Accreditation of the CPAN® and CAPA® Certification Programs

The CPAN® and CAPA® certification programs have maintained accreditation by the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC), formerly the American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS Accreditation Council), since 2004. ABNSC is the only accrediting body specifically for nursing certification. ABSNC accreditation is a peer-review mechanism that allows nursing certification organizations to obtain accreditation by demonstrating compliance with the highest quality standards available in the industry.

ABSNC recently awarded ABPANC’s programs reaccreditation through April 2014.

What does ABNSC accreditation mean for those nurses interested in earning the CPAN® and CAPA® credentials or for those already certified? It means that CPAN® and CAPA® are nationally accredited and recognized credentials based on a valid and reliable testing process. The process in place to develop, administer and score the examinations meets or exceeds the standards of the certification industry from a legal, psychometric, regulatory and association management perspective. The CPAN® and CAPA® credentials validate one’s specialized knowledge as a perianesthesia nurse. More and more employers are requiring that a nurse's certification credential(s) be accredited.

For further information about ABNS, ABSNC, and the accreditation process and standards, visit their Web site at www.nursingcertification.org.