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Eligibility for Recertification by Examination

Recertification of valid (non-lapsed) WOCNCB credentials:

To be eligible for the WOCNCB examination(s) an applicant must fulfill the following requirements.

Recertification of valid (non-lapsed) WOCNCB credentials:

1. Be currently licensed as a Registered Nurse (A copy of your current license must be submitted with your application. No other documentation is required.)
2. After application approval, schedule your examination before your credential expiration date.

Certification after WOCNCB credentials have lapsed
If your credentials lapse, you may only recertify via exam and must show eligibility to sit for the exam through the Experiential Pathway. This requirement applies to all certificants, even those who have completed an approved education program.

1. Be currently licensed as a Registered Nurse ( A copy of your current license must be submitted with your application)
2. Hold a bachelor's degree (A copy of your diploma or transcripts must be submitted with your application)
3. Fulfill the following Experiential Pathway requirements:
   • Within each specialty for which certification is sought, 50 contact hours or an equivalent in college course work post-Bachelor’s must be completed over the previous five years. All contact hours or college course work must directly apply to the specialty area for which you apply.
   • For each certification specialty, 1500 clinical hours must be completed over the previous five years. Further, 375 of those hours must have occurred with the past one-year prior to application.
   • Accumulation of contact and clinical hours must be earned post-Bachelor’s and while functioning as an RN.
   • Please read the complete instructions regarding documentation required in the Experiential Pathway section of the handbook. Click here for Handbook.
   • To be accepted for the examination(s), individuals must fulfill the Experiential Pathway eligibility requirements and submit a completed application, required documentation and fee.

CREDENTIAL EXTENSION POLICY

Applicants currently certified by the WOCNCB may request an extension of their credentials for serious medical reasons only. If the applicant has registered for the current examination cycle, the fee may be transferred to the next examination cycle.

The following rules apply:

• Must be currently certified by WOCNCB.
• Must be seriously ill (or member of immediate family seriously ill), suffer from personal illness or injury, experience unavoidable natural disaster, or be in active military duty outside the United States. Documentation may be requested.
• Must request the extension in writing to the WOCNCB Office, located at 555 East Wells Street, Suite 1100, Milwaukee, WI 53202.

Once the extension request is received, it will be reviewed by the Credentialing and Review Committee whereby, a vote will take place to determine if the applicant's credentials will be approved for extension.

If the extension is granted, it is only for a maximum of six months. Only one extension request will be granted per applicant, per five years