Nursing

Requirements changed for ambulatory care nursing certification

Nurse Leader Weekly, December 15, 2003

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Requirements changed for ambulatory care nursing certification

More nurses can now seek certification as an ambulatory care nurse, thanks to a recent change in the certification requirements.

Responding to requests from the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing (AAACN) to open the certification door to more nurses, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) eliminated the requirement of both national certification in another nursing area and a 50-question "Core Clinical Practice" (Part B) test that used to follow the exam.

The change follows ANCC's elimination of the requirement that nurses must have their Bachelor of Science degree in nursing before being eligible to take the certification exam.

"Ambulatory care is a nursing specialty with its own body of knowledge, and these changes acknowledge that fact," said AAACN Past-President Candia Baker Laughlin, MS, RN, C. "Nurse experts in ambulatory care can now demonstrate their specialized knowledge and skills by qualifying and being tested specifically for that expertise. We thank ANCC for taking this important step."

AAACN and ANCC have collaborated for four years on the certification exam, continuously seeking ways to most accurately recognize nursing professionals who are specialists in ambulatory care.

Exams are held in May and October every year in sites across the country. The new requirements began with the October 2003 exam. To help candidates prepare for the exam, AAACN offers updated and extensive review materials which are available at www.aaacn.org. A catalog with application materials and exam information is available at http://nursingworld.org/ancc/cert.html and certification information is on the ANCC web site, www.nursingcredentialing.org.

The exam consists of 100 questions pertaining to ambulatory care nursing. While other certification is not required, eligible candidates must
  • have an associate degree, diploma, baccalaureate, or higher degree in nursing
  • hold a currently active RN license in the U.S. or its territories
  • have functioned within the specialty scope of practice for a minimum of 2,000 hours within the last two years

    • AAACN and ANA members receive discounts on the certification fee, and special arrangements are available for testing of military personnel. "Every nurse with 2,000 hours ambulatory care experience in the last two years should apply today and become certified," AAACN Executive Director Cynthia Nowicki said. "Certification validates the nurse's expertise, enhances personal and career fulfillment, boosts job satisfaction, and often increases earning potential. You just can't beat the rewards."

    Adapted from the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing



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