As we celebrate National Certified Nurses Day on March 19, we recognize more than 1 million specialty-certified registered nurses in the United States and Canada (American Board of Nursing Specialties, 2020). We also acknowledge more than 6,500 nurses certified in nursing professional development (NPD) whose commitment continues to advance our specialty (ANCC, 2024). Equally important is recognition of our NPD colleagues pursuing certification and navigating the often complex decision of which certification best aligns with their professional role and career goals.
For nearly two decades, I have traveled across the United States teaching the Association for Nursing Professional Development’s (ANPD) NPD certification preparation course. Recently, a participant asked, “Which exam should I prepare to take?” I expected the ensuing conversation to include the usual comparison between clinical specialty certification and NPD certification, an inquiry frequently raised by course participants. Instead, this NPD practitioner shared that they were considering alternative certification examinations intended for academic nurse educators, prompting further discussion about certification alignment, role clarity, and professional identity within nursing professional development.
Mary Smith, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, NC-BC, AMB-BC, C-EFM, CCE, education program manager for ANPD, and I examined more than 150 nursing certification options offered by approximately 44 nursing certification boards (Gaines, 2025). We identified seven board certifications often asked about and misperceived by NPD practitioners seeking certification. Confusion persists regarding the distinct roles and specialties, and lack of role clarity contributes to uncertainty when selecting the most appropriate certification to pursue (Robinson, Holtschneider, & Smith, 2025).
Let us critically examine the certification pathways available to the NPD practitioner, NPD specialist, academic nurse educator, and clinical nurse educator to support informed selection of the certification that best aligns with an individual’s professional practice, role, responsibilities, and career goals. As with any certification decision, candidates should also consider factors such as role expectations, work setting, eligibility criteria, costs, examination format, and recertification timelines, which are summarized in Table 1. Follow the hyperlinks throughout this article to explore the exam content blueprints and additional information about each certification. Let us look in our magic mirror and navigate through this certification maze together so you can choose the exam that is right for you.
Nursing Professional Development: NPD-BC™
An NPD practitioner “influences professional role competence and growth of learners in a variety of settings with a desired outcome of improved health population” (Harper & Maloney, 2022, p. 16). Understanding the NPD specialty and its impact on the professional development of those in healthcare begins with the NPD Practice Model, which offers guidance in examining role alignment and certification relevance to professional practice. This visual model represents the framework of the NPD, describing the who, what, when, where, how, and why of NPD practice and outlines the NPD practitioner’s roles and responsibilities. NPD work often falls into the model’s throughputs: onboarding/orientation, competency management, education, role development, collaborative partnerships, and inquiry (Harper and Maloney, 2022).
Recognition of NPD specialty competency is achieved by obtaining the Nursing Professional Development certification (NPD-BC), accomplished through a competency-based examination that serves as a “valid and reliable assessment of the entry-level clinical knowledge and skills of registered nurses in the nursing professional development specialty” (ANCC, n.d.).
Nursing Professional Development Advanced: NPDA-BC®
The Nursing Professional Development Advanced–Board Certified (NPDA-BC) certification signifies advanced professional accomplishment by NPD specialists who achieve the full scope of NPD roles while upholding professional practice and performance expectations (CCI, 2026). An NPD specialist “is an NPD practitioner prepared at the graduate level in nursing or related field and certified in NPD who develops tools, theories, skills, and knowledge to advance the practice of the NPD specialty” (Harper & Maloney, 2022, p. 16).
The NPDA-BC certification exam is portfolio-based and provides a peer-reviewed mechanism for demonstrating advanced NPD knowledge and skills. Portfolio activities go beyond entry-level practice and require applicants to make meaningful contributions to the art and science of nursing at an advanced level (CCI, 2026). Currently, new applications are not being accepted as the certification program undergoes revisions.
CCRN® and PCCN® Knowledge Professional Eligibility Pathways
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) offers the Acute/Critical Care Nursing Certification (CCRN) and Progressive Care Nursing Certification (PCCN). The Knowledge Professional Eligibility Pathways for these certifications are intended for nurses who influence the care of critically or acutely ill patients but do not primarily or exclusively provide direct bedside care (AACN, 2025). Eligibility is based on role responsibilities rather than job title, and candidates may practice in a variety of professional roles, including clinical or patient educator, academic faculty, nursing leadership, and clinical or case manager/care coordinator (AACN, 2025).
