Common Questions About CPN® Recertification

Here are our most common questions related to CPN® Recertification. If you have a question not listed below, please email us at recert@pncb.org.

Recert Basics
Once I am a CPN®, what are the Recertification requirements?
After I pass the exam, aren't I always a Certified Pediatric Nurse?
What are the benefits of online Recertification?
When will I receive my new wallet card?
Can I recertify if I no longer hold a license?

The Self-Assessment Exercise (SAE)
Do I need to take the SAE option this year?
I selected the SAE for my option. When will it be sent?
Why is the SAE completed after I recertify?
What if I select the SAE as a recert option and fail?
What is the online answer method for SAEs?

Contact Hours / Continuing Education
What is the difference between continuing education and contact hours?
What is needed to complete a documentation option?
What contact hours did I submit last year?
Do I need to mail you my continuing education certificates?

Clinical Practice Hours
How do you define "clinical practice hour"?
What if I have more than 200?

How to Enroll
When will I receive paper Recert forms in the mail?
How can I get paper Recert forms if they weren't mailed to me?

Miscellaneous
How can I encourage my nurses to recertify?
I've lost my CPN® lapel pin. How do I get another?
I've misplaced my CPN® wall certificate. How can I order another?
I'm retiring. How can I let the PNCB know?
What is your policy on appeals?

Recert Basics

Once I am a CPN®, what are the Recertification requirements?
CPNs® maintain certification through annual required participation in the PNCB Recertification Program.

• Annual Recertification enrollment is required.
• Recertification enrollment begins approximately 1 year or more from initial certification. Check the expiration date on your online wallet card. You will enroll for Recertification between October 1 and February 1 prior to this date.
• Recertification program activities/requirements are managed in 7-year cycles.
• Certification expires February 28 of each year (as shown on your wallet card) unless you're newly certified.
• Online Recert is fast, secure, and saves you $15.00. Paper forms are available as well.
• The deadline for Recert enrollment is February 1, annually.
• Complete and current RN license information must be provided.

After I pass the exam, aren't I always a Certified Pediatric Nurse?
Passing the exam is just the first step in maintaining your certification. Approximately one year after this achievement, you must choose to participate in recertification to remain an active CPN®. Self-Assessment Exercises (SAEs), contact hours, academic credit, and clinical practice hours — all these continuing education activities ensure that nurses certified by the PNCB stay current in peds content.

Nurses who do not actively maintain certification cannot use the "CPN" credential, and may miss out on pay raises or other benefits provided by their employers. You worked hard to put those three little letters by your name. Maintaining your certification lets you keep them there.

Check the year of expiration on your online wallet card. You will need to enroll in Recert between October 1 and February 1 prior to your card's expiration date.

What are the benefits to online Recertification?
Online Recert enrollment is a fast, convenient and money-saving way to recertify. Online Recert offers real-time tracking of your order status and immediate processing of your online wallet card. Plus online Recert saves you $15.00!

When will I receive my new wallet card?
Your current wallet card is always available online! Once your Recertification Enrollment is succesfully processed, you can immediately access your new updated wallet card by logging in to your "My Documents" section.

Can I recertify if I no longer hold a license?
Licensure is needed to maintain your certification. You'll need to hold a current, valid license to practice as a registered nurse and remain in good standing with no current disciplinary action pending in any jurisdiction.

The Self-Assessment Exercise (SAE)

Do I need to take the Self-Assessment Exercise option this year?
The easiest way to keep track of what you've done in the past is to view your Recertification History online. Simply log-in to see which of the Recert options you've already completed in your current 7-year cycle. Unless you've waited until the end of your 7-cycle to complete required SAEs, you have the flexibility to choose when to complete these activities.

I selected a Self-Assessment Exercise for my option. When will it be sent?
We begin mailing SAEs in November. You can track your order online after this date by logging in to your online account. If you don't receive yours within 4 weeks, please contact us.

