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The health care industry strives to deliver the best patient outcomes, but the ongoing nursing shortage makes this increasingly difficult. Skilled nurse leaders are needed to address these challenges through better hiring and retention, innovative care models, and effective use of technology.

Pursuing a leadership role allows nurses to influence the industry at this critical time. Earning an advanced degree and a nursing leadership certification can prepare professionals to step into these roles and expand their career opportunities.

What Is a Nursing Leadership Certification?

A nursing leadership certification serves as official recognition of a nurse’s leadership and management expertise. Certification provides a way for health care facilities to affirm whether a nurse has the skills, knowledge, and expertise to fulfill specific roles and responsibilities. Health care professionals generally need to meet certain requirements and then must register, pay a fee, and pass an exam to become certified.

Certifications provide more than employer validation, however. They can also prepare nurses for leadership positions by fortifying their knowledge in key leadership-related topics. These can include the following:

• Health care administration
• Strategic planning
• Quality improvement

Certifications are subject to approval from an accreditation board such as the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) or the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC) . These agencies may also set and uphold the standards for certification, helping ensure certified nurses meet consistent levels of quality. 

Pursuing certification is largely a personal decision driven by a nurse’s desire to advance their career in a specific way. It is a commitment, however, requiring time and money not just for the initial process but often for periodic renewal.

Benefits of Nursing Leadership Certification

Nursing leadership certification offers many benefits for nurses, patients, and the health care sector as a whole.

Skill Development

Nurses who prepare for and achieve certification will learn and develop some fundamental leadership skills , including the following:

• Communication — Clear communication reduces misunderstandings and improves care effectiveness and efficiency.

• Collaboration and teamwork — Comprehensive care strategies involve multiple health care professionals. Enhancing collaborative skills helps ensure all providers share the same care delivery goals.

• Mentorship — A key responsibility for nurse leaders is mentoring other nurses , especially during shortages, to help them grow their skills and careers.

• Critical thinking — Nurse leaders must apply critical-thinking skills to adapt to a fast-changing health care environment .

• Open-mindedness — Along with critical thinking, openness to new technologies and care strategies is vital in today’s evolving health care sector.

Improved Patient Care

Research indicates a strong correlation between nurse certification and improved patient care . Some of the key metrics behind this correlation include the following:

• Reduced infection rates

• Reduced medical errors

• Lower odds of patient mortality

Discerning nurse leadership is essential to achieving these improvements. Nurses in leadership roles often combine their nursing knowledge with business and leadership acumen. This can enable them to develop cohesive care delivery strategies that naturally lend themselves to more efficient care. Certification can optimize this unique intersection between health care, business, and leadership.

Strengthened Work Environment

Certified nurse leaders can use their skills and expertise to enhance the environment not only for patients but also for their fellow health care workers. They can do the following:

• Establish a culture of safety — A health care facility can be a hazardous environment if left unchecked. Effective nurse leaders use their skills to foster a strong sense of safety within a facility. This environment of safety can take many forms, from clear communication between health care professionals to adherence to new and adjusted care safety protocols.

• Promote a positive work environment — Nurse leaders who focus on collaboration, teamwork, and mentorship can help improve morale and well-being among the nursing staff, potentially boosting retention rates.

• Leverage different leadership styles — Nurse leaders can adopt a range of leadership styles (e.g., transformational, autocratic, democratic). Nurses who understand which style best suits their teams or who can adapt to different styles when appropriate can have a positive impact on their work environment.

Enhanced Credibility

Nursing leadership certification provides validation of a nurse’s knowledge and expertise. It assures both employers and patients of a nurse’s competency and their understanding of current health care theories and concepts. Furthermore, certification can strengthen a nurse’s own view of their abilities, bolstering their self-esteem and confidence.

Career Advancement

Nurses with a leadership certification may stand out when applying for sought-after positions or with top-tier employers. They may also be better positioned to pursue management and administration roles. Certification can indicate to employers that the nurse is committed to lifelong learning and up-to-date on current care delivery methods ( person-centered care and value-based care , for example), processes, and technologies.

Nursing Leadership Certification Examples

Nurse leadership can take on many forms, and there are several different nursing leadership certifications to consider. Here are some of them.

Nurse Executive Certification (NE-BC)

Nurse Executive Certification recognizes a nurse leader’s ability to oversee the daily operations and development of a facility’s nursing staff, either as a whole or within the context of a specific group. This certification can prepare a nurse leader to translate their competencies into an executive-level role, such as a chief nursing officer (CNO) .

• Eligibility requirements:

• Current RN

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in nursing

• 2,000 hours of experience in leadership, management, or administration (focused on daily operations) within the last three years

• 30 hours of continuing education in leadership, management, or administration within the last three years

• Exam Fee: $395 (discounts may be available)

• Exam format: 3 hours/150 questions

• Renewal: Must renew after five years

Certified Nurse Manager and Leader Certification (CNML)

Certified Nurse Manager and Leader Certification recognizes the leadership quality of nurses in nurse management roles. These roles can range from ensuring a nursing department operates efficiently to liaising with a facility’s executives .

