Certification & Certification Renewal
News and Announcements Archive

Take the Nurse Executive Exams or Nursing Professional Development Exams at the 11th National Magnet Conference™ in Atlanta

ANCC will be offering three exams on-site in conjunction with the 11th National Magnet Conference™. The location is the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta on Tuesday, October 2, 2007. Exams being offered are:

• Nursing Adminstration
• Nurse Executive, Advanced
• Nursing Professional Development

Three Steps to Register

1. Download the new typeable PDF application online.
2. Write "Magnet Conference" on the lines for Test Location and Site Code (Please do not write "Atlanta, GA").
3. Mail your application to arrive by standard deadlines: July 6 for regular fees, August 3 for late fees. there are no alternative test date fees or special site fees for Magnet Conference participants! The address is:
   
   ANCC Certification
   Application for Certification (or Renewal) Enclosed
   P.O. Box 791333
   Baltimore, MD 21279-1333

For other information regarding eligibility/fees for certication see the website:
www.nursecredentialing.org/cert

For questions:
Email: Certification@ana.org or call:
Toll free phone: 800.284.2378
Local and International: 301.628.5250

ANCC Leadership Opportunity for Psych Mental Health CNSs and NPs

The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), in collaboration with the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA), is developing a new certification examination in advanced practice adult psychiatric and mental health nursing. ANCC is currently seeking applicants to serve on the content expert panel; the deadline by which we must receive applications is June 22, 2007. Please click here >> to read the full invitation letter.

Click here for the: Application Forms
Click here for the: Composition of the panel
Click here for the: Meeting dates/travel requirements for panel members

If you have any questions, please contact Diane Thompkins by email or by phone at 301-628-5292.

Web-Based Professional Portfolio Management

ANCC is pleased to announce that it has formed a strategic business relationship with Decision Critical Inc. (DCI), a leader in the health care education compliance and competency management industry, to jointly market DCI's Web-based professional portfolio management application, Critical Portfolio™; click here to read the press release.

Last Chance for CNS Applicants with Less Than 500 Clinical Hours

Clinical Nurse Specialist applicants, who graduated from programs with less than 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours, have until 12/31/2006 to make up and document the additional hours. More >>

ANCC Certification E-Store Now Open for Business

Whether it's a reward for yourself, or a way to recognize nurses that have achieved their certification, we have the perfect gift for the perfect nurse. More >>

ANCC Salutes All Medical Surgical Nurses on Med-Surg Day (Nov.1)

ANCC Medical-Surgical CEP Chair Mintie Indar-Maraj discusses the importance of Medical-Surgical nurses and their role within the health and nursing community.
More >>

Update on the Perinatal Certification Exam

It was previously announced that the ANCC Perinatal Certification had been placed on the Watch List and is scheduled for retirement, after the final administration of the exam on May 19, 2007. A proactive effort has been made to work on increasing the number of applicants for the exam. More >>

American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Announces Introduction of New Specialty Exams

The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Commission on Certification (COC) will take a new approach toward developing specialty exams. More >>

ANCC Announces Next Generation Nursing Certification Credentials

The ANCC Commission on Certification (COC) announced that all ANCC-certified specialty nurses will receive the credential RN-BC, defined as Registered Nurse, Board Certified; this replaces a differentiation between the RN,C and RN,BC credentials.
More >>

Margaret Leonard Named 'National Case Manager of the Year'

Margaret (Peggy) Leonard received the National Case Manager of the Year Award from the Case Management Society of America (CMSA) at its annual conference in Grapevine, Texas, on June 15th. More >>

Pre-Magnet Conference Certification Exam

Attend the 2006 National Magnet Conference and take the Nurse Executive or Medical Surgical Certification exam. More >>

Perinatal Nursing Certification on Track for Retirement

The American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Certification voted in January 2006 to place the Perinatal Specialty Certification Exam on its Watch List. Placing an exam on the Watch List is the first step in an 18-month preparation process for retiring the exam. More >>

Very Special Rates in 2006 for the Informatics Nurse Exam

The Informatics Nurse exam will be offered through 2006 at substantially discounted rates for all certification candidates: ANA members, members of collaborating organizations, and non-members alike. More >>

Recommendation Announced for New Certification Approach for Adult Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing

A joint study conducted in December 2005 by ANCC and the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) found commonalities in the roles of clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) practicing in the area of adult psychiatric and mental health nursing. As a result, ANCC and APNA recommend that one advanced practice exam be developed for both CNSs and NPs practicing in that area. Click here to read the full press release.

Update on Public/Community Health Nursing Certification Exams

ANCC made a previous decision to retire the Public/Community Health Nursing (P/CHN) examinations in 2005. In light of major public health events and concerns, and the increased emphasis on public health nursing, ANCC and several other groups have jointly agreed upon a process for continuing the administration of the Clinical Nurse Specialist in Public/Community Health Nursing (P/CHN) certification examination in 2006 and a plan for updating the examination for the future. More >>

Extension Granted for 500-Hour Clinical Requirement for CNS Exam Candidates

Because of many concerns raised by our constituents regarding the impact of this change, ANCC's Commission on Certification met by conference call on December 21, 2005, and voted to extend by one year the deadline for the educational requirement of 500 supervised clinical hours. More >>

Update on College Health Nurse, Home Health Nurse,
& Clinical Nurse Specialist in Home Health Nursing Certifications

The certification exams for Home Health Nurse, Clinical Nurse Specialist in Home Health Nursing and College Health Nurse will be offered for the last time May 14, 2005. (For information on the College Health Portfolio Option, click here.)

Nurses currently certified in these two specialties can continue to renew their certification using the continuing education and practice hour option. The option to renew with continuing education and test will not be available after May 2005.

If you would like to comment on the discontinuation of these certification exams, please send your comments in writing to either Certification Services Director Dr. Mary Smolenski, or Certification Services Assistant Director Diane Thompkins.

Examination Statistics

ANCC provides reports on our examination statistics annually to schools of nursing to aid them in the evaluation of their programs. ANCC also provides in-depth technical reports and statistical data annually to its accrediting bodies, the American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS) and the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). We also provide an annual statistical report on our advanced practice examinations, to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN).

The overall pass rate in 2005 for all ANCC exams combined was 77.1%; 78.2% for all CNS exams combined, 83.0% for all NP exams combined, 71.7% for all baccalaureate and higher level specialty exams combined; 64.6% for all diploma and associate degree level specialty exams combined; and 79.1% for all other specialties combined.

For Nurses Impacted by Hurricane Katrina

The American Nurses Credentialing Center sends its sincere thoughts and prayers to those of you impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Please be assured we will work diligently with you to facilitate the completion of your certification testing process, renewal of your certification, or verification of your certification status. You can contact us at 1-800-284-2378 with your questions.

This page last revised 8/7/2007.