Are you considering a career in nursing and researching your options? Are you currently in nursing school and exploring specialties you can work in? Are you a seasoned RN thinking about ways to advance in your career? Wherever you are on your journey, earning a nursing certification may help you reach your goals.
Nursing certifications are underutilized tools that RNs have to stand out from their peers and to promote their professional development. A nursing certification is issued by a board and indicates that a nurse has an advanced level of competency in a specific area of healthcare.
Determining the best nursing certification is different for each individual nurse, so you should choose one based on your goals and interests. Continue reading to find certifications that can help you boost your access to career opportunities, as well as earning potential.
Progressive Care Nursing (Adult)
The Progressive Care Nursing (Adult) certification, or PCCN, is offered by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) for nurses who directly care for acutely ill adults. These nurses may provide a variety of services, including intermediate care, telemetry, transitional care, or direct observation.
To be eligible for this credential:
- Hold an unencumbered RN license
- Complete a certain number of direct care practice hours with acutely ill adults
- Accrue 1,750 hours in the two years before submitting the application (for candidates who choose the two-year option); OR
- Complete at least 2,000 hours in the five years prior to your application date (under the five-year option)
Certified Nurse Manager & Leader (CNML)
The Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML) credential is for those who want to demonstrate a high level of clinical knowledge and experience in nursing leadership. To earn this certification, which is provided by the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL), you must pass a 115-question exam that demonstrates your knowledge on the core leadership principles of human resource management, strategic management and technology, performance improvement, and financial management.
To sit for the CNML exam:
- Hold an unrestricted RN license
- Have at least a bachelor’s degree
- Accrue at least 2,080 hours of work experience in a primary leadership role (option 1); OR
- Complete 4,160 hours minimum in a supporting leadership position (option 2)
CNMLs must be recertified every three years, which entails completing at least 45 continuing education hours or retaking the certification exam.
Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN)
The CCRN certification is a professional credential offered by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) for nurses who provide direct care for critically-ill adult patients.
To be eligible for this certification:
- Hold an unencumbered RN or APRN license
- Complete at least 1,750 hours of work experience in critical care
- Pass the certification exam
The certification exam is made up of 150 multiple-choice questions and must be completed in three hours. The credential costs $255 for AACN members and $370 for nonmembers. You must renew your CCRN every three years by either completing 100 hours of continuing education coursework or passing the certification exam again.
Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN)
The Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) credential, provided by the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN), is for nurses with a high level of clinical knowledge and experience in emergency nursing.
To be eligible for a CEN:
- Hold a current, unrestricted nursing license
- Have at least two years of experience in emergency nursing (preferred but not required)
- Pass the certification exam
The certification exam can be taken in person at a testing center or remotely with a live online proctor. You will be charged $380 for the initial exam and $200 if you need to retake the test. However, the BCEN does offer test assurance for $450, meaning the upfront price covers two attempts.
Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN)
The Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN) designation is considered the gold standard for RNs who have dedicated their career to working with children. This is because when you earn this certification, you demonstrate to employers that you have a mastery of pediatric nursing skills, such as health promotion; physical, family, and psychosocial assessments; and illness management.
To become a CPN:
- Hold a current RN license
- Complete a minimum of 1,800 hours of pediatric clinical experience
- Pass a certification exam
To help support nurses who want to earn this credential, the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB), which issues the certification, has a No Pass, No Pay policy. This mean that you are not charged for two attempts of the test per year, so there is no risk if you do not successfully complete the exam.
Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN)
The Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) credential is provided by the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC). The credential is awarded to those with adult oncology nursing experience, whether providing clinical care to patients directly, or making a contribution through administration, education, or research.
To be eligible for this certification:
- Hold an RN license
- Accrue at least 2,000 hours of adult oncology practice within the last four years
- Complete at least ten contact hours of continuing nursing education
- Pass the certification exam
The certification exam is a 165 multiple-choice test that takes three hours to complete. Exam content covers the science of oncology nursing practice and the care continuum. Specific areas you are expected to know include epidemiology, survivorship, and end-of-life care.
Certified Nurse Educator (CNE)
Nurse educators are charged with training the next generation of nursing professionals. Earning Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) certification from the National League for Nursing (NLN) demonstrates your competency in high-level teaching and pedagogical knowledge.
To earn this certification:
- Hold a valid, unencumbered RN license
- Have at least a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or doctoral nursing degree
- Have professional experience as an RN or nursing instructor (may be required)
- Pass an examination, namely the CNE exam
The CNE exam tests your knowledge of areas such as assessment and evaluation strategies; learner development and socialization; continuous quality improvement; and scholarship engagement. The examination costs $425 for members of the NLN, while non-members pay $525.
A CNE remains current for five years. In order to renew the certification, you will be expected to demonstrate that you’ve maintained a high level of skills and knowledge. This can be done by either submitting a portfolio or taking the certification test.
Expert Insight
Remember, you can obtain niche certifications that fall under broader specialties. For example, you can specialize your CNE even further. As a nurse educator, you’ll either teach nursing students in the classroom or in clinical settings (or both). You can earn the certificate unique to your role – either the ‘Certified Academic Nurse Educator’ or the ‘Certified Academic Clinical Nurse Educator’.
Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
The Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) designation, which is provided by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB), is earned by nurses who work in various settings, including hospitals, birth centers, nursing homes, and doctor’s offices.
To receive this credential:
- Hold an active RN or APRN license
- Have a graduate degree with a nurse midwife specialization
- Pass the certification exam
Passing the CMN examination demonstrates your grasp of the knowledge and skills nurse midwives should have when providing pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care. Some of these skills include conducting physical examinations; taking diagnostic tests and interpreting the results; prescribing medications; and admitting, managing, and discharging patients.
Certified Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
The Certified Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) provided by the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) is for advanced-practice nurses who specialize in ensuring that patients experience pain-free medical procedures and surgeries.
To earn this certification:
- Hold an unencumbered RN or APRN license
- Have at least a nurse anesthesia doctoral degree from a program been accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA)
- Have at least one year of full-time critical care work experience
- Pass the National Certification Examination (NCE) administered by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA)
Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN)
The Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN) designation from the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB) is for those who want to dedicate their nursing practice to treating people with acute and chronic wounds. These RNs can be found in long-term care facilities, urgent care clinics, emergency departments, and home health organizations.
To earn this certification:
- Hold an unencumbered RN license
- Have a bachelor’s degree
- Complete 100 hours of training in an accredited wound care education program
- Accrue 1,500 hours of wound care clinical practice within the five years before application
- Complete 50 continuing education hours related to wound care nursing
