Certified Dialysis - Licensed Practical Nurse® (CD-LPN®)
Certified Dialysis - Licensed Vocational Nurse® (CD-LVN®)
Continuing competence is the ongoing ability of a nurse and those working under the nurse's direction to integrate and apply the knowledge, skills, judgment, and personal attributes required to practice safely and ethically.
To maintain competence and prevent professional obsolescence, the Board of Commissioners requires that each NNCC certificant participate in continuing education to refresh existing knowledge and skill and to acquire knowledge and proficiency pertaining to new advances as well as state of the art information over the full spectrum of nephrology.
The three-year time period established for recertification is based on both the scope of issues that face dialysis LPNs/LVNs and the Board’s belief that new practices, research, and information are introduced in the field with enough frequency that professional development activities should be conducted routinely so that certificants remain current with best practices and emerging knowledge.
As a result of very limited response from LPN/LVN applicants for the Certified Dialysis – Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse (CD-LPN/LVN) certification examination, we regret to announce that the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC) will no longer offer this exam as of January 1, 2019.
For those who currently hold the CD-LPN/LVN certification credential, you will be able to maintain your certification credential by continuing education/clinical experience only. Please contact NNCC with any questions regarding the recertification eligibility criteria.
Questions should be directed to NNCC at 888-884-6622, or email nncc@nncc-exam.org.
Notification/Expiration
As a courtesy, the NNCC will send reminders approximately every 30 days starting 120 days prior to certification expiration. Ultimately it is the applicant's responsibility to obtain the necessary application form and submit it to the NNCC before the certification expiration date. The NNCC is not responsible for undelivered mail. A recertification application can be obtained here on the NNCC website or by calling 888.884.6622. Your completed application, appropriate forms, copies of supporting materials, and fee must be submitted at one time. The initial certification is effective for three years from the last day of the month in which the applicant passed the examination. Certification must be renewed every three years.
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 CD-LPN/LVN by continuing education must be postmarked by the last day of the month in which your certification expires to avoid a late fee. All recertification eligibility requirements must be met during the three year certification period.
- Applications for renewal of your CD-LPN/LVN by continuing education must be postmarked by the last day of the month in which your certification expires to avoid a late fee.
- • Applicant must have acquired 30 contact hours of approved continuing education in the previous three (3) years. A minimum of ten (10) contact hours must be nephrology specific. Continuing education must be from the following sources:
- Nursing continuing education programs.
- Independent study programs offering nephrology nursing contact hours
- Academic credit
- Includes all course work in academic programs leading to a health/science degree. It is not necessary that the course content be nephrology nursing concepts. This option may be used for only one recertification period.
- Five contact hours will be assigned for one semester credit.
- Three contact hours will be assigned for one quarter credit.
- It is strongly recommended but not required that continuing education submitted for recertification be approved by one of the following:
- Organizations accredited by the American Nurses' Credentialing Center - Commission on Accreditation (ANCC-COA), the credentialing body of the American Nurses' Association.
- The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
- The Council of Continuing Education
- Any State Board 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, when applicable
- You must retain all continuing education certificates in 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.
All of the following eligibility requirements must be met:
- Applicant must be a Certified Licensed Practical Nurse (CD-LPN) or Certified Licensed Vocational Nurse (CD-LVN).
- Applicant must hold a current, full and unrestricted license to practice as a licensed practical nurse or licensed vocational nurse in the United States or its territories.
- Applicant must have at least 1,500 hours experience in nephrology nursing as a licensed practical nurse or licensed vocational nurse during the last three years caring for patients who require or may require dialysis, or educating/supervising staff who care for patients who require or may require dialysis.
- A certificant 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.
Recertification application fees are non-refundable. Periodically fees are re-evaluated and adjustments may be made. Only NNCC Commissioners can authorize fee changes.
Standard Fees
| Fee Name | Amount |
|---|---|
| Recert by Continuing Education Fee |
$150 |
| Exam Application Processing Fee (Non-refundable, included in exam fee) |
$50 |
| Expedited Review |
$50 |
| Late Fee |
$50 |
| Incomplete Application Fee |
$40 |
| Returned Check/Cancelled Payment Fee |
$30 |
| Duplicate Wallet Card or Certificate |
$25 |
| Certification Validation Letter (Except to State Boards of Nursing) |
$20 |
A CD-LPN or CD-LVN 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 CD-LPN or CD-LVN 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.