Career Resources For Nurses And Nursing Students

Canadian Nurses Association
The only group in Canada that certifies nurses. Covers over 15 nursing specialties.

American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
A very established group that has certified over 70,000 nurses since the 1960's, AACN gives exams for all critical care specialties including pediatric, neonatal and acute care nurse practitioner. Several cardiac nursing specialties have recently been added.

National Certification Corporation For Maternal Child Nurse Practitioners and Specialists (NCC)
In existence since the mid 1970's, NCC has certified more than 80,000 nurses in all areas of neonatal, obstetric, maternal newborn nursing and women's health care.

Emergency Nurses Association (ENA)
Certifies various emergency nursing specialties.

Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN)
A subsidiary of the ENA that offers specialized certification training largely (though not exclusively) in the area of transportation-related emergencies.

American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) and National Board on Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA)
AANA started way back in 1931. Today, there are over 35,000 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists.

Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC)
Today there are over 25,000 certified oncology nurses in the US. ONCC develops teaching and certification programs for them, and evaluates programs developed by various schools for this specialty.

Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN)
Offers a voluntary certification program for operating room nurses. It operates the Competency & Credentialing Institute which provides education, but not an official certificate, for surgical nurses.

American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
A subgroup of the American Nurses Association, the ANCC gives tests for certification in over 40 different specialties, and provides certification for everything from basic nursing and nurse practitioners up to very targeted, advanced specialties.

American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
The biggest membership program for Nurse Practitioners in the US. AANP operates a certification program that gives national comptetency/credential exams for geriatric, family and other nurse practioner specialties.

Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB)
Offers exams for certification as a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse and Certified Pediatric Nurse.

The Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB)
A group that offers 11 basic and advanced certifications in ostomy, wound and continence nursing.

The American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB)
Provides Certified Nurse- Midwife and Certified Midwife examinations.

American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants (AALNC) and American Legal Nurse Consultant Certification Board (ALNCCB)
The Associate of Legal Nurse Consultants gives the Legal Nurse Consultant Certified credential via its certification board. Currently about 3,500 nurses have this certification.

Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC)
Givies certification in dialysis and nephrology nursing.

American Board of Perianesthesia Nursing Certification, Inc. (ABPANC)
Certification for recovery room nursing specialties.

HIV/AIDS Nursing Certification Board

Dermatology Nurses' Association (DNA)

Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses

Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN)

American Radiological Nurses Association (ARNA)

Hospice and Palliative Care Nurses Association (HPNA)

Infusion Nurses Society (INS)

Society of Urologic Nurses and Associates

National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses' (NAON)

American Association of Neuroscience Nurses (AANN)

American Assembly For Men In Nursing

American Association Of Nurse Attorneys
Organization of lawyers students and others who are focused on legal issues in health care.

National League For Nursing
Group for nursing faculty at colleges and other facilities engaged in nursing education.

Association Of Camp Nurses
Volunteer group of nurses dedicated to promoting healthy camp communities.

National Student Nurses Association
Aids in thee professional development of nurses and facilitates the entrance of new nurses into the profession.

Visiting Nurse Associations Of America
A nationwide association of nonprofit Visiting Nurse Agencies for nurses engaged in home-based care.

American Nurses Association
Represents over 5 million US nurses through 54 constituent groups. Promotes rights of nurses in workplace, career opportunites and advocates nurses issues to state and national lawmakers.

Medi-Smart
Extensive list of learning resources and aids for student nurses.

Get information, or register online for NCLEX tests

Interesting flash card study aid for getting ready to take NCLEX

An excellent review of what happens on the day you take the NCLEX Test from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

Interactive map to help you find all US State Boards of Nursing