How do I apply?
Available certification exams
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Complete overview and details can be found in the Registration Catalogs
Core certification
Nurse Practitioner certification
Subspecialties
Download NCC credentials
Exam fees and eligibility
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Fees vary depending on the test taking method and how your submit your application. Please check the registration catalog for additional fess that may apply. All applications must be submitted online at the NCC website.
Core Certification Exams leading to the RNC or NP-BC Certification:
- Paper/pencil: $250 application registration fee
- Computer: $300 application registration fee
Subspecialty Exams leading to a Certificate of Added Qualification:
Electronic Fetal Monitoring and Neonatal Pediatric Transport
- Paper/pencil
- $100 application registration fee for current NCC RNCs, NP-BCs or Certificate Holders
- $135 application registration fee for all others
- Computer
- $150 application registration fee for current NCC RNCs, NP-BCs or Certificate Holders
- $185 application registration fee for all others
Eligibility requirements vary depending of the exam you are interested in taking.
For Inpatient Obstetric Nursing, Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing, Low Risk Neonatal Nursing and Maternal Newborn Nursing the following requirements must be met to apply:
- Current licensure as an RN in the US or Canada
- 24 months specialty experience as a US or Canadian RN comprised of a minimum of 2000 hours
- Employment in the specialty sometime in the last 24 months
- Both practice time and hours must be met. This is not a either/or criterion.
For Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner and Neonatal Nurse Practitioner the following requirements must be met to apply:
- Current licensure as an RN in the US or Canada
- Successful completion of a formal nurse practitioner program that prepares neonatal nurse practitioners and awards either a graduate's degree in the specialty (Master's, a post-Master's or DNP) in the specialty
- You must be a graduate of a program in 2005 or later to be eligible.
For Electronic Fetal Monitoring Subspecialty Exam the following requirements must be meet to apply:
- Current licensure as nurse, NP, physician, physician assistant or nurse midwife.
For Neonatal Pediatric Transport Subspecialty Exam the following requirements be met to apply:
- Current licensure as a RN, NP, physician, respiratory therapist, paramedic or physician assistant.
- No practice experience is required but it is recommended that for the best possibility for successfully completing the credentialing process is that you have a minimum of two years of experience. Review more details in the registration catalog
How computer testing works
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When and how can I apply
- There are no application deadlines and a candidate may submit an application and fee at any time.
- All candidates must be determined eligible by submitting the appropriate application and required documentation.
- Applications must be submitted online at the NCC website..
Application processing
- It will take approximately 4 weeks to process an application.
- Confirmation of receipt of an application is done by email.
- Once you are determined eligible, you will be notified in writing (eligibility letter) of your 90-day testing window during which time you must schedule and take the exam.
- Eligibility letters go out after your application has been approved twice a month on the 15th of the month and the last day of the month (business days only). Testing window periods start on the 5th and 20th of each month.
How to schedule an exam
- You will schedule your own exam appointment with AMP either by phone or via the internet. Only those who have been found eligibile and have been notified in writing can schedule an exam.
- Contact information for scheduling your appointment will be provided with your eligibility letter.
Where can I take the exam
- Exams will be delivered via computer at over 100 AMP Assessment Centers geographically located throughout the United States.
- Exams will be administered by appointment only Monday through Saturday at 9:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
- Candidates are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.
- AMP Assessment Centers are typically located in H&R Block offices. Review the current list
- Core exams are 3 hours long.
- Subspecialty exams (EFM) are 2 hours long.
- There are no breaks during the testing time
What kind of computer skills are necessary
- If you can press on a key on the keyboard or click on a mouse, you have all the requisite skills to take an NCC computer exam.
- Prior to attempting the examination, you will be given the opportunity to practice taking a test on computer. This does not count against your testing test.
- You can mark questions for re-review before submitting them at any time during the testing.
- You will have the opportunity complete a survey about your testing experience.
How will results be disseminated?
