Building competence and confidence in your specialty

Whether you’re already a certified nurse or exploring this possibility, it’s helpful to understand the value of certification and how it can position you for success throughout your nursing career.

Certified individuals report feeling a sense of pride and achievement, feeling more professionally competent, having improved employability and advancement, and being positioned for better compensation and career longevity, according to a 2019 Institute for Credentialing Excellence Value of Certification study. But certification is more than a feeling. Beyond intrinsic values, there are some studies that demonstrate that having more certified nurses on the team can lead to better patient outcomes. Certification proves highly beneficial for patients, too.

Competence fuels confidence

Everyone’s certification journey is personal. For me, the value of nursing certification became apparent as I witnessed my mother’s commitment to professional growth. One day, while I was still in high school, I saw her reading a nursing journal and asked, “Why are you reading about nursing on your day off?” She replied, “Remember when I took a test and earned those credentials after my name? I need to keep learning to maintain those credentials. Plus, learning not only makes me a better nurse, but I take back what I learn to the unit to teach others.”

My mother’s story is not unique. I’ve heard similar stories over my 20-plus years of working in nursing certification. Simi Jesto Joseph, PhD, DNP, APRN, ANP-C, NEA-BC, FNAP, an ANA-Illinois member, is one example. Taking the Nurse Executive, Advanced (NEA-BC) exam marked a pivotal step in Joseph’s commitment to executive leadership in nursing and healthcare administration. The rigorous preparation to obtain this credential sharpened her strategic thinking and deepened her leadership knowledge. Earning the certification boosted her confidence and credibility, opening doors to executive roles in academic settings. It also equipped her with the tools to drive meaningful change, which advanced both her career and the quality of patient care she’s passionate about, providing her with the foundation to excel in her specialty.

History of ANCC certification

Specialty nursing certification began as a means of validating an individual nurse’s competence in a specialized or advanced area of practice. Initially, specialty nursing associations developed and offered these certifications. More than 50 years ago, ANA offered only a handful of certifications. Margretta Madden Styles, EdD, RN, FAAN, a true pioneer in the advancement of specialty nursing certification, played an instrumental role in a 1979 study that led to the formation of the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) in 1991. Today, ANCC offers new certifications for 17 specialties and renewals for more than 30 others. Every year, we commemorate Styles’ legacy by celebrating Certified Nurses Day on her birthday, March 19 (nursingworld.org/certified-nurses-day). ANCC programs and the American Nurses Foundation support Styles’ vision by offering a credentialing research grant through the Margretta Styles Fund for Nursing Research.

Recently, I interviewed Bonnie Sandahl Todd, who in 1974 became one of the first certified pediatric nurse practitioners and one of Washington State’s first five nurse practitioners to earn certification. She shared with me that, at that time, certified nurses were considered trailblazers; they filled an immense need for skilled practitioners in underserved areas. Her dedication to excellence in pediatric care helped define and elevate the nurse practitioner role in healthcare. She overcame adversity in her pursuit of advanced practice, challenging norms and advocating for nurse practitioner recognition and the highest continuing education standards. She was indeed a trailblazer.

“In those early days, people assumed this role had always existed, but it hadn’t,” Todd recalled. “I lived through the ‘cowboy era’—it was our job to sway public opinion; to prove this was not only a necessary role but one that elevated patient care standards.”

As a mentor, Todd, a Washington State Nurses Association member, nurtured the generations of nurse practitioners who followed, guiding them along the path she helped to forge. Her story is a tribute to all nurse practitioners, inspiring a legacy of resilience, advocacy, and patient-
centered care.

Ongoing growth and renewal

You may already know that nursing certifications require a combination of experience in the specialty and continuing professional development to become eligible for the exam, underscoring the necessity to explore and plan to meet the eligibility criteria before applying. What you might not know is that if you’ve been working in a specific area of nursing for at least 2 years you may already have met most of the eligibility criteria for certification.

I’ve found that studying for the exam is a valuable exercise because it presents the opportunity to fill in any knowledge gaps and potentially connect with peers if you study as part of a group. Study time generally takes 3 to 6 months and might involve study groups, individual study-guide review, and practice tests.

Once becoming certified, it’s crucial to review the renewal criteria for your certification organization. You’ll need to know how long the certification is valid, when you can renew, and any specific requirements related to your certification, such as practice requirements or continuing education on a particular topic.

Most nurses are continuous learners and innovators by nature. The certification renewal process provides structured opportunities to engage in continuing professional development activities that you might not otherwise have considered, such as presenting to audiences or serving on boards. In fact, once ANCC-certified, you might even consider sharing your experience and knowledge by volunteering to support certification program maintenance as a subject matter expert (bit.ly/3UfW9jP).

You also may wish to volunteer and contribute to the profession through professional development. Examples include academic credits for advancement in education, research, and evidence-based practice projects. As an ANA member, you can use the free ANA CE tracker available in the “my account” section of ana.org. The tracker offers an easy way to preserve your continuing professional development activities and check totals to see if you’re on track for certification exam eligibility, renewal, or even your RN license. The tracker is portable and downloadable. Additionally, ANA members receive extra support for ANCC certification through discounts on both the initial exam fee and then renewal fees every 5 years.

If you haven’t already, I encourage you to explore the certification journey for yourself. Certification can empower you as a nurse, wherever you are in your career, by giving you an opportunity to validate your knowledge and experience while providing you with a professional framework for lifelong learning.

You have so many options to leverage your certifications, and I hope that you consider volunteering and sharing your experience, knowledge, and The Power of Nurses with us.

— Marianne Horahan is the director of certification services and American Nurses Enterprise customer service at ANCC.

American Nurse Journal. 2025; 20(8). Doi: 10.51256/ANJ082528

References

American Board of Nursing Specialties. Resources & research initiatives. nursingcertification.org/resource/research

Coto JA, Wilder CR, Wynn L, Ballard MC, Webel D, Petkunas H. Exploring the relationship between patient falls and levels of nursing education and certification. J Nurs Adm. 2020;50(1):45-51. doi:10.1097/nna.0000000000000838

Learn more by visiting nursingworld.org/our-certifications