PNCB Certification: Overview and FAQ

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Written by Marie Hasty, BSN, RN Content Writer, IntelyCare
A nurse uses their PNCB certification skills when working with a pediatric patient.

If you’re an RN seeking ways to gain confidence and strengthen your pediatric nurse resume, you might want to consider a pediatric nursing certification board (PNCB) certification. And if you’re a pediatric NP, becoming certified is a gateway to professional practice.

More than 50,000 nursing professionals hold a PNCB nursing certification, which helps validate a nurse’s expertise, abilities, and commitment to pediatric patients. While not every certification is a practice requirement, these credentials are proven to benefit clinicians and patients.

Here are some of the measurable ways that certification improves nursing care:

  • Higher nurse job satisfaction
  • Improved patient safety
  • Lower infection rates
  • Improved clinical outcomes
  • Lower odds of mortality

Aside from these benefits, a certification could help you stand out from other applicants searching for pediatric RN jobs and pediatric NP jobs. You may also earn more income as a nurse: Some facilities offer yearly bonuses for certified nurses, and the certification process is a great way to complete your continuing competency for licensure renewal.

What Is PNCB Certification? 4 Options for Nurses

The PNCB offers certifications that deepen and solidify the skills of caring for children and adolescents. Their certifications are for experienced RNs and entry-level advanced practice nurses. Along with an initial certification exam, each credential requires maintaining your license and recertifying every year. PNCB currently offers the following certifications for nurses:

1. Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN Certification)

CPN is for experienced pediatric nurses who work directly with patients, as charge nurses, consultants, coordinators, advocates, or administrators. Certified pediatric nurse requirements include a diploma, associate degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s, or higher in nursing. You’ll also need to meet one of two CPN experience eligibility pathways:

  • At least 1800 hours of pediatric experience in the past 2 years as an RN, or
  • At least 5 years of pediatric RN experience within the past 5 years, with at least 1000 hours within the past 2 years

2. Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioners — Acute Care (CPNP-AC)

CPNP-AC is an entry-level certification for nurse practitioners who have graduated from either a master’s (MSN) or doctorate of nursing practice (DNP) program. This is the only certification for pediatric nurse practitioners in acute care settings, such as pediatric hospitals, rehab units, and inpatient psychiatric centers.

To be eligible for this certification, you’ll need to meet the CPNP-AC requirements:

  • A valid RN license
  • Graduation from an ACEN-, CCNE-, or NLN CNEA-accredited MSN or DNP program, with a focus on acute care or dual primary/acute care focus, or have graduated from a post-master’s pediatric NP acute care certification program from an accredited institution
  • 500 hours of clinical experience in acute care pediatrics (600 hours is recommended)
  • Completion of three separate graduate-level courses in advanced physiology, advanced health assessment, and advanced pharmacology
  • Official MSN or DNP transcripts sent from your school to PNCB

3. Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner — Primary Care (CPNP-PC):

CPNP-PC certifies nurse practitioners for entry-level practice in primary care areas such as family medicine clinics, internal medicine, pediatric clinics, urgent care, and school health centers.

To sit for the CPNP-PC exam, you’ll need to meet the CPNP-PC eligibility requirements:

  • A valid RN license
  • Graduation from an MSN or DNP program that is ACEN-, CCNNE-, or NLN CEA-accredited or have graduated from a post-master’s pediatric primary care NP certificate program from an accredited institution
  • 500 hours of clinical experience in primary care pediatrics (600 hours is recommended)
  • Completion of graduate-level courses in advanced physiology/pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, and advanced pharmacology
  • Official MSN or DNP transcripts sent from your school to PNCB

4. Pediatric Primary Care Mental Health Specialist (PMHS):

PMHS is an additional primary care certification that validates a nurse practitioner’s ability to treat pediatric patients with psychiatric problems. Eligibility requirements for PMHS certification include:

  • A valid advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) license
  • One of the following certifications:
  • Meet one of the following eligibility pathways:
    • 30 hours of pediatric developmental behavioral and mental health continuing education, or 1 graduate-level course with at least 2 credits
    • 10 points of accepted activities that can come from scholarly projects, precepting, teaching, continuing education, or academic credit
    • Completing an approved program of study
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PNCB vs. ANCC Certification for Nurses

Both the PNCB and ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Center) are valid certifying bodies for RNs and NPs. If you’re a recently graduated nurse practitioner, much of this decision will come down to your specialty.

