Documents/experience required to write the PCCN exam: • Current US RN license.
• 1,750 hours in direct
bedside nursing of the acutely ill patient within
the past two years; 875 of those hours must have
been accrued in the most recent year of nursing. Exam: Computer-based and offered year-round at over 100 testing sites across the US. Exam Fee: US$170 for AACN members and US$250 for others. Recertification: Certification lasts for three years, and certification can be renewed by CERPs (Continuing Education Renewal Points) or by writing the PCCN exam again. 4.
Subspecialties: Cardiac Medicine Certification
(CMC) & Cardiac Surgery Certification (CSC):
These are new (2005) subspecialty certifications. The CMC is for nurses working in areas such as CCU, catheterization lab, progressive care, electrophysiology, etc. The CSC is for nurses working in cardiothoracic surgery, cardiovascular surgery, post-cardiac PACU, etc. Documents/experience required to write the CMC or CSC exam: • Current US RN license.
• Current nationally
accredited clinical nursing specialty certification
(e.g., CCRN, CCNS, PCCN, CEN, ACNP, FNP, CPAN,
CRNA, CNOR, CRNFA, APRN,BC).
• 1,750 hours in direct
bedside nursing of the acutely ill patient within
the past two years; 875 of those hours must have
been in the care of acutely/critically ill cardiac
patients (CMC) or cardiac surgery patients within
the first 48 hours post-op (CSC). Exam: Computer-based and offered year-round at over 100 testing sites across the US. Exam Fee: US$135 for AACN members and US$180 for others. Recertification: Certification lasts for three years. To renew, candidates must have a current US RN license; have current nationally-accredited clinical nursing specialty certification (e.g., CCRN, CCNS, PCCN, CEN, ACNP, FNP, CPAN, CRNA, CNOR, CRNFA, APRN,BC); complete 25 CERPs (pertaining to cardiology or cardiac surgery, depending on the subspecialty); complete 432 practice hours (for CMC, in the care of acutely/critically ill cardiac patients; and for CSC, in care of cardiac surgery patients within the first 48 hours post-op ) within the last 3 years preceding date of application, of which 144 must be accrued in the most recent year preceding application. 5. Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNPC): In fall 2007, the AACN will launch an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner exam, for the ACNPC credential. To qualify, applicants must: • Hold a current
US RN license.
• Complete an advanced
graduate degree that meets AACN
requirements. Exam: Computer-based and offered year-round at testing sites across the US. Pencil and paper exams will be offered in May each year at the National Teaching Institute. Exam Fee: US$245 for AACN members and US$345 for others. Recertification: Certification lasts for five years. To renew, candidates must have a current US RN license; have been actively involved in the care of acutely and/or ciritcally ill patients as an acute care nurse practitioner for a minimum of 2,000 hours over the five-year period, with a minimum of 400 hours completed withing the last 12 months of the certification period (experience must be in the USA or any of its territories); successfully pass the ACNPC certification exam or accumulate 150 CE credits in the areas of acute-care educational programs, professional publications/presentations, and/or precepting or volunteer activities. Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC)The ONCC was incorporated in 1984 and develops, administers, and evaluates programs for certification in oncology nursing. The ONCC offers four credentials: Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN); Certified Pediatric Oncology Nurse (CPON); Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner (AOCNP); and Advanced Oncology Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist (AOCNS). In January 2005, the AOCNP and AOCNS exams replaced the single AOCN exam. The
following information regarding exam, fees, and
recertification pertains to all four certifications:
Exams: Testing is computer-based, and offered at testing centers throughout North America. (Note that an April 2004 news release said that in 2005 and in 2007, pencil-and-paper testing would be offered on a single test date in conjunction with the ONS Annual Congress, and at specially arranged international test sites outside North America (if there are sufficent registrants).) Exam Fees: US$260 to US$455 depending on how early one applies, whether one is a member of the ONS/APON, and which exam one is writing. Recertification: Certification lasts for four years. Renewal involves holding an active nursing license, completing nursing practice hours, and being retested or completing the required number of CE points through ONC-PRO (Oncology Nursing Certification Points Renewal Option). 1.
OCN (Oncology Certified Nurse):
The examination tests knowledge needed for the nurse to practice at the basic level, within the specialty of oncology nursing. Documents/experience required to write the OCN exam: • Current RN license.
• Minimum of one year
of experience as a registered nurse, within the
past three years.
