Certification and Subspecialty certification maintenance

Maintenance due dates

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To view your maintenance due date:

• Sign in to your NCC website account with your email and password
• Go to your profile (click on your name at the top right of the webpage)
• Scroll down to the Certification Maintenance section of your profile page

Maintenance due dates are quarterly and due on the 15th of the assigned month by 12 midnight (Central Standard Time) on your due date!

Maintenance due dates are assigned on a quarterly system based on when the NCC credential was initially awarded. NCC credentials are due on March 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15. 

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Maintenance fees

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Core (RNC and NP) certification maintenance costs $100* If you have used NCC CE modules to earn continuing education in accordance with the total hours required on your education plan then the following discounts to your maintenance fee apply:

• Earn 15 hours, maintenance fee = $80
• Earn 30  hours, maintenance fee = $70
• Earn 45  hours, maintenance fee = $60

Please note that the 5 hours you receive for taking the specialty assessment are not part of this discount program. 

Subspecialty (EFM, NPT, ELBW, NNIC,  ONQS, etc.)  certification maintenance fee is $50. There are no reduced fee options for your subspecialty certification maintenance application.  Subspecialty certifications include EFM, NPT, ELBW, ONQS, NNIC, and those listed in the Subspecialty Legacy Maintenance booklet.

NCC only accepts maintenance via online submission at the NCC website under Maintain Your Certification section. Payment can be made by Credit Card or Check. Please note that this may show up as "Paypal" on your bank account or credit card. 

Alternate Maintenance fee is $175.  There are no reduced fee options for alternate maintenance. 

There are no refunds for Core, Subspecialty or Alternate maintenance fees.

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Process for core certification maintenance

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All core certifications must be maintained every three years, through continuing education. The number of hours and the nature of the CE needed to maintain is determined by the education plan derived from the continuing competency assessment.  You must ensure both total hours and the specified number of hours in each of the stated core competency areas are met.  As CE is entered into the maintenance application the number of hours earned will change to reflect the core areas that CE is meeting. 

CE requirements for maintenance can be as little as 10 hours but no more than 50 hours (including the 5 hours of credit for assessment).  All CE must be in accordance with your education plan and earned AFTER the assessment has been taken. When you take the assessment you will be able to code the 5 hours of CE to any area you need inside your maintenance application.  

All applications are subject to review and approval.  The maintenance process is not automatic.  Once you submit, your application will be reviewed for compliance with the maintenance requirements.  Although this process usually takes 3-5 days, please be aware that this process can take up to two weeks based on the volume of applications received or if your application is chosen for random audit.  If you are required to turn in an updated Certification certificate before it expires you should submit your maintenance application at least 4 weeks prior to the final date, please plan accordingly. You can read more about audits at AUDIT.

Step 1 

Take the Continuing Competency Assessment

• You should take the assessment at the start of each maintenance cycle when you are assigned a new maintenance due date.    If you file early, the assessment is available to you starting 90 days from the start of your new maintenance cycle.  While you can take the assessment during this time, you cannot earn any CE until the first day of your new maintenance cycle.

• If you plan to opt out of taking the assessment, you must participate in alternate maintenance.  Please carefully review all details and requirements of the Alternate maintenance process. 

Take the assessment

Step 2

Review your education plan

• Your education plan resides in your website account and can also be referenced in your online maintenance application.  Your education plan will track CE entries that you manually enter in your maintenance application or that are posted by NCC if you use NCC CE modules or other types of NCC CE offerings.  The plan will show how requirements for continuing education are being met and what is still needed and will let you know when you have met all requirements.  
  

View Your Education Plans

Step 3

Earn CE and add it to your maintenance application

• CE earned for completed NCC modules will be automatically posted and coded to your online maintenance application.  All other CE must be manually entered and coded in your online maintenance application.  Use the coding books to help code your CE.
• You can enter CE activities as you earn them on an ongoing basis. ONLY CE earned AFTER you have taken the assessment can be applied to maintenance. Be sure you have the Conference/Program agenda with the lecture descriptions available in case you are selected for random audit. 