• Eligibility requirements:

• Current RN

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in nursing

• 2,080 hours of experience in a nurse manager role or 4,160 hours of experience in a nursing leadership support role

• Exam Fee: $450 (discounts may be available)

• Exam format: 2 hours/115 questions

• Renewal: Must renew after three years

Clinical Nurse Leader Certification (CNL)

Clinical Nurse Leader Certification recognizes a nurse leader’s ability to oversee a facility’s care delivery coordination. Their work can ensure a facility’s care delivery strategies align with intended high-level concepts, such as the execution of evidence-based practice.

• Eligibility requirements:

• Current RN

• Master’s degree or higher in nursing (may be in the last semester of an eligible program)

• Exam Fee: $425 (discounts may be available)

• Exam format: 3 hours/140 questions

• Renewal: Must renew after five years

Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP)

The Certified in Executive Nursing Practice certification recognizes a nurse’s skills in executive nursing management. It reflects expertise in areas such as health care economics, policy, and organizational leadership.

• Eligibility requirements:

• Current RN

• Master’s degree or higher in nursing, plus 4,160 hours of experience in an executive/senior nursing role; or bachelor’s degree in nursing, plus 8,320 hours of experience

• Price: $450 (discounts may be available)

• Exam format: 3.5 hours/175 questions

• Renewal: Must renew after three years

Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ)

The Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality certification recognizes a health care professional’s competence in health care quality and safety. This certification is available to any health care professional and is relevant for nurse leaders interested in process improvements and patient safety.

• Eligibility requirements:

• No formal requirements, although two years in a role focused on health care quality is recommended

• Price: $619 (discounts may be available)

• Exam format: 3 hours/125 questions

• Renewal: Must renew after two years

Tips for Attaining Nursing Leadership Certification

Gaining nursing leadership certification can be a significant achievement for a nurse seeking a health care leadership position.  It is also an achievement that requires careful planning and strategy. Professionals seeking a certification should do the following.:

Find a Mentor

Working with a mentor through a mentorship program can help nurses grow their careers in the short and long term, including preparing them for nursing leadership certifications. Mentors can help mentees develop skills that foster confidence within the patient-nurse dynamic, cultivate key competencies necessary for effective leadership, and recognize situations where specific leadership styles are appropriate.

Develop a Study Strategy

Studying for a nursing leadership certification exam is crucial for success. This requires individuals to develop effective time management strategies that balance exam preparation with their current work responsibilities. Learning how to strike this balance can also have a positive long-term impact, as nurse leaders typically need to be adept at managing time to handle the myriad tasks they may face in leadership roles.

Take Practice Exams

Prospective nurse leaders must understand what they may see on the exam so they can prepare accordingly. They should seek out and take practice exams to get familiar with the type of questions they must answer. Taking practice exams can also provide a mental edge beyond simply knowing what to expect. Practicing the exam routine can reduce anxiety on test day.

Read Journals

The health care landscape is in constant flux, and it is important to stay abreast of industry changes heading into an exam. Being familiar with a few key nursing journals can help individuals stay informed about current discussions and debates within the industry. This can be particularly helpful for active nurse leaders in need of recertification, as it may introduce them to new concepts and theories that were not as well-defined or developed when they were initially certified.

Nursing Leadership Certification Resource Guide       

Here are some resources for health care professionals to explore as they consider taking or prepare to take a certification exam:

• American Association of Colleges of Nursing, CLN Education & Practice Resources . Use toolkits and course module information to help prepare for the CNL exam.

• American Nurses Association, Nurse Leadership . Explore the nurse leader career path with a collection of FAQs and blog posts.

• American Nurses Credentialing Center, Sample Test Questions: Nurse Executive Exam Sample Questions . Learn what types of questions may appear on the NE-BC exam.

• American Organization for Nursing Leadership, CNML Certification Preparation . Access study aids, tools, and resources related to the CNML exam.

• American Organization for Nursing Leadership, Prepare for the CENP Exam . Download the CENP candidate handbook and discover other CENP exam resources.

• IntelyCare, “Nurse Leader: Qualities, Career Paths, and Certifications.” Dive deeper into the topic of nurse leadership, including available roles and leadership qualities.

• National Association for Healthcare Quality (YouTube), CPHQ FAQ Info Session: November 2024 . View a recorded webinar covering basic information and FAQs related to the CPHQ exam.

Further Your Career and Make an Impact with a Nursing Leadership Certification

Earning a nursing leadership certification is valuable in two ways. First, it helps nurses advance their careers to higher levels. Second, it strengthens their ability to improve patient care and enhance a facility’s overall performance.

Nurses who want to boost their credentials should use this guide and the listed resources to understand the benefits of a nursing leadership certification and choose the option that best fits their experience and career goals.