CNN Recertification

Certification

Certification is effective for three years from the last day of the month in which the applicant passed the exam.
Certification must then be renewed every three years.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant must be a Certified Nephrology Nurse (CNN).
Applicant must hold a current, full and unrestricted license to practice as a registered nurse in the United States or its territories.
Applicant must have at least two year’s experience in nephrology nursing as a registered nurse during the last three years.
- Fifty percent of employment hours must have been in nephrology nursing.
- A minimum of 1000 hours in 3 years, 50% of which must be in nephrology nursing.
- Certificants pursuing a baccalaureate degree in nursing and wishing to waive the work requirement must verify full time student status. Documentation must be on letterhead, signed by a school official, verifying matriculation and must be submitted with the recertification application. The exception to waive the work requirement will be approved for only one recertification period.

Continuing Education Requirements

45 contact hours of nephrology continuing education
An NNCC specified accreditation body must approve continuing education.
- Organizations accredited by the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center – Commission on Accreditation (ANCC-COA), the credentialing body of the American Nurses’ Association. (For example, The American Nephrology Nurses’ Association (ANNA), which is both an accredited provider and approver of continuing education in nursing).
  - The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
  - The Council of Continuing Education
  - California, Florida, Kansas, Ohio, and Iowa State Boards of Nursing
Must be completed during the recertification period.
Continuing education certificates must include the following information:
- Name of attendee
- Date of program
- Name of program
- Number of contact hours awarded
- Accreditation statement
You must retain all continuing education certificates in your personal files, in order to demonstrate that the criteria have been met for recertification. This documentation is required in the event your application is randomly selected in an audit.
If enrolled in a baccalaureate degree in nursing program, all coursework required for the degree can be applied toward the contact hour requirement. The use of coursework to fulfill the continuing education requirement will be approved for only one recertification period.

Certificants enrolled in graduate nursing degree programs (master’s or higher) may apply only nephrology related coursework toward the contact hour requirement.

Sources of Continuing Education

Nephrology-specific nursing continuing education programs
- American Nephrology Nurses' Association
Independent study programs offering nursing contact hours
Academic credit
- Includes all course work in academic programs leading to a baccalaureate degree in nursing. It is not necessary that the course content be nephrology nursing concepts. This option may be used for only one recertification period.
- Certificants enrolled in graduate nursing degree programs (master's or higher) may apply only nephrology-related coursework.
- Five contact hours will be assigned for one semester credit.
- Three contact hours will be assigned for one quarter credit.
Professional Publications
- The publication must be relevant to nephrology nursing
- The work must be published by a recognized publishing house or professional journal.
- Five contact hours will be assigned for a book chapter, manuscript, article or paper.
- Fifteen contact hours will be assigned for authorship or co-authorship of a book.
Multimedia Program Development
- Includes the preparation of program content and script of videotapes, audiotapes, or computer generated discs.
- The program must be relevant to nephrology and be awarded continuing education credit in nursing.
- Five contact hours will be assigned for the production of one program.

Recertification Options

The following two options are available to meet the recertification requirements:

Continuing education and clinical experience:

If you elect the continuing education option, you must submit a recertification application with required documentation and the recertification fee. Applications for renewal of your CNN by continuing education must be postmarked by the last day of the month in which your certification expires.
>Download and the Application [PDF file, ~200K]
>Submit Online Application

Recertification by examination:

An examination application can be obtained by clicking the link below. When submitting the examination application for recertification, all requirements for recertifying must be met with the exception of the submission of continuing education. Testing must be completed before the certification expiration date. An examination application and fee must be submitted by the deadline (eight weeks prior to the examination date). Applicants who choose the recertification by examination option will be notified of their scores by C-NET, the testing center.
>Download the Exam Application [PDF file, ~120K]

Inactive Status

A CNN may request inactive status if he/she is unable to meet the requirements for recertification. To apply for inactive status, the applicant must complete the application for inactive status, available on the NNCC website at www.nncc-exam.org or by calling 888-884-6622, and submit a letter describing the reason. If approved, inactive status will be granted for one 3-year period. During this time, the CNN credential may not be used. In order to recertify after the 3-year inactive period, the criteria for regular recertification must be met and a recertification application must be submitted. Under no circumstance will the inactive period be extended beyond three years.
>Download the Inactive Status Application [PDF file, ~100K]

Fees

Recertification application fees are non-refundable. Periodically fees are re-evaluated and adjustments may be made. Only NNCC Commissioners can authorize fee changes. The required fees are listed on the application forms.

Receive Your Certificate

If approved for recertification, individuals will receive a laminated wallet card with expiration date within 60 days of the date the National Office receives a recertification application. Replacements are available for a fee. The wall certificate will be issued once.

Keep Your Contact Information Current

It is the applicant's responsibility to notify the NNCC National Office of any changes in name, address, email, and phone during the 3-year period following certification/recertification. Notifications of changes on other mailing lists such as ANNA may not effect a change in your recertification records.

