Recert Options for Acute Care CPNPs®

We offer CPNP-ACs® a variety of choices for fulfilling participation in our annual Recertification program each year from October 1 to December 1.

If you're certified in both Primary Care and Acute Care, please visit our Dually-Certified Recertification Program page.

Your Acute Care Recert Options

Your Acute Care Recertification Program is managed in 7-year cycles. For three years during this cycle, Self-Assessment Exercises (SAEs) are required. For the remaining four years of your cycle, you may choose more SAEs or select documentation options. The chart below lists your possible choices and links to each option so you can learn more.

And remember, you choose when to do each option. SAEs do not need to be taken in a particular order... just be sure to complete the required SAEs within your 7-year cycle.

Acute Care Recertification Options for Your 7-Year Cycle

• Required: Two Acute Care SAEs

• Required: Your choice of the Acute Care, Primary Care, or Pharmacology SAE

• Documentation of 10 Contact Hours or 1 Academic Credit

• Documentation of 5 Contact Hours and 200 Clinical Practice Hours

• Documentation of 5 Contact Hours and 80 Preceptor Hours

• Inactive*

* The Inactive option is not recommended but is included as a choice should you be faced with unusual circumstances that prevent you from completing an SAE or documentation. Also note that state boards of nursing may not recognize inactivity as an option, but we do. Only 1 year of inactivity is allowed within each 7-year cycle. More than 1 year of inactivity within a 7-year cycle will require you to forfeit previous participation and you'll need to take the exam again to regain certification.