Add/track and Submit CE for Maintenance

Step 4

Submit your maintenance application

• Submit your CE  as recorded in your online maintenance application and pay the appropriate fee no later than 12 Midnight (central standard time) of your due date.  All applications must be submitted online.  
• The earliest that you can submit your application is one year before your maintenance due date. 
• Filing early does not change your next maintenance due date or when you can start earning CE.   You can take your assessment 3 months prior to the certification cycle start if you file early but again, CE cannot be earned until your new cycle starts.
• All maintenance applications are subject to random audit.  If your application is audited you will receive an email explaining the audit procedure with the deadline to turn in the required CE certificates and Conference or Program Agendas that include the lecture descriptions. If you fail to meet the deadline or do not have the CE required to maintain you will lapse and will need to reinstate. Consider uploading the CE certificates and programs with lecture descriptions after you attend CE offerings.  It will expedite the audit process if you are randomly selected. 
• There are no refunds on maintenance fees if you fail to complete or meet maintenance requirements during an audit. 

Add/track and Submit CE for Maintenance

Review and approval of a maintenance application usually takes 3-5 days, please be aware that this process can take up to two weeks based on the volume of applications received or if your application is chosen for random audit.  Please plan accordingly.  The average turnaround (not peak times i.e. end of each cycle) is about 3-5 business days.  You will receive an email confirmation of the receipt of your maintenance application when you submit the application and it will appear in your NCC website profile (under Certification) when your file is updated.  If you did not receive verification that you submitted your maintenance application and you still have access to the maintenance application, then it has not been submitted. 

Do not request a verification of your certification until you have seen the new certification dates in your account.

Individuals who hold an RNC credential that is no longer offered by NCC or hold a subspecialty certificate are not required to participate in the continuing competency initiative.  Maintenance requirement remains at 45 hours for core (RNC) certifications and 15 hours for a subspecialty certificate. All hours must relate to your certification specialty area.

Visit the Continuing Competency section for full details of this process.

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Requirements for core maintenance

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Continuing Education Requirement

You must take the continuing competency assessment at the beginning of each maintenance cycle. This provides you with the educational plan needed to meet your maintenance requirements.  All CE requirements are individualized to you via the assessment's education plan.  There are NO standard requirements any longer.   Education plans can vary in CE requirements of 10 to 50 hours.   CE cannot be earned and applied until you take your assessment so you should take it as early as possible in your maintenance cycle.

If you plan to opt out of taking the assessment, you must participate in alternate maintenance. Please carefully review all details and requirements of the alternate maintenance process.
  

Core RNC or NP-BC
Registered Nurse Certified or Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified

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Subspecialty certification maintenance

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All subspecialty certifications must be maintained every three years, through continuing education.

All applications are subject to review and approval. The maintenance process is not automatic and usually takes 3-5 days, please be aware this process can take up to two weeks based on the volume of applications or if your maintenance application is chosen for random audit. Please plan accordingly. The average turnaround (not peak times, i.e. end of each cycle) is about 3-5 business days. Once you submit it, your application will be reviewed for compliance with the maintenance requirements. You will receive an email confirmation of the receipt of your maintenance application when you submit the application and it will appear in your NCC website profile (under Certification) when your file is updated.  If you did not receive verification that you submitted your maintenance application and you still have access to the maintenance application, then it has not been submitted. 

These requirements apply to those who hold a subspecialty certification in EFM, ELBW, NNIC, ONQS, and Neonatal Pediatric Transport.

The following subspecialty certificates are no longer offered but can still be maintained by participating in the maintenance programs.  These include:  Breastfeeding, Menopause Clinician or Educator, Gynecologic Reproductive Health and Obstetrics for Advanced Practitioners

EFM: The ABOG MOC standards now allow participation in ABOG-approved EFM Certification to meet the annual Improvement in Medical Practice (Part IV) MOC requirement. This course has been approved to meet ABOG Improvement in Medical Practice requirements for 2023 -2024.

Upon achieving NCC EFM Certification or maintaining NCC EFM Certification diplomates will be awarded one year of Part IV credit to their personal ABOG dashboard. Part IV credit can be earned in the year of initial certification for 2023-2024. MOC Part IV credit can also be granted in the year that you provide CE documentation for certification maintenance  - if certification is maintained in 2023-2024.

Continuing Education Requirement

You must earn 15 hours of continuing education in your credentialed specialty area.  All CE must be accredited by an agency recognized by NCC.

CE earned for completed NCC modules will be automatically posted and coded to your online maintenance application.  All other CE must be manually entered and coded in your online maintenance application.  Use the coding books to help code your CE. You can enter CE activities as you earn them on an ongoing basis. 

Submit your CE as recorded in your online maintenance application and pay the appropriate fee no later than 12 Midnight (central time) of your due date.  All applications must be submitted online.  

• The earliest that you can submit your application is one year before your maintenance due date. 
• Filing early does not change your next maintenance due date or when you can start earning CE.   

