1
ANCC CERTIFICATION GENERAL TESTING AND RENEWAL HANDBOOK
© ANCC 2012. ALL RIGHTSRESER VED.
CERTIFICATION
RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS
EFFECTIVE DATE: August
1,
2022
ABOUT THIS HANDBOOK
The ANCC Certification Renewal Handbook provides important information on certification renewal policies,
requirements to renew your certification, and the requirements to reactivate a lapsed or expired certification.
You can submit your certification renewal application as early as one year prior to your certification
expiration date.
Visit www.nursingworld.org/ancc and review the Frequently Asked Questions which provides
information on the most common questions regarding renewing an ANCC certification.
2022 CERTIFICATION RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS
© ANCC 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Purpose of Certification
4
Certification Renewal Policies
4
Renewal Only Certifications
4
Important Information on Late Applications and Backdating
5
Name and Address Changes 5
Maintaining your ANCC Overview 5
Certification Renewal Eligibility
6
Certification Renewal Professional Development Mandatory Requirement
7
Overview Renewal Categories
7
Renewal Category 1: Continuing Education Hours 9
Renewal Category 2: Academic Credit 10
Renewal Category 3: Presentations
10
Renewal Category 4: Evidence-Based Practice or Quality Improvement Project or 11
Publication or Research
Renewal Category 5: Preceptor Hours
14
Renewal Category 6: Professional Service
14
Renewal Category 7: Practice Hours 15
Renewal Category 8: Examination or Portfolio
Submission
15
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2022 CERTIFICATION RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS
© ANCC 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
PURPOSE OF CERTIFICATION RENEWAL
Healthcare technology, strategies, and research can change professional practice and healthcare
and can impact public safety. Due to these changes, ANCC’s Commission on Board Certification
(COC) established a policy for a five (5) year period for certification. Renewing certification every
five (5) years provides evidence to the public that the certified individual is meeting requirements
for continued competence in their certification role and population by updating their knowledge and
showing commitment to lifelong learning. Certification can be renewed through various professional
development and practice activities. Certification renewal may permit you to seek continued
licensure, reimbursement of services, and potential employer recognition.
All certification related materials listed on the website are reviewed on an annual basis for compliance
with the Certification Non-Discrimination Policy, found at https://www.nursingworld.org/certification/
certification-policies/non-discrimination/. Certification renewal is required for you to continue to use
your ANCC credentials. If you do not renew your ANCC certification, you are prohibited from using
the ANCC credential and must immediately cease using the ANCC credential after the certification
has expired. Important information about the use of ANCC Certification Credentials is available at this
URL https://www.nursingworld.org/certification/certification-policies/certification-credentials/
Certification Renewal Policies
A. Certification, initial or renewal, is valid for a period of 5 years.
B. Certification must be renewed before it lapses.
1.
Certificants are required to know when their certification expires and are solely responsible for timely
completion of the application and all requirements for renewal.
2.
Failure to receive a notice or reminder of expiration does not excuse failure to renew on time.
C.
Lapse of Certification
1.
A certification has lapsed when it is not renewed on or before the certification expiration date.
2.
Individuals with a lapsed certification are prohibited from displaying the certification credentials,
holding themselves out as ANCC certified or otherwise representing themselves as ANCC-certified.
The ANCC Commission on Board Certification (COC) has established a policy on reactivation of a
lapsed certification.
1.
An individual whose certification has lapsed and is within two (2) years from the date on which the
certification expired, may reactivate the certification by completing the renewal requirements in
effect at the time you submit an application, and pay all required fees.
2.
An individual whose certification has lapsed more than two (2) years from the date on which it
expired, and the same test is available, may reactivate the certification by submitting an application
for reactivation, completing the mandatory 75 continuing education hours, retesting, and passing the
certification examination in the same role and population or specialty as the lapsed certification, and
paying all required fees.
3.
An individual who holds a retired certification, e.g., the same test is no longer available, and the
certification has lapsed for more than 2 years from the date in which it expired, cannot reactivate the
certification.
4.
For hardships caused by unforeseen medical conditions or natural disaster, the COC may consider
brief extensions, if requested prior to the lapse and supported by sufficient and applicable
documentation. All requests will be subject to review and approval.
