To align with the 2022 Standards for Quality Nurse Practitioner Education (6th Edition), the 2023 NANN/NANNP Educational Standards (6th Edition), and the 2020 NPWH Educational standards addendum, NCC has updated the clinical hour requirements for the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP)and Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) certifications. These changes reflect the current regulatory climate and national educational benchmarks. Effective January 1, 2030, all applicants graduating after December 31, 2029, must document a minimum of 750 direct patient care clinical hours to be eligible to take NCC's nurse practitioner certification examinations. Simulation hours cannot be used or included to meet this 750-hour requirement. These changes only apply to the NP certifications; non-NP exams are unaffected.
Based on the foregoing, the NCC Board of Directors has initiated the following actions:
- Starting on January 1, 2030, and thereafter, 750 direct patient care clinical hours in the specialty area will be required in all graduate programs, for all applicants who graduate after December 31, 2029, to meet eligibility requirements for the NNP or WHNP certification examinations.
- All DNP programs that prepare Neonatal or Women’s Health Care nurse practitioners must have a minimum of 750 direct patient care clinical hours for all graduates who graduate after December 31, 2029. In DNP programs, these hours can be within the 1,000-hour minimum requirements.
- The 750 direct patient care clinical hours must meet the standards set for either NNP or WHNP students in specific practice settings and cannot include simulation hours. WHNP programs may use up to 50 of these hours in telemedicine.
- Starting January 1, 2029, all NPs must test within 5 years of their graduation date.
Requirements for the 750 direct patient care hours and the amount of time allowed for testing are entirely determined by the graduation date. Find the graduation date below to see exactly what is required.
|
Graduation Date |
Required Clinical Hours |
Core Rules & Deadlines |
|
Before Jan 1, 2029 |
600 Hours |
Candidates have until December 31, 2033 to register under the 600-hour standard, provided they are still within 8 years of their graduation date. After December 31, 2033, candidates must be within 5 years of the graduation date and have 750 direct patient care clinical hours to be eligible.. |
|
Jan 1, 2028 – Dec 31, 2029 |
600 Hours |
Candidates can still test under the 600-hour standard but must register and test within 5 years of their graduation date. All candidates after December 31, 2033, will be required to have 750 direct patient care clinical hours. |
|
On or After Jan 1, 2030 |
750 Hours |
Candidates must have completed 750 direct patient care hours (zero simulation allowed) and must test within 5 years of graduation to meet eligibility. |
- The 5-Year Testing Requirement: Starting January 1, 2029, all applicants must test within 5 years of their graduation date to be eligible for certification.
- The 750 Hour Requirement: All candidates who graduate after 12/31/2029 must have 750 direct patient care clinical hours to be eligible for certification. After December 31, 2033, all applicants, regardless of the graduation date, must have 750 direct patient care clinical hours and be within 5 years of graduation to be eligible for certification. Simulation hours cannot be counted in the required 750 direct patient care clinical hours.
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Programs: If you are in a DNP program, your 750 direct patient care hours can be counted within your program's 1,000-hour minimum requirement.
- Currently Certified NPs: If you already hold an active certification and maintain it, this policy does not affect you unless you allow your certification to lapse at which time to obtain certification eligibility criteria must be met according to NCC policy