Introduction

Currently, over 8,000 registered nurses hold the CPAN® (Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse) and CAPA® (Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse) certification credentials granted by ABPANC.

The CPAN® and CAPA® credentials are registered service marks. Registered Nurses who have not achieved CPAN® and/or CAPA® certification status are not authorized to use these credentials.

To ensure that certified nurses possess the most up to date knowledge and have recent and current experience, the CPAN® and CAPA® certification credentials are awarded for three years and must be renewed.

A certification period begins with the first day of the month in which the examination is passed and ends three years later. For example, if you took the CPAN® or CAPA® examination in November, 2006, your period of certification would extend from November 1, 2006 through October 31, 2009.

If you took the CPAN® or CAPA® examination in April, 2005, your period of certification would extend from April 1, 2005 through March 31, 2008. Unless you recertify, your certification status expires at the end of three years on November 1st or April 1st, respectively.