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Clinical Nurse Specialist Core Exam

Certification Renewal Application Form
Downloadable PDF
Must be Mailed to ANCC
 
Credential Awarded: CNS-BC

Urgent Announcements
This exam has been retired, but can be renewed if professional development and practice hour requirements have been met. Testing is not an option to renew this certification.

Renewal Application
Certifications must be renewed every 5 years. Renewal applications are due at least 8 weeks before your certification expiration date. Apply using the "RENEW Online Here" button for fastest service, or use the typeable PDF application that can be saved on your computer, printed, signed, and then mailed. Please submit either online or by mail.

Professional Development for Renewal
You can enter your professional development any time during your 5-year renewal cycle so it is already recorded in your account when it's time to renew. Track your professional development using Access My Account then look for Professional Development in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.

Be sure to enter your professional development this way before you start your application using the "RENEW Online Here" button. Anything you enter into Access My Account after you have started the online renewal process will not transfer over to the application. If this happens, please contact ANCC for assistance.

Pricing & Discounts
Renewal
Applicable To
$350
Non-member
$200
American Nurses Association member
$280
National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists member

Prices above include $140 non-refundable administrative fee
Additional fees for special services may apply. See application for details.

Accreditation
This ANCC certification exam is retired and therefore no longer eligible for accreditation.

Related Resources

  • APRN Consensus Model Implementation
    Stay up to date on the transformative changes to advanced practice nursing resulting from Consensus Model for APRN Regulation: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification, and Education.

  • General Testing and Renewal Handbook [pdf]
    Reference all the policies, procedures, and fees pertaining to ANCC board certification.
    Revised: May 6, 2011

  • Expedited Processing of Certification Applications
    For a $200 non-refundable fee, your certification application can be processed in five business days.

  • 2008 CNS Core LJA Report [pdf]
    This reports provides a summary of a logical job analysis meeting conducted by ANCC for the Clinical Nurse Specialist Core Examination. The purpose of this meeting was to review clinical nurse specialist core competencies and to develop a test content outline and item distribution for the examination.

  • Content Expert Opportunities
    Interested in volunteering for ANCC? Learn about opportunities to become an item writer or join a content expert panel.

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