• Minimum of 1,000
hours of oncology nursing practice within 30
months prior to application.
• Ten contact hours
of CE in oncology nursing or an academic elective
in oncology, within the past three years. 2.
AOCNP (Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner):
Documents/experience required to write the AOCNP exam: • Current RN license.
• A Master's degree
(or higher) in nursing.
• Successful completion
of an NP program.
• Minimum of 500 hours
of supervised clinical practice as an oncology
nurse practitioner (these hours may be obtained
within the applicant's nurse practitioner program,
or following graduation from the program). 3.
AOCNS (Advanced Oncology Certified Clinical Nurse
Specialist):
Documents/experience required to write the AOCNS exam: • Current RN license.
• A Master's degree
(or higher) in nursing.
• Minimum of 500 hours
of supervised practice in an advanced practice
role in oncology nursing (these hours may be
obtained within the applicant's graduate program,
or following graduation from the program). 4.
CPON (Certified Pediatric Oncology Nurse):
The examination tests knowledge needed for an oncology nurse to function in a pediatric practice role. Documents/experience required to write the CPON exam: • Current RN license.
• Minimum of one year
of experience as a RN, within the past three
years.
• Minimum of 1,000
hours of pediatric oncology nursing practice,
within 30 months prior to application.
• Ten contact hours
of CE in oncology nursing or an academic elective
in oncology, within the past three years. National Certification Corporation (NCC)Since its inception in 1975, the NCC has awarded more than 73,000 certificates. The NCC specializes in the area of maternal child. All of the following seven types of nurses receive RNC certification: Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner; Neonatal Nurse Practitioner; Inpatient Obstetric Nursing (INPT); Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing (NIC); Low Risk Neonatal Nursing (LRN); Maternal Newborn Nursing (MN); Telephone Nursing Practice (TNP). Documents/experience required to write the exams for:
include ... • Current RN license (from
the US or Canada).
• For Women's Health Care
NP – completed a formal NP program (which may
award a certificate in the specialty, a Master's
degree in the specialty, or a post-Master's in the
specialty). Applicants must be graduates of a program
in 2005 or later.
• For Neonatal NP –
completed a formal NP program that awards a Master's
degree or post-Master's degree in the specialty.
Applicants must be graduates of a program in 2005
or later. Documents/experience required to write the exams for:
include ... • Current RN license (from
the US or Canada).
• 24 months of experience
in the specialty (totaling at least 2,000 hours)
in the US or Canada.
• Employment in the specialty
within the last 24 months. Exams for the RNC credential: Offered in both computer and pencil-and-paper formats. Exam Fee: US$250 to $US300, depending on format. Recertification: The credentials must be renewed every three years, by reexamination or by completing 45 hours of continuing education, of which 30 must be in the specialty area of certification, and 15 may be in any nursing specialty. Exams for Certificate of Added QualificationThe NCC awards a Certificate of Added Qualification in the subspecialty areas of Electronic Fetal Monitoring (EFM). The qualification is open to RNs and other professionals. Exam Fee: Tests for all of these added qualifications are offered in both computer and pencil-and-paper formats and cost US$100 to US$185, depending on format. Recertification: The credentials awarded in added qualification areas must be renewed every three years. They can be renewed by reexamination or by completing 15 hours of continuing education in the specialty area. Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) and Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN)The ENA was founded in 1970. In the early 1980s, the ENA established the BCEN. The BCEN is responsible for certification of nurses with the ENA-recognized credentials: CEN (Certified Emergency Nurse); CFRN (Certified Flight Registered Nurse); and, new in March 2006, CTRN (Certified Transport Registered Nurse). 1.
Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN):
Documents/experience required to write the CEN exam: • Current RN license.
• Two years experience
in ER nursing is recommended but not required. Exam: Computer-based and can be written year-round. The BCEN has released an online practice version of the CEN exam, which has 50 questions (the actual exam has 150 questions), and is designed to reflect the content and average difficulty level of the actual exam. The fee to write the practice exam is US$30. Exam Fee: US$230 to US$370. Varies according to applicant's location, membership status, etc. Recertification: The CEN credential is valid for a period of four years, and recertification is by taking the original exam, CE, or by internet-based test. 2.
Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN):
Documents/experience required to write the CFRN exam: • Current RN license.
• Two years experience
in flight nursing is recommended but not required. Exam: Computer-based and can be written year-round. Exam Fee: US$210 to US$370. Varies according to applicant's location, membership status, etc. Recertification: The CFRN credential is valid for a period of four years, and recertification is through reexamination or by CE. 3.
