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An Overview of Nursing Certifications for 2023

WRITTEN BY Demetrius Burns
DATE

Dec 19 2022


CATEGORIES Nursing Careers

Career Resources / Nursing Certifications

Nursing certification means more than just some letters after a nurse’s name. It shows that a nurse has the necessary skills to complete their duties effectively. Having the proper certifications can also help a nurse earn a job, advance their career and take on leadership roles.

Every nurse has an opportunity to advance and develop within the field. Nurses should try not to remain stagnant.

Becoming certified provides nurses an opportunity to advance your skillset within a specialty or subject. For example, nurses who want to become psychiatric nurses can get your psychiatric mental health nursing certification. Overall, certification is an excellent option for nurses.

In this guide, we will explore:
  • List of Nursing Certifications
  • When Should Nurses Seek Certifications?
  • How Do Nurses Get Certified?

Nursing Certifications

There are many reasons nurses opt to get additional certifications. Certifications serve many benefits, including:

  • Allow your resume to stick out to potential employers
  • Developing your nursing skills in general
  • Increasing your earning potential
  • Allowing you to move up within your career
  • Qualifying for jobs that require certification
CredentialCertificationOrganization
A-GNPAdult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioneraanpcert.org
AACRNAdvanced HIV/AIDS Certified Registered Nursehancb.org
ACCNS-AGClinical Nurse Specialist; Wellness through Acute Care (Adult-Gerontology)aacn.org
ACCNS-NClinical Nurse Specialist; Wellness through Acute Care (Neonatal)aacn.org
ACCNS-PClinical Nurse Specialist, Wellness through Acute Care (Pediatric)aacn.org
ACHPNAdvanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nursegohpcc.org
ACNP-BCAcute Care Nurse Practitionernursingworld.org/ancc/
ACNPC-AGAcute Care Nurse Practitioner (Adult-Gerontology)aacn.org
ACNS-BCAdult Health Clinical Nurse Specialistnursingworld.org/ancc/
ACRNHIV/AIDS Certified Registered Nursehancb.org
ADM-BCAdvanced Diabetes Management (specialty certification, retired exam)nursingworld.org/ancc/
ADM-BCAdvanced Diabetes Managementnursingworld.org/ancc/
AE-CCertified Asthma Educatornaecb.org
AFN-BCForensic Nursing, Advancednursingworld.org/ancc/
AFN-BCAdvanced Forensic Nursingforensicnurses.org
AGACNP-BCAdult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitionernursingworld.org/ancc/
AGCNS-BCAdult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialistnursingworld.org/ancc/
AGN-BCGenetics Nursing, Advancednursingworld.org/ancc/
AGPCNP-BCAdult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitionernursingworld.org/ancc/
AHN-BCAdvanced Holistic Nurse, Board Certifiedahncc.org
ANP-BCAdult Nurse Practitionernursingworld.org/ancc/
ACNPCAcute Care Nurse Practitioner (Adult)aacn.org
AOCNAdvanced Oncology Certified Nurseoncc.org
AOCNPAdvanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioneroncc.org
AOCNSAdvanced Oncology Certified Clinical Nurse Specialistoncc.org
APHN-BCAdvanced Practice Holistic Nurseahncc.org
BC-ADMBoard Certified-Advanced Diabetes Managementncbde.org
BMTCNBlood & Marrow Transplant Certified Nurseoncc.org
C-EFMElectronic Fetal Monitoringnccwebsite.org
C-NPTNeonatal Pediatric Transportnccwebsite.org
CANSCertified Aesthetic Nurse Specialistpsncb.org
CAPACertified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nursecpancapa.org
CARNCertified Addictions Registered Nursecnetnurse.com
CARN-APCertified Addictions Registered Nurse - Advanced Practicecnetnurse.com
CBCNCertified Breast Care Nurseoncc.org
CBHCCorrectional Behavioral Health Certificationaca.org
CCCNCertified Continence Care Nursewocncb.org
CCCN-APCertified Continence Care Nurse-Advanced Practicewocncb.org
CCHP-ACertified Correctional Health Professional-Advancedncchc.org
CCHP-RNCertified Correctional Health Professional-RNncchc.org
CCHTCertified Clinical Hemodialysis Techniciannncc-exam.org