Individuals who qualify for either the Direct Care or Knowledge Professional Eligibility Pathway (KPEP) earn the same credential (e.g., CCRN, PCCN) upon successful exam completion. It is important to note that these certifications and their exams do not focus on the educational support for these practice areas, but rather on clinical care aspects of these nursing specialties. The CCRN and PCCN exams assess clinical judgment (80%) and professional caring and ethical practice (20%). Exam performance data is no longer reported separately for the different pathways and is instead included within the overall CCRN and PCCN pass rates. When pathway-specific data was last reported in 2022, there were 4,712 CCRN-K (adult), 475 CCRN-K (pediatric), 86 CCRN-K (neonatal), and 1,142 PCCN-K certificants.
National League for Nursing
The National League for Nursing (NLN) offers three certification exams focused on the academic nurse educator: Certified Nurse Educator, Academic Clinical Nurse Educator, and Academic Novice Nurse Educator. Academic nursing education encompasses the facilitation of learning through curriculum development, instruction, evaluation, advisement, and related faculty activities within schools of nursing (NLN, 2012). Let’s explore what makes them different and if any are a fit for you.
Certified Nurse Educator: CNE®
The goal of Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) certification is to recognize academic nursing education as a specialized area of professional practice and to acknowledge the full scope of the academic nurse educator role. The certification affirms the breadth of knowledge and competencies possessed by academic nurse educators, including both didactic instruction in the classroom and clinical education across all levels of nursing education programs from prelicensure to graduate (NLN, 2025). As of 2024 reporting, 9,754 academic nurse educators have obtained this certification (NLN, 2025).
Academic Clinical Nurse Educator: CNE®cl
The Academic Clinical Nurse Educator Certification (CNEcl) provides acknowledgement of the specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities and excellence in clinical teaching by the academic clinical nurse educator, who plays a central role in guiding nursing students’ learning experiences within the clinical and laboratory settings of academic nursing education (NLN, 2024). Depending on the nursing education program’s classification, titles for academic clinical nurse educators may include clinical faculty, part-time or adjunct faculty, clinical instructor, or preceptor. This academia-based role is guided by faculty of the nursing education program (NLN, 2024). As of 2024, 554 academic clinical nurse educators obtained CNEcl certification (NLN, 2025).
Academic Novice Nurse Educator: CNE®n
The Academic Novice Nurse Educator Certification (CNEn) enables novice nurse educators with fewer than three years of experience in academia to demonstrate foundational knowledge of the educator role. This certification is nonrenewable and is intended to serve as an entry point for novice academic nurse educators by promoting ongoing professional development and encouraging future pursuit of one or more additional NLN certifications. As of 2024, 213 academic novice nurse educators obtained this certification (NLN, 2025).
Click here to view Table 1: Comparison of Certifications Relevant to Nursing Professional Development and Nurse Educator Roles.
Which is the Best Fit for You?
Understanding the distinctions among nursing professional development, academic nurse educators, and some clinical education roles and related certification options is essential for informed decision making. By examining certifications applicable to your practice and clarifying individual role alignment, this analysis aims to reduce confusion and support nurses in selecting the certification that best reflects their professional responsibilities, practice setting, and career goals. Thoughtful consideration of eligibility requirements, examination content, and recertification expectations can empower nurses to pursue certification pathways that strengthen professional identity and advance the specialty. Now that we have looked in our magic mirror and navigated through this certification maze together, which certification exam will be right for you?
References
American Association of Critical Care Nurses (n.d.). Certification exam statistics and cut scores. https://www.aacn.org/certification/preparation-tools-and-handbooks/exam-stats-and-scores.
