title: Nursing credentials and certifications
text: Nursing credentials and certifications are the various credentials and certifications that a person must have to practice nursing legally. Nurses' postnominal letters (abbreviations listed after the name) reflect their credentials—that is, their achievements in nursing education, licensure, certification, and fellowship. The letters usually appear in the following order:
   Highest earned academic degree in or related to nursing (e.g. "DNP" or "PhD")
   Nursing licensure (e.g. "RN," "LPN")
   Nursing certification (e.g. "CCRN")
   Nursing fellowship (e.g. "FAAN")
  
  Generally, credentials are listed from most to least permanent. A degree, once earned, cannot, in normal circumstances, be taken away. State licensure is active until retirement and otherwise only revoked in cases of serious professional misconduct. Certifications generally must be periodically renewed by examination or the completion of a prescribed number of continuing education units (CEUs). This is often called maintenance of certification.
  
  Nurses may also hold non-nursing credentials including academic degrees. These are usually omitted unless they are related to the nurse's job. For instance, those with master's degrees usually do not list their bachelor's degrees (only the highest earned degree), and a staff nurse would likely not list an MBA, but a nurse manager might choose to do so.
  
  Some nurses who achieve a master's degree (MSN) leave the patient-care aspect of nursing, and practice in a more managerial role. An example would be earning an MSN in healthcare risk management. Such a nurse, while still fully an accredited nurse, will likely become the risk manager for a hospital, working in health administration rather than direct care and perhaps even becoming the director or manager of the risk-management department. In this role, he or she may never see another patient except while doing hospital inspections, or perhaps talking to a patient or the patient's family about a quality-of-care concern. In this role, the nurse becomes something similar to an auditor and a teacher of patient care quality and risk for the entire hospital staff. This nurse likely will also get the certification CPHQ: Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality.
  
  Nursing credentials are separated from the person's name (and from each other) with commas. Usually, no periods are  placed within the credentials (e.g. "BSN" not "B.S.N.")
  
  Nursing certifications
  In the United States and Canada, many nurses who choose a specialty become certified in that area, signifying that they possess expert knowledge. Over 200 nursing specialties and subspecialties are available.  Studies from the Institute of Medicine have demonstrated that specialty-certified nurses have higher rates of patient satisfaction and lower rates of work-related errors in patient care.
  
  Registered nurses (RNs) are not required to be certified in a certain specialty by law. For example, it is not necessary to be a certified medical-surgical registered nurse (CMSRN) (the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses [AMSN] certification, administered by the Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board [MSNCB]) to work on a medical-surgical floor, and most medical-surgical nurses are not CMSRNs. Certifications do, however, instill professionalism and make the nurse more attractive to prospective and current employers. Certified nurses may earn a salary differential over their uncertified colleagues, but this is rare.
  
  Some hospitals and other health-care facilities are willing to pay certified nurses extra when they work within their specialties. Also, some hospitals may require certain nurses, such as nursing supervisors or lead nurses, be certified. Certification instills confidence in the nurses. Magnet hospitals advocate certifications.
  
  Alphabetical listing of nursing and related credentials and certifications
  
  Key
  Throughout the list, the following credentialing organizations are mentioned: 
   AACN: American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (http://www.aacn.org)
   AHNCC: American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation (http://www.ahncc.org)
   ANCC: American Nurses Credentialing Center (https://www.nursingworld.org/ancc/)
   AANPBC: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (http://www.aanpcert.org)
   ONCC: Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (http://www.oncc.org)
  