	CNN Recertification Certification Certification is effective for three years from the last day of the month in which the applicant passed the exam. Certification must then be renewed every three years. Eligibility Requirements Applicant must be a Certified Nephrology Nurse (CNN). Applicant must hold a current, full and unrestricted license to practice as a registered nurse in the United States or its territories. Applicant must have at least two year’s experience in nephrology nursing as a registered nurse during the last three years. Fifty percent of employment hours must have been in nephrology nursing. A minimum of 1000 hours in 3 years, 50% of which must be in nephrology nursing. Certificants pursuing a baccalaureate degree in nursing and wishing to waive the work requirement must verify full time student status. Documentation must be on letterhead, signed by a school official, verifying matriculation and must be submitted with the recertification application. The exception to waive the work requirement will be approved for only one recertification period. Continuing Education Requirements 45 contact hours of nephrology continuing education An NNCC specified accreditation body must approve continuing education. Organizations accredited by the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center – Commission on Accreditation (ANCC-COA), the credentialing body of the American Nurses’ Association. (For example, The American Nephrology Nurses’ Association (ANNA), which is both an accredited provider and approver of continuing education in nursing). The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) The Council of Continuing Education California, Florida, Kansas, Ohio, and Iowa State Boards of Nursing Must be completed during the recertification period. Continuing education certificates must include the following information: Name of attendee Date of program Name of program Number of contact hours awarded Accreditation statement You must retain all continuing education certificates in your personal files, in order to demonstrate that the criteria have been met for recertification. This documentation is required in the event your application is randomly selected in an audit. If enrolled in a baccalaureate degree in nursing program, all coursework required for the degree can be applied toward the contact hour requirement. The use of coursework to fulfill the continuing education requirement will be approved for only one recertification period. Certificants enrolled in graduate nursing degree programs (master’s or higher) may apply only nephrology related coursework toward the contact hour requirement. Sources of Continuing Education Nephrology-specific nursing continuing education programs American Nephrology Nurses' Association Independent study programs offering nursing contact hours Academic credit Includes all course work in academic programs leading to a baccalaureate degree in nursing. It is not necessary that the course content be nephrology nursing concepts. This option may be used for only one recertification period. Certificants enrolled in graduate nursing degree programs (master's or higher) may apply only nephrology-related coursework. Five contact hours will be assigned for one semester credit. Three contact hours will be assigned for one quarter credit. Professional Publications The publication must be relevant to nephrology nursing The work must be published by a recognized publishing house or professional journal. Five contact hours will be assigned for a book chapter, manuscript, article or paper. Fifteen contact hours will be assigned for authorship or co-authorship of a book. Multimedia Program Development Includes the preparation of program content and script of videotapes, audiotapes, or computer generated discs. The program must be relevant to nephrology and be awarded continuing education credit in nursing. Five contact hours will be assigned for the production of one program. Recertification Options The following two options are available to meet the recertification requirements: Continuing education and clinical experience: If you elect the continuing education option, you must submit a recertification application with required documentation and the recertification fee. Applications for renewal of your CNN by continuing education must be postmarked by the last day of the month in which your certification expires. >Download and the Application [PDF file, ~200K] >Submit Online Application Recertification by examination: An examination application can be obtained by clicking the link below. When submitting the examination application for recertification, all requirements for recertifying must be met with the exception of the submission of continuing education. Testing must be completed before the certification expiration date. An examination application and fee must be submitted by the deadline (eight weeks prior to the examination date). Applicants who choose the recertification by examination option will be notified of their scores by C-NET, the testing center. >Download the Exam Application [PDF file, ~120K] Inactive Status A CNN may request inactive status if he/she is unable to meet the requirements for recertification. To apply for inactive status, the applicant must complete the application for inactive status, available on the NNCC website at www.nncc-exam.org or by calling 888-884-6622, and submit a letter describing the reason. If approved, inactive status will be granted for one 3-year period. During this time, the CNN credential may not be used. In order to recertify after the 3-year inactive period, the criteria for regular recertification must be met and a recertification application must be submitted. Under no circumstance will the inactive period be extended beyond three years. >Download the Inactive Status Application [PDF file, ~100K] Fees Recertification application fees are non-refundable. Periodically fees are re-evaluated and adjustments may be made. Only NNCC Commissioners can authorize fee changes. The required fees are listed on the application forms. Receive Your Certificate If approved for recertification, individuals will receive a laminated wallet card with expiration date within 60 days of the date the National Office receives a recertification application. Replacements are available for a fee. The wall certificate will be issued once. Keep Your Contact Information Current It is the applicant's responsibility to notify the NNCC National Office of any changes in name, address, email, and phone during the 3-year period following certification/recertification. Notifications of changes on other mailing lists such as ANNA may not effect a change in your recertification records.