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2022 CERTIFICATION RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS
© ANCC 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Renewal Only Certifications
Certifications with a retired examination or portfolio assessment are identified with the words “
Renewal
Only
” on the website. If you hold a certification designated as “Renewal Only”, you cannot renew or
reactivate the certification by testing.
“Renewal Only”
certifications that are 2 or more years past the
expiration date cannot be reactivated.
Incomplete
applications
Only complete applications are professionally reviewed. A partial or incomplete application delays the
professional review to determine approval to renew or reactivate your certification. This delay increases the
gap in certification dates.
Important information on late applications and backdating
Certification renewal applications received after the certification expiration date will have a renewal period
beginning with the submission date and will result in a gap in your certification dates. ANCC cannot
backdate a certification renewal to meet regulatory, reimbursement, or other requirements for practice or
employment. You will need to check with your state licensing board, your employer, and the agency that
reimburses your services to determine the impact of the lapsed certification on your ability to practice
and reimburse.
Name and Address Changes
You are responsible for notifying ANCC with any changes to your name or contact information. Failure to
keep your information up-to-date may result in not receiving critical information about your certification.
Update your contact information by one of the ways below.
Online https://www.nursingworld.org and select LOG IN from the top right corner of screen to access
your Online Account.
Email customerservice@ana.org
Legal name changes must be sent in writing with a copy of the marriage certificate, divorce decree, or
court-approved legal name change document:
Mail ANCC Certification, ATTN: Name Change, 8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 400, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Maintaining your ANCC Certification Overview
•
Visit the ANCC Web site on a regular basis to download the most current renewal requirements.
Certification renewal criteria can change to reflect changes in practice or regulatory requirements.
You are responsible for tracking your renewal date, keeping your contact information current, and
submitting renewal application in a timely manner. Failure to maintain current contact information
with ANCC will result in missing critical updates regarding your certification.
•
A current and active RN or APRN license is required to maintain your certification. If your license is
placed on probation, suspended, revoked, surrendered, or becomes inactive, you must notify ANCC
immediately and provide the board of nursing documentation. Remember, failure to notify ANCC
of a change in the status of your RN or APRN license may jeopardize your ANCC certification.
•
Create a plan to complete the professional development activities during your 5-year
certification period.
•
As you complete your professional development activities, enter the information into your
Online Account.
•
Clinical practice or work hours are not required to maintain your certification but can serve as one
of the renewal categories.
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2022 CERTIFICATION RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS
© ANCC 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
CERTIFICATION RENEWAL ELIGIBILITY OPTIONS
Certification renewal eligibility when your certification credential is CURRENT. All
requirements must be met within the current 5 year certification period.
>
Hold a current, active RN license in a state or territory of the United States or the professional legally
recognized equivalent in another country.
>
For National Healthcare Disaster certificants, hold the same license, registration, certificate, or degree
used for initial test eligibility.
>
Hold a current ANCC board certification
>
Complete the Mandatory 75 CH as described on page 9. All certificants renewing a CNS or NP
certification are required to complete 25 hours of pharmacology as a portion of the mandatory 75 CH.
>
Complete at least one (1) of the eight certification renewal categories in its entirety (see pages 7-8
for additional information regarding the renewal categories)
>
Pay the renewal fee.
Certification renewal eligibility when your certification credential has been EXPIRED
for less than 2 years, also called REACTIVATION. All requirements must be met
within the five (5) years preceding the date you submit the application.
>
Hold a current, active RN license in a state or territory of the United States or the professional legally
recognized equivalent in another country.
>
For National Healthcare Disaster certificants, hold the same license, registration, certificate, or degree
used for initial test eligibility.
>
Have an ANCC board certification expired for less than two (2) years.
>
Complete the Mandatory 75 CH as described on page 9. All certificants renewing a CNS or NP
certification are required to complete 25 hours of pharmacology as a portion of the mandatory 75 CH.
>
Complete at least one (1) of the eight certification renewal categories in its entirety (see pages 9-15
for additional information regarding the renewal categories)
>
Pay the renewal fee and the additional reactivation fee of $125.
