Nursing Certifications Types & Requirements for Each

A specialty certification is how you prove, on paper, that your skill in an area runs deeper than your base license. Your first few years on the floor usually point you toward a specialty that fits. Once you find it, certifying in it is the logical next step. Certifications validate clinical knowledge, experience, and judgment beyond what an RN or APRN license alone demonstrates, and in several advanced roles they are now a requirement for initial or renewal licensure in most states.

Do you need to be certified?

Not always, but it helps, and for some roles it is mandatory. Nurse case managers, legal nurse consultants, and nurse informaticists typically need certification on top of their license. Where certification exists, it makes your resume stand out, raises earning potential, qualifies you for jobs that prefer or require it, and supports advancement where you already work.

Certification is not limited to RNs and APRNs. The National Association of Practical Nurse Education and Service (NAPNES) certifies LPNs in areas including wound care, dialysis, IV care, pediatrics, and geriatrics. For CNAs, options depend on the state: some offer an advanced CNA credential, others certify CNAs to perform specific tasks like drawing blood or dispensing medication, and many employers pay for the training.

Certifications nearly everyone needs

Some specialties require no professional certification, but almost every nurse needs Basic Life Support (BLS), which trains you at the provider level in CPR and emergency lifesaving techniques. In some states a current BLS card is required to apply for or renew an RN license. Depending on where you work, you may also need Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), which covers everything BLS does plus management of early stroke signs and bradycardia. In pediatrics you may need Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) or Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition and Stabilization (PEARS), which teach the same emergency readiness for the pediatric population. Your employer tells you which level you need and often runs classes onsite; online options usually exist for renewal only.

License vs. credential vs. certification

These get used interchangeably, but they are distinct. A license is what legally lets you practice, granted and renewed through your state; "RN" and "LPN" show you are licensed. A credential is third-party proof of a qualification, which can be educational (an MSN) or professional (a CNS designation). A certification is earned by meeting set requirements and passing an exam, usually through a professional society; "CEN," for example, marks a certified emergency nurse.

How to get certified

Start with an active license in good standing. If you are not yet licensed or your license carries restrictions, clear that first. The path to RN or LPN licensure runs through the NCLEX; CNAs take a state-determined exam; APRNs test in their specialty. Internationally educated nurses have extra steps before licensure, including an English proficiency test, a readiness exam, and a work-visa screening.

Most certifications are tied to a license level, so confirm your license makes you eligible before you apply. Many also require a set number of hours worked in the specialty, additional coursework, an exam, or all three, plus an application with supporting documentation proving your license is in good standing.

Fees and renewals

Expect fees to obtain and maintain certification, typically $100 to $300, whether initial, renewal, or both. Renewal keeps a certification active and may require continuing education, logged clinical hours, teaching, volunteering, a renewal exam, or some combination.

How to list your credentials

Once you earn a certification, include it in your professional title, and order matters. The ANA's preferred order: highest degree earned, licensure, state designations or requirements, national certification, awards and honors, then other recognition. For example, a pediatric nurse with a master's, an active RN license, a clinical nurse specialist designation, and an acute care pediatric CNS certification writes it as Calvin Jones, MSN, RN, CNS, ACCNS-P.

Education comes first because a degree is permanent and does not expire. License and state designations follow because they are required to practice. The last three are listed last because they are voluntary.

Who oversees certifications

Certifications come from many bodies, and some specialties offer a choice between organizations. Four major ones cover most of the field: the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) for critical care at the RN and APRN level; the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN) for emergency and trauma nurses; the National Certification Corporation (NCC) for a range of specialties at both levels; and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the ANA's credentialing body, whose certifications carry the Board Certified (BC) designation.

Common certifications and their requirements

Numbers below are the published eligibility requirements at the time of writing; confirm current criteria with the issuing organization.

Community and family nursing

Family Nurse Practitioner. Two options. The AANPCB FNP requires an active APRN license, at least an MSN from an FNP program, and a passing exam. The ANCC FNP-BC adds at least 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours. (AANPCB; ANCC)

Nurse Case Manager. Two options. CCM requires an active RN or APRN license, at least a BSN, and either 12 months of case management experience supervised by a CCM-certified manager or 24 months supervised by a non-certified manager, plus the exam. ANCC Nursing Case Management requires an active RN license, at least two years full-time RN experience, at least 2,000 hours of clinical case management over the past three years, and at least 30 hours of related continuing education in that window. (CCMC; ANCC)

School Nurse. Nationally Certified School Nurse (NCSN): active RN license, at least a BSN, at least 1,000 clinical hours as a school nurse in the past three years, and the exam.

Corporate, leadership, and administrative nursing

Clinical Nurse Leader. AACN CNL: graduation from an AACN-approved CNL master's or post-master's program, an active unrestricted RN license, and the exam.

Forensic Nurse. Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE), Adult or Pediatric: active RN license, at least two years of nursing experience, completion of a SANE education program and clinical preceptorship, at least 300 work hours as a SANE over the past three years, and the exam. (International Association of Forensic Nurses)

Legal Nurse Consultant. LNCC: active RN license, at least five years of nursing experience, at least 2,000 clinical hours as a legal nurse consultant over the past five years, and the exam. (AALNC)

Nurse Administrator. ANCC Nurse Executive, Advanced (NEA-BC): active RN license; an MSN, or a BSN plus a master's in another field; at least two years full-time nurse-executive experience within the last three years; and at least 30 continuing education hours in nursing administration in that window, waived with an MSN in nurse administration. Plus the exam.

Occupational Health Nurse. Two options through ABOHN. COHN: active RN license, at least 3,000 clinical hours in occupational health over the past five years, and the exam. COHN-S adds at least a bachelor's degree in any field.

