How To Earn Your Pediatric Nursing Certification
Pediatric nursing can be a satisfying career path. Some pediatric nurses choose national certification in order to earn more money, receive bonuses, and gain a competitive edge in the job market. Certification validates a nurse’s expertise, knowledge, and critical thinking skills.
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Where to Get Pediatric Nursing Certifications
Three organizations offer pediatric nurse certification:
- Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PCNB)
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- National Certification Corporation (NCC)
Each has an exam, requirements for recertification, and exam eligibility criteria.
Pediatric Nursing Certification Differences: CPN, PED-BC, RNC-NIC, CCRN
Your career goals will affect which pediatric nursing certification you pursue. In this section, we'll explore the differences between the most common credentials.
| Certification | Certifying Authority | Description |
| Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN) | Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) | An accredited board certification validates a nurse's specialty competencies in caring for pediatric patients. |
| Pediatric Nursing Certification (PED-BC) | American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) | This credential primarily signals a nurse's entry-level competency for pediatric nursing practice. |
| RNC Certification for Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing (RNC-NIC) | National Certification Corporation (NCC) | A credential that validates specialty knowledge and skills for nurses working with neonates and their families in an intensive care setting. |
| Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) - Pediatric | American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) | A specialty certification for RNs or APRNs who provide care to critically ill pediatric patients. |
While most pediatric nurses are eligible to sit for the PED-BC and CPN, the CPN is generally favored for several reasons, including:
- Exam cost
- CPN is endorsed by the Society of Pediatric Nurses (SPN), while the PED-BC is not
- CPN has created the Institute of Pediatric Nursing to encourage students to choose pediatrics
- CPN attends national and select local conferences
- More support for CPN certification
The CCRN and RNC-NIC are more specific, and only certain pediatric nurses are eligible for them. Let's look more closely at each certification.
Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN)
The Pediatric Nursing Certification Board oversees the CPN examination and certification. To be eligible to sit for the exam, nurses must have the following:
- A current, valid, and unrestricted RN license in the U.S., Canada, or a territory
- A minimum of 1800 hours of pediatric clinical experience completed within the past 24 months as an RN, or
- A minimum of 5 years as an RN in pediatric nursing and 3,000 hours in pediatric nursing within the last 5 years, with a minimum of 1000 hours within the past 24 months (only if unable to meet the above option)
Clinical practice hours can include direct patient care, management, education, and consultation.
The CPN exam is not specifically designed for hospital nurses. Other eligible clinical experience can include:
- Ambulatory care
- School-based nursing
- Home health
- Clinical research
- Public health
Nurses with a diploma, associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate in nursing are all eligible to sit for the examination.
The CPN certification is nationally recognized for its Magnet designation, which makes this one of the most appealing pediatric certifications for hospitals. As of December 2021, there are 32,858 nurses who hold their CPN certification.
Currently, the CPN exam costs $309, including a $103 non-refundable registration fee. Once registered, there is a 90-day window to complete or pay $134 for a one-time extension.
The exam is 3 hours long and consists of 175 multiple-choice questions. Unlike the NCLEX, this exam requires individuals to complete all 175 questions in the allotted time.
Test-takers will know immediately following the exam if they passed or failed, and official results are mailed out 2-3 weeks after completion of the exam.
The PNCB website is a valuable resource for additional information concerning the exam, including costs, renewal fees, contact hours, and review courses.
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Pediatric Nursing Certification (PED-BC)
The American Nurses Credentialing Center pediatric nursing board certification examination is a competency-based examination.
To be eligible to sit for the PED-BC exam, nurses must meet the following criteria:
- Hold an active, unencumbered RN license
- Two years of full-time practice as a registered nurse
- A minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice in the specialty area of pediatric nursing within the last three years
- 30 hours of continuing education in pediatric nursing within the last three years
Practice hours can only include direct bedside care or direct clinical supervision. The PED-BC is very strict and requires documentation of hours. For this reason, hospital-based nurses are more likely to earn this certification.
The ANCC promotes excellence in nursing through certification. The PED-BC is also a Magnet-designated certification and is primarily held by hospital-based pediatric nurses.
The exam takes 3 hours and consists of 150 questions, including 25 that are pretest questions that are not scored. Similar to the CPN, all questions must be completed prior to exiting the exam.
The exam costs $395 for initial certification, including a $140 non-refundable registration fee. There is a discount for American Nurses Association members. A 90-day window is given to take the exam after registration.
As of December 2021, 2,361 nurses hold a PED-BC certification.
