AACRN - Advanced HIV/AIDS Certified Registered Nurse

The Advanced HIV/AIDS Certified Registered Nurse (AACRN) certification validates the advanced knowledge and skills of registered nurses caring for patients with HIV and AIDS. The HIV/AIDS Nursing Certification Board (HANCB) offers the AACRN certification.

Completion Time: Candidates have 6 months to complete required curriculum

Cost:

• Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (ANAC) member: $350

• Non-member: $450

The AACRN certification includes 37 learning modules with associated quizzes. To complete each module, applicants must answer 4 out of 5 quiz questions correctly and complete the survey. After completing all modules, applicants must take a 100-question self-study assessment and earn a greater than 80% pass rate.

HANCB grants certification after completion of the curriculum within 6 months. The curriculum is based on the National HIV Curriculum, which includes:

• Screening and Diagnosis

• Basic HIV Primary Care

• Antiretroviral Therapy

• Co-Occurring Conditions

• Prevention of HIV

• Key Populations

Eligibility

To be eligible for the AACRN certification, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Hold an active RN license in the U.S. or the equivalent in another country

• Completed a minimum of 3 years of experience as an RN in the last 5 years

• Completed a minimum of 2,000 hours in HIV/AIDS nursing 

• Have one of the following:

  • A master’s degree or higher in nursing 

  • A post-graduate program for advanced practice nursing

  • The educational requirements for state licensure or certification as an advanced practice nurse

AACRN certification is valid for 4 years. To be eligible for renewal, applicants must:

• Complete 90 Continuing Education Points (CEPs), a minimum of 80% must be in HIV care

• Submit an application

• Pay the renewal fee

Renewal Fees

• Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (ANAC) member: $300

• Non-member: $400

Renewal applicants must accrue a minimum of 90 CEPs during the 4-year cycle. 

• Category 1: HIV/AIDS Nursing Continuing Education (minimum of 45 CEPs)

• Category 2: Other Nursing Continuing Education (maximum of 18 CEPs)

• Category 3: Academic Credit Courses (maximum of 45 CEPs)

• Category 4: Professional Activities (maximum of 15 CEPs)

Refer to the Recertification Protocol for a full list of accepted CEPs.

HANCB provides a full list of resources including books, journals, reports, and websites about HIV nursing.

Other similar certifications include:

• HIV/AIDS Certified LPN/LVN (ACLPN)

• HIV/AIDS Certified Registered Nurse (ACRN)

• HIV Specialist (AAHIVS)

• HIV Pharmacist (AAHIVP)

• HIV Expert (AAHIVE)