Specialized clinical nursing

Acute Care Nurse. AACN CCRN: active RN or APRN license; either at least two years of experience with at least 1,750 critical-care hours (85 in the past two years), or at least five years with at least 2,000 critical-care hours (144 in the past year); and the exam.

Cardiovascular Nurse. ANCC Cardiac Vascular Nursing (RN-BC): active RN license, at least two years RN experience, at least 2,000 clinical hours in cardiovascular nursing over the last three years, at least 30 related continuing education hours in that window, and the exam.

Emergency Room Nurse. BCEN Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN): active RN license, two years RN experience recommended but not required, and the exam.

Geriatric Nurse. ANCC Gerontological Nursing (RN-BC): active RN license, at least two years RN experience, at least 2,000 clinical hours in gerontological nursing within the past three years, at least 30 related continuing education hours in that window, and the exam.

Labor and Delivery Nurse. NCC Inpatient Obstetric Nursing (RNC-OB): active RN license, at least 2,000 clinical hours in labor and delivery, employment in the specialty within the past two years, and the exam.

Neonatal Nurse. Two options. NCC RNC-NIC: current unencumbered U.S. or Canadian RN license, 24 months of specialty experience (direct care, education, administration, or research), and employment in the specialty within the last 24 months. AACN CCRN (Neonatal): current unencumbered U.S. RN or APRN license; either 1,750 hours in direct care of acutely or critically ill neonatal patients over the previous two years (875 in the most recent year), or at least five years with a minimum of 2,000 such hours (144 in the most recent year); and the exam.

Obstetrics Nurse. NCC Inpatient Obstetrics (RNC-OB): active RN license, at least two full-time years in OB nursing providing a minimum of 2,000 hours of OB care, and employment in the specialty within the past 24 months.

Oncology Nurse. ONCC Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN): active RN license, at least two years RN experience within the last four years, at least 2,000 clinical hours in oncology over the past four years, at least 10 oncology continuing education hours over the last three years, and the exam.

Operating Room Nurse. CCI Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR): active RN license, current OR employment, at least two years OR experience, at least 2,400 clinical hours as an OR nurse with at least 1,200 in an intraoperative setting, and the exam.

Pediatric Nurse. ANCC Pediatric Nursing (RN-BC): active RN license, at least two years RN experience, at least 3,000 clinical hours in pediatric nursing over the past three years, at least 30 pediatric continuing education hours in that window, and the exam.

Psychiatric Nurse. ANCC Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing (RN-BC): active RN license, at least two years of nursing experience, at least 2,000 clinical hours in psychiatric nursing over the last three years, at least 30 related continuing education hours in that window, and the exam.

Rehabilitation Nurse. ARN Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN): active RN license; either at least two years of RN experience in rehabilitation over the past five years, or one year of rehabilitation RN experience plus one year of post-BSN study within five years; and the exam.

Trauma Nurse. BCEN Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN): active RN license, two years of trauma experience recommended but not required, and the exam.

Women's Health Nurse. NCC Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner (WHNP-BC): active APRN license, at least an MSN focused on women's health, graduation within the last eight years, and the exam.

Advanced practice (APRN)

Nurse Anesthetist. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA): active RN or APRN license and completion of an accredited nurse anesthetist program, plus the exam. As of 2025, every COA-accredited program awards a practice doctorate (DNP or DNAP), so new CRNAs now enter at the doctoral level; nurses already credentialed before the change keep their certification (COA; NBCRNA).

Nurse Educator. NLN Certified Nurse Educator (CNE): active RN license, at least an MSN, completion of a program emphasizing nurse education or at least two years of nurse-educator experience within the past two years, and the exam.

Nurse Informaticist. ANCC Informatics Nursing (RN-BC): active RN license, at least a BSN, at least two years RN experience, and one of: at least 2,000 informatics hours over the past three years; at least 1,000 informatics hours over three years plus 12 graduate-level informatics credits; or an MSN in nursing informatics including at least 200 supervised practicum hours. Plus the exam.

Nurse Midwife. Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM): active RN or APRN license, at least an MSN, completion of an accredited midwifery program, and the exam. (AMCB)

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be certified to work as a nurse? Not in most staff roles. Your state license is what legally lets you practice. Certification is on top of that, and it is mandatory only for some roles such as nurse case managers, legal nurse consultants, and nurse informaticists. Elsewhere it is voluntary but raises pay and competitiveness.

What is the difference between a license and a certification? A license is granted and renewed by your state and is what legally permits you to practice (RN, LPN). A certification is earned by meeting set criteria and passing an exam through a professional body, and it validates deeper skill in a specialty.

What certification does almost every nurse need? Basic Life Support (BLS). Many employers also require Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), and pediatric roles often add PALS or PEARS. Your employer tells you which level your unit requires and frequently runs the classes onsite.

How much do certifications cost to get and keep? Plan on roughly $100 to $300 for the initial exam and again for renewal. Renewal usually requires continuing education, logged clinical hours, teaching, volunteering, a renewal exam, or some combination.

Do nurse anesthetists still need a master's, or a doctorate? A doctorate. As of 2025, every COA-accredited nurse anesthesia program awards a practice doctorate (DNP or DNAP), so new CRNAs enter at the doctoral level. CRNAs certified before the change keep their credential.

How should I list my credentials? Follow the ANA order: highest degree, licensure, state designations, national certification, then awards and other recognition. For example, a master's-prepared pediatric CNS writes Calvin Jones, MSN, RN, CNS, ACCNS-P. Education comes first because a degree does not expire.