CHN - Certified Hemodialysis Nurse

Hemodialysis nursing is a subspecialty of nephrology nursing and includes the care of clients with renal disease. Nurses who provide hemodialysis are caring for critically-ill clients in hospital settings and the community in outpatient and home health settings.

The Certified Hemodialysis Nurse (CHN) certification is relevant for nurses with knowledge and skills in caring for clients across the lifespan with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring dialysis treatments.

Applicants for the CHN exam must register through the Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing and Technology (BONENT) application form via mail. The initial exam fee is $225 for the paper exam and $250 for the computer-based test (CBT). The updated schedule for testing is posted on the BONENT CHN content page. 

To be eligible for the CHN certification exam, you must meet the following prerequisites:

• Current licensure as an RN.

• Completion of one year of experience in nephrology.

• Current active employment at an ESRD facility.

Employment verification of experience requires two signed and dated reference letters with the following requirements:

• The applicant’s immediate supervisor, who signs the verification section of the application.

• A professional in nephrology (physician, technician, nurse, or dietitian).

• Both letters must include the applicant’s legal name and verification of total length of experience in nephrology, character reference, and specific job duties.

For candidates that are seeking multiple certifications through BONENT, the application fee for each certification must be paid.

The CHN certification is valid for four years. All supporting documentation for renewal is due within 30 days of the expiration to maintain continuous certification.

To renew the certification, the nurse must fulfill one of the following items:

• Option A: Completion of 40 contact hours during your 4-year certification, and 30 of the 40 hours must be related to nephrology.

• Option B: Certification Exam.

• Option C: Request a One-Time Waiver that can only be used once during the nurse’s lifetime of CHN certification.

There is no fee required to recertify as a CHN. However, annual fee of $60 is required to maintain ongoing verification. If the annual fees are not paid in full at the time of certification, the nurse is ineligible to recertify.

The BONENT offers resources for exam candidates, including:

• Study Guide

• Candidate Handbook

• Reading List

• Approved Training Programs

The nurse seeking additional verification of skills in the nephrology specialty may also observe the following certifications offered by the BONENT:

• Certified Peritoneal Dialysis Nurse (CPDN): Peritoneal dialysis nurses provide dialysis through the lining in the abdomen in acute care and home health settings.