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AACRN Recertification

ACRN Recertification


AACRN APPLICATION FOR RECERTIFICATION BY CEU
  1. Certification Renewal by Re-Examination
  2. Certification Renewal by Continuing Education Points (CEPs)

AACRN RE-CERTIFICATION AUDITS

POLICY
PROCEDURE



AACRN RE-CERTIFICATION PROTOCOL

POLICY:

HANCB has developed protocols for recertification requirements to ensure AACRNs have continued to maintain competence and/or expanded his or her HIV/AIDS knowledge base within the four (4) year certification/recertification period. There are two (2) ways a nurse may recertify as an AACRN. The first is by re-examination. The second is by continuing education credits. Recertification protocols will be reviewed by the Recertification Committee at a minimum of once a year to determine if the requirements are complete and meet the goals of maintaining competence and/or enhancing HIV/AIDS nursing practice.  

PROTOCOL: 

A.        Certification Renewal by Re-Examination      

AACRN certification renewal by re-examination is obtained by sitting for the Certification Examination in Advanced HIV/AIDS Nursing and receiving a passing test score. The examination will be available on line in the spring and fall of each year under the direction of Professional Testing Center (PTC). Applications for examination may be obtained from Professional Testing Center; 1350 Broadway-17th Floor; New York, NY 10018; phone: (212) 356-0660; fax: (212) 356-0678; www.ptcny.com. 

B.        Certification Renewal by Continuing Education Points (CEPs) :

The continuing education points (CEPs) program includes a wide spectrum of continuing education activities performed by the advanced HIV/AIDS nurse. It includes both formal and informal educational experiences for the advanced HIV/AIDS nurse. CEPs are also granted for other activities besides continuing education such as HIV/AIDS publications, presentations, teaching activities, grant writing activities, research activities, and volunteer/leadership responsibilities.

AACRN certification renewal by CEPs is obtained by accumulating a total of 90 CEPs within a 4 year period. A minimum of 45 CEPs in Category I are required. The remaining 45 CEPs can be accumulated in Categories II-VI.

CEPs must be accumulated during the 4 year recertification period. CEPs obtained prior to taking the AACRN examination cannot be applied towards recertification. A recertification period begins with the passing of the examination or recertification and ends 4 years later when the certification expires. Courses taken prior to the start of the recertification period cannot be applied for credit towards recertification. A description of the acceptable continuing education activities can be found in Appendix A.

HANCB will randomly audit a certain percentage of AACRN applications. If audited, you will be asked to submit copies of certificates and other documents, as described in Appendix A, to verify your CEP activities with your renewal application. During each 4 year period, all AACRNs are encouraged to keep all documentation and be prepared to submit it upon request if audited.

If you have been selected for random audit, you will be notified in a special letter that will accompany your first renewal notice. This first renewal notice is sent approximately 120 days prior to renewal. Therefore, it is important to notify HANCB of any changes in name and/or address. It is the responsibility of the renewing AACRN to submit all required documentation at the time of renewal. Failure to submit documentation, as required, may delay recertification.

APPENDIX A
Continuing Education Activities Approved for CEPs

Category I - HIV/AIDS Nursing Continuing Education (Minimum 45 CEPs):

Description of Activities:

This category includes HIV/AIDS nursing programs granting contact hours or CEPs. These programs must address topics that have direct application to the nursing care needs of person living with HIV disease or their significant others and family members.

A minimum of 45 CEPs in Category I are required per four year certification period. All Category I CEPs must be approved by a state board of nursing, the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, or the international equivalent of these organizations. One educational contact hour (50 minutes of actual classroom time) equals one CEP. If audited, a photocopy of the continuing education certificate is required. The certificate must include the name, date of attendance, title of the course, accrediting agency, and number of contact hours granted.

Category II - Academic Credit Courses (Maximum 15 CEPs):

Description of Activities:

This category includes formal academic courses offered by an accredited college or university. These courses should address the biopsychosocial knowledge required to practice advanced HIV/AIDS professional nursing. Courses should have clear applicability to HIV/AIDS nursing practice.

