CNE - Certified Nurse Educator

The Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) validates the knowledge and skills of academic nurse educators working in hospitals, universities, or technical schools. The National League for Nursing (NLN) offers the CNE exam, accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

Eligibility

To be eligible to take the CNE exam, applicants must meet all the requirements within one of 2 options:

Option 1:

• A valid license/certificate or proof of unencumbered practice in their country of residence

• A master’s or doctorate degree in nursing with:

  •  an emphasis on nursing education, or 

  • a post-master certificate in nursing education, or 

  • at least 9 credit hours of graduate-level education courses

Option 2:

• A valid license/certificate or proof of unencumbered practice in their country of residence

• A master’s or doctorate degree in nursing

• At least 2 years of employment in a nursing program at an academic institution within the last 5 years

Completion Time: Candidates have 3 hours to complete the CNE exam

Cost:

• National League for Nursing member Initial or Retest: $400

• Non-member Initial or Retest: $500

Exam Format

The CNE exam includes 130 scored questions and 20 unscored questions. Candidates have 3 hours to complete the exam. CNE exam topics include:

• Facilitate Learning (22%)

• Facilitate Learner Development and Socialization (15%)

• Use Assessment and Evaluation Strategies (19%)

• Participate in Curriculum Design and Evaluation of Program Outcomes (17%)

• Pursue Continuous Quality Improvement in the Academic Nurse Educator Role (12%)

• Engage in Scholarship, Service, and Leadership (15%)

Test Dates

Scantron Test Centers offer CNE exams Mondays through Saturdays year-round. Examinees may also take the exam at home via Scantron’s live online proctored test administration service.

Application Process

• Go to the certification website 

• Click “Certification Portal”

• Create an account or log in

• Click “CNE Application for Initial Certification”

• Click “Create New Application”

• List RN licenses held in all states  

• Answer the eligibility questions

• Enter accommodation requests if applicable

• Enter up to 3 email addresses to receive successful exam results 

• Answer the exam test preparation questions

• Click “Yes” under Agreement of Authorization & Confidentiality

• Input credit card information

If applicants don’t receive a confirmation notice of eligibility within 5 business days of application submission, they should contact the NLN. Applicants receives a Notice to Schedule Examination from Scantron upon approval.

CNE certification is valid for 5 years. The certification period begins on the day the examinee receives their passing score and ends on the last day of the 5th year. Renewal applicants must submit their renewal application by September 30th of the expiration year.

To be eligible for renewal, applicants must:

• Possess a valid license/certificate or proof of unencumbered practice in their country of residence

• Have 2 or more years of employment in the last 5 years working in the academic faculty role

• Have Certified Nurse Educator Code of Ethics compliance

• Complete 50 Renewal Credits (RCs) or retake the CNE exam

• Pay the renewal fee

To register to retake the CNE exam:

• Go to the certification website 

• Click CNE Registration on the left side

• Click “Certification Portal” and login

• Click “CNE Renewal by Exam”

• Select “Create New Application”

• Complete the application and submit payment

Renewal Fees

• National League for Nursing member: $350

• Non-member: $450

Renewal applicants must accrue a minimum of 50 RCs during the renewal cycle. CNEs must distribute RCs across the 5 years. Credits must be related to at least 5 of the 8 CNE Core Competencies, which include:

1. Facilitate Learning

2. Facilitate Learner Development and Socialization

3. Use Assessment and Evaluation Strategies

4. Participate in Curriculum Design and Evaluation of Program Outcomes

5. Function as a Change Agent and Leader

6. Pursue Continuous Quality Improvement in the Nurse Educator Role

7. Engage in Scholarship

8. Function Within the Educational Environment

To add RC information:

• Go to the certification website 

• Select “CNE Renewal” on the left side

• Click “Renew Now” at the bottom

• Log in

• Click “CNE Renewal by Credits” on the left side

• Select “Create New Application”

• Select “Details” on the right side

• Click “Activities” on the left side

• Under Transactions select “Add”

• Select competency area

• Enter dates, activity, and renewal credit information

• Upload supporting documentation

• After entering 50 RCs, click “Yes” under Attestation

• Click “Checkout and Make Payment”

The NLN provides several resources to help prepare for the CNE exam, including:

• CNE Handbook with sample questions on pages 12 and 13

• Test Blueprint

• Detailed Test Blueprint

• Reference List

• Scope of Practice for Academic Nurse Educators Cost: $19.99

• The Self-Assessment Examination (SAE) is a multiple-choice, 65-question practice exam available for 60 days following purchase. Cost: $65 for NLN members and $75 for non-members

Other related certifications offered by the NLN include:

• Certified Academic Clinical Nurse Educator (CNEcl)

• Academic Novice Educator (CNEn)