NPD-BC - Nursing Professional Development Certification

The Nursing Professional Development Certification (​​NPD-BC) validates the knowledge and skills of licensed registered nurses working in the nursing professional development specialty. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) offers the NPD-BC exam, accredited by the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSN).

Eligibility

To be eligible to take the NPD-BC exam, applicants must have:

• An active RN license in any U.S. state or the legal equivalent in another country

• A bachelor’s degree or higher in nursing

• 2 years of full-time experience as a registered nurse

• Completed at least 2,000 hours as an RN in the nursing professional development specialty within the last 3 years

• Completed 30 hours of Continuing Education Units (CEUs) in the nursing professional development specialty within the last 3 years

Completion Time: Candidates have 3 hours to complete the NPD-BC exam

Cost:

• Non-member: $395

• American Nurses Association member: $295

Exam Format

The NPD-BC exam includes 125 scored questions and 25 unscored questions. Candidates have 3 hours to complete the exam. NPD-BC exam topics include:

• Educational Process Standards (20%)

• Leadership (23%)

• Ethical, Legal, and Regulatory Standards (16%)

• Evidence-based Practice and Research (10%)

• Technology (15%)

• Program/Project Management and Process Improvement (16%)

Test Dates

Prometric Test Centers offer NPD-BC exams year-round. Examinees may also take the exam at home via Prometric’s Live Remote Proctoring (LRP) service.

Application Process

• Go to the NPD-BC certification website 

• Click “Apply Online”

• Create an account or log in

• Complete education information

• List state RN licenses held in all states  

• Add any membership information to collaborating organizations

• Answer the eligibility questions

• Add CEU information

• Attach copy of unofficial transcripts if available

• Insert optional employer information

• Agree to the Statement of Understanding

• Input debit or credit card information

After applying, exam applicants must send official transcripts one of the following ways:

• Email: [email protected]

• Mail: ANCC, Attention: Certification Registration, 8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 400, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910

Applicants receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) upon approval. They must schedule and take the NPD-BC exam within 90 days of receiving their ATT.

NPD-BC certification is valid for 5 years. NPDs can submit an online renewal application up to one year before expiration. To be eligible for renewal, applicants must:

• Have an active RN license in any U.S. state or the legal equivalent in another country

• Have a current, active NPD-BC certification from the ANCC

• Complete 75 Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

• Complete one of 8 professional development categories 

• Pay renewal fee

The professional development component includes the mandatory 75 CE hours PLUS completion of at least one of the following 8 categories:

1. 75 CE hours in addition to the mandatory 75 CE hours

2. Academic credits: 5 semester credits or 6 quarter credits

3. One or more presentations totaling 5 hours

4. One Evidence-Based Practice (EBP), Quality Improvement Project (QI) or one qualifying publication or one Institutional Review Board research project, completed dissertation or thesis, or doctoral project

5. At least 120 hours as a preceptor for students in an academic program

6. Two or more consecutive years of volunteer service with an international, national, state, or local healthcare-related organization

7. 1,000 practice hours (not required to renew certification but option to fulfill professional development)

8. Pass the current NPD-BC exam

NPD-BCs must complete the professional development section before completing their online renewal application. Online renewal is easier if candidates store their professional development activities immediately after completion in their ANCC account, then transfer stored information to their renewal application.

To renew by mail, NPD-BCs may send a request to [email protected].

Renewal Fees

• Non-member: $350

• American Nurses Association member: $250

Part of the renewal process requires 75 Continuing Education Units (CEUs). All CEUs must be directly related to the NPD-BC’s certification role and specialty. At least 60 CEUs must be formally approved CE hours, meaning they must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Continuing nursing education (CNE) approved by an accredited provider of CNE

• Continuing medical education (CME) approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit

• Continuing education hours approved through the Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education

The ANCC accepts other healthcare discipline’s CEUs applicable to the NPD-BC’s certification specialty. Repeat courses aren’t accepted for renewal. Applicants may also convert academic coursework applicable to their certification specialty to CEUs.

NPD-BCs can Track Professional Development on the ANCC website as they complete each activity. Renewal applicants must use their account and complete the CE section of the Professional Development Record to document their CEUs. ANCC doesn’t accept certificates of completion in place of completing Professional Development entries.

The ANCC provides several resources for NPD-BC exam candidates, including:

• Test Content Outline

• Comprehensive List of References

• 25 Sample Questions

• Study Tips

Other certifications offered by the ANCC include:

• Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification (MEDSURG-BC)

• Gerontological Nursing Certification (GERO-BC)

• Cardiovascular Registered Nurse Board Certification (CVRN-BC)