Certified Transport Registered Nurse (CTRN):
Documents/experience required to write the CFRN exam: • Current RN license.
• Two years experience
in transport nursing is recommended but not required. Exam: Computer-based and can be written year-round. Exam Fee: US$230 to US$370. Varies according to applicant's location, membership status, etc. Recertification: The CTRN credential is valid for a period of four years, and recertification is through reexamination or by CE. 4.
Other ENA Courses:
Additionally, the ENA offers the following courses, which are offered regularly at locations in the USA, Canada, and overseas: • CATN-II
(Course In Advanced Trauma Nursing-II), a 13-hour
didactic/interactive program;
• TNCC
(Trauma Nursing Core Course), a 16- to 20-hour
course that provides the learner with core trauma
knowledge and skill experience;
• ENPC
(Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course), a 16-hour
course designed to provide the learner with pediatric
emergency nursing knowledge and skill experience. Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) and Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI) (formerly Certification Board Perioperative Nursing)In 1978, the AORN voted to provide a voluntary certification program for OR nurses, which is now known as the Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI), and which was formerly known as the Certification Board Perioperative Nursing. The CCI offers the CNOR and Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant (CRNFA) examinations. Regarding CNOR, many people assume that this acronym stands for Certified Nurse Operating Room. However, according to the newsletter of the AORN of Alameda County, CNOR does not stand for anything specific, it signifies only that an individual has met all the education, examination, or experience requirements necessary to be certified. 1.
CNOR:
Documents/experience required to write the CNOR exam: • One must be currently
employed in perioperative nursing and hold a
current RN license in the country where one is
practicing.
• One must have at
least two years and 2,400 clinical hours as a
perioperative nurse (in a staff, administrative,
teaching, or research capacity). Exam: The exam is computer-based, and can be written year-round. Exam Fee: US$250 for AORN members and US$350 for non-AORN members. Recertification: Certification lasts five years. Recertification is by contact hours (125, of which 75 must be related to perioperative practice); points (300, e.g. by CE, study, etc.); or exam. 2.
Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant (CRNFA):
Documents/experience required to write the CRNFA exam: • Current RN license
in country where practicing.
• Bachelor's degree
(or higher) in nursing.
• CNOR certification.
• Have completed a
formal Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA)
program. And ... • At least 2,000 documented
hours first assisting (of which at least 500
must be in the previous two years; at least 1,400
hours must be in intraoperative practice). Exam: The exam is computer-based, and can be written year-round. Exam Fee: US$425 for AORN members and US$550 for non-AORN members. Recertification: Certification lasts five years. Recertification is by contact hours, points, or exam. American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Certification ProgramThe AANP was founded in 1985 and is the largest and only full-service professional membership organization in the US for nurse practitioners in all specialties. The AANP Certification Program, Inc. provides competency based national certification exams for family and adult nurse practitioners. They receive a NP-C credential. Documents/experience required to write the NP-C exam: • Master's or post-Master's
level adult or family nurse practitioner programs;
other NPs may petition for permission to sit for
the examinations. Exam: Computer-based format. Exam Fee: US$240 for members, and US$315 for non-members. Reciprocity: Family and adult nurse practitioners with certification by an approved national certification body (e.g., the ANCC) who meet the criteria for reciprocity established by the AANP Certification Program, may apply for reciprocity. Recertification: Certification must be renewed every five years by either rewriting the exam, or by meeting practice requirements of at least 1,000 hours of clinical practice as an NP in the area of specialization and 75 contact hours of CE relevant to one's area of specialization. The Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB)The PNCB was established in 1975. The PNCB offers exams for certification as a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP) and Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN). 1.
Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP):
A candidate can specialize in primary care (CPNP-PC) or acute care (CPNP-AC). In both cases, certification can be obtained by exam. Documents/experience required to write the CPNP-PC exam: • Graduated from a
Master's or post-Master's PNP program within
the past 24 months.
• Graduated from a
Master's or post-Master's PNP program more than
24 months ago and providing a skills
competency verification form. Documents/experience required to write the CPNP-AC exam: • Graduated from a
Master's or post-Master's PNP program within
the past 24 months and current RN license
and current PALS.