CCHTACertified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician-Advancednncc-exam.org
CCNSAcute/Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist (Adult, Pediatric & Neonatal)aacn.org
CCRACertified Clinical Research Associateacrpnet.org
CCRCCertified Clinical Research Coordinatoracrpnet.org
CCRNAcute/Critical Care Nursing (Adult, Pediatric & Neonatal)aacn.org
CCRN-ETele-ICU Acute/Critical Care Nursing (Adult)aacn.org
CCRN-KAcute/Critical Care Knowledge Professional (Adult, Pediatric & Neonatal)aacn.org
CCRPCertified Clinical Research Professionalsocra.org
CCTMCertified in Care Coordination and Transition Managementmsncb.org
CD-LPNCertified Dialysis Licensed Practical Nursenncc-exam.org
CD-LVNCertified Dialysis Licensed Vocational Nursenncc-exam.org
CDECertified Diabetes Educatorncbde.org
CDNCertified Dialysis Nursenncc-exam.org
CENCertified Emergency Nursebcencertifications.org
CENPCertified in Executive Nursing Practiceaone.org
CFCNCertified Foot Care Nursewocncb.org
CFRNCertified Flight Registered Nursebcencertifications.org
CGRNCertified Gastroenterology Registered Nurseabcgn.org
CHFNCertified Heart Failure Nurseaahfn.org
CHFN-KNon-Clinical HeartFailure Nurseaahfn.org
CHPCACertified Hospice and Palliative Care Administratorgohpcc.org
CHPLNCertified Hospice and Palliative Licensed Nursegohpcc.org
CHPNCertified Hospice and Palliative Nursegohpcc.org
CHPNACertified Hospice and Palliative Nursing Assistantgohpcc.org
CHPPNCertified Hospice and Palliative Pediatric Nursegohpcc.org
CHSACertified Health Service Administratoraca.org
CICCertified in Infection Controlcbic.org
CMOccupational Health Nursing Case Managementabohn.org
CMCCardiac Medicine (Adult)aacn.org
CMCNCertification in Managed Care Nursingabmcn.org
CMSRNCertified Medical-Surgical Registered Nursemsncb.org
CNECertified Nurse Educatornln.org
CNLClinical Nurse Leaderaacnnursing.org/CNL
CNMLNurse Manager and Leaderaacn.org
CNMLCertified Nurse Manager and Leaderaone.org
CNNCertified Corrections Nurseaca.org
CNNCertified Nephrology Nursenncc-exam.org
CNN-NPCertified Nephrology Nurse-Nurse Practitionernncc-exam.org
CNN/MCertified Corrections Nurse/Manageraca.org
CNORCertified Nurse, Operating Roomcc-institute.org
CNRNCertified Neuroscience Registered Nurseabnncertfication.org
CNS-BCClinical Nurse Specialist, Corenursingworld.org/ancc/
CNS-CPClinical Nurse Specialist Perioperative Certificationcc-institute.org
COCNCertified Ostomy Care Nursewocncb.org
COCN-APCertified Ostomy Care Nurse-Advanced Practicewocncb.org
COHNCertified Occupational Health Nurseabohn.org
COHN-SCertified Occupational Health Nurse-Specialistabohn.org
CORLNCertified Otorhinolaryngology Nursesohnnurse.com
CPANCertified Post Anesthesia Nursecpancapa.org
CPENCertified Pediatric Emergency Nursebcencertifications.org
CPHONCertified Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurseoncc.org
CPHQCertified Professional in Healthcare Qualitycphq.org
CPHRMCertified Professional in Healthcare Risk Managementaha.org
CPLCCertified in Perinatal Loss Caregohpcc.org
CPNCertified Pediatric Nursepncb.org
CPNP-PCCertified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Primary Carepncb.org
CPONCertified Pediatric Oncology Nurseoncc.org
CPP-ACCertified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Acute Carepncb.org
CPSNCertified Plastic Surgical Nursepsncb.org
CRNCertified Radiologic Nursearinursing.org
CRNACertified Registered Nurse Anesthetistnbcrna.org
CRNFACertified Registered Nurse First Assistantnascertification.com
CRNICertified Registered Nurse Infusionins1.org
CRNOCertification for Registered Nurses of Opthamologyasorn.org
CRRNCertified Rehabilitation Registered Nurserehabnurse.org
CSCCardiac Surgery (Adult)aacn.org
CTRNCertified Transport Registered Nursebcencertifications.org
CUAUrologic Associatecbuna.org
CUNPCertified Urologic Nurse Practitionercbuna.org
CURNCertified Urologic Registered Nursecbuna.org
CWCNCertified Wound Care Nursewocncb.org
CWCN-APCertified Wound Care Nurse-Advanced Practicewocncb.org
CWOCNCertified Wound Ostomy Continence Nursewocncb.org
CWOCN-APCertified Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse-Advanced Practicewocncb.org