Certification renewal eligibility when your certification credential has been expired
for more than 2 years, also called reactivation. This does not apply to certifications
listed as “Renewal Only” or the test is retired.
>
Hold a current, active RN license in a state or territory of the United States or the professional legally
recognized equivalent in another country.
>
For National Healthcare Disaster certificants, continue to hold the same license, registration,
certificate, or degree used for initial test eligibility.
>
Have an ANCC board certification expired for two (2) or more years.
>
Complete the Mandatory 75 CH as described on page xx. All certificants renewing a CNS or NP
certification are required to complete 25 hours of pharmacology as a portion of the mandatory 75 CH.
>
Retest
>
Pay the renewal fee and the additional reactivation fee of $125.
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2022 CERTIFICATION RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS
© ANCC 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Important note when a Retired or Renewal Only certification is expired for two or more years. The
ANCC Commission on Board Certification (COC) has established that a retired certification that has
lapsed for more than 2 years cannot be renewed or reactivated. You can review this policy at www.
nursingworld.org/certification/certification-policies/reactivation-of-a-lapsed-certification/.
A retired certification means the option to reactivate by examination or portfolio is unavailable. These
certifications are identified as “Renewal Only” or described as retired. Visit www.nursingworld.org/
certification/certification-policies/certification-credentials/ to determine if your certification has a
“
Renewal Only
” designation.
Certification Renewal Mandatory Continuing Education Requirement and Professional
Development Categories
The professional development components of the certification renewal eligibility are composed of
the Mandatory 75 continuing education hours PLUS at least one of the eight Professional
Development Categories.
Mandatory Continuing Education:
To renew an ANCC certification, all certification renewal candidates are required to complete 75 contact
hours (CH) in the certification held. All APRNs renewing their CNS or NP certification are required to
complete 25 CH of pharmacology, as a portion of the mandatory 75 CH that is related to the CNS or NP
certification held.
Renewal Categories:
The eight ANCC certification professional development categories with a brief description of each
category are provided in the table on this page. You are responsible for reading the detailed requirements
to each renewal category including the documentation and audit sections, found on pages 9 - 15.
Certification Professional
Development Category
Brief Description
1. Continuing Education Hours
75 CH in the certification specialty. You may select this category, in
addition to the Mandatory 75 Continuing Education (CH). See detailed
description on page 9.
2.Academic
Credits
Five (5) semester credits or six (6) quarter credits of academic courses
in your certification specialty. See the detailed description on page 10
3.Presentations
One or more presentations totaling five (5) clock hours in your
certification specialty. See the detailed description on page 10.
4.Evidence-Based Practice (EBP), Quality Improvement Project (QI), Publication, or Research
EBP/QI Project
EBP/QI Project: One completed EBO/QI project that demonstrates the
use of a problem solving approach.
CONTINUED
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2022 CERTIFICATION RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS
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Certification Professional
Development Category
Brief Description
Publication
One article published in a peer-reviewed journal or book chapter; five
(5) different articles published in a non-peer- reviewed journal; primary
author of content related to your certification specialty
Research
An Institutional Review Board (IRB) research project or a completed
dissertation or thesis, or doctoral project related to your certification
specialty.
See the detailed description on pages 11-13
5.Preceptor
Hours
A minimum of 120 hours as a preceptor for students in an academic
program related to your RN or APRN specialty; or provide clinical
supervision to clinicians in a formal fellowship, residency, or internship
program related to your RN or APRN specialty. See the detailed
description on page 14 and link to the Preceptor Documentation
Form: www.nursingworld.org/~4ad879/globalassets/certification/
preceptorship-documentation-form.pdf.
6.Professional Service
Two or more consecutive years of volunteer service during your
certification period with an international, national, state, or local
healthcare-related organization; accepted volunteer activities include
serving on boards of directors, committees, editorial boards, review
boards, task forces, and medical missions. See the detailed description
on page 14.
7. Practice Hours
A minimum of 1,000 practice hours in your certification specialty,
completed within the five years preceding the date on your renewal
application submission. Practice hours are not required to renew your
certification. See the detailed description on page 15.
8.Test or Portfolio
Sit for and pass the current test. This option is not available for
certifications list as “
Renewal Only
”. See the detailed description on
page 15.
