CHPNA - Certified Hospice and Palliative Nursing Assistant

Certified Hospice and Palliative Nursing Assistant (CHPNA) certification is issued by the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC), accredited by the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC). Also known as CHA Certified Hospice Aide.

Certified Hospice Aides provide personal care to patients under the supervision of a nurse and according to a plan of care. They collaborate with a multidisciplinary team in a variety of settings.

What does a Certified Hospice Aide do?

• Communicating and tracking medical changes

• Wound care

• Bathing and dressing

• Personal care, including hair, skin, oral and nails

• Helping with toileting or incontinence care

• Light meal preparation and light housekeeping

• Tasks to ensure a clean and comfortable environment

• Spending time with patients and educating family members

Cost to certify

CHPNA Initial Certification: $225 ($175 for HPNA members)

reTEST Assured Program - The HPCC offers this program for candidates that did not pass the exam. Cost to retake the exam in the next three test windows is $125.

Obtain your high school diploma or GED. Though not always required, a certified nursing assistants (CNA) license or state certification, such as a state-tested nurse’s aide (STNA) license will improve your career options. Read on to find out about the eligibility requirements.

The core curriculum of this certification consists of these areas of study:

• Overview of Hospice and Palliative Nursing Assistant Practice

• Pain Management

• Symptom Management

• Ethical Issues

• Communicating with patients, families, and care providers

• Cultural considerations

• Loss and bereavement

• Spiritual care

• Care at the time of dying

• Personal and professional development

Eligibility requirements

For the HPCC CHPNA examination, an applicant must have hospice and palliative nursing assistant practice of 500 hours in the most recent 12 months or 1,000 hours in the most recent 24 months under the supervision of a registered nurse in the United States prior to applying for the exam.

The CHPNA exam is offered in four windows throughout the year:

• March 1 to March 31

  • Applications start - December 1

  • Deadline for Paper Applications - January 15

  • Deadline for Online Applications - February 15

• June 1 to June 30

  • Applications start - March 1

  • Deadline for Paper Applications - April 15

  • Deadline for Online Applications - May 15

• September 1 - September 30

  • Applications start - June 1

  • Deadline for Paper Applications - July 15

  • Deadline for Online Applications - August 15

• December 1 - December 31

  • Applications start - September 1

  • Deadline for Paper Applications - October 15

  • Deadline for Online Applications - November 15

Certification Scholarships

The Sandra Lee Schafer Certification Scholarships can cover the cost of certification fees for eligible individuals and are valid for those earning a new Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center certification or those who are renewing their current HPCC certification.

The CHPNA certification is valid for four years. To renew, the applicant must sit for and pass the computer-based exam again prior to the expiration date of their current certification.

CHPNA Certification Renewal: $200 ($150 for HPNA members)

The HPCC offers resources for exam candidates, including:

• Content Outline

• Handbook

• Study Tips

• Review Course (Cost: $160 and $60 for HPNA members)

• Practice Test (Cost: $35 and $25 for HPNA members)

• Core Curriculum (Cost: $140 and $110 for HPNA members)

The Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC) also offers the following:

• Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (ACHPN)

• Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN)

• Certified Hospice and Palliative Pediatric Nurse (CHPPN)

• Certified Hospice and Palliative Licensed Nurse (CHPLN)