  A
   AAS: Associate of Applied Science
   AAN: Associate of Arts in Nursing
   ABLS: Advanced Burn Life Support (not intended for postnominal use)
   ABQAURP: CHCQM - Board Certification in Health Care Quality and Management
   ACCNS-AG: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist (Certified by AACN)
   ACCNS-N: Neonatal Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist (Certified by AACN)
   ACCNS-P: Pediatric Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist (Certified by AACN)
   ACHPN: Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse  
   ACHRN: Advanced Certified Hyperbaric Registered Nurse
   ACLS: Advanced Cardiac Life Support (not intended for postnominal use)
   ACM-RN: Accredited Case Manager-Registered Nurse
   ACNP-BC: Acute Care Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified
   ACNPC: Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification (Certified by AACN)
   ACNPC-AG: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification (Certified by AACN)
   ACNS-BC: Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist - Board Certified
   ACRN: AIDS Certified Registered Nurse
   ADLS: Advanced Disaster Life Support
   ADN: Associate Degree in Nursing
   AFN-BC:  Advanced Forensic Nursing–Board Certified (http://nursecredentialing.org/ForensicNursing-Advanced)
   AGACNP-BC: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified (certified by ANCC)
   AGPCNP-BC: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified (certified by ANCC)
   AGNP-C: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner-Certified (certified by AANPBC)
   AHN-BC: Advanced Holistic Nurse-Board Certified (certified by AHNCC)
   ALNC: Advanced Legal Nurse Consultant
   ANEF: Academy of Nursing Education Fellow
   ANLC: Advanced Nurse Lactation Consultant
   ANP-BC: Adult Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified (certified by ANCC)
   ANP-C: Adult Nurse Practitioner-Certified (certified by AANPBC)
   ANVP: Advanced Neurovascular Practitioner
   AOCN: Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse
   AOCNP: Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner
   AOCNS: Advanced Oncology Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist
   APHN-BC: Advanced Public Health Nurse-Board Certified (changed to PHNA-BC)
   APHN-BC: Advanced Practice Holistic Nurse-Board Certified (certified by AHNCC)
   APN: Advanced Practice Nurse
   APNP: Advanced Practice Nurse Prescriber
   APP: Advanced Practice Provider
   APRN: Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
   ARNP: Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner
   ASN: Associate of Science in Nursing
   ATCN: Advanced Trauma Care for Nurses course
  
