Recertify

Our most popular method of recertification is recertification by contact hours. Contact hours can be earned by completing continuing education and professional activities. You will document those activities in your recertification application.

Eligibility

• Certification. You must hold a CMSRN certification that expires within one year.
• License. You must hold an unencumbered and current license as an RN in the United States, its territories, or Canada. International nurses also eligible.
• Hours of practice. You must have worked 1,000 practice hours in a medical-surgical setting in the last 5 years. Practice may be as a clinical nurse, as a manager, or as an educator.
  • Certificants with experience as a student, see the CMSRN Certification Handbook.
• Contact hours. You must have earned 90 verified contact hours in the last 5 years. 68 of those contact hours must be designated as MedSurg. Only 22 contact hours may be designated ProfDev. Download the Contact Hours Guide and refer to the Contact Hours Appendix of the CMSRN Certification Handbook to learn more.

Fees

All fees include a $79 non-refundable processing fee. Fees are subject to change anytime without notice.

Audit

• 10% of all recertification applications are randomly selected for audit.
• Audited applicants must submit documentation for all contact hours within 30 days of notification.
• If you decline, fail, or miss the deadline for the audit, your recertification application fees are nonrefundable and your CMSRN credential will be revoked.
• You may be required to earn more contact hours before you can pass the audit.

NOTE: Recertify after expiration
You may apply for recertification by contact hours during your grace period as well, which lasts for one year after your CMSRN expires. Your contact hours must have been earned in the 5-year period immediately preceding the date you submit your recertification application.

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You can choose to take the exam again to recertify if you haven’t earned enough contact hours during your accrual period to recertify by contact hours. The process of taking the exam to recertify is the same as the process to take the exam for initial certification. See Certify by Exam for information about the CMSRN exam.

Eligibility

• Certification. You must hold a CMSRN certification that expires within one year.
• License. You must hold an unencumbered and current license as an RN in the United States, its territories, or Canada. The license must be current through your entire 90-day test period. International nurses also eligible.
• Hours of practice. You must have worked 2,000 practice hours in a medical-surgical setting in the past 3 years. Practice may be as a clinical nurse, as a manager, or as an educator.

Fees

Fees subject to change without notice.

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If you hold a MEDSURG-BC from the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center (ANCC), you may be eligible to apply for the CMSRN without having to take the exam. You do not have to give up your MEDSURG-BC to also become CMSRN certified.

Eligibility

• Certification. You must hold a MEDSURG-BC certification from ANCC that expires within one year.
• License. You must hold an unencumbered and current license as an RN in the United States, its territories, or Canada. International nurses also eligible.
• Hours of practice. You must have worked 1,000 practice hours in a medical-surgical setting in the last 5 years. Practice may be as a clinical nurse, as a manager, or as an educator.
  • Certificants with experience as a student, see the CMSRN Certification Handbook.
• Contact hours. You must have earned 90 verified contact hours in the last 5 years. 68 of those contact hours must be designated as MedSurg. Only 22 contact hours may be designated ProfDev.

Fees

Fees subject to change without notice.

NOTE: Transfer after expiration
You may apply for certification by transfer during your grace period as well, which lasts for one year after your MEDSURG-BC expires. Your contact hours must have been earned in the 5-year period immediately preceding the date you submit your certification application

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CMSRNs who have retired within the current certification period but wish to stay connected with other CMSRNs may apply for Emeritus Status. The Emeritus designation is intended both to recognize CMSRN certified nurses' years of service caring for patients and their families, and to acknowledge their dedication to having been certified.

The option to apply for Emeritus Status is located within the recertification application.

Eligibility

• Certification. You must hold a current CMSRN certification.
• Deadline. You must submit the application at least 30 days before your current certification expires.

Fees

Fees subject to change without notice.

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Have you had a "life happens" situation that prevented you from earning the necessary contact hours?

CMSRN credential holders unable to meet the requirements for recertification may apply for Inactive Status. Inactive Status is for one 3-year period only and is a one-time option. There are no exceptions or extensions to this time frame. You may not use the CMSRN credential during the 3-year period of inactivity.

The option to apply for Inactive Status is located within the recertification application.

Eligibility

• Certification. You must hold a current CMSRN certification.
• Letter. You must submit a letter of explanation for the inactive status request.
• Deadline. You must submit the application at least 30 days before your current certification expires.

Fees

Fees subject to change without notice.

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