Pediatric Nursing Certification Board – Overview
Pediatric nursing is an extremely rewarding nursing specialty.
Children have different disease processes, so diagnosing and treating them requires special knowledge, skills, and training.
This is required of doctors and nurses who serve in the pediatric sections. A child’s clinical structure differs greatly from an adult’s, so the technique for caring for a child’s health is also different.
According to various reports, getting a pediatric nursing certification benefits job satisfaction and career growth.
It is estimated that more than 83% of healthcare providers preferred to hire candidates with a pediatric nursing certification.
More than 97% of nursing professionals admit the certification has provided them with personal satisfaction.
Over 90% of nurse managers choose candidates with certification, while 88% of nurses admitted that certification had boosted their confidence in clinical abilities.
Pediatrics is a specialized field of medicine, and getting a certification in pediatrics is highly beneficial to nurse practitioners and the child’s family.
Why is the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Certificate Required
Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) must earn certification to get a license to practice nursing in any state.
In a DNP or MSN program, nurse practitioner (NP) students first need to complete a core course in nursing, followed by courses in the pediatrics specialty. Upon completing their education, nurse practitioners must pass a certification exam relevant to their specialty area to earn their certification, which is required for state licensure.
In addition, APRNs can also choose to transfer from one specialty area to another and complete their post-master’s degree program to be certified in pediatrics.
For instance, an adult-gerontology NP can switch careers and shift their focus to the pediatric medicine section.
To become a practicing pediatric NP, they must first become certified through a post-master’s certification program.
Where to get a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Certification?
A handful of nationally recognized agencies offer pediatric nurse practitioner certification. APRNs must verify with their state’s board of nursing to ensure that the agency meets its licensure requirements.
For PNCB (Pediatric Nursing Certification Board)
The Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) offers certification exams for pediatric nurses and pediatric nurse practitioners, including the Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN) and the Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care (CPNP-PC) or Acute Care (CPNP-AC).
The eligibility criteria for this exam include:
- Updated, valid RN license
- Acquired MSN, DNP or post-masters certificate program accredited by the CCNE or ACEN with a focus on pediatric primary or acute care
- Officially verified transcripts from APRN school/program
- Acquired a minimum of 500 hours of supervised clinical practice in acute or primary care pediatrics
- Completed graduate-level courses in advanced pathophysiology/physiology, pharmacology and health assessment
From (ANCC) American Nurses Credentialing Center
The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) offers a Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified (PPCNP-BC) credential available for initial certification.
The credential awarded by ANCC is the PPCNP-BC and costs around US$ 375 for non-members and US$ 275 for ANA members.
In this case, as the initial certificate is retired, the pediatric NP certification is the only option for certificate renewal.
The eligibility requirements for renewal certification include:
- Completing 75 clinical hours and 1 out of 8 renewal categories for a pediatric specialty within 5 years of the renewal application
- Logging at least 25 out of 75 clinical hours in pharmacotherapeutics
- Having a current ANCC pediatric NP certification, which is expiring within the next 12 months
- Having a current active RN license
- Paying the applicable fees
Conclusion
You can distinguish yourself and your career with a pediatric nurse practitioner certificate.
It is highly advisable to consult with your seniors and certified nurses in pediatrics before seeking admission into a certification program.
See Also
Follow us