  B
   BLS: Basic Life Support (not intended for postnominal use)
   BDLS: Basic Disaster Life Support
   BCEN: Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (not intended for postnominal use)
   BM: Bachelor of Midwifery
   BMTCN: Blood and Marrow Transplant Certified Nurse
   BN: Bachelor of Nursing
   BNSc: Bachelor of Nursing Science
   BPS: Bachelor of Professional Studies with a concentration in Nursing
   BS: Bachelor of Science with Nursing Major
   BScN: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Canada)
   BHSc Nsg: Bachelor of Health Science—Nursing Nursing Qualification for RNs in Australia
   BSN: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  
  C
   CANP: Certified Adult Nurse Practitioner
   CAPA: Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia nurse
   CARN: Certified Addictions Registered Nurse
   CATN-I: Course in Advanced Trauma Nursing -Instructor (not intended for postnominal use)
   CATN-P: Course in Advanced Trauma Nursing -Provider (not intended for postnominal use)
   CBCN: Certified Breast Care Nurse
   CBN:  Certified Bariatric Nurse
   CCCI: Canadian Certified Clinical Instructor
   CCCN: Certified Continence Care Nurse
   CCDS: Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist
   CCE: Certified Childbirth Educator
   CCM: Certified Case Manager
   CCNS: Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist
   CCRN: Certification in Acute/Critical Care Nursing 
   CCTC: Certified Clinical Transplant Coordinator
   CCTN: Certified Clinical Transplant Nurse
   CDAL: Certified Director of Assisted Living
   CDDN: Certified Developmental Disabilities Nurse
   CDCES: Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist
   CDMS: Certified Disability Management Specialist
   CDN: Certified Dialysis Nurse
   CDONA/LTC: Certified Director of Nursing Administration/Long Term Care
   C-EFM: Certified in Electronic Fetal Monitoring
   CEN: Certified Emergency Nurse
   CENP: Certified Executive in Nursing Practice
   CETN: Certified Enterostomal Therapy Nurse
   CFCN: Certified Foot Care Nurse
   CFN: Certified Forensic Nurse
   CFNP: Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
   CFRN: Certified Flight Registered Nurse
   CGN: Certified Gastroenterology Nurse
   CGRN: Certified Gastroenterology Registered Nurse
   CHES: Certified Health Education Specialist
   CHN: Certified Hemodialysis Nurse
   CHPLN: Certified Hospice and Palliative Licensed Nurse 
   CHPN: Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse 
   CHPNA: Certified Hospice and Palliative Nursing Assistant 
   CHPPN: Certified Hospice and Palliative Pediatric Nurse 
   CHRN: Certified Hyperbaric Registered Nurse
   CHSE: Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator
   CHSE-A: Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator-Advanced
   CHSOS: Certified Healthcare Simulation Operations Specialist
   CIC: Certified in Infection Control
   CLC: Certified Lactation Counselor
   CLNC: Certified Legal Nurse Consultant
   CLS: Clinical Laboratory Scientist
   CM: Certified Midwife
   CMA: Certified Medical Assistant
   CMAS: Certified Medical Audit Specialist
   CMC: Cardiac Medicine Certification
   CMCN: Certified Managed Care Nurse
   CMDSC: Certified MDS Coordinator
   CMSRN: Certified Medical—Surgical Registered Nurse
   CNA: Certified Nursing Assistant
   CNCC(C): Certified Nurse in Critical Care (Canada)
   CNE: Certified Nursing Educator
   CNE: Chief Nurse Executive
   CNeph(C): Certified in Nephrology Nursing (Canada)
   CNL: Clinical Nurse Leader
   CNLCP: Certified Nurse Life Care Planner
   CNM: Certified Nurse Midwife
   CNML: Certified Nurse Manager and Leader
   CNN: Certified in Nephrology Nursing
   CNO: Chief Nursing Officer
   CNOR: Certified Perioperative Nurse
   CNP: Certified Nurse Practitioner
   C-NPT: Certified in Neonatal Pediatric Transport
   CNRN: Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse
   CNS: Clinical Nurse Specialist
   CNSC: Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (Formerly CNSN: Certified Nutrition Support Nurse)
   COCN: Certified Ostomy Care Nurse
   COHC: Certified Occupational Hearing Conservationist
   COHN: Certified Occupational Health Nurse
   COHN/CM: Certified Occupational Health Nurse/Case Manager
   COHN-S: Certified Occupational Health Nurse—Specialist
   COHN-S/CM: Certified Occupational Health Nurse—Specialist/Case Manager
   CORLN: Certified Otorhinolaryngology Nurse
   CPAN: Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse
   CPDN: Certified Peritoneal Dialysis Nurse
   CPEN: Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse
   CPHON: Certified Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurse
   CPHQ: Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality
   CPLC: Certified in Perinatal Loss Care 
   CPN: Certified Pediatric Nurse or Community Psychiatric Nurse (United Kingdom)
   CPNA: Certified Pediatric Nurse Associate
   CPNL: Certified Practical Nurse, Long-term care
   CPNP: Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
   CPON: Certified Pediatric Oncology Nurse
   CPSN: Certified Plastic Surgical Nurse
   CRN: Certified Radiologic Nurse
   CRNA: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
   CRNFA: Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant
   CRNI: Certified Registered Nurse Infusion
   CRNL: Certified Registered Nurse, Long-term care
   CRNO: Certified Registered Nurse in Ophthalmology
   CRNP: Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner
   CRRN: Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse
   CRRN-A: Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse—Advanced
   CS: Clinical Specialist
   CSC: Cardiac Surgery Certification
   CSHA: Certified Specialist in Hospital Accreditation
   CSN: Certified School Nurse
   C-SPI: Certified Specialist in Poison Information
   CT: Certified in Thanatology (dying, death and bereavement)
   CTN: Certified Transcultural Nurse
   CTRN: Certified Transport Registered Nurse
   CTRS: Certified Therapeutic Recreational Specialist
   CUA: Certified Urologic Associate
   CUCNS: Certified Urologic Clinical Nurse Specialist
   CUNP: Certified Urologic Nurse Practitioner
   CURN: Certified Urologic Registered Nurse
   CVICU: Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit
   CVN: Certified Vascular Nurse
   CVOR: Cardiovascular Operating Room
   CVRN-BC:  Cardiovascular Nurse-Board Certified.
   CWCN: Certified Wound Care Nurse
   CWOCN: Certified Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nurse
   CWS: Certified Wound Specialist
  
  D
   DCNP: Dermatology Certified Nurse Practitioner
   DipNAdmin: Diploma in Nursing Administration
   DN: Doctor of Nursing
   DNP: Doctor of Nursing Practice
   DrNP: Doctor of Nursing Practice
   DNS: Doctor of Nursing Science  also seen as DNSc
   DSN: Diabetes Specialist Nurse
   DWC: Diabetic Wound Certified
   DVNE: Domestic violence nurse examiner
  
  E
   ECRN: Emergency Communications Registered Nurse (not intended for postnominal use)
   ED: Emergency Department
   EdD: Doctor of Education
   EN: Enrolled Nurse
   ENC(C): Emergency Nurse Certified (Canada)
   ENP-BC: Emergency Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified (certified by ANCC)
   ENP-C: Emergency Nurse Practitioner- Certified (certified by AANPBC)
   ENPC: Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course (not intended for postnominal use)
   ENPC-I: Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course Instructor (not intended for postnominal use)
   ENPC-P: Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course Provider (not intended for postnominal use)
   ET: Enterostomal Therapist
  