- After completing the examination, a preliminary score report will be issued at the test site.
- These results are not official. Official results will be mailed from NCC within 21 days of exam administration (date of certification is based on the date on the official results not the exam date).
Verification of certification or cerificate of added qualification
- Verification of certification status to third parties cannot be made until after the official results are received in the mail.
- Verifications are done ONLY through the online verification system. There are fees for sending verifications. This process is initiated by the certified nurse or the holder of the certificate of added qualification. This verification is for primary source verification, meaning the entity requesting the verification requires the verification to come from NCC directly and not the individual certified professional.
- NCC does not send verifications to state boards of nursing or any other entity automatically. The individual holding the NCC credential must initiate the verification process via the online verification system.
- Verification of eligibility to test should be submitted with the registration application or can be submitted separately. There is no fee for this service. This is not a verification of certification.
- Official documentation of the NCC credential is available to the individual certified professional at any time free of charge from their NCC account on the NCC website. This information password protected and to access the individual must sign in with their email and password to the website first.
Extending or deferring my computer test date: What happens if you can't take the exam?
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Extension policy and fees
Any candidate can be granted one (1) extension for the next consecutive 90 day window following when the request is received (not necessarily the window immediately after the original testing window) provided that the
- request is made online at the NCC website with a non-refundable extension fee of $100 and submitted before the final day of the assigned testing window
- candidate's window of testing time has not expired
- candidate has not made an appointment with AMP to take the examination or if an appointment has been made, it was cancelled no later than four business days prior to the scheduled testing
Candidates who are approved to extend their 90 day window will not be allowed subsequently to withdraw or request a deferral from the examination process.
Once your request is approved, you will receive a new eligibility letter in the mail.
Select the extension link in the box in the upper right-hand corner of this page to submit on-line or click here.
Deferral policy and fees
Candidates who are unable to participate in the examination for which they are scheduled and who are beyond the time frame for rescheduling or cancellation of the appointment may request an additional 90 day window of time to take the examination. The request must be made online at the NCC website. This deferral is available on a one time only basis and must be approved by NCC. Candidates who had requested extensions cannot withdraw and are not eligible for a deferral.
Deferral candidates must submit an additional nonrefundable $125 fee. Eligibility must be re-established and you will be notified if additional information is needed.. Candidates who request a deferral are not eligible for any refund. Deferral requests must be received within 30 days from the last day of the original 90 day window. Deferral candidates will be assigned to the next available 90 day window for testing based on the date when the deferral request is approved.
Once your request is approved, you will receive a new eligiblity letter in the mail.
Click on the link in the upper right-hand corner of this page to submit on-line or click here.
Withdrawing candidates
Only the applicant/candidate can withdraw from the examination process. Withdrawing candidates will receive a refund of $80 for subspecialty exams and $135 for core and NP exams. All withdrawal requests must be made in writing, signed and dated and sent to NCC provided that
- the candidate has not made an appointment to take the exam at an AMP center, or
- if the candidate has made an appointment with AMP, it must be cancelled no later than four days prior to the scheduled testing.
The request must be postmarked no later than one month prior to the end of the candidate's 90 day test window. For example, if the test window concludes on September 20th, the last day for a withdrawal request to be accepted would be August 20th.
No refund will be considered after the candidate has taken an examination.
Send your withdrawal request to the address at the bottom of this web page.
Substitutions
Candidate substitutions cannot be made for ineligible, withdrawn or extension/deferral candidates.
How paper and pencil testing works
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When and how can I apply
- The annual testing date for 2012 is September 21, 2012.
- All candidates must be determined eligible by submitting the appropriate application and required documentation. There are no NCC sponsored sites. All paper/pencil test sites are established by request.
- A minimum of six candidates is needed to establish a test site. Any certification or subspecialty exam counts toward meeting the candidate minimum.
- All applications must be submitted online at the NCC website no later than the filing deadline date of Monday, July 9, 2012.
