Nursing certification is available to state-licensed registered nurses who meet educational and experience requirements. ANCC manages and issues nursing certificates, with different types available for nurse practitioners and clinical nurses. Certification can lead to higher salaries and is obtained by selecting a course, studying, and passing an exam.
To earn a nursing certification, you must meet certain educational and experience requirements. Nursing certification is only available to state-licensed registered nurses. The purpose of a nursing certification is to provide a specific level of education related to a medical specialty.
Nursing certification is managed and issued by the ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Center), which is one of the most recognized credentialing institutes in the US. The certification process is a combination of education and clinical experience. Nurses can be employed in a specialty without certification, but they can earn higher salaries with the appropriate nursing certification.
The ANCC offers the different nursing certificates based on the different types of registered nurses. Nurse practitioners have advanced nursing education credentials and are capable of providing a higher level of care. All nursing certificates issued to professional nurses have NP after the specialty name.
Clinical nurses have education and experience focused on a specific patient type or illness. Every nursing certification issued to clinical nurse specialists ends with “CNS” which stands for clinical nurse specialists. There are also advanced level certificates available in more specialized areas such as diabetes management, forensic nursing and executive nursing.
To obtain a nursing certification, select the certificate you wish to obtain from the list of available options. The syllabus for each course provides a summary, required materials and a list of schools where the course will be offered. Online options are increasingly popular and offer the opportunity to study on your own schedule.
Select the course delivery method that suits you best, register with the ANCC and pay the required fee. As you work through the course material, take advantage of additional resources available. This includes study groups, multiple-choice test banks, online review seminars, and weekend review courses.
Schedule the exam date for the course you are taking and write the exam. A minimum grade of 70% is required to pass the nursing certification course. Results will be sent to you within six to eight weeks.
Upon successful completion, be sure to provide a copy of the certificate to your human resources department. Inform your manager that you obtained nursing certification. While certified nurses earn more money, on average, it may be necessary to move to a different position to take advantage of the credentials gained.
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