American Association of Critical Care Nurses Certification Corporation (2025). CCRN exam handbook: Knowledge professional eligibility pathway acute/critical care certification — adult, pediatric, neonatal. https://www.aacn.org/~/media/aacn-website/certification/get-certified/handbooks/ccrnkexamhandbook.pdf
American Association of Critical Care Nurses Certification Corporation (2025). PCCN exam handbook: Knowledge professional eligibility pathway progressive care nursing certification – adult. https://www.aacn.org/~/media/aacn-website/certification/get-certified/handbooks/pccnkexamhandbook.pdf?la=en
American Board of Nursing Specialties (2020). 2020 ABNS Nursing Specialty Certification Board Survey. https://www.nursingcertification.org/resources/Documents/research/infographic.pdf
American Nurses Credentialing Center (2024). 2024 ANCC certification data. https://www.nursingworld.org/globalassets/docs/ancc/ancc-cert-data-website.pdf
American Nurses Credentialing Center (2025). NPD-BC test content outline. https://www.nursingworld.org/globalassets/08282024-exam-24-npd-tco-website.pdf
American Nurses Credentialing Center. (n.d.). Nursing professional development certification (NPD-BC™). https://www.nursingworld.org/our-certifications/nursing-professional-development/
Association for Nursing Professional Development (2023). Nursing Professional Development Practice Model. [Video] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OchKI8W2UF8
Competency & Credentialing Institute (2026). Nursing professional development advanced-board certified. https://www.cc-institute.org/npda-bc/
Gaines, K. (2025). Complete list of common nursing certifications. Nurse.org https://nurse.org/articles/nursing-certifications-credentials-list/
Harper, M.G. & Maloney, P. (Eds). (2022). Nursing professional development: Scope and standards of practice (4th ed.). Association for Nursing Professional Development.
National League for Nursing (2012). The scope of practice for academic nurse educators. 2012 Revision. National League for Nursing.
National League for Nursing (2024). Certified Academic Clinical Nurse Educator (CNE®cl) 2024 candidate handbook. https://www.nln.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/cnecl-handbook_2024_11.20.2024.pdf?sfvrsn=a5a09c7c_3
National League for Nursing (2025). Certification renewal. https://www.nln.org/awards-recognition/nln-certification
National League for Nursing (2025). Certified Nurse Educator (CNE®) 2025 candidate handbook. https://www.nln.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/cne-handbook-2025_final-for-website.pdf?sfvrsn=a583e6d8_1
National League for Nursing (2025). Certified Nurse Educator Novice (CNE®n) 2025 candidate handbook. https://www.nln.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/cnen-handbook-2025.pdf?sfvrsn=c62ae469_1
National League for Nursing (2025). CNE®: Academic nurse educator. https://www.nln.org/certification/Certification-for-Nurse-Educators/cne
National League for Nursing (2025). CNE®cl: Academic clinical nurse educator. https://www.nln.org/certification/Certification-for-Nurse-Educators/cne-cl
National League for Nursing (2025). CNE®n: Academic novice nurse educator. https://www.nln.org/certification/Certification-for-Nurse-Educators/cne-n
Robinson, J., Holtschneider, M., & Smith, M., (2024). Nursing professional development certification – It’s more than just taking the test, Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, 41(6), 319-324. https://doi.org/10.1097/NND.0000000000001170
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the contributor and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ANPD.
Jo-Ann R. Robinson, DNP, APN-BC, RNC-OB, NPD-BC
NPD Specialist, Bon Secours Charity Health System of Westchester Medical Center Health Network and Assistant Professor of Nursing, Montclair State University
Dr. Jo-Ann Robinson is a nationally recognized leader in nursing professional development (NPD) with more than 20 years of advancing the specialty. Passionate about educating nurses, she serves as an assistant professor at Montclair State University’s School of Nursing and as NPD specialist at the Bon Secours Charity Health System. Dr. Robinson has held diverse clinical and administrative leadership positions. For almost 20 years, she has served as an ANPD NPD certification preparation instructor and content expert, mentoring others in obtaining their certification. She has presented at numerous national conferences and published in the Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, most recently on the value of NPD certification. Her scholarly work also includes being a chapter author for ANPD’s Core Curriculum for Nursing Professional Development (6th ed.) and a Quick Guide Series text on the educational design process. She is a recipient of the ANPD NPD Leader Award.