  F
   FAADN: Fellow, Academy of Associate Degree Nursing 
   FAAN: Fellow, American Academy of Nursing
   FAANA: Fellow, American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology
   FAANP: Fellow, American Association of Nurse Practitioners
   FAAOHN: Fellow, American Association of Occupational Health Nurses 
   FAAPM: Fellow, American Academy of Pain Management
   FACCWS: Fellow, American College of Certified Wound Specialists
   FACHE: Fellow, American College of Healthcare Executives
   FAEN: Fellow, Academy of Emergency Nursing
   FAHA: Fellow, American Heart Association
   FNC: Family Nurse Clinician
   FNP-C: Family Nurse Practitioner - Certified (Certified by AANPBC)
   FNP-BC: Family Nurse Practitioner - Board Certified (Certified by ANCC)
   FPNP: Family Planning Nurse Practitioner
   FRCN: Fellow, Royal College of Nursing
   FRCNA: Fellow, Royal College of Nursing, Australia
   FT: Fellow in Thanatology, Association of Death Educators and Counselors
  
  G
   GN: Graduate Nurse (awaiting RN licensure)
   GNP: Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
   GPN: General Pediatric Nurse
   GPN: Graduate Practical Nurse
   GRN: Graduate Registered Nurse
  
  H
   HACP: Hospital Accreditation Certified Professional
   HNB-BC: Holistic Nurse Baccalaureate-Board Certified (certified by AHNCC)
   HNC: Holistic Nurse, Certified (changed to HN-BC)
   HN-BC: Holistic Nurse-Board Certified (certified by AHNCC)
   HWNC-BC: Health and Wellness Nurse Coach-Board Certified (certified by AHNCC)
  
  I
   IBQH:  International Board for Quality in Healthcare
   IBCLC: International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant
   ICC: Intensive Care Certification
   ICU: Intensive Care Unit
   INC: Intensive Neonatal Care certification
   INS: Informatics Nurse Specialist
   IPN: Immunisation Program Nurse: Queensland Australia specialist qualification / endorsement
   IR: Interventional Radiology
  
  L
   LCCE: Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator
   LGN: Licensed Graduate Nurse(British Columbia, Canada)
   LGN(P): Licensed Graduate Nurse, Provisional</ref>(British Columbia, Canada)
   LNC: Legal Nurse Consultant
   LNCC: Legal Nurse Consultant, Certified
   LNP: Licensed Nurse Practitioner—Used by the Commonwealth of Virginia, Board of Nursing, as a license status
   LPN: Licensed Practical Nurse
   LPT: Licensed Psychiatric Technician 
   LSN: Licensed School Nurse
   LTAC: Long Term Acute Care
   LTC: Long Term Care (LPN Specific)
   LVN: Licensed Vocational Nurse
  
  M
   MA: Master of Arts
   MACN: Member, Australian College of Nursing, Australia
   MAN: Master of Arts in Nursing
   MICT: Master of Information and Communication Technology
   MICU: Medical intensive care unit
   MICU: Mobile intensive care unit
   ME: Menopause Educator
   MEd: Master of Education
   MEmerg Nsg: Master's degree in Emergency Nursing Australia
   MENP: Master of Entry to Nursing Practice (for any non-nursing bachelor's degree)
   MHN: Mental Health Nurse—Registered Nurse Endorsed to practice Advanced nursing in Mental Health 
   MICN: Mobile Intensive Care Nurse
   MN: Master of Nursing
   MPH: Master of Public Health
   MRCN: Member, Royal College of Nursing (UK)
   MS: Master of Science
   MSA: Medicare Set-Aside
   MSN: Master of Science in Nursing
   MSN/Ed: Master of Science in Nursing Education
   MSN-NLM: Master of Science in Nursing, Nursing Leadership and Management.
  