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2022 CERTIFICATION RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS
© ANCC 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
RENEWAL CATEGORIES
CATEGORY 1: Continuing Education Hours
1.
All 75 CH must be directly related to the full scope of your certification role and specialty.
2.
At least 60 of the 75 CH must be formally approved continuing education hours. Formally approved
continuing education hours meet one or more of the criteria listed below:
a.
Continuing nursing education (CNE) approved for nursing contact hours by an accredited
provider or approver of CNE.
b.
Continuing medical education (CME) approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits ™
c.
Continuing education hours approve through the “Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional
Continuing Education. Visit www.jointaccreditation.org/accredited-providers?page=8 for a list
of accredited providers
3.
Other healthcare disciplines’ CH applicable to your certification specialty (e.g., dietitian, social work,
emergency management, EMT, pharmacy, respiratory therapy, physical therapist, occupational
therapist, physician assistants) are acceptable.
4.
Repeat courses are not accepted for certification renewal. You may claim credit for a specific course
only once, even if you took that course multiple times during the past five years.
5.
The hours achieved from academic coursework that are applicable to your certification specialty can
be converted to contact hours. See Category 2 for accepted academic coursework.
6.
As needed, you can use these formulas to convert continuing education credit or academic hours:
1 Contact Hour = 60 Minutes or 1 Academic Semester Credit = 15
1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit ™
Contact
Hours
60 Minutes = 1 Contact Hour or 1 Academic Quarter Credit = 12.5
1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit ™
Contact
Hours
Documentation: Use your “My Account” to complete the CH section of the Professional Development
Record to document the courses attended and the hours obtained. If the course title(s) does not reflect
the content, you must provide a brief description of the content. We will not accept certificates of
completion in lieu of completing the Professional Development entries.
Audit: If your record is audited, you will be required to submit supporting documents, such as a copy of the
completion certificate(s) showing the dates, title, number of contact hours, sponsoring organization, etc.
In addition, you may be required to provide evidence of the applicability of the course to your certification.
Please maintain supporting documentation for the entire five-year certification cycle.
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© ANCC 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
CATEGORY 2: Academic Credits
1.
Complete five (5) semester credits or six (6) quarter credits of academic courses applicable to your
area of certification.
2.
If you do not have at least five (5) semester credits or six (6) quarter credits, you may convert those
credits to contact hours and report them under Category
1
Continuing Education Hours.
1 Semester Credit = 15 Contact Hours 1 Quarter Credit = 12.5 Contact Hours
3.
Repeat courses are not accepted for certification renewal. You may claim credit for a specific course
only once, even if you took that course multiple times during the past five years.
4.
Academic credit received for a thesis or dissertation related to your certification specialty is
acceptable. (If you use your thesis or dissertation credits to meet Category 2, then you cannot use
the same thesis or dissertation credits to meet Category 4.)
Documentation: Use your “My Account” to complete the academic course section of the Professional
Development Record to document the courses attended and the academic credits received. If the
course title(s) does not reflect the content, you must provide a brief description of the content. Do
not submit transcripts in lieu of completing the form. These are not acceptable and will delay the
evaluation of your application for certification renewal.
Audit: If your record is audited, you will be required to submit supporting documents, such as a
transcript(s) showing the number of academic credits, sponsoring organization, etc. In addition, you may
be required to provide evidence of the applicability of the course content to your certification. Please
maintain supporting documentation for the entire five (5) -year certification cycle.
CATEGORY 3: Presentations
Complete one or more presentations totaling five (5) clock hours in the certification specialty. The
presentation may not be repeated. You must fulfill these additional criteria:
1.
You were the primary presenter of a first-time presentation.
2.
The presentations were delivered in a structured teaching/learning framework to nurses, other
healthcare providers, or the public as part of conferences, grand rounds, in-services, seminars,
Internet-based or other e- learning formats, teleconferences, patient/family teaching, or public
education. Do not submit the following types of presentations, as they are not accepted toward
your certification renewal: repeat presentations of the same material or modifications of the same
material, presentations or lectures that were a required part of your job, or presentations for which
you served as a panel moderator.