Setting up a test site
- All test sites must be approved by NCC. The request to be a test site must be received by NCC with a USPS postmark date no later than of Monday, May 14, 2012. Inquiries received after that time will not be considered.
- Test sites must be provided free of charge to NCC an examination room and two proctors according to NCC requirements.
- To be considered, click here to complete the online test site request form by Monday, May 14, 2012, or contact Betty Sobala at bsobala@nccnet.org.
- For sites that fail to reach the minimum of six applicants, each applicant will receive a refund of $200. The $50 application fee is non-refundable. This notice with the refund will be sent on August 6, 2012 to all individuals affected.
Application processing
- It will take approximately 4 weeks to process an application.
- Once you have been determined eligible, you will receive an eligibility letter. It takes approximately four weeks to process an application from time of receipt. With your eligibility letter, you will receive directions for downloading a Candidate Guide which provides you with an overview of all test policies and procedures and a test outline, competency statements and sample questions to familiarize you with the test format.
- Incomplete applications are subject to a nonrefundable $25 re-processing fee and will be returned to the test coordinator for distribution to the applicant. You will have until July 30, 2012 to resolve an incomplete notice. If this issue is not resolved by that date, you will be determined ineligible. Both the application fee and re-processing fee are nonrefundable. Ineligible notices will be sent directly to the applicant.
- August 6, 2012, will also be the date that any applicant will be notified that the required threshold of six individuals to test at the special test site has not been reached. A refund of the examination fee will be returned with this notice but the $50 application fee is not refundable.
Admittance to the exam
Approximately two weeks prior to the test date, you will receive your admission ticket to the test site.
How will results be disseminated?
Test results will be MAILED to each candidate within six weeks of the date of the test administration. Results cannot be transmitted by phone, fax or email.
Verification of certification or cerificate of added qualification
- Verification of certification status to third parties cannot be made until after the official results are received in the mail
- NCC does not send verifications to state boards of nursing or any other entity automatically. The individual holding the NCC credential must initiate the verification process via the online verification system.
What happens if the candidate is not able to take the exam as scheduled
- Paper/Pencil Candidates Carryover option: Candidates who fail to appear to take the test on the scheduled test date or request a change to computer testing prior to the scheduled paper/pencil test date can carryover to take the computer test with an additional payment of $125. This request must be received no later than a postmark date of November 9, 2012 for those who failed to appear to take test as scheduled.
- Candidates will be assigned to the next available 90 day computer testing window after determination of their eligibility. Carryover to subsequent paper/pencil tests are no longer available because NCC is providing paper/pencil testing by request only. Carryover candidates must submit a new application and documentation and meet the then current eligibility criteria. This is a one time only option. Paper/pencil carryover candidates cannot withdraw, extend or defer their computer test fees.
Paper and pencil annual test date & filing deadlines
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The annual testing date for 2012 is September 21, 2012.
All applications must be received either online or with a postmark no later than the filing deadline date of Monday, July 9, 2012.
All Requests to become a test site must be submitted using this online test site interest form no later than Monday, May 14, 2012.
Carry over a paper and pencil to computer or withdraw
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If you are unable to take the exam:
Withdrawing from the examination process
- Only the applicant/candidate may request to be withdrawn from the examination process. All such requests must be made in writing by a postmark date of August 17, 2012.
- Withdrawal candidates will receive a $110 refund for core (leading RNC or BC credential) exams and $50 for subspecialty exams.
- Withdrawal fees will be issued AFTER the test administration date.
- No refund requests will be considered after a postmark date of August 17, 2012 for any reason. Please mail your request for withdrawal to NCC, P.O. Box 11082, Chicago, IL 60611-0082.
Carryover fees
- All carryover candidates must submit a new application and documentation and meet current eligibility criteria. Carryovers are to computer testing only.
- If, due to illness or other unforeseen circumstances on the day of the examination, you are unable to report to your test site, you may carryover your examination fee to computer testing.