Examples of academic courses applicable to Category II include graduate level courses in immunology, virology, cell biology, pathophysiology, epidemiology, research methods, statistics, mental health, addictions and substance use, graduate nursing courses related to HIV/AIDS, physical assessment, differential diagnosis, and pharmacology.

Pre-requisite nursing education courses are not acceptable. Examples of courses which are not acceptable include but are not limited to history, math, art, music, English, psychology, sociology, philosophy, chemistry, biology, human anatomy, physiology, and health care management.

In the semester system, one semester credit or hour is equal to 15 CEPs. In the quarter system, one quarter credit or hour is equal to 10 CEPs. In the trimester system, one trimester credit or hour is equal to 12 CEPs. If audited, a photocopy of a formal transcript or grade report is required. If the course title or subject is not identifiable as being related to nursing, a course description of syllabus should be included.

Category III - AIDS Education and Training Center (AETC) Clinical Practicum (Maximum 20 CEPs):

Description of Activities: 

AETC officially sponsored clinical practicum, rotations or training experiences are eligible for CEPs. A maximum of 20 CEPs can be earned through Category III. One clinical practicum contact hour (50 minutes of actual classroom or clinical time) equals one CEP. If audited, a letter from the course director is required. The letter must include the name, date of attendance, title of course, and number of clinical contact hours completed.

Category IV - Continuing Medical Education (CME) and other Allied Health Professional Education (Maximum 45 CEPs):

Description of Activities:

Category IV includes continuing medical education credits. A maximum of 45 CEPs is allowed in Category IV. All CEPs earned as continuing medical education credits must be accredited by state medical associations, American Medical Association, American Academy of HIV Medicine, International AIDS Society, Infectious Disease Society of America, International AIDS Society-USA, other specialty medical associations, or the international equivalents. All CEPs earned as continuing medical education must be clearly related to advanced HIV/AIDS nursing practice. If audited, a photocopy of the continuing education certificate is required. The certificate must include the name, date of attendance, title of course, accrediting agency, and number of contact hours granted.

Category V - Other Continuing Education in Nursing (Maximum 20 CEPs):

Description of Activities:

Category V includes a variety of professional activities in which HIV/AIDS nurses are involved. Acceptable activities in category V include: publications, presentations, and grant writing activities. These professional activities should have clear applicability to HIV/AIDS nursing. A maximum of 20 CEPs can be earned in category V.

Publications:

Publications include professional nursing articles or chapters where the AACRN was author, co-author, or editor. The article or chapter must be published in a professional nursing journal or textbook. CEPs for joint authorship are determined by dividing the number of CEPs to be awarded by the number of authors. A maximum of 15 CEPs can be earned in publications. If audited, a copy of the journal article or textbook chapter along with the title page and table of contents of the journal or book are required. Publisher's notice of acceptance should be submitted if CEPs are to be granted before publication.

Examples of activities and assigned CEPs related to publications include:

    HIV/AIDS related editorial in a journal, 2 CEPs
    Original HIV/AIDS related research article, 5CEPs
    HIV/AIDS textbook editor, 10 CEPs
    Chapter author in an HIV/AIDS textbook, 5 CEPs
    Author of HIV/AIDS textbook, 10 CEPs
    HIV/AIDS related journal article, 5 CEPs

Presentations:

Presentations include professional nursing presentations where the AACRN delivered content to nurses, other health care professionals or the public about topics specifically related to HIV/AIDS. The presentations must be delivered within the context of teaching/learning. A presentation includes an inservice, seminar, lecture, or conference. CEPs for joint presentations are determined by dividing the number of CEPs to be awarded by the number of presenters. A maximum of 15 CEPs will be granted for professional presentations. If audited, evidence of participation must be submitted. These include brochures, program announcements, or written statements from sponsors or program planners. A presentation outline must also be included.

Examples of activities and CEPs assigned for presentations include:

    50 minute HIV/AIDS presentation or lecture, 2 CEPs

Grant writing:

Grant writing activities for HIV/AIDS programs can be applied in this category. Grant applications may be for clinical care, educational programs, or research activities. If audited, a copy of the grant submission letter or notice of funding will be required. A maximum of 5 CEPs will apply towards recertification.