• Graduated from a
Master's or post-Master's PNP program more than
24 months ago and providing a skills
competency verification form and documentation
of 1,000 clinical hours within the past two years
and current RN license and
current PALS. Exam: Computer-based and available year-round. Exam Fee: US$385. Recertification: Certification is maintained annually for the CPNP. Please visit the PNCB for information about the requirements. 2.
Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN):
Documents/experience required to write the CPN exam: • Current US or Canadian
RN license.
• 1,800 hours of pediatric
clinical practice within a 24-month period. Exam: Computer-based and available year-round. Exam Fee: US$295. Recertification: CPNs must participate annually in the PNCB Recertification Program. Please visit the PNCB for information about the requirements. The Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB)The WOCNCB offers 11 certifications: CWOCN (Certified Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nurse); CWCN (Certified Wound Care Nurse); COCN (Certified Ostomy Care Nurse); CCCN (Certified Continence Care Nurse); CWON (Certified Wound Ostomy Nurse); CFCN (Certified Foot Care Nurse); CWOCN-AP (Certified Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse - Advanced Practice); CWCN-AP (Certified Wound Care Nurse-Advanced Practice); COCN-AP (Certified Ostomy Care Nurs1-Advanced Practice); CCCN-AP (Certified Continence Care Nurse-Advanced Practice); CWON-AP (Certified Wound Ostomy Nurse-Advanced Practice). Documents/experience required for Advanced Practice Certification: • Current RN license.
• Entry level WOCNCB certification.
• Graduate from a WOCN
program.
• Completed graduate-level
NP or CNS program. Documents/experience required to write other WOCNCB exams: • Current RN license.
• Bachelor's degree. And ... • Complete a WOC Nursing
Education Program that is accredited by WOCN. Or ... • Completion of a graduate-level
nurse program with documentation of graduate clinical
coursework equivalent to two semester hours in each
specialty for which certification is sought. Or ... • Accumulate 50 contact
hours (CEU) and 1,500 clinical hours over the last
five years within each specialty for which certification
is sought; 375 hours must be in the year prior to
certification. Exam: Computerized and offered on most weekdays. Exam Fee: Range from US$300 to US$450, and vary by number of exams being taken and payment form. Recertification: Credentials are valid for five years. To recertify, nurses can re-take the exam or participate in the Professional Growth Program. American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB)The AMCB has been conducting Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) exams since 1971 and Certified Midwife (CM) exams since 1998. 1.
Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM):
Documents/experience required, if trained in the US, to write the CNM exam: • Active US RN license.
• Completed a program
in nurse-midwifery or a Master's program fulfilling
all basic theoretical/clinical requirements of
midwifery in its nurse-midwifery component. Documents/experience required, if trained internationally, to write the CNM exam: • Active US RN license.
• Completed a pre-certification
program accredited by (or with pre-accreditation
status from) the Division of Accreditation of
the American College of Nurse-Midwives; or, have
completed a program nurse-midwifery, or a Master's
program fulfilling all basic theoretical/clinical
requirements of midwifery in its nurse-midwifery
component accredited by (or with pre-accreditation
status from) the Division of Accreditation of
the American College of Nurse-Midwives. 2.
Certified Midwife (CM):
Documents/experience required to write the CM exam: • Completed a program
in midwifery accredited by (or with pre-accreditation
status from) the Division of Accreditation of
the American College of Nurse-Midwives. Exams for both CNM and CM credentials: computer-based, and available at 120 test sites across the USA. Exam Fees (for either exam): US$750. Recertification for both: For candidates certified after January 1, 1996, the certification is valid for eight years. By the end of the period, candidates must have fulfilled the requirements of the ACC's Certificate Maintenance Program (CMP) in order to have their certificate renewed for the next eight years. The CMP requirements are different for different years (see website), but involve obtaining CE credits and completing open-book module exams. American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) and Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists (CCNA).The AANA was founded in 1931, has been offering certification since 1945. There are more than 30,000 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). Documents/experience required to write the CRNA exam: • Current US RN license.
• Graduated from an accredited
nurse anesthesia program (these are from 24 to 36
months in length, depending upon university requirements,
and all are at the Master's level, or higher).
• Make eligibility certifications,
e.g., attest to the absence of mental, physical,
substance abuse problems that could interfere with
the job. Exam: The exam is in a computer format, so may be written at any time. Exam Fee: US$700. Recertification: CRNAs must recertify every two years. Requirements include: current RN license, completion of 40 hours of CE credits, certification of having been substantially engaged in the practice of anesthesia during the period (min. 850 hours), and verification of the absence of mental, physical, or other problems that could interfere with the job. American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants (AALNC)/ American Legal Nurse Consultant Certification Board (ALNCCB)The AALNC was founded in 1989 and offers the Legal Nurse Consultant Certified (LNCC) credential through the American Legal Nurse Consultant Certification Board (ALNCCB). There are currently over 3,400 members. Documents/experience required to write the LNCC exam: • Current US RN license.