Why is the Self-Assessment Exercise (SAE) completed after I recertify?
When you select an SAE for a Recertification option, you're making a commitment to complete and send the answer sheet to us according to the 2009 SAE calendar. So, although contact, clinical practice, and preceptor hours need to be earned and documented at time of Recertification enrollment, the SAE option is one a nurse promises to fulfill in the coming months. You will still be provided an updated online wallet card once your enrollment form is successfully processed because you're making a commitment to follow through on this activity.

What if I select an SAE as a recert option and fail?
CPNs® who fail to achieve a passing SAE score (70%) will be given an additional opportunity to successfully complete their SAE option by taking a short online retest related to the current SAE. Detailed information will be provided to those who need to retest.

What is the new online answer method for SAEs?
Our new online answer method for Self-Assessment Exercises offers a savings of $10 and faster scoring. To read all about this new method to complete your SAE, visit our Online Answer Method FAQs.

Please note that printed questions and corresponding resources (Reference Manual of articles) will be mailed as usual regardless of the answer method you select.

Contact Hours / Continuing Education

What is the difference between continuing education and contact hours?
Continuing education includes lectures, seminars, conferences, online education, grand rounds, etc. that you attend as a learning exercise. Contact hours can be earned for attending a continuing education course. Typically 1 contact hour is equivalent to a 60 minute educational program. Organizations that offer continuing education must apply to an accrediting agency to award contact hours.

If I choose a documentation option, what do I need to have ready in order to complete my enrollment form?
When you select a documentation option for Recertification, you will be asked to provide certain information, such as the name of the class/course/practice site, dates, number of hours and the agency (if applicable) from which the hours were awarded. Click here for more about Documentation Option Requirements.

What contact hours did I submit last year?
We document these details in your your online Recertification History. Log-in to see your past choices.

Do I need to mail you my continuing education certificates?
No. You'll be listing the information we need in your online or paper application. The only reason we would need to see a photocopy of your CE certificates is if your name is selected for a random audit.

Clinical Practice Hours

How do you define "clinical practice hour"?
Clinical practice hours are work or volunteer hours that involve the direct "hands-on" assessment or clinical management of pediatric patients. Practice time does not include the management, supervision or education of other personnel or students to help achieve patient care goals.

What if I have more than 200 clinical practice hours?
Most people do earn more than 200 in a 12-month period. As long as you meet the 200 hour minimum for this documentation option, you fulfill the requirement.

How to Enroll

When will I receive paper Recertification forms in the mail?
We no longer mail paper forms, and we encourage all nurses to use fast and secure online Recertification, which saves you $15.00. If you'd like to print forms and mail them in, please use the link at the upper left during the Recert enrollment period. All nurses receive a Recert reminder postcard before October 1st.

Where can I find paper Recertification forms on your website?
Visit the Paper Recert Forms link to the left for printing out the pages you need. We encourage you to try our fast and secure online Recertification, which saves you $15.00

Miscellaneous

How can I encourage my nurses to recertify?
One easy way is to send a reminder email to nurses you supervise. Another is to post a simple sign in the nurses' lounge or work area to let them know Recert time is here. If your hospital provides extra benefits to nurses who maintain certification, mention these in any communication you send. This lets your nurses know that your hospital recognizes the value of its certified staff.

I've lost my CPN® lapel pin. How do I get another?
Simiply email us at service@pncb.org and we'll be glad to send out a replacement.

I've misplaced my CPN® wall certificate. How can I order another one?
We'll be glad to send you another copy. Duplicate certificates are $15.00 each. Click here to order a duplicate.

I'm retiring. How can I let the PNCB know?
We hope you enjoy your retirement! Visit our Retirement page for information about notifying us. We want to be sure to keep you from getting Recert reminders, plus we want to send you a letter thanking you for your years of service in the field of pediatric nursing!

What is your policy on appeals?
Should you need to consider an appeal concerning Recertification, please consult our Appeals Policy and Procedures.