CWONCertified Wound Ostomy Nursewocncb.org
CWON-APCertified Wound Ostomy Nurse-Advanced Practicewocncb.org
DCNPDermatology Certified Nurse Practitionerdnanurse.org
DNCDermatology Nurse Certifieddnanurse.org
ENP-BCEmergency Nurse Practitioner (specialty certification)nursingworld.org/ancc/
FNP-BCFamily Nurse Practitionernursingworld.org/ancc/
FNP-CFamily Nurse Practitioneraanpcert.org
GCNS-BCGerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist (retired exam)nursingworld.org/ancc/
GNP-BCGerontological Nurse Practitionernursingworld.org/ancc/
HHCNS-BCHome Health Clinical Nurse Specialist (retired exam)nursingworld.org/ancc/
HN-BCHolistic Nurse, Board Certifiedahncc.org
HNB-BCHolistic Baccalaureate Nurse, Board Certifiedahncc.org
HWNC-BCHealth and Wellness Nurse Coach, Board Certifiedahncc.org
LNCCLegal Nurse Consultant Certifiedlncc.aalnc.org
NC-BCNurse Coach, Board Certifiedahncc.org
NCSNNational Certified School Nursencbsn.org
NE-BCNurse Executivenursingworld.org/ancc/
NEA-BCNurse Executive, Advancednursingworld.org/ancc/
NNP-BCNNP-BC - Neonatal Nurse Practitionernccwebsite.org
NP-CAdult Nurse Practitioneraanpcert.org
OCNOncology Certified Nurseoncc.org
OCNS-COrthopaedic Clinical Nurse Specialist - Certifiedoncb.org
ONCOrthopaedic Nurse Certifiedoncb.org
ONP-COrthopaedic Nurse Practitioner-Certifiedoncb.org
PCCNProgressive Care Nursing (Adult)aacn.org
PCCN-KProgressive Care Knowledge Professional (Adult)aacn.org
PCNS-BCPediatric Clinical Nurse Specialistnursingworld.org/ancc/
PHCNS-BCPublic/Community Health Clinical Nurse Specialist (retired exam)nursingworld.org/ancc/
PHMSPediatric Primary Care Mental Health Specialistpncb.org
PHNA-BCPublic Health Nursing, Advancednursingworld.org/ancc/
PMHCNS-BCAdult Psychiatric-Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialistnursingworld.org/ancc/
PMHCNS-BCChild/Adolescent Psychiatric-Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialistnursingworld.org/ancc/
PMHNP-BCAdult Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitionernursingworld.org/ancc/
PMHNP-BCPsychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (across the life span)nursingworld.org/ancc/
PPCNP-BCPediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitionernursingworld.org/ancc/
RN-BCAmbulatory Care Nursingnursingworld.org/ancc/
RN-BCCardiac-Vascular Nursingnursingworld.org/ancc/
RN-BCCertified Vascular Nurse (retired exam)nursingworld.org/ancc/
RN-BCCollege Health Nursing (retired exam)nursingworld.org/ancc/
RN-BCCommunity Health Nursing (retired exam)nursingworld.org/ancc/
RN-BCFaith Community Nursingnursingworld.org/ancc/
RN-BCGeneral Nursing, Practice (retired exam)nursingworld.org/ancc/
RN-BCGerontological Nursingnursingworld.org/ancc/
RN-BCHemostasis Nursingnursingworld.org/ancc/
RN-BCHigh-Risk Perinatal Nursing (retired exam)nursingworld.org/ancc/
RN-BCHome Health Nursing (retired exam)nursingworld.org/ancc/
RN-BCInformatics Nursingnursingworld.org/ancc/
RN-BCMedical-Surgical Nursingnursingworld.org/ancc/
RN-BCNursing Case Managementnursingworld.org/ancc/
RN-BCNursing Professional Developmentnursingworld.org/ancc/
RN-BCPain Management Nursingnursingworld.org/ancc/
RN-BCPediatric Nursingnursingworld.org/ancc/
RN-BCPerinatal Nursing (retired exam)nursingworld.org/ancc/
RN-BCPsychiatric-Mental Health Nursingnursingworld.org/ancc/
RN-BCRheumatology Nursingnursingworld.org/ancc/
RN-BCSchool Nursing (retired exam)nursingworld.org/ancc/
RNC-LRNRNC-LRN - Low Risk Neonatal Nursingnccwebsite.org
RNC-MNNRNC-MNN - Maternal Newborn Nursingnccwebsite.org
RNC-NICRNC-NIC - Neonatal Intensive Care Nursingnccwebsite.org
RNC-OBRNC-OB - Inpatient Obstetric Nursingnccwebsite.org
SANE-ASexual Assault Nurse Examiner - Adult/Adolescentforensicnurses.org
SANE-PSexual Assault Nurse Examiner - Pediatricforensicnurses.org
SCRNStroke Certified Registered Nurseabnncertfication.org
SNP-BCSchool Nurse Practitioner (retired exam)nursingworld.org/ancc/
TCRNTrauma Certified Registered Nursebcencertifications.org
WHNP-BCWHNP-BC - Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitionernccwebsite.org