• Have a minimum of five
years of experience practicing as a RN.
• Have evidence of 2,000
hours of legal nurse consulting experience within
the past three years. Exam: Held twice each year (spring and fall) at Center for Nursing Education and Testing (C-NET) locations throughout the US. Exam Fee: US$275 to US$375, depending on whether one is a member of the AALNC. Recertification: Must be done every five years. To recertify, a nurse must have a current US RN license, show evidence of 2,000 hours of legal nurse consulting practice within certification period and re-take the exam or complete 60 CE hours. Name your specialty!There are a large number of other certification options available. Can't purge your system of your love for nephrology or hemodialysis nursing? For Certified Nephrology Nurse (CNN) or Certified Dialysis Nurse (CDN) credentials, see the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC). Are you waking up to how much you enjoy recovery room nursing? See the American Board of Perianesthesia Nursing Certification, Inc. (ABPANC) for information about Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN) and the Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse (CAPA) certification. Has your dermatology specialization gotten under your skin? Obtain Dermatology Nurse Certified (DNC) credentials through the Dermatology Nurses' Association (DNA). Love the never-ending variety of medical/surgical nursing? Check out the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses for information about becoming a Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN). Want to help people get back on their feet? See the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN) for information about becoming a Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN) or Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse – Advanced (CRRN-A). A diabetes educator? Why not obtain Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) credentials through the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators (NCBDE). Is the way to your nursing heart through your stomach? See about the Certified Gastroenterology Registered Nurse (CGRN) credential offered by the American Board of Certification for Gastroenterology Nurses, Inc (ABCGN). Do you specialize in the care of AIDS patients? Visit the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care to learn about AIDS Certified Registered Nurse (ACRN) certification offered through the HIV/AIDS Nursing Certification Board. Want to improve your image as a radiology nurse? Check out the American Radiological Nurses Association (ARNA) for information about the Certification Examination for Radiologic Nursing (CRN) in imaging, interventional, and therapeutic environments. Do you want to specialize in the care of people at the end of life? Visit the Hospice and Palliative Care Nurses Association (HPNA) for information about certification offered through the National Board for Certification of Hospice and Palliative Nurses – Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN) and APRN, BC-PCM (Advanced practice registered nurse, Board Certified-Palliative Care Management) in partnership with the ANCC. An IV specialist? I've got a place for you to look: check out Certified Registered Nurse Infusion (CRNI) certification through the Infusion Nurses Certification Corporation (INCC) of the Infusion Nurses Society (INS). You're in to urology? See about certification through the Society of Urologic Nurses and Associates. For RNs, they offer Certified Urologic Registered Nurse (CURN), Certified Urologic Nurse Practitioner (CUNP), and Certified Urologic Clinical Nurse Specialist (CUCNS) credentials. Constantly boning up on your skills? Learn about the Orthopaedic Nurse Certified (ONC) credential offered by the National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses (NAON) Orthopaedic Nurses Certification Board. Is case management your specialty? See the Commission for Case Manager Certification (CCMC) for information about becoming a Certified Case Manager (CCM). Can't get nursing off your brain? Contact the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses (AANN) to learn about Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse (CNRN) examination. Do you pressure yourself to excel in your specialty? Check out the Baromedical Nurses Association (BNA) to learn about their certifications: Certified Hyperbaric Nurse (CHRN); Advanced Certified Hyperbaric Nurse (ACHRN); and Hyperbaric Nurse Clinician (HNC). Updated on March 6, 2008. Discuss This ArticleHave something you'd like to say? Tell us what you think! Read and post comments for this article. Like this article? Read more! Browse our archive of 1,503 career resources. Also, see our master index of all MedHunters articles! Find a JobChoose your career: MedHunters is the world's biggest healthcare job board. Our job directory has 17,107 jobs with 2,498 hospitals and other direct employers. We want you to find your next job on MedHunters. Need Help? Call us at 1-888-884-8242, email us at info@medhunters.com or sign up now. Have an article or story for MedHunters? Email us today at submissions@medhunters.com. |
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