Registered Nurse - Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing (RNC-NIC)
The National Certification Corporation developed the RNC-NIC specifically for neonatal intensive care nurses. Nurses who work in a Level 3 or Level 4 NICU would be eligible to sit for this exam.
To be eligible for the exam, individuals must meet the following criteria:
- Current licensure as an RN
- 24 months of specialty experience as a U.S. or Canadian RN comprised of a minimum of 2000 hours (this must have occurred sometime in your career).
- Specialty experience can be comprised of direct patient care, education, administration, or research.
- Employment in the specialty sometime in the last 24 months.
- Both practice time and hours must be met. This is not an either/or criterion.
The exam is $325 with a $50 non-refundable registration fee. There is a 90-day window to take the exam, and official results are mailed 21 business days after completion of the computer-based exam. Individuals who can not take the exam during the window or miss their test time can pay $125 for a one-time test extension.
The exam is 3 hours and consists of 175 questions, with 25 being unscored pretest questions.
Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) Pediatric
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses developed a specialty examination for critical care peds nurses. Nurses who work in intensive care units, cardiac care units, combined ICU/CCUs, medical/surgical ICUs, trauma units, or critical care transport/flight are eligible to take the exam. If you are unsure if your unit qualifies, discuss the requirements with your unit nurse educator or nurse manager.
To be eligible to sit for the CCRN exam, nurses must meet the following criteria:
- Hold a current, unencumbered RN license
- Practice as an RN or APRN for 1,750 hours directly caring for acutely/critically ill pediatric patients during the previous two years, with 875 of those hours accrued in the most recent year preceding application OR
- Practice as an RN or APRN for at least five years with a minimum of 2,000 hours directly caring for acutely/critically ill pediatric patients, with 144 of those hours accrued in the most recent year preceding the application
According to the CCRN website, eligible clinical practice hours include:
- Must be completed in a U.S.-based or Canada-based facility or in a facility determined to be comparable to the U.S. standard of acute/critical care nursing practice.
- Are spent actively providing direct care to acutely/critically ill pediatric patients or spent supervising nurses or nursing students at the bedside of acutely/critically ill pediatric patients if working as a manager, educator, preceptor, or APRN. The majority of practice hours for exam eligibility must be focused on critically ill patients.
- Are verifiable by your clinical supervisor or professional colleague (RN or physician). Contact information must be provided for verification of eligibility related to clinical hours, to be used if you are selected for audit.
The exam is $370, and individuals receive a 90-day window to schedule the exam at an ANCC-approved center, of which there are over 300 nationwide. Depending on your location, you may have to travel to the closest center. You do not have to take the exam in your home state. This is a national certification and not state-specific.
Pediatric Nurse Salary
Salary.com reports the median annual pediatric nurse salary is $85,600 or $41 per hour. While no available data shows salary differences between certified and uncertified peds nurses, your credentials can help you gain leverage in salary negotiations.
Most hospitals have a tier system, and certified nurses move up the tiers more quickly, resulting in a higher salary. Thus, there's a high likelihood that earning one or more of these certs can help you optimize your income.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse - Pediatric Certifications (APRN)
In addition to the two general certifications for RNs outlined above, there are other specialized pediatric certifications for advanced practice nurses:
- Certified Registered Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care (CRPNP-AC)
- Certified Registered Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care (CRPNP-PC)
- Pediatric Primary Care Mental Health Specialist (PMHS)
- Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist (PCNS-BC)
Unlike the previous certifications, the advanced practice certifications require additional schooling and a Master of Science degree in Nursing (MSN). These degrees can be completed in two to three years, and then require a national certification exam to earn your APRN certification.
Learn more about Pediatric APRN jobs and current Pediatric APRN programs.
Why Earn Your Pediatric Nursing Certification
There are many reasons to become certified. Here are some to seriously consider:
- Higher wages
- Enhanced career mobility
- Continuing education support
- Recognition of validated expertise
- Provision of enhanced patient care
- Commitment to career advancement
- Personal growth and satisfaction
- Access to member-specific organizations
- Networking opportunities
- Dedication to quality patient care
- Strengthened confidence in clinical abilities
Additionally, peds nursing certifications can make you a more competitive candidate for PICU nurse jobs or pediatric nurse practitioner programs.
Pediatric Nurse Certifications: Final Thoughts
Regardless of the pediatric certification obtained, becoming certified carries a strong sense of professional pride. It indicates that you have specialty knowledge beyond RN licensure. Board certification is recognized by employers, colleagues, as well as patients and their families.
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Pediatric Nursing Certification FAQs
