Students are eligible for different certifications depending on which program they are in (Integrated Health Practices or Geriatric Nurse Educator). Students in the IHP Program will apply for certification through the California BRN and the American Holistic Nurses Association (refer to certification procedures A and B below).  Geriatric Nurse Educators will apply for certification through the California BRN, the American Nurses Credentialing Center, and the NLN Nurse Education Certification (refer to certification procedures A, C, and D below).

A)  Procedures for CNS Certificates from the California Board of Registered Nursing.

Download an application from the California BRN website, http://www.rn.ca.gov/lic/ad-pract.htm#cns. Follow instructions for core requirements for all methods of application.

Students apply via METHOD ONE:  "Successful completion of a master's program with a clinical field of nursing which conforms with the standards set forth in the California Business and Professions Code Section 2838.2"

Note that Pages 9 and 11 of the application, which students are required to submit, each have two sections: one to be completed by the school and one to be completed by the applicant. Those pages will be partially completed by appropriate faculty at Dominican (in process) and will be mailed to the student to include with their application.

Students also need to have a transcript sent directly from Dominican University of California to the BRN.

B)   Holistic Nurse Certification via American Holistic Nurses Association

A national certification process is available for the specialty of Holistic Nursing. The American Holistic Nurses' Certification Corporation (AHNCC) is the credentialing body for Holistic Nursing. Certification in holistic nursing:

Validates nurses' knowledge base.

Provides documentation of competence in Holistic Nursing.

Provides standards for competent practice as a Holistic Nurse.

Permits the use of the epithet, "HNC". 

The initials HNC designate that a nurse has successfully met the requirements for becoming Board Certified in Holistic Nursing. Nurses who have not achieved HNC certification are not authorized to use the HNC credential.

HNCTM Certification includes the following prerequisites:

48 hours of continuing education within the last two years, one year of practice implementing the principles of holistic nursing, and a Baccalaureate Degree.

Or, graduation from a AHNA approved Masters Program and completion of a certification exam.

Contact the AHNCC for dates and locations for the quantitative written exam.

For information about Advanced Holistic Nurse Board Certification click on: http://www.ahncc.org

C)  Clinical Nurse Specialist in Gerontological Nursing Certification via 

  American Nurses Credentialing Center

The Clinical Nurse Specialist in Gerontological Nursing is an expert in providing, directing, and influencing the care of older adults and their families and significant others in a variety of settings. This nurse specialist has an in-depth understanding of the dynamics of aging, as well as the intervention skills necessary for health promotion and management of health status alterations. The Clinical Nurse Specialist provides comprehensive gerontological nursing services independently or collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams. The CNS advances the health care of older adults and the specialty of gerontological nursing through theory and research. The CNS is engaged in practice, case management, education, consultation, research, and administration.

Clinical Nurse Specialist Certification Basic Eligibility Requirements:

Clinical Nurse Specialist candidates must meet all of the following basic eligibility requirements at the time that the application is submitted to ANCC:

Hold a currently active registered nurse license in the United States or its territories.

Hold a master's or higher degree in nursing.

Have been prepared in the area of practice for which they have applied for certification through a master's program or a formal postgraduate master's program in nursing.

 Have graduated from a program offered by an accredited institution granting graduate-level academic credit for all of the course work that includes both didactic and clinical components, and a minimum of 500 hours of supervised clinical practice in the specialty area and role.

Information and forms can be found at the ANCC website: http://www.nursingworld.org/ancc/certification/cert/certforms.html

D)   Nurse Educator Certification via National League for Nursing

A certification process for nurse educators is currently being developed. It is anticipated that it will be available sometime in 2006.