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Community and Family Nursing

Nurse Case Manager

Certifications: Nurses can either pick the Commission for Case Manager (CCM) Certification OR the ANCC Nursing Case Management Certification (RN-BC).

Requirements according to the ANCC:

For ANCC Nursing Case Management Certification, you’ll need:

  • An active Registered Nurse (RN) license
  • Have practiced the equivalent of two years of full-time RN work experience
  • A minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical nurse management experience within the last three years
  • At least 30 hours of continuing education dedicated to case management over the past three years

 For CCM Certification, you must have: 

  • An active Registered Nurse (RN) or  Advanced Practice Registered Nurse License (APRN)
  • 12 months of case management work under the guidance of a CCM-certified case manager OR 24 months of experience under the direction of a case manager without CCM certification
  • Passing the certification exam

Family Nurse Practitioner

Certifications: Nurses can either get the American Association of Nurse Practitioners National Certification Board (AANPCB) Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Certification OR the ANCC Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Certification (FNP-BC).

Requirements:

For the ANCC FNP-BC, you will need to:

  • Hold an active APRN license
  • Have at least a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree from a family nurse practitioner program
  • At minimum 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours

  For the AANPCB FNP, you will need to:

  • Hold an active Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) license
  • Have at minimum a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree from a family nurse practitioner program
  • Pass the certification exam

Specialized Concentration Nursing

Informatics Nursing

Certifications: Informatics Nursing Certification (RN-BC)

Requirements:

  • Have an active RN license
  • Hold a bachelor’s or higher degree in a relevant field
  • Have a minimum of two years experience as a registered nurse
  • Completed 30 hours of continuing education in informatics nursing within the last three years
  • Meet one of the following requirements:
    • Practiced a minimum of 2,000 hours in informatics nursing within the last three years
    • Practiced at least 1,000 hours in informatics nursing in the last three years AND completed at least 12 semester hours of academic credit in informatics courses
    • Completed a graduate program in informatics nursing with a minimum of 200 hours of faculty-supervised instruction in informatics nursing