Documentation: Use your “My Account” to complete the presentation section of the Professional
Development Record.
Audit: If your certification record is audited, you will be required to submit supporting documents, such as
a copy of the presentation outline, abstract, letter accepting your abstract, or letter inviting you to speak,
as well as evidence that you presented the topic (e.g., a thank-you letter on official letterhead). Please
maintain supporting documentation for the entire five-year certification cycle.
CONTINUED
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2022 CERTIFICATION RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS
© ANCC 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
CATEGORY 4: Evidence-Based Practice or Quality Improvement Project,
Publication, or Research
EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE OR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
Complete one evidence-based practice (EBP) project or quality improvement (QI) project that
demonstrates the use of a problem-solving approach using the best evidence to answer a defined
question related to your certification.
The project must be started and completed during the time frame of the certification renewal period.
Documentation: Use your “My Account” to complete the EBP/QI section of the Professional Development
Record.
Audit:
If
your
certification
record
is
audited,
you
will
be
required
to
submit
supporting
documents
showing:
•
Title of the project;
•
Identification of the question;
•
Review and critique of the current evidence, research, or data;
•
Evaluation of the current practice/problem;
•
Identification interventions and strategies to implement the changes;
•
Evaluation of the effectiveness of the translation/transfer of the evidence and/or intervention
into practice;
•
Your role in the project; and
•
Contact information and signature of the responsible project leader verifying your role on the
team or the project.
PUBLICATION
1.
Publish one article in a peer-reviewed journal or a book chapter related to your certification specialty.
You must be the author, co-author, editor, co-editor, or reviewer.
Documentation: Use your “My Account” to complete the publication section of the Professional
Development Record.
Audit: If your certification record is audited, you will be required to submit supporting documents,
including:
•
A copy of the table of contents and a copy of the entire article or chapter, journal name with the
date, and your name;
•
If you were the editor, then a copy of the page from the journal identifying you as the editor or a
letter from the publisher stating you were the editor; and
•
If you were the peer reviewer, then a letter from the publisher stating you reviewed the article and
the date this occurred.
OR
2.
Publish five different articles related to your certification specialty in a non-peer-reviewed journal and/
or newsletter.
Documentation: Use your “My Account” to complete the publication section of the Professional
Development Record.
CONTINUED
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2022 CERTIFICATION RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS
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Audit: If your certification record is audited, you will be required to submit the following information:
•
Detailed outline of the content;
•
Copies of the e-learning journal or newsletter articles that clearly state you were the primary
author; and
•
Letters from the publishers stating that you were the primary author.
OR
3.
Serve as the primary author of content related to your certification specialty utilized in e-learning and/
or other media presentations.
Documentation: Use your “My Account” to complete the publication section of the Professional
Development Record.
Audit: If your record is audited, you will be required to submit the following information:
•
Detailed outline of the content;
•
Copy of the e-learning document that clearly states you were the primary author; and
•
Letter from the publisher stating you were the primary author.
OR
4.
Serve as the primary grant writer for a federal, state, or national organization project, even if grant
writing is not a primary component of your employment responsibilities. The purpose of the grant
must be related to your certification specialty.
Documentation: Use your “My Account” to complete the publication section of the Professional
Development Record.
Audit: If your certification record is audited, you will be required to submit a copy of the grant summary
abstract and the letter from the grant sponsor acknowledging receipt of your grant application. These
publications are generally not accepted: publication(s) that is a component of your job (e.g., patient
education materials, course syllabi), letter(s) to the editor, or publication(s) “in press”.
RESEARCH
1.
Complete an IRB research project related to your certification specialty, during your five-year
certification period, for which you are clearly identified as one of the primary researchers, although
research is not a primary component of your employment responsibilities.
Documentation: Use your “My Account” to complete the research section of the Professional
Development Record.
Audit: If your certification record is audited, you will be required to submit supporting documents such as
a copy of the IRB approval letter or IRB letter of exemption and a one-page abstract of no more than 250
words describing the research study and findings and the period when the research was conducted.
OR
2.
Complete a dissertation, thesis, or graduate-level scholarly project (e.g., DNP project) related to your
certification specialty.
Documentation: Use your “My Account” to complete the research section of the Professional
Development Record.