Examples of CEPs assigned for grant writing include:

    Completion/submission of grant application, 5 CEPs

Category VI - Volunteer Activities (Maximum 15 CEPs):

Recognizing the leadership role many AACRNs have in HIV/AIDS nursing, CEPs can be earned through volunteer activities with an established HIV/AIDS volunteer service or non-profit organization. These activities include committee or taskforce involvement at the local, national, and international level. A maximum of 15 CEPs can be earned in category VI for volunteer activities. If audited, a letter verifying the activities and hours served will be required from the agency.

Examples of activities and CEPs assigned for these activities include:

    National ANAC Board member, 7 CEPs per year
    National ANAC Committee chair, 3 CEPs per year
    Local ANAC Chapter Board member, 3 CEPs per year
    JANAC or other HIV/AIDS related manuscript peer reviewer, 2 CEPs
    HANCB Board member, 7 CEPs per year
    HANCB Committee chair, 3 CEPs per year
    Participation in HANCB item review session, 7 CEPs
    Participation in HANCB exam development session, 7 CEPs
    Member of local/regional/national HIV/AIDS planning or advisory committee, 3 CEPs per year

AACRN RE-CERTIFICATION AUDIT POLICY AND PROCEDURE

POLICY:

HANCB has established a policy of randomly auditing recertification applications submitted by AACRNs to ensure compliance with continuing education requirements for renewal. The number of applications to be audited will be determined by the AACRN Recertification Committee. Expected compliance in meeting the continuing education criteria has been set at 100%. Audits will be performed on a rotating basis by members of the Recertification Committee. For the purpose of quality assurance, the committee will review the findings of the audit process every six months. Failure to meet the set standard of 100% compliance may require an increase in the percentage of applications audited. The audit process will begin with recertification applicants who sat for the AACRN examination in the fall of 2003 and will continue for each candidate renewal group thereafter. Applicants who fail to submit the required continuing education documentation, or fail to meet the recertification requirements, will be charged a processing fee as determined by HANCB.

A program to ensure quality assurance will be in effect. Each recertification application submitted for audit will be reviewed by 2 committee members. Inter-rater reliability scores will be recorded. Overall inter-rater reliability scores will be greater than 90% for each renewal period. An additional number of applications may be audited at any time by the committee chair to ensure that applicants are meeting the recertification criteria. Any applications for renewal submitted within 30 days of the expiration date will be audited. All applications submitted 30 days past the expiration date will not be accepted. The applicant will be required to retake and pass the certification examination in order to obtain recertification. Active certification status must be retained in order to utilize the AACRN credential.

PROCEDURE:

  1. Under the direction of the Recertification Committee Chair, the required number of AACRN recertification applications will be randomly selected for audit and their names will be recorded by the HANCB.
  2. Candidates will be notified by the HANCB of his or her selection for audit in a special letter accompanying the first renewal notice. The first renewal notice will be sent approximately 120 days prior to the certification expiration date.
  3. AACRNs who have been selected for audit will submit documentation of the required continuing education units with his or her renewal application to HANCB. Candidates who fail to submit continuing education documentation within the initial 120 day period prior to expiration will be sent a second notice by certified mail stating the required documentation must be submitted within thirty days.
  4. Returned applications and continuing education documentation materials will be copied upon receipt and copies of each audit case will be forwarded on a rotating basis to the appropriate Recertification Committee members. Audits should be completed by committee members within 14 days of receipt. The committee chair should be notified of the audit outcomes for each applicant.
  5. Each application selected for audit will be reviewed by the assigned committee members. A questionable or conflicting audit result will be presented to the Recertification Committee Chair for a final determination of eligibility for recertification. The review process will be documented on the audit tool along with the final determination of meeting, or failure to meet the recertification criteria. After completion, the audit tool and all submitted documents will be forwarded to the HANCB national office for follow up and record storage. The committee chair should be notified of audit outcomes by each member. A certificate will be issued by the HANCB national office to candidates who have successfully met the recertification criteria.
  6. Upon receipt of each individual audit result, HANCB will notify the applicant by letter of the outcome by either awarding or denying the AACRN recertification. An AACRN who fails the audit process and is denied renewal will be notified by certified letter. A processing fee will be deducted from his or her recertification fee. Audit results will be recorded by the Recertification Committee Chair and results will be available to HANCB on request.