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Best clinic registered nurse certifications

The best certifications for a clinic registered nurse are Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC), and Family Nurse Practitioner.

Clinic registered nurse certifications demonstrate your competency as a clinic registered nurse to employers. However, not all clinic registered nurse certifications provide the same value.

Below is a list of the best clinic registered nurse certifications. Obtaining a clinic registered nurse certification will give you a leg up when you apply for jobs and increase your potential salary.

18 best clinic registered nurse certifications

1. Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA)

Train to be a certified nurse assistant working with other health care professionals to provide quality care for elderly or sick individuals in nursing homes and hospitals and at home.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? 
Certifying website
Certified Nurse Assistant

2. Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC)

Every second counts when stabilizing life-threatening trauma cases. This course, taught by qualified emergency nurses, prepares you with the knowledge, critical thinking skills and hands-on training needed to provide high-quality, trauma nursing care. After completing this course, you will be able to properly assess and implement evidence-based interventions to improve outcomes for your patients.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? No
  • Renewal required? Every 4 year(s)

3. Family Nurse Practitioner

The ANCC Family Nurse Practitioner board certification examination is a competency based examination that provides a valid and reliable assessment of the entry-level clinical knowledge and skills of nurse practitioners. This certification aligns with the Consensus Model for APRN Regulation: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification and Education. Once you complete eligibility requirements to take the certification examination and successfully pass the exam, you are awarded the credential: Family Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified (FNP-BC).

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)
Certifying website
Family Nurse Practitioner
Certifying organization
ANA Enterprise

4. Adult, Pediatric and Neonatal Critical Care Nurses (CCRN)

CCRN specialty certification was introduced in 1976 for nurses providing care to acutely and/or critically ill adult, pediatric and neonatal patients. Nurses interested in this certification may work in specialty areas such as intensive care units, cardiac care units, combined ICU/CCUs, medical/surgical ICUs, trauma units or critical care transport/flight.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)

6. Certified Nurse Technician (CNT)

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? No
Certifying organization
National Healthcareer Association

7. Medical-Surgical Nursing (RN-BC)

The ANCC Medical-Surgical Nursing board certification examination is a competency based examination that provides a valid and reliable assessment of the entry-level clinical knowledge and skills of registered nurses in the medical-surgical specialty after initial RN licensure. Once you complete eligibility requirements to take the certification examination and successfully pass the exam, you are awarded the credential: Registered Nurse-Board Certified (RN-BC).

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)
Certifying website
Medical-Surgical Nursing
Certifying organization
ANA Enterprise

8. Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP)

The American Organization of Nurse Executives Credentialing Center (AONE-CC) is a division of the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE). Its mission is to create, facilitate and administer the premier certification programs for nurse executives and nurse managers. The AONE-CC Nurse Executive Steering Committee is charged with governance of the Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP) certification program con- ducted by the AONE-CC. Committee members are appointed to represent AONE's professional certification program stakeholders.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)

9. Wound Care Certified (WCC)

The NAWC offers the Wound Care Certification Examination to measure the academic and technical competence of eligible candidates in the area of Skin and Wound Care Management. Upon obtaining a passing score on the Certification examination, candidates may use the initials WCC, Wound Care Certified, to designate their status.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)
Certifying website
Wound Care Certified
Certifying organization
National Alliance of Wound...

10. Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN)

The Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse certification provides a national standard of requisite knowledge thereby assisting the consumer, the employer, and members of the health profession in the elevation of the hospice and palliative nurse.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 4 year(s)

11. Certified Nurse Educator (CNE)

Certification in any field is a mark of professionalism. For academic nurse educators, it establishes nursing education as a specialty area of practice and creates a means for faculty to demonstrate their expertise in this role. It communicates to students, peers, and the academic and health care communities that the highest standards of excellence are being met. By becoming credentialed as a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE), you serve as a leader and a role model.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 2 year(s)
Certifying organization
National League for Nursing

12. Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN)

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 4 year(s)

13. Certified Forensic Nurse (CFN)

Forensic nursing is an exciting and rapidly growing specialty field that offers great opportunities and rewarding career options for nursing professionals. However, it can be challenging to set yourself apart from your peers to get the recognition and respect you deserve, both in the medical community and the legal arena.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 1 year(s)
Certifying website
Certified Forensic Nurse
Certifying organization
American College of Forensic...

14. Instructor Certification (EPIC)

Are you an experienced vocational instructor or HVAC professional who is looking to take your career to the next level? If so, EPIC may be an option for you. EPIC is an extremely intensive four-day class.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)
Certifying website
Instructor Certification
Certifying organization
Air Conditioning Contractors of...

15. Progressive Care Nursing (Adult) (PCCN)

PCCN® specialty certification was introduced in 2004 for nurses providing care to acutely ill adult patients regardless of the geographic location of their nursing care. Nurses interested in this certification may work in such areas as intermediate care, direct observation, stepdown, telemetry, transitional care or emergency departments.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)

16. Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN)

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)

17. Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN)

The CEN certification is the certification specific to emergency nursing and measures the attainment of a defined body of nursing knowledge pertinent to that particular specialty.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 4 year(s)
Certifying website
Certified Emergency Nurse
Certifying organization
Board of Certification for...

18. Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist (CCDS)

Clinical documentation specialists understand a wide range of specialized disciplines, including education in anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, and pharmacology; knowledge of official medical coding guidelines, CMS, and private payer regulations related to the Inpatient Prospective Payment System; an ability to analyze and interpret medical record documentation and formulate appropriate physician queries; and an ability to benchmark and analyze clinical documentation program performance. The Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist (CCDS) credential provides a mark of distinction for this unique profession. Applicants who pass the certifying exam receive the designation.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 2 year(s)

What is the best certification for a clinic registered nurse?

The best clinic registered nurse certification is Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA). The Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) is awarded by the American Red Cross. This certification is great to have as it shows an improvement in your competency to perform your role. You can earn this certification at the beginning of your career, as it often doesn't require a minimum education level and work experience.

Here's a bit more background on how to obtain this clinic registered nurse certification:

  • To become a certified Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), you need to pass the exam.
  • Lucky you - certification doesn't require more than two years of work experience.
  • Renew certification every year.

What are some of the most in-demand certifications for clinic registered nurses?

The most in-demand clinic registered nurse certification is Medical-Surgical Nursing based on all active job postings. Having this clinic registered nurse certification will give you access to more clinic registered nurse jobs with higher salaries.

What certifications can impact a clinic registered nurse career and salary?

The Trauma Nursing Core Course certification will help you to secure a registered nurse position, which will increase your pay and career trajectory. A registered nurse's average salary is $63,827 whereas clinic registered nurses make an average salary of $70,075.

Best certifications

The most common combination of clinic registered nurse certifications include: Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC), and Family Nurse Practitioner.

Online courses for clinic registered nurses to earn certifications

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