CONTINUED
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Audit: If your certification record is audited, you will be required to submit supporting documents such
as the dissertation, thesis, or scholarly project approval letter and a one-page abstract of no more than
250 words that describes your dissertation, thesis, or scholarly project findings and the time period
during which the dissertation, thesis, or scholarly project was conducted.
Note: The academic hours awarded for your dissertation, thesis, or scholarly project that are used to
meet Category 4 requirements cannot be used to meet the requirements of professional development
Categories
1
or 2.
OR
3.
Serve as a content reviewer on an IRB, dissertation, thesis, or scholarly project (e.g., DNP project) that
is not a component of your employment duties.
Documentation: Use your “My Account” to complete the research section of the Professional
Development Record.
Audit: If your certification record is audited, you will be required to submit supporting documents from
the organization describing this work and the dates you served as the reviewer (e.g., a letter on official
letterhead).
OR
4.
Serve as a content expert reviewer of other activities related to your certification specialty that are not
a part of your employment duties (such as software and e-learning). Serving as a product reviewer for
your organization is not acceptable.
Documentation: Use your “My Account” to complete the research section of the Professional
Development Record.
Audit: If your certification record is audited, you will be required to submit documentation from the
publisher and/ or organization describing the work and the dates you served as the reviewer (e.g., a
letter on official letterhead).
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2022 CERTIFICATION RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS
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CATEGORY 5: Preceptor Hours
Complete a minimum of 120 hours as a preceptor in which you provided direct clinical supervision/
teaching to students in an academic program that is related to your certification specialty,
OR
Provide a minimum of 120 hours of clinical supervision related to your certification specialty in a formal
fellowship, residency, or internship program at the same practice level or higher.
For either option above, the following rules apply:
•
Clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners must precept APRN, medical, physician assistant, or
pharmacy students in an academic program related to your certification population.
•
Orientation preceptor hours are not accepted.
•
Preceptor hours cannot be counted toward your certification practice hour requirement.
•
Faculty may not utilize this category for clinical supervision of students in their educational program.
Documentation: Use your “My Account” to complete the preceptor section of the Professional
Development Record..
Audit: If your certification record is audited, you must submit a completed Preceptorship Documentation
Form , found at the following link: https://www.nursingworld.org/~4ad879/globalassets/certification/
preceptorship-documentation-form.pdf showing the hours, objectives, outcomes, and location of the
preceptorship, signed by the institution responsible for the person being precepted.
CATEGORY 6: Professional Service
Complete two or more consecutive years of volunteer service during your certification period with an
international, national, state, or local healthcare-related organization in which your certification specialty
expertise is required. Accepted volunteer activities include serving on boards of directors, committees,
editorial boards, review boards, task forces, and medical missions.
Documentation: Use your “My Account” to complete the professional service section of the Professional
Development Record..
Audit: If your certification record is audited, you must submit an official description of your volunteer
duties and a detailed, typewritten document of 500 words or less describing the impact of this service
on your ability to obtain new knowledge in your certification specialty. In addition, you will be required
to provide supporting documentation of your volunteer service (e.g., a copy of an official letter or other
documents from the organization attesting to your service and the dates of service).
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2022 CERTIFICATION RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS
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15
CATEGORY 7: Practice Hours
Practice or work hours are an option to renew your certification, but are not required. If you chose to
use practice or work hours, the practice or work hours must meet the requirements listed below.
•
Practice hours must be completed within the five years preceding the date on your renewal
application submission.
•
A minimum of 1,000 practice hours in your certification specialty is required and can be
completed either through employment or as a volunteer.
•
CNSs and NPs must complete practice hours in their certification role and population at the
advanced level.
•
Faculty can use hours of direct clinical supervision of students for clinical practice. The direct
clinical supervision must be in the certification role and population. CNS and NP faculty must have
direct supervision of APRN students.
•
Hours accumulated as a family caregiver are not accepted.
Documentation: Complete the Renewal Category Section of the online application.
