Acute Care CPNP® Recertification

To maintain your status as an Acute Care CPNP®, you will need to participate in the PNCB's Recertification Program between October 1 and February 1 of each year. Recertification ensures that you're staying current in your field.

All CPNPs are required to record a yearly Recertification option and document proof of current US or Canadian licensure.

All About Acute Care Recertification

• It's an annual event. Annual Recertification enrollment is required and begins approximately one year from initial certification. Check your online wallet card for the year your certification expires. You will need to enroll in Recertification between October 1 and February 1 of the year prior to this expiration date.
• Newly certified? Check the expiration date on your online wallet card. You will need to enroll in Recert between October 1 and February 1 prior to this expiration date.
• Dually-certified? If you hold both Acute Care and Primary Care certification, visit our Dual Certification page. If you're dually-certified but passed the Acute Care Exam in 2009, you'll enter the Dually-Certified Recert Program beginning October 1, 2010.
• Keep the date. Regardless of which month you passed the CPNP-AC® Exam, Recertification enrollment always takes place between October 1 and February 1.
• And keep us up to date! We send postcard and email reminders, so always make sure your contact information is up to date. Without your current mailing address, email, phone numbers, etc., we can't stay in touch.
• Online is the way to go. Online Recertification saves you $15.00 and helps us process your Recert faster! Forms are also available for downloading during the Recert enrollment period. We no longer mail paper forms.
• Tracking your activities. Annual Recertification activities are managed in 7-year cycles. This helps us make sure certain required tasks are being completed to keep your knowledge current. Forget where you are in your current 7-year cycle? Log-in to "My Recert History" any time during the year.
• Plus we send Verification to your state board. Each time after you recertify, the PNCB notifies the state board* associated with your RN license that you have recertified. There is no charge for this service. Certified in both Acute Care and Primary Care? Your state board will receive Verification of both.
• Licensure is needed. You'll need to hold a current, valid license to practice as a registered nurse/APRN and remain in good standing with no current disciplinary action pending in any jurisdiction.

*Colorado, Michigan, New York, and Tennessee Boards of Nursing have asked to be excluded from this process. You may still request that verification be sent to these states by emailing verif@pncb.org.

Your Recert Activity Options

Each year, you'll choose and record participation in one Recert Activity Option. See your Recertification Activity Options for more information.

A Recertification Activity Option fee is due annually. Visit Recertification Fees to learn more.