Primary Care Recert Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the benefits of online Recertification?
2. How can I find out what options I completed in the past?
3. What contact hours did I submit last year?
4. Do I need to mail you my continuing education certificates?
5. Do I need to take the Self-Assessment Exercise option this year?
6. Why is the Self-Assessment Exercise (SAE) completed after I recertify?
7. If I choose a documentation option, what do I need to have ready in order to complete my enrollment form?
8. What if I select an SAE as a recert option and fail?
9. When will I receive my new wallet card?
10. When will I receive paper recertification forms in the mail?
11. How can I get paper recertification forms if they weren't mailed to me?
12. 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?
13. I've lost my CPNP® lapel pin. How do I get another?
14. I've misplaced my CPNP® wall certificate. How can I order another?
15. I'm retiring. How can I let the PNCB know this so I don't continue to receive Recert reminders?
16. What is your policy on appeals?

1. What are the benefits of online Recertification?
We're glad you asked! There are quite a few and we hope you take advantage of this fast, convenient and money-saving way to recertify. Online recertification offers a summary of your recertification history, real-time tracking of your order status, and faster processing and online delivery of your wallet card. Plus online Recert saves you $10.00!

2. How can I find out what options I completed in the past?
The fastest way to find out is to log-in and view your Recertification History. This great feature will tell you where you are in your Recertification cycle and will guide your choices for the options to select in the years to come.

3. What contact hours did I submit last year?
If you use online Recert, we document these details in your your online Recertification History. Log-in to see your past choices.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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 2008 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 with a 2/28/09 expiration date once your enrollment form is successfully processed because you're making a commitment to follow through on this activity.

7. 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, the hours you document must be already earned within 1 or 2 years of the Recertification deadline of December 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, number of hours and the agency (if applicable) from which the hours were awarded. Click here for more about Documentation Option Requirements.

8. 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 an additional opportunity to to successfully complete your SAE option by taking a short online retest created from the current SAE. Following the guidelines listed below will help to assure your completion of the SAE requirement:

• If you do not achieve the minimum score, you will be mailed instructions about a short online retest.
• An additional $30 administrative fee for re-scoring will be required and must be paid online using the link sent in your mailed instructions.
• The deadline to complete the SAE retest is August 1.
• Upon successful completion of the retest, we will send the Critique/Answer booklet and a CE certificate awarding 18 NAPNAP contact hours.
• If you fail to successfully complete this SAE requirement, your current Recertification Option will be changed to INACTIVE. Please note that Primary Care CPNPs are required to complete 2 Primary Care SAEs and 1 Pharmacology SAE in each of their seven-year cycles. Dually certified CPNPs (those who hold both Acute Care and Primary Care certifications) must complete 1 Primary, 1 Pharmacology, and 2 Acute Care SAEs.

9. When will I receive my new wallet card?
New for this year is online wallet card access! We're really excited about this change, which gets your card to you faster and lets you print a new one immediately should you misplace it. Your current wallet card is valid until February 28, 2008. Once your 2008 Recertification Enrollment is succesfully processed, you can access your new wallet card with an expiration date of February 28, 2009 online.

10. When will I receive paper Recertification forms in the mail?
We won't be mailing out paper forms this year, and we encourage all nurses to use fast and secure online Recertification, which saves you $10.00. If you'd like to print forms and mail them in, please use the link at left. All nurses receive a Recert reminder postcard before October 1st.

11. How can I get paper Recertification forms if they weren't mailed to me?
Visit the Paper Recert Forms link to the left for printing out the pages you need.

12. 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 2007, 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.

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

14. 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.

15. I'm retiring. How can I let the PNCB know this so I don't continue to receive Recert reminders?
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!

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