Exam fees and eligibility

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Fees:

• The examination fee is $325 for Core exams and $210 for Subspecialty exams, which includes a nonrefundable $50.00 application submission cost.
• The examination fee must be paid when submitting the application.
• After an exam is purchased, there is a 6-hour window to cancel the order.  The order can be canceled by logging into the account and clicking on "Cancel Application" found under the new certification. Only you can cancel the application and you must meet the 6-hour window. 
• After 6 hours, an Exam Withdrawal Request is required to withdraw.
• All applications must be submitted online at the NCC website.
• Payment can be made by Credit Card or Check. Please note that this may show up as "Paypal on your bank account or credit card. 
• The exam registration catalog lists additional fees that may apply.
• Any application that is incomplete (those applications submitted with missing information, containing incomplete or incorrect information, incorrect license information, or lacking the expiration date or does not include full payment) is subject to a non-refundable $30 reprocessing fee upon the submission of proper documentation.  If the requested documentation and the reprocessing fee are not provided within 14 days the application will be marked ineligible. When applicable, a refund of the exam fee will be provided, minus the $50.00 non-refundable application fee. There are no refunds for applications using a bulk code.

Exam fees vary depending on the type of test – see listing below.

Subspecialty Exams leading to a C-EFM^®, C-NPT^®, C-ELBW, C-ONQS or C-NNIC Certification:
Computer:  $210 exam fee

Core Nursing Certification Exams leading to a RNC Certification:
Computer: $325 exam fee

Core Nurse Practitioner Exams leading to a NP-BC Certification:
Computer: $325 exam fee

Eligibility Requirements:

Subspecialty Exam leading to a C-EFM^® Certification:
The following requirements must be met to apply for the Electronic Fetal Monitoring subspecialty certification exam:

• • Current/active/unencumbered License in the U.S. or Canada as a registered nurse, nurse practitioner, respiratory therapist, paramedic, emergency medical technician (EMT or AEMT) **, physician or physician assistant. (**EMT or AEMT who are in a state that does not issue a separate state-issued license must provide documentation of certification by the National Registry (NREMT)
  • No practice experience is required but it is recommended that for the best possibility for successfully completing the certification process is that you have experience with electronic fetal monitoring.

• Current/active/unencumbered licensure in the U.S. or Canada as a physician (MD or DO), registered nurse, advanced practice registered nurse (NP, CNS, or CNM), certified midwife, physician assistant, or respiratory therapist.
• No practice experience is required, but it is recommended that you have expertise in quality improvement and safety practices with a focus in obstetric and neonatal specialties, for the best possibility of successfully completing the certification process.

Subspecialty Exam leading to a C-NPT^® Certification:
The following requirements must be met to apply for the Neonatal Pediatric Transport subspecialty certification exam:

• Current/active/unencumbered License in the U.S. or Canada as a registered nurse, nurse practitioner, respiratory therapist, paramedic, emergency medical technician (EMT or AEMT) **, physician or physician assistant. (**EMT or AEMT who are in a state that does not issue a separate state-issued license must provide documentation of certification by the National Registry (NREMT)
• No practice experience is required but it is recommended that for the best possibility for successfully completing the certification process is that you have a minimum of two years of experience.

Subspecialty Exam leading to a C-ELBW Certification:
The following requirements must be met to apply for the Care of the Extremely Low Birth Weight Neonate subspecialty certification exam:

• Current/active/unencumbered licensure in the U.S. or Canada as a physician, registered nurse, advanced practice registered nurse (NNP, CNS), physician assistant, neonatal therapist (Occupational Therapists (OT), Physical therapist (PT), Speech and Language Pathologists (SLP)), neonatal dietitians, pharm-D, respiratory therapist or paramedic. The license number, licensing state or province and expiration date will need to be recorded. You will need to upload a verification of current licensure. 
  • No practice experience is required but it is recommended that you have a minimum of one year of experience. Review more details in the registration catalog

Subspecialty Exam leading to a C-NNIC Certification:
The following requirements must be met to apply for the Neonatal Neuro-Intensive Care subspecialty certification exam:

• Current/active/unencumbered licensure in the U.S. or Canada as a physician, registered nurse, advanced practice registered nurse, respiratory therapist, physician assistant,  neonatal therapist (Occupational Therapists (OT), Physical Therapists (PT), Speech and Language Pathologists (SLP)). The license number, licensing state or province and expiration date will need to be recorded. You will need to upload verification of current licensure.

• No practice experience is required but it is recommended that you have a minimum of one year of experience. Review more details in the registration catalog

Core Nursing Certification Exams leading to a RNC Certification:
The following requirements must be met to apply for the following exams: Inpatient Obstetric Nursing, Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing, Low-Risk Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing or Maternal Newborn Nursing certification exam: 

• Current/active/unencumbered licensure as an RN in the US or Canada
• 24 months specialty experience as a U.S. or Canadian RN comprised of a minimum of 2000 hours
• Employment in the specialty sometime in the last 24 months
• Both practice time and hours must be met. This is not an either/or criterion.

Core Nurse Practitioner Exams leading to a NP-BC Certification:
The following requirements must be met to apply for the Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner or Neonatal Nurse Practitioner certification exam:

• Current/active/unencumbered U.S. nursing or advanced practice nursing licensure is required. (Canadian licensure accepted if the APRN graduated from a NCC approved US program.)
• Successful completion of a formal nurse practitioner program that prepares neonatal or women's health care nurse practitioners and awards either a graduate's degree (Master's, a post-Master's or DNP) in the specialty
• To be eligible you must take the certification examination within 8 years of graduation.