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Certification
- Certification is effective for three years from the last day of the month in which the applicant passed the exam.
- Certification must then be renewed every three years
Eligibility Requirements
- Applicant must be a Certified Dialysis Nurse (CDN).
- Applicant must hold a current, full and unrestricted license to practice as a registered nurse in the United States or its territories.
- Applicant must have at least two year’s experience in nephrology nursing as a registered nurse during the last three years.
- Fifty percent of employment hours must have been in nephrology nursing.
- Effective September 1, 2004, for all recertifications due beginning September 2007, the work requirement has been changed to the following: A minimum of 1000 hours in 3 years, 50% of which must be in nephrology nursing.
- Applicants pursuing a baccalaureate degree in nursing full time for two out of the last three years may waive the employment eligibility requirement for only one recertification period. Verification of full time student status is required.
Continuing Education Requirements
- Thirty (30) contact hours of continuing education in nephrology nursing
- An NNCC specified accreditation body must approve continuing education.
- Organizations accredited by the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center - Commission on Accreditation (ANCC-COA), the credentialing body of the American Nurses’ Association. (For example, The American Nephrology Nurses’ Association (ANNA), which is both an accredited provider and approver of continuing education in nursing).
- The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
- The Council of Continuing Education
- California, Florida, Kansas, Ohio, and Iowa State Boards of Nursing
- Must be completed during the recertification period.
- Continuing education certificates must include the following information:
- Name of attendee
- Date of program
- Name of program
- Number of contact hours awarded
- Accreditation statement
- Please retain all contact hour certificates in your personal files in the event of an audit.
- All course work towards a baccalaureate in nursing can be used towards the continuing education requirement for only one recertification period.
Sources of Continuing Education
- Nephrology-specific nursing continuing education programs
- Independent study programs in nephrology offering nursing contact hours
- Academic credit
- Includes all course work in academic programs leading to a baccalaureate degree in nursing. It is not necessary that the course content be nephrology nursing concepts. This option may be used for only one recertification period.
- Certificants enrolled in graduate nursing degree programs (master's or higher) may apply only nephrology-related coursework.
- Five contact hours will be assigned for one semester credit.
- Three contact hours will be assigned for one quarter credit.
- Professional Publications
- The publication must be relevant to nephrology nursing
- The work must be published by a recognized publishing house or professional journal.
- Five contact hours will be assigned for a book chapter, manuscript, article or paper.
- Fifteen contact hours will be assigned for authorship or co-authorship of a book.
- Multimedia Program Development
- Includes the preparation of program content and script of videotapes, audiotapes, or computer generated discs.
- The program must be relevant to nephrology and be awarded continuing education credit in nursing.
- Five contact hours will be assigned for the production of one program.
Recertification Options
The following two options are available to meet the recertification requirements:
Continuing education and clinical experience:
If you elect the continuing education option, you must submit a recertification application with required documentation and the recertification fee. Applications for renewal of your CDN by continuing education must be postmarked by the last day of the month in which your certification expires.
>Download the Application [PDF file, ~108K]
Recertification by examination:
An examination application can be obtained by clicking the link below or calling 888-884-6622. When submitting the examination application for recertification, all requirements for recertifying must be met with the exception of the submission of continuing education. Testing must be completed before the certification expiration date. An examination application and fee must be submitted by the deadline (eight weeks prior to the examination date). Applicants who choose the recertification by examination option will be notified of their scores by C-NET, the testing center.
>Download the Exam Application [PDF file, ~56K]
Inactive Status
A CDN may request inactive status if he/she is unable to meet the requirements for recertification. To apply for inactive status, the applicant must complete the application for inactive status, by clicking the link below or calling 888-884-6622, and submit a letter describing the reason. If approved, inactive status will be granted for one 3-year period. During this time, the CDN credential may not be used. In order to recertify after the 3-year inactive period, the criteria for regular recertification must be met and a recertification application must be submitted. Under no circumstance will the inactive period be extended beyond three years.
>Download the Inactive Status Application [PDF file, ~100K]
Certificate
If approved for recertification, individuals will receive a laminated wallet card with expiration date within 60 days of the date the National Office receives a recertification application. Replacements are available for a fee. The wall certificate will be issued only once. It does not have an expiration date and will not be reissued for subsequent recertifications.
Current Mailing Address
It is the applicant’s responsibility to notify the NNCC National Office of any changes in name and/or address during the 3-year period following certification/recertification. Notifications of changes on other mailing lists such as ANNA may not effect a change in your recertification records.
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