Nursing Certifications

Nursing certification commonly refers to becoming certified in a nursing specialty area by a certifying board other than your state board of nursing. To become a Registered Nurse, for example, the nurse candidate must meet the specific RN licensing requirements as laid out by the state board of nursing in which the candidate would like to work. Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) certification in contrast is obtained by meeting the requirements specified by the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing which are not state specific. Many nursing certifications are generally pursued after obtaining Registered Nurse status, and you may notice that such nursing certifications specify a current RN license as a requirement.

Nursing Certification Points:

From a certifying board other than your state board of nursing.
Registered Nurse (RN) status is often a requirement.
Two years of experience is often a requirement.
Take continuing education classes, pass an exam, and pay member fees.

Nursing Certification Boards

While carrying multiple nursing certification acronyms after your name is very satisfying, we recommend that you speak with hiring managers in the specialty area and nurses working in those specialty areas to understand the benefits and challenges of certification. Nursing certification generally results in higher pay when working within the specialty area, and increases the likely hood of being accepted for specialty nursing jobs. Certifications must be renewed by periodic examination or through the completion of continuing education classes. Below is a list of popular nursing certifications.

AIDS Certified Registered Nurse (ACRN)
Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse (CAPA)
Certified Addictions Registered Nurse (CARN)
Certified Breastfeeding Educator (CBE)
Certified Correctional Health Profession (CCHP)
Certified Case Manager (CCM)
Certified Clinical Research Associate (CCRA)
Certified Clinical Research Coordinator (CCRC)
Certified Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN)
Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP)
Certified Coding Specialist (CCS)
Certified Clinical Transplant Coordinator (CCTC)
Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor (CDAC)
Certified Developmental Disabilities Nurse (CDDN)
Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE)
Certified Director of Nurse Administration - Long Term Care (CDONA/LTC)
Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN)
Certified Enterostomal Therapy Nurse (CETN)
Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (CFNP)
Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN)
Certified Gastroenterological Nurse (CGN)
Certified Gastroenterological Registered Nurse (CGRN)
Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES)
Certified Hemodialysis Nurse (CHN)
Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN)
Certified Hemodialysis Technologist (CHT)
Certified Hyperbaric Technologist (CHT)
Certified Infection Control (CIC)
Certified Insurance Rehabilitation Specialist (CIRS)
Certified Life Care Planner (CLCP)
Certified Legal Nurse Consultant (CLNC)
Cardiac Medicine Certification (CMC)
Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT)
Certified Nursing Administration (CNA)
Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
Certified Nephrology Nurse (CNN)
Certified Nurse Operating Room (CNOR)
Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse (CNRN)
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
Certified Nutrition Support Dietitian (CNSD)
Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA)
Certified Occupational Hearing Conservationist (COHC)
Certified Occupational Health Nurse (COHN)
Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT)
Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT)
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)
Certified Perianesthesia Nurse (CPAN)
Certified Peritoneal Dialysis Nurse (CPDN)
Certified Pulmonary Function Technician (CPFT)
Certified Professional Healthcare Quality (CPHQ)
Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN)
Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. (CPNP)
Certified Pediatric Oncology Nurse (CPON)
Certified Pain Practitioner (CPP)
Certified Plastic and Reconstructive Surgical Nurse (CPSN)
Certified Procurement Transplant Coordinator (CPTC)
Certified Retinal Angiographer (CRA)
Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC)
Certified Radiology Nurse (CRN)
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant (CRNFA)
Certified Registered Nurse Hospice (CRNH)
Certified Registered Nurse Intravenous (CRNI)
Certified Registered Nurse Ophthalmology (CRNO)
Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP)
Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN)
Certified Respiratory Therapy Technician (CRTT)
Certified Specialist (CS)
Certified Surgical Assistant (CSA)
Certified School Nurse (CSN)
Certified Surgical Technologist (CST)
Certified Urologic Nurse Practitioner (CUNP)
Certified Urologic Physician Assistant (CUPA)
Certified Urologic Registered Nurse (CURN)
Certified Holistic Nurse (HNC)
Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator (LCCE)
Legal Nurse Consultant Certified (LNCC)
Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN)
Orthopedic Nurse Certified (ONC)

LPN, LVN and RN nurses can enroll into LPN to RN, LPN to BSN, RN to BSN, and RN to MSN online classes and home based fast track self study nursing programs today, no wait! Visit the Nursing Programs section of our site to learn more, and to continue your nursing education at a pace that fits your life style.

Related About Nursing Pages:
» Nursing Careers
» Nursing Schools
» Nursing Programs
» Nursing Degrees
» Board of Nursing
» Nursing Jobs

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