Add/track and Submit CE for Maintenance

It can take up to two weeks for an application to be reviewed and approved based on the volume of applications received so plan accordingly.   The average turnaround (not peak times i.e. end of each cycle) is about 3-5 business days.  You will receive an email confirmation of the receipt of your maintenance application when you submit the application and it will appear in your NCC website profile (under Certification) when your file is updated.  If you did not receive verification that you submitted your maintenance application and you still have access to the maintenance application, then it has not been submitted. 

Beginning in 2017 NCC will submit all physician names who are EFM-certified to ABOG for MOC credit unless you request to opt out of this option.  You must provide your NPI number.

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Core legacy certification maintenance

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These are core certifications that are no longer offered by NCC but you still have an opportunity to maintain them by participating in the maintenance program.  These include Ambulatory Women's Health Care Nursing, High Risk Obstetric Nursing, Reproductive Endocrinology/Infertility Nursing, and Telephone Nursing Practice. This also includes the ANA-MCH/NCC certification program from the 1970s.

Continuing Education Requirement

You must earn 45 hours of continuing education in your credentialed specialty area.  All CE must be accredited by an agency recognized by NCC.

• CE earned for completed NCC modules will be automatically posted and coded to your online maintenance application.  All other CE must be manually entered and coded in your online maintenance application.  Use the coding books to help code your CE. You can enter CE activities as you earn them on an ongoing basis. 
• Submit your CE as recorded in your online maintenance application and pay the appropriate fee no later than 12 Midnight (central time) of your due date.  All applications must be submitted online.  
• The earliest that you can submit your application is one year before your maintenance due date. 
• Filing early does not change your next maintenance due date or when you can start earning CE.   

Add/track and Submit CE for Maintenance

It can take up to two weeks for an application to be reviewed and approved based on the volume of applications received so plan accordingly.   Average turnaround (not peak times i.e. end of each cycle) is about 3-5 business days.  You will receive an email confirmation of the receipt of your maintenance application when you submit the application and it will appear in your NCC website profile (under Certification) when your file is updated.  If you did not receive verification that you submitted your maintenance application and you still have access to the maintenance application, then it has not been submitted. 

If you fail to maintain or reinstate, retesting is not an option because the exams are no longer given and your certification will permanently lapse.

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Multiple certifications

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If you are maintaining more than one NCC certification and/or a subspecialty certificate, you must submit a separate application and fee for each certification/certificate. If applicable, you may use the same continuing education credit for multiple certifications.

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Eligibility for NCC-E emeritus status

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The NCC-E credential provides special recognition for the accomplishments of  PERMANENTLY RETIRED Certified Professionals, made during the active part of their careers.  Please note if you elect to become an NCC-E you cannot revert back to certification status without retesting which will require you to meet current eligibility criteria which may be different than when you were originally certified.

Who's eligible?

• Any NCC-certified professional who is permanently retired from active employment in their field.
• Those who have retired but continue to volunteer their skills are eligible to apply.
• If a certificant who applied for NCC-E status returns to active work, they can only regain the certification status through successful re-examination. Current eligibility criteria must be met.
• This category is designed for those who have retired and never intend to use their certification professionally again.
• Please note there is no inactive status available. NCC-E does not require maintenance.  To obtain your certification after you choose Emeritus status, you must maintain an active license or you can reinstate up to one year after your certification expires and at that quarter's maintenance due date.  After that time, you must retest meeting all current exam eligibility criteria which may be different than when you were first certified. 

What are the benefits of NCC-E status?

• Use of the NCC-E credential
• Continue to receive  NCC communications if you opt into this.
• Eligible for discounts on NCC products and services
• NCC-E certificate suitable for framing

How much does it cost?

A non-refundable one-time fee of $90 provides you with a lifetime Emeritus status in your specialty.

How do I apply?

You can apply for your NCC-E status by completing the online application and paying the $90 fee.

Access the online NCC-E Application

How do I tell you I'm retired and don't plan to keep my certification?

There is no need for official notification.  Once your expiration date is reached, your certification will lapse if you don't maintain.  However, you will still receive email notices until one year following your certification expiration.  You can ignore those notices.    Or you can email "CONTACT US" to have your record marked as an early lapse but we need that information in a formal request via email to do so.

What if I want to put my certification on inactive status?

NCC has no inactive status.  You must have an active license to maintain.   If you fail to maintain, you will have one year to reinstate without retesting.  After that time, you will have to retest to regain your NCC credentialing and meet all current exam eligibility criteria which may be different than when you were first certified.