CPAN® and CAPA® Examinations are Accredited by ABNS!

ABPANC is very proud that the CPAN® and CAPA® examination programs received accreditation from the American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS) in April 2004! Accreditation status is granted for five years. ABNS is the standard setting body for specialty nursing certification programs and offers a very stringent and comprehensive accreditation process. We use the analogy that ABNS is to nursing certification organizations that JCAHO is to hospitals.

ABNS is one of 2 nationally recognized organizations to accredit nursing certification programs: NCCA — the National Commission for Certifying Agencies — is the other, but ABNS is specifically designed to recognized specialty nursing certification programs.

A certification organization, like ABPANC must provide documentation demonstrating that it has met the 18 ABNS standards of quality. The process of pulling together the application to submit both the CPAN® and CAPA® examination programs for accreditation took many, many months, reams of paper, and hours of writing and rewriting.

What does this mean for those interested in becoming CPAN® and CAPA® certified or those already certified? It means that a nationally recognized accrediting body has determined that the CPAN/CAPA credentials are based on a valid and reliable testing process and that the structures in place to administer the examinations meet and even exceed the standards of the certification industry from a legal, regulatory and association management perspective. We’re on the same playing field as other nursing certification examination programs — for example, the CNOR is accredited by ABNS and NCCA and the CCRN program is NCCA accredited.

I guess we can say that ABPANC, which is in the business to give tests, has now passed the ultimate test!

For information about ABNS and the accreditation process, visit their website at www.nursingcertification.org.