The PNCB is the only certifying body that offers a certification in acute care pediatrics, so if this is your area of study and where you plan to practice, pursuing certification with PNCB is the best option.

The ANCC offers a broader range of certifications for nurses and APRNs outside of pediatrics. ANCC’s RN-level nursing certifications include:

ANCCs advanced practice nursing certifications include:

  • Pediatric primary care nurse practitioner certification (PPCNP-BC)
  • Psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP-BC)
  • Adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner (AGACNP-BC)
  • Family nurse practitioner (FNP-BC)
  • Adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner (AGPCNP-BC)
  • Adult-gerontology clinical nurse specialist (AGCNS-BC)

How Difficult Is Each PNCB Certification Exam?

How difficult you find the exam will depend on how well you prepare. Every PNCB exam is multiple choice, and your exam is graded based on the difficulty of the questions. Check out the lengths and completion times for PNCB certification exams:

  • CPN: 175 questions, 150 scored and 25 unscored. You’ll have 3 hours to complete this exam.
  • CPNP-AC: 175 questions, 150 scored and 25 unscored. You’ll have 3 hours to complete this exam.
  • CPNP-PC: 175 questions, 150 scored and 25 unscored. You’ll have 3 hours to complete this exam.
  • PMHS: 150 questions, 125 scored and 25 unscored. You’ll have 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete this exam.

How to Earn a PNCB Certification: 3 Steps

Whether you’re an experienced pediatric RN or you’ve just graduated from nurse practitioner school, earning a credential from the PNCB certification board is a career milestone. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Meet Eligibility Requirements

Before applying, ensure you meet the specific eligibility criteria set by PNCB for the certification you’re pursuing. This includes holding an active RN license and having relevant experience and/or advanced schooling in pediatric nursing.

Note that every certification carries experience requirements; for working pediatric nurses, this is usually completed via working hours. For new graduate nurse practitioners, experience is earned via clinical hours and patient-facing time during school.

Step 2: Apply and Register for the Exam

Next, you’ll need to make a PNCB account to apply for the exam. This includes providing documentation of your qualifications. For NP certifications, you’ll need to have your manuscripts sent by your school. PNCB will send you an approval and scheduling notice once your application goes through, and you’ll then have 90 days to schedule your test.

The PNCB exam fees are as follows:

  • PNC: $300 for initial testing, $245 for retesting, and $130 for an extension past the 90-day window
  • CPNP-AC: $395 for initial testing, $280 for retesting, and $150 for an extension past the 90-day window
  • CPNP-PC: $395 for initial testing, $280 for retesting, $150 for an extension past the 90-day window
  • PMHS: $300 for initial testing, retesting is free if you reapply for the exam in the same testing window ($225 retesting fee if your window has run out), and $150 for an extension past the 90-day window

Step 3: Pass the Exam

To take the exam, you’ll go to an approved Prometric testing center on the day and time of your exam appointment. The exam will test your knowledge and skills in pediatric nursing, so be sure to prepare thoroughly using study guides, practice exams, and other resources provided by PNCB. Once you take the exam, PNCB will send your test results by email within two to three weeks. If you pass, you’ll receive a wallet certification card that verifies your credential.

Step 4: Maintain PNCB Renewal

Every PNCB certification requires yearly recertification in order to remain active. You’ll need to apply for recertification between November 1 and January 31, before your wallet card expires. You’ll need to complete a yearly recertification application to verify that you’ve completed the annual requirements, shown below:

  • CPN: Maintain your RN license, complete 15 continuing competency credits, and pay the CPN renewal fee.
  • CPNP-AC: Maintain your RN or RN/APRN license, complete 15 continuing competency hours related to your specialty, and pay the CPNP-AC renewal fee.
  • CPNP-PC: Maintain your RN or APRN license, complete 15 hours of continuing competency, and pay the CPNP-PC renewal fee.
  • PMHS: Maintain your APRN license, complete 15 hours of continuing competency relations to certification, and pay the PMHS renewal fee.

Related Certifications

If you work with infants, children, or adolescents, here are other pediatric certifications you might want to consider:

Find Pediatric Nursing Jobs

Whether you’re certified, in the process of earning a PNCB certification, or just curious about your career options, IntelyCare has roles for pediatric CNAs, LPNs, RNs, and NPs. Find out how you can get the latest nursing roles right in your inbox.

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