Primary Care Recert Frequently Asked Questions

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

Tracking My Recert History
What options did I complete in the past?
What contact hours did I submit last year?
Do I need to take the Self-Assessment Exercise option this year?

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

Self-Assessment Exercises
Why is the Self-Assessment Exercise (SAE) completed after I recertify?
What if I select an SAE as a recert option and fail?
What is the new online answer method for SAEs?

How to Enroll
When will I receive paper recertification forms in the mail?
How can I get paper recertification forms?

Dually Certified: CPNP-PC & CPNP-AC
I have Dual Certification and need to recertify in both Primary Care and Acute Care. How many options do I need to fulfill per year to maintain both?
I was previously certified as a Primary Care CPNP and am now also certified as an Acute Care CPNP. What happens to my Recertification Program?

Recert Basics
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?

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

Tracking My Recert History

What options did I complete in the past?
The fastest way to find out is to log-in and click My Recert History. This tool will tell you where you are in your 7-year Recert tracking cycle and can help guide your choices for the options to select in the years to come.

What contact hours did I submit last year?
Log-in to see your past choices under My Recert History.

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 log-in, click "My Recert History" and review which 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.

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.

What is needed to complete a documentation option?
When you select a documentation option for Recertification, the hours you document must be already earned within 12 or 24 months of the Recertification deadline of February 1, depending on the type of option. You will be asked to provide certain information, such as the name of the class/course/practice/preceptor site, dates, and number of hours. Visit our Recert Options webpage for links to more about documentation options.

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 you are selected for our random audit.

Self-Assessment Exercises

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 2010 SAE calendar. So, although contact, clinical practice, and preceptor hours need to be earned and documented at time of Recert enrollment, the SAE option is you promise to fulfill in the coming months. You will still be provided an updated online wallet card with a new expiration date 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?
CPNPs® who fail to achieve a passing SAE score (70%) will be given a free online retest opportunity. Details about the retest will be emailed to those needing this information.

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 FAQ page.

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

How to Enroll

When will I receive paper Recertification forms in the mail?
We no longer mail paper forms, and encourage you to use our fast and secure online Recertification, which saves you $15.00. If you'd like to print forms and mail them in, please visit our Forms webpage. You will receive a Recert reminder postcard before October 1st.

How can I get paper Recertification forms?
Visit our Forms webpage to print out the pages you need.

Dually Certified: CPNP-PC & CPNP-AC

I have Dual Certification and need to recertify in both Primary Care and Acute Care. How many options do I need to fulfill per year to maintain both?
Only one per year. For details on maintaining both Primary Care and Acute Care certification, visit our Dual Certification page. If you passed the Acute Care test in 2009, this year you will only need to Recert for Primary Care as a newly certified grace period applies in your case. Then next year, you'll begin the Dually-Certified Recert Program.

I was previously certified as a Primary Care CPNP and am now also certified as an Acute Care CPNP. What happens to my Recertification Program?
Once you enter the Dually-certified Recert Program, you begin a new 7-year cycle. This allows for tracking your new Dually-certified Recert requirements, which are different than what was required when you held only one CPNP certification. When do you enter this new cycle? Check your online wallet card for the expiration date of your newest certification. You will enter the Dually-certifed Recert program between October 1 and February 1 prior to this expiration date.

Recert Basics

What are the benefits of 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?
You can access your online wallet card at any time! Online wallet cards allow you to receive your updated card faster and lets you print a new one at any time should you misplace it.

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/APRN and remain in good standing with no current disciplinary action pending in any jurisdiction.

Miscellaneous

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

I've misplaced my CPNP® wall certificate. How can I order another?
We'll be glad to send you another copy. Duplicate wall certificates are $15.00. 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!

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