Psychiatric Nurse

Certifications: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Certification (PMH-BC)

Requirements:

  • Have an active RN license
  • Practiced at least two years as a full-time registered nurse
  • Have a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice in psychiatric-mental health nursing within the last three years
  • Completed at least 30 hours of continuing education in mental health nursing within the previous three years

Administrative Nursing

Clinical Nurse Leader

Certification: AACN’s Clinical Nurse (CNL) certification

Requirements:

  • Complete an accredited CNL master’s or post-master’s program approved by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
  • Hold an active, unrestrictive Registered Nurse (RN) license
  • Pass the certification exam

Nurse Administrator

Certification: ANCC Nurse Executive, Advanced Certification (NEA-BC)

Requirements:

  • Hold an active Registered Nurse (RN) license
  • Have a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree with a master’s in another concentration
  • At minimum two years of full-time experience in nurse executive level within the last three years
  • At minimum 30 continuing education hours in nursing administration within the last three years. This requirement voids with an MSN in nurse administration
  • Passing the certification exam

Advanced Practice Registered Nursing (APRN)

Certification: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)

Requirements:

  • Hold an active Registered Nurse (RN) or Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) license
  • Have at least a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree (a doctoral degree will be required by 2025)
  • Completion of an accredited nursing program within the last two years
  • Passed the certification exam

Nurse Educator

Certification: Certified Nurse Educator (CNE)

Requirements:

  • Hold an active Registered Nurse (RN) license
  • Have at least a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree
  • Graduate from a program with an emphasis on nurse education OR at least years of experience as a nurse educator within the past two years
  • Passing the certification exam

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When do nurses need to seek nursing certifications?

Determining the best time to seek certification depends on a nurses’ career goals. Not all employers require certification upon hire. Some employers might ask you to obtain a certification within a certain time frame. Some employers may even help pay for certification.

If you don’t know when to obtain a certification, you can always request an informational interview with other nurses who are already in their specialty. This can give you insider information.

Once you get certified, several prominent organizations offer nursing certifications. Some of them include:

  • American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certifying Board (AANPCB)
  • American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
  • American Board of Neuroscience Nursing (ABNN)
  • American Board of Occupational Health Nurses (ABOHN)
  • American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
  • American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL)
  • Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE)
  • Commission on Nurse Certification (CNC)
  • Competency Credentialing Institute (CCI)
  • Infusion Nurses Certification Corporation (INCC)
  • National Assistant at Surgery Certification (NASC)
  • National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA)
  • National League for Nursing (NLN)
  • Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC)
  • Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB)
  • The National Certification Corporation (NCC)
  • Wound,Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB)

If you want general information about certifications, you can refer to the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

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How Do Nurses Get Certified?

The first step to becoming certified involves earning your nursing license. Nurses must have an active nursing license that’s in good standing before applying for certifications.

Obtaining licensing is only one of the steps. There are other qualifications nurses need to meet before getting certified. Some certifications may require you to have worked a certain number of hours within the specialty.

Sometimes nurses must take additional classes on the topic or even pass an exam. If there’s an exam, nurses will need to apply before they take it. Additionally, nurses must provide supporting documents to prove that they have a license in good standing.

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FAQs

Do nurses need to become certified?

The short answer is: it depends. If a nurse wants to work in more advanced roles such as a legal nurse consultant, nurse practitioner, or nurse case manager, they need to pursue certification.

What are the nursing certification requirements?

There are many different certifications, but holding an active Registered Nurse (RN) license is the base requirement for all nursing certificates.

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Written by Demetrius Burns

Demetrius was an Incredible Health contributor. He has worked as a freelance writer and content strategist. His work has appeared in outlets such as Java Magazine, Phoenix Magazine, and Nurse.org.

Read more from Demetrius

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