  N
   NC-BC: Nurse Coach-Board Certified (certified by AHNCC)
   NCMP: Certified Menopause Practitioner
   NCSN: National Certified School Nurse
   NE-BC: Nurse Executive-Board Certified
   NEA-BC: Nurse Executive Advanced-Board Certified
   NHDP-BC: National Healthcare Disaster Professional-Board Certified
   NICU: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
   NNP-BC: Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
   NP(A): Nurse Practitioner, Adult(British Columbia, Canada)
   NP(F): Nurse Practitioner, Family(British Columbia, Canada)
   NP(P): Nurse Practitioner, Pediatrics(British Columbia, Canada)
   NP-C: Nurse Practitioner, Certified (certified by AANPBC)
   NPP: Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric
   NSE: Nursing Student Extern
   NSWOC: Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence
   NRP: Neonatal Resuscitation Program (not intended for postnominal use)
   NVRN: Neurovascular Registered Nurse
   NZCFN: New Zealand Certified Flight Nurse
   NPS: Neonatal / Pediatric Specialty
  
  O
   OCN: Oncology Certified Nurse
   OMS: Ostomy Management Specialist
   ONC: Orthopaedic Nurse Certified
  
  P
   PACU: Post-anesthesia care unit
   PALS: Pediatric Advanced Life Support (not intended for postnominal use)
   PCCN: Progressive Care Certified Nurse
   PCNS: Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist
   PhD: Doctor of Philosophy
   PHN: Public Health Nurse
  PHNA-BC: Advanced Public Health Nurse
   PHRN: Pre-Hospital Registered Nurse
   PICU: Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
   PMH-BC: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse
   PMHNP-BC: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
   PMHCNS-BC: Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist
   PNP-BC: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Board Certified 
   PNP-AC: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care
   PNP-PC: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care
  
  Q
   QN: Queen's Nurse
  
  R
   RAC-CT: Resident Assessment Coordinator
   RCP: Respiratory Care Practitioner
   RDN: Registered Dental Nurse (United Kingdom)
   RIN: Rural and Isolated Practice Registered Nurses (RIPRN) (Queensland, Australia)
   RM: Registered Midwife
   RMN: Registered Mental Nurse (United Kingdom)
   RN: Registered Nurse
   RN-BC: Registered Nurse, ANCC Board Certified
   RN(C): Registered Nurse, Certified Practice(British Columbia, Canada)
   RN(P): Registered Nurse, Provisional(British Columbia, Canada)
   RN(T): Registered Nurse, Temporary(British Columbia, Canada)
   RNC: Registered Nurse, Certified: American Academy Certified Nurse
   RNC-LRN: Registered nurse certified in low-risk neonatal nursing
   RNC-MNN: Registered nurse certified in maternal newborn nursing
   RNC-NIC: Registered nurse certified in neonatal intensive care
   RNC-OB: Registered nurse certified in inpatient obstetrics
   RNCS: Registered Nurse Clinical Specialist
   RNCS: Registered Nurse Certified Specialist
   RNFA: Registered Nurse First Assistant
   RNM: Registered Nurse-Midwife
   RNLD: Registered Nurse Learning Disabilities 
   RPN: Registered practical nurse
   RPN: Registered Psychiatric Nurse (Western Canada)
   RRT: Registered Respiratory Therapist
  
  S
   SANE: Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner
   SANE-A: Certified Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner-Adult/Adolescent
   SANE-P: Certified Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner-Pediatric
   SCN: Supervisory Clinical Nurse
   SCRN: Stroke Certified Registered Nurse
   SEN: State Enrolled Nurse
   SHN: Sexual and Reproductive Health endorsed RN—Queensland Australia
   SN: Student Nurse (RN preparation)
   SNSC: School Nurse Services Credential (California CTC)
   SPN: Student Nurse (LPN preparation)
   SRNA: Student Registered Nurse Anesthetist(CRNA preparation)
   SVN: Student Nurse (LVN preparation)
  
  T
   TCAR: Trauma Care After Resuscitation course 
   TCRN: Trauma Certified Registered Nurse
   TNCC: Trauma Nursing Core Course (not intended for postnominal use)
   TNCC-I: Trauma Nursing Core Course Instructor (not intended for postnominal use)
   TNCC-P: Trauma Nursing Core Course Provider  (not intended for postnominal use)
   TNP: Telephone Nursing Practitioner
   TNS: Trauma Nurse Specialist
  
  V
  VA-BC:  Vascular Access Board Certified
  
  W
   WCC: Wound Care Certified
   WHNP-BC: Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner
   CWOCN: Certified Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurse
   WTA-C: Certified Wound Treatment Associate
  
  References
  
  External links
  
   
  Professional titles and certifications