What Are the Best RN Certifications for Your Career?
If you’re a nurse with a few years of experience, earning a specialty certification can help you solidify your expertise and add credibility to your practice. RN certifications are offered by nursing and medical organizations to help elevate care standards and encourage continued learning. Let’s review the benefits of these certifications, and which ones you might want to pursue depending on your area.
RNs aren’t the only nursing professionals who can acquire specialty certifications, but fewer credentials are offered to LPNs and LVNs. This article will cover certifications for RN nurses in the following specialty areas:
- Cancer and chemotherapy care
- Cardiac care
- Emergency nursing
- Intensive and critical care
- Kidney care
- Med-surg and intermediate care
- Neurology
- OB-GYN, labor, and delivery
- Operating room and surgical nursing
- Pediatric and neonatal nursing
- Post-acute care
- Psychiatric nursing
- Wound, skin, and ostomy
- Nonclinical
Why Pursue Specialty Certification?
Specialty certifications for RNs have major career benefits for nurses, their patients, and facilities. These include:
- Distinction: Certification shows you’ve gone above and beyond as a clinician, and can set you apart when it’s time to apply for new roles or negotiate your salary.
- Job satisfaction: Certified nurses report feeling more gratified by their work.
- Safety: Patients of certified nurses experience better outcomes, including lower odds of mortality and infection.
- Career and income: Facilities often reward certified nurses with hourly or yearly pay bonuses. Many nurses pursue an RN certification to increase salary potential.
What Organizations Offer Certifications for RNs?
Specialty medical organizations and national nursing groups create and maintain the certification process. These organizations include:
- Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN)
- American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN)
- American Board of Neuroscience Nursing (ABNN)
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the certifying body of the American Nurses Association (ANA)
- Board of Certification for Emergency Nurses (BCEN)
- National Alliance of Wound Care and Ostomy (NAWCCB)
- National Certification Corporation (NCC)
- National League for Nursing (NLN)
- Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB)
- Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB)
How to Earn RN Certifications
Every certification is different. But in general, you can expect the process to take the form of these steps:
- Verify your eligibility. RN certification requirements typically include a certain amount of hours or years in a nursing specialty before you can apply, as well as an unencumbered RN license.
- Apply. The application process typically includes creating an account with the certification provider, submitting your supporting documents, and paying an application fee.
- Pass an Exam. Once your application is approved, you’ll typically need to take and pass a test that shows you have the necessary knowledge for certification.
- Maintain your credentials. You’ll typically need to renew your certification every 2 to 5 years. Renewal typically involves completing continuing education requirements and paying a renewal fee.
Clinical Specialty Certifications
Check out our list of RN certifications and find your specialty area and credential. Note that many certifications can apply to more than one specialty area.
Cancer and Chemotherapy Certifications
- Certified Breast Care Nurse (CBCN)
- Certified Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurse (CPHON)
- Certified Registered Nurse Infusion (CRNI)
- Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN)
Learn more about how to become an oncology nurse and earn chemo certification.
Cardiac RN Certification
- Cardiovascular Registered Nurse – Board Certified (CVRN)
- Cardiac-Vascular Nursing Certification (CV-BC)
- Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse (CNRN)
- Telemetry Certification
- Vascular Access Board Certification (VA-BC)
Learn more about how to become a cardiac nurse.
Emergency Room RN Certification
- Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN)
- Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE)
- Transport Professional Advanced Trauma Course (TPATC)
- Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN)
Learn more about how to become an ER nurse.
Intensive and Critical Care Certifications
- Cardiac Medicine Subspecialty Certification (CMC)
- Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN)
- Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN)
- Progressive Care Certification (PCCN)
Learn more about critical care and ICU nursing.
Kidney Care Certifications
- Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES)
- Certified Dialysis Nurse (CDN)
- Certified Nephrology Nurse (CNN)
Learn more about how to become a dialysis nurse.
Med-Surg RN Certifications
- Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN)
- Medical-Surgical Nursing Board Certification (MEDSURG-BC)
Learn more about med-surg nursing and earning a med-surg certification.
Neuro RN Certifications
- Advanced Stroke Life Support (ASLS)
- Emergency Neurological Life Support (ENLS)
- Stroke Certified Registered Nurse (SCRN)
Learn more about how to become a neuro nurse.
OB-GYN and Labor and Delivery Certifications
- Certified Breastfeeding Counselor (CBC)
- Certification in Electronic Fetal Monitoring (C-EFM)
- Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC)
- Registered Nurse Certification in Inpatient Obstetric Nursing (RNC-OB)
- Registered Nurse Certification in Maternal Newborn Nursing (RNC-MNN)
Learn more about how to become an OB-GYN nurse or a labor and delivery nurse.