Audit: Submit a letter from your immediate supervisor, on organizational letterhead, stating that you
have practiced a minimum of 1,000 practice hours in your certification role and specialty over your
five-year certification period. You may submit multiple letters if you have changed jobs. If you are self-
employed, please submit a statement attesting that you have practiced a minimum of 1,000 practice
hours in your role and specialty over your five-year certification period. This statement must be
notarized prior to submission.
CATEGORY 8: Assessment (Examination/Portfolio Resubmission)
Retake and pass the same examination as your certification. If your certification examination is retired
or your certification is listed as “Renewal Only”, then testing is unavailable as a category to renew or
reactivate your certification.
CONTINUED
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2022 CERTIFICATION RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS
© ANCC 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
ANCC Certification Renewal Requirements with Rationale Statements
Renewal Requirement
Rationale
5 year
renewal period
Due to changes in technology, strategies, and
research that impact nursing practice and health
care which can become an
issue for public safety,
the COC established a 5
‐year period for certification.
This five year period provides
evidence to the public
that the clinician is meeting
requirements for
continued competence by
updating his or her
knowledge and showing a
commitment to lifelong
learning.
RN or APRN License (current) and ANCC
Certification
(current or expired)
Licensure is required to practice, and this requirement
ensures that only those who are
licensed to practice
hold ANCC certification. The
candidate holding an
expired ANCC certification
can reactive the
certification. ANCC does not
renew certifications
from
other certifying bodies.
Mandatory 75 continuing education hours in the
certification.
All APRNs (NP or CNS) must include at least 25
continuing education hours of
pharmacotherapeutics as a portion of the 75
continuing education hours in order to fulfill this
requirement.
Evidence of exposure to learning and updating
knowledge in the certification role and population
to
maintain competen
ce. This averages to 15 contact
hours
per year.
Pharmacotherapeutics is an area with the most
rapid
changes in knowledge and potential risk to a
patient
if diagnostic decisions for medications are
based on
outdated information. This averages to 5
contact
hours
per year in pharmacotherapeutics.
75
continuing education hours
Provides additional evidence of exposure to learning
and updating knowledge in the
certification specialty
to
maintain competence.
Academic
Credit
Academic courses applicable to the certification
serve to promote and expand the clinician’s
knowledge in
the certification held.
Presentations
Presentations require the clinician to research and
synthesize
information in the certification held.
The delivery of content in a structured
environment
to nurses, other health care
professionals, patient
and patient families, and the
public demonstrates
continual engagement in the certification held.
Evidence based practice (EBP)
Quality
Improvement (QI),
Publication
Research
EBP and QI demonstrate use of a problem solving
approach to determine the best evidence to
answer
a defined question or improve care or
evaluate a
related
problem in the certification held
Publication requires the clinician to research and
synthesize current information to produce a
publication that adds to the current nursing
knowledge base.
Research provides the evidence that supports
the
nursing knowledge and practice in the certification
held
2022 CERTIFICATION RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS
© ANCC 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
17
ANCC Certification Renewal Requirements with Rationale Statements
Renewal Requirement
Rationale
Preceptorship
Precepting and mentoring students or clinicians
requires the transmission of current knowledge
and
skills in the certification held to students
and/or
clinicians.
Professional Service
Serving on boards or review panels related to the
certification role and population is evidence of
professional activities that require the application
of
current knowledge
of the certification held.
1,000 practice hours in the
certification role and
population
Practice hours demonstrate current engagement
within the RN or APRN certification role and
population and require acquisition of new
knowledge
and development in the certification
held.
Assessment (test or portfolio in
th
e certification held, if
available)
An assessment (test or portfolio) validates currency of
the knowledge and competency of the
RN or APRN
role and population. The assessment
is mandatory if
the clinician reactivates a
certification more than 2
years
after its expiration
date.
16
2022 CERTIFICATION RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS © ANCC 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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The mission of the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a subsidiary of the
American Nurses Association (ANA), is to promote excellence in nursing and health care
globally through credentialing programs. ANCC’s internationally renowned credentialing
programs certify and recognize individual nurses in specialty practice areas. ANCC
recognizes health care organizations that promote nursing excellence and quality patient
outcomes while providing safe, positive work environments. In addition, ANCC accredits
health care organizations that provide and approve continuing nursing education.
08/22
ELIT
RENEW0122
© ANCC 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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