ANCC has accredited nurses in different specialities since 1974.
The American Nurses Credentialing Center, or ANCC, provides certification for different types of nurses, including certified nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists. ANCC offers certification for a number of subcategories in nursing, including forensic nursing, home health nursing, pain management nursing and high-risk perinatal nursing. The ANCC is the largest nurse accrediting board in the world and serves 80,000 currently certified nurses. The ANCC is working to unify the requirements of all certifying boards to provide one standard of care and a uniform model of requirements for nurses seeking accreditation.
Requirements
The requirements for each certification vary among the specialty the nurse seeks. In general, each certification is valid for five years and requires renewal before expiring to avoid having to repeat the entire certification process. The person seeking certification should have a valid R.N., or registered nurse, license. The education requirements vary depending on the specialty and could include completion of a training program all the way up to a doctorate, along with appropriate training in the specialty. For example, a Mental Health Nurse Practitioner would require at least a master's degree, along with training in advanced pathophysiology and disease prevention.
Test Contents
Nurses take the tests electronically on a computer at an approved testing location. There are typically 175 questions, of which 150 are scored. There are several categories in each type of test. For example, a pediatric nurse will have questions about modalities that include Development and Behavioral Sciences; Health Maintenance, Promotion, and Wellness; and Nursing Process. The costs vary among the specialties, but members of the ANCC receive a discount on all tests.
Continuing Nursing Education
ANCC expects certified nurses to receive continuing education to maintain certification and be eligible for renewal. The requirements vary, but might include a set number of practice hours in the specialty, or additional training in an area like pharmacology. The ANCC assists professionals by providing continuing education courses in the form of seminars, online classes and workshops. If certification lapses, the professional must cease using the ANCC credentials until they are re-certified.
Pathway to Excellence
In addition to certifying practicing nurses, the ANCC also certifies employers that provide excellent working conditions through the Pathway to Excellence program. Organizations seeking the Pathway to Excellence endorsement undergo a review process to confirm a suitable work environment that is integrated in everything, including policies and management. Nurses employed by the facility seeking accreditation complete an anonymous online survey to honestly assess the working conditions. ANCC bases its certification decision on the result of the nurses who work at the organization. Any organization may apply for Pathway to Excellence certification, and it is ideal for small and medium-sized facilities.
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