CNC - Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for full certification, a candidate must meet the following requirements:

Registered Nurse licensure

Graduation from a CNL master's or post-master’s program, accredited by a nursing accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education, that prepares individuals with the competencies delineated in the AACN white paper on The Education and Role of the Clinical Nurse Leader.

All individuals scheduled to graduate from a Clinical Nurse Leader program are encouraged to sit for the CNL Certification Examination^SM.

Waiver for CNL Faculty

The CNC is waiving the eligibility requirements for CNL faculty to apply for certification. CNL faculty who meet the following criteria are eligible to sit for the CNL Certification Examination:

Registered Nurse licensure

Graduate degree in nursing or a related health care discipline (such as health care administration or public health) from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Note: CNL faculty need only submit three forms to apply – CNL Certification Application Form, CNL Standards of Conduct, and the CNL Faculty Eligibility Documentation Form. Effective December 6, 2008, faculty must teach in an existing CNL education program. Waiver expires December 31, 2012.