Operating Room and Surgical Certifications
- Cardiac Surgery Certification (CSC)
- Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse (CAPA)
- Certified Ambulatory Surgery Nurse (CNAMB)
- Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN)
- Certified Nurse Operating Room (CNOR)
- Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN)
- Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse – Board Certified (MEDSURG-BC)
- Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS)
- Registered Nurse – First Assist (RNFA)
Learn more about how to become a surgical nurse, OR nurse, or circulating nurse.
Pediatric and Neonatal RN Certifications
- Care of Extremely Low Birth Weight Neonate (C-ELBW)
- Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN)
- Registered Nurse Certification in Low-Risk Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing (RNC-LRN)
- Registered Nurse Certification in Neonatal Intensive Care (RNC-NIC)
Learn more about how to become a neonatal nurse or a pediatric nurse.
Post-Acute Care Certifications
- Ambulatory Care Nursing Certification (AMB-BC)
- Certified Case Manager (CCM)
- Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP)
- Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN)
Learn more about working in post-acute care.
Psychiatric RN Certifications
Learn more about how to become a psychiatric nurse or substance abuse nurse.
Wound, Skin, and Ostomy Certifications
- Certified Continence Care Nurse (CCCN)
- Certified Foot Care Nurse (CFCN)
- Certified Ostomy Care Nurse (COCN)
- Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN)
- Certified Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse (CWOCN)
- Certified Wound Specialist (CWS)
- Wound Care Certified (WCC)
Learn more about how to become a wound care nurse.
Other Clinical Certifications
- Certified Hyperbaric Registered Nurse (CHRN)
- Certified Registered Nurse in Ophthalmology (CRNO)
- HIV Specialist (AAHIVS)
- Holistic Nursing Certification
Nonclinical Certifications
- Board Certified Nurse Executive – Advanced (NEA-BC)
- Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist (CCDS)
- Certified Nurse Educator (CNE)
- Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML)
- Informatics Nursing Certification (NI-BC)
- Nurse Coach Certification (NC-BC)
- Nurse Executive Certification (NE-BC)
- Nursing Professional Development Certification (NPD)
Getting an RN Certification FAQ
How do you choose the right nursing certification?
The first thing to consider is your eligibility. For example, if you’ve been working as a wound care nurse for three years, you’ll be eligible for a wound care certification for RNs, but you likely can’t apply for a critical care certification right now.
Consider your career goals next. Do you see yourself remaining in your current role, becoming a nurse leader, or advancing your practice as a clinical nurse specialist or nurse practitioner?
For example, if you’re currently an ER nurse, pursuing an emergency room RN certification could not only solidify your clinical skills but could also give you an edge if you’re thinking about applying for advanced nursing education or nurse administrator roles.
Can you earn RN certifications online?
Most of the certifications above have an online application process, and many also offer their exams online. Some organizations still use in-person exam providers, but it’s possible to earn many certifications remotely.
Are there free RN certifications?
Specialty certifications typically have an application and renewal fee to support the organization that offers the credential. In some cases, certifying organizations offer discounts if you apply with a group, such as your nursing unit.
Certification vs. training: What’s the difference?
Specialty certifications typically require a greater investment of time and experience than trainings. Certifications are usually displayed behind your name and licenses, while trainings are only included in your nursing resume.
You may be required to undergo training for a new job, while this is not usually the case for certifications. For example, CCRN is an optional certification for RNs in critical care, but you’ll need Advanced Cardiac Life Support training to work in this area.
Examples of training programs for nurses:
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI)
- Emergency Nurse Pediatric Course (ENPC)
- Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)
- NIH Stroke Scale
- Pediatrics Advanced Life Support (PALS)
- Pediatrics Assessment, Recognition, and Stabilizations (PEARS)
- Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter training (PICC)
- S.T.A.B.L.E. Certification
- Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC)
RN certifications vs. APRN certifications: What’s the difference?
While specialty certifications for RNs are rarely a requirement, advanced practice certifications are. They also require more academic education, such as a master’s degree or doctorate of nursing practice (DNP). Advanced practice certifications can be earned by clinical nurse specialists, nurse midwives, nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, and educators.
Examples of advanced practice certifications:
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP-BC)
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certification (AGPCNP)
- Adult Psychiatric-Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist – Board Certified (PMHCNP-BC)
- Certified Addictions Registered Nurse – Advanced Practice (CARN-AP)
- Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Primary Care (CPNP-PC)
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
- Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist (CCNS)
- Emergency Nurse Practitioner – Certified (ENP-C)
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-BC and FNP-C)
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner – Board Certified (WHNP-BC)
Take Your Nursing Career to New Heights
Whether or not you’re pursuing RN certifications, there are many ways to elevate your nursing career. If you’re in the market for a new role, IntelyCare is here to help. Our personalized job notifications let you know when opportunities open up in your specialty. Find out more today.