As our nation’s healthcare system continues to evolve, there is a growing need for nurse leaders who focus on the delivery of safe and quality patient care. As a result, the CNL has become a vital skill set in more than 100 practice settings and over 90 nursing schools.
You can join this growing number of highly prepared nurse leaders by meeting the following eligibility requirements:
- Be a student in your last term of a CNL education program or a graduate from a CNL master’s or postmaster’s degree program accredited by a nursing accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education;
- Successfully complete the CNL Certification Exam and submission of required application documents; and
- Possess Registered Nurse (RN) licensure (candidates are ineligible if currently being disciplined by a state nursing board).
The CNC waives 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:
- Possess the RN licensure;
- Possess a 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; and
- Teach in an existing CNL education program.
To apply for the exam, CNL faculty must submit the online CNL Certification Application and the CNL Faculty Eligibility Documentation Form. This waiver expires December 31, 2018.
CNL graduates or faculty interested in taking the CNL certification exam must complete the online CNL Certification Application, pay the registration fee, and submit the required Education Documentation Form.
The CNL Certification Exam is a computer-based three-hour exam. The exam items reflect the CNL Job Analysis Study conducted by CNC and Schroeder Measurement Technologies, Inc. The CNL exam consists of 140 multiple-choice, single answer questions. Some items are presented in a case study format with multiple questions related to the specific case study. To maintain the quality of the CNL Certification Exam administration process, CNC’s Board of Commissioners annually reviews feedback from examinees, faculty, and the testing agency. CNL partner schools serve as exam sites and, thereby, select testing dates within the testing period. Testing is also available through CNC’s contracted testing agencies.
The CNL Certification Exam is a computer-based three-hour exam. The exam items reflect the CNL Job Analysis Study conducted by CNC and Schroeder Measurement Technologies, Inc.
To maintain the quality of the CNL Certification Exam administration process, CNC’s Board of Commissioners annually reviews feedback from examinees, faculty, and the testing agency.