- The carryover request must be received no earlier than the postmark date of September 21, 2012 examination date and no later than a postmark date of November 9, 2012.
- A $125 non-refundable fee must be submitted with the request, along with a new application and documentation. Current eligibility criteria must be met.
- The applicant will be given the next available 90-day window after determination of eligibility to take the exam.
- This is a one-time only option.
- Candidates who carryover to a subsequent test administration are not eligible for any refund.
- Substituting new candidates for those who carryover or withdraw will not be allowed.
- There is no carryover option for paper/pencil candidates to carryover to other paper/pencil venues. This cannot be done.
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While computer testing is gaining popularity, NCC is still committed to giving paper/pencil examinations once a year.
Paper/pencil testing is done by special test site sponsorship only. The annual test date for 2012 is September 21, 2012.
To establish a special test site the following criteria must be met:
- Test site request must be submitted by a postmark date of no later than May 14, 2012.
- All requests must be approved by NCC.
- A minimum of six (6) persons is required. Any NCC examination counts toward meeting the person minimum (any mix of core and/or subspecialty candidates).
- Special test sites must provide a testing facility at no charge to NCC. The testing facility must accommodate seating each test taker every other seat.
- Special test sites must provide proctors at no charge to NCC. There is a 2 proctor minimum with 1 additional proctor for each 25 test takers.
- All examination applications MUST be submitted online by July 9, 2012..
- Each application must be submitted with individual exam fee payments (check or credit card). .
- If the site fails to reach the required 6 applicants, a refund of the exam fee less the $50.00 application fee will be returned the individuals affected on August 6, 2012.
- All policies and deadlines apply to special site candidates. Incomplete applications will be returned and may result in candidates not being allowed to test.
- If you are interested in establishing a special test site for 2012, please email Betty Sobala (bsobala@nccnet.org) for more information or complete this online test site interest form before Monday May 14, 2012.
ADA requests
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It is the policy of NCC that no individual shall be excluded from the opportunity to participate in the NCC examination program on the basis of race, national origin, religion, sex, age or disability.
Any requests for special testing accommodations pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act must be made in writing and submitted to the NCC office, 142 E. Ontario #1700, Chicago, IL 60611 Attn: ADA Requests.. Download the special request form. Upon receipt of such requests for special accommodations, NCC will contact the applicant. Such requests must be signed by a clinician, physician, or other qualified specialist with training and experience appropriate to diagnose and treat the specified disability. Applications and other documentation should be submitted online. In the future, an online option for ADA requests will become available.
How to study
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NCC does not provide any review courses or study materials for the examinations. NCC views the examinations as an evaluative process. Eligibility criteria have been established to identify minimum levels of preparation for the examinations. Candidates will receive detailed test outlines and suggested resources upon receipt of their application—see Candidate Guides below.
Suggested Resources
There is a guide for each NCC examination offered. Each Candidate Guide contains the following:
- Competency statements
- Detailed test outlines
- Sample questions (to familiarize candidate with item format)
- List of book/periodical references
- All NCC Policies related to the test administration process
Download Candidate Guides
NCC has no input into any certification preparation endeavor. You should carefully review any certificaton preparation opportunities before participating.
Center for Certification Preparation and Review (CCPR)
Offers practice examinations and study workbooks for many of NCC examinations.
CCPR has new contact information (effective 8/9/10)
PO Box 827
Michigan City, IN 46361-0827
www.ccprwebsite.org
800-951-9195 or 219-879-3407
NCC has no involvement in the design or development of these materials.
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PEC Professional Education Center
www.proedcenter.com
This organization offers certification review courses throughout the U.S..
NCC has no involvement in the development of these courses.
Retest
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If you wish to retest
- You must wait 90 days from the day of your last test date to apply
- You must submit another application with full documentation
- You must pay the current examination fee
- If an applicant files earlier than 90 days from the last test date, the application will be returned. The applicant will be subject to the $50 nonrefundable application fee
- There is no limit on how many times an individual can retest