CEN Certification: Overview and FAQ
Are you an emergency nurse looking to further specialize and advance your practice? Becoming a certified emergency nurse (CEN) might be the next best step. The CEN certification is designed for registered nurses (RNs) in emergency departments or other settings where emergency care is provided. Getting certified could help you become a more competitive job candidate and a more confident clinician.
Whether you’re a new or experienced nurse, a specialty certification shows your commitment to patients. Earning and maintaining emergency RN certification can also help you stay updated on changes in medicine, and some research shows that CEN-certified nurses earn an average of nearly $1,400 more per year. Getting certified could also open you up to more opportunities for mentorship, leadership roles, career advancement, and better-paying ER nurse jobs.
Becoming a CEN is ideal for nurses who enjoy fast-paced environments, critical thinking and problem-solving, and have a passion for delivering high-quality emergency care. Currently, around 41,000 nurses are CEN certified, working in areas such as:
- Freestanding and hospital emergency departments
- Burn units
- Triage departments
- Flight nursing
- Disaster response
What Does It Mean to Be CEN Certified?
Being a certified emergency nurse means that a nurse has gone the extra mile to solidify their skills and knowledge in emergency nursing care. Nurses earn a CEN certificate by applying, passing an exam, and maintaining licensure requirements. Acute organ and system emergencies covered on the CEN exam include:
- Cardiovascular
- Gastrointestinal
- Genitourinary
- Gynecological & obstetric
- Maxillofacial
- Neurological
- Ocular
- Orthopedic
- Psychosocial
- Respiratory
- Toxicology and communicable disease
- Wounds
If you’re thinking about earning a certification in acute care, you might be wondering what other options are out there. The Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN) offers the CEN nursing certification, as well as several others you might be interested in:
- Certified Burn Registered Nurse (CBRN)
- Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN)
- Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN)
- Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN)
CEN Certification Requirements
To earn emergency room RN certification, you’ll need to have a current, unrestricted RN license in the U.S., a U.S. territory, Canada, or Australia. BCEN also recommends two years of experience before sitting for the exam, but this isn’t mandatory.
CEN Certification Cost
The fees associated with emergency room RN certification depend on whether you’re a member of the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) or the military. Here’s a breakdown of the exam costs depending on the group you fall into:
- Initial exam for non-ENA, non-military: $380
- Initial exam for ENA members: $285
- Initial exam for military: $195
- Retest exam within a year of initial exam date: $200
Additionally, BCEN offers a test assurance program that adds a fee to your initial exam, but allows you to retest without a charge.
How to Get a CEN Certification: 3 Steps
Step 1: Apply to Take the Exam
Start your emergency room RN certification application by creating or logging in to your BCEN account. On the left side of your screen, you’ll find the “My Certification” section. Use the certifications menu to select CEN, and click “Create a New Application” next to it.
Once you’ve completed your application, you can pay the necessary fee online with a credit card, ACH, or voucher payment. If you pay by check, it will take longer to process. You’ll get an email from BCEN once you’ve been approved to take the exam. You’ll then have a 90-day testing window, and you can schedule online or over the phone.
This is a great time to be sure you’re prepared for the exam. BCEN offers test prep materials, including practice exams, study guides, and a CEN course to help you review.
Step 2: Take the Exam
You’ll have two options when you schedule your exam — in-person testing at an exam facility, or a live remote proctored (LRP) exam on a personal computer. On exam day, you’ll need a valid government-issued ID that has your name, photo, and signature. Be sure that the name you use to register is the same as your ID. Arrive at the testing center or log in to your LRP session within 30 minutes of your exam time.
You’ll have three hours to take the exam, and it’s 175 items. Of those questions, 150 are scored and 25 are unscored. Exams are pass-fail, and you’ll get a report on your results right after you complete the questions.
Step 3: Receive and Maintain Certification
Once you pass the exam, your CEN credential lasts four years. You’ll get a wallet card in the mail within 15 business days, and you’ll also have a digital badge on your BCEN account. Be sure to add your certification to your ER nurse resume so potential employers take note of your achievement.
The last step is to maintain your certification. To renew, you’ll need to attest to 100 hours of continuing education or take the exam again. Here are the fees for renewals and recertifications:
- Recertification by exam or CE attestation: $280
- Recertification with ENA membership: $210
- Recertification with military discount: $195
CEN Certification FAQs
How hard is the CEN exam?
Many nurses feel that the exam isn’t too hard if you have experience and review properly beforehand. BCEN recommends at least two years of experience before applying for certification, but some nurses don’t wait this long. How easy or difficult you find the exam will depend on how well you prepare. BCEN offers several resources to help you prepare, so be sure to use them for the best results on testing day.
How long does it take to become a CEN?
If you’re already a nurse, you can apply and sit for the exam within a month. If you’re not yet a nurse, you’ll need to become an RN before you can become certified.
Is it worth it to get CEN certified?
It depends on what you’re looking for in your nursing career. BCEN has researched the value of certification for nurses, and their findings include:
- Emergency nurses and their supervisors link certification with positive outcomes.
- Supervisors rated CEN nurses higher in all 7 levels of emergency nursing expertise.
- Supervisors also noted a positive correlation between CEN certification and technical performance, ethics, and accuracy.
Is CEN or TNCC better?
TNCC stands for Trauma Nursing Core Course. CEN covers a wider range of emergencies, while TNCC is specifically for nurses who see traumatic wounds and injuries. The credential that’s right for you depends on your goals — some nurses even get both.
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