Recertification Changes Coming January 2024
Changes and challenges within the perianesthesia nursing environment have prompted ABPANC to take proactive steps to enhance our CPAN® and CAPA® recertification requirements.
Between September 2022 and March 2023, a Recertification Task Force consisting of members of ABPANC’s Board of Directors reviewed the eligibility and recertification requirements for our CPAN and CAPA certified nurses.
- The Recertification Task Force considered results from a survey of CPAN and CAPA certified perianesthesia nurses conducted in the summer/fall of 2022.
- Other nursing specialty certification requirements were studied. This review included exam and recertification eligibility, contact hours, sources of CE, and direct versus indirect care requirements.
The task force recommended that all CPAN and CAPA recertification requirements should focus on supporting professional development within the perianesthesia specialty scope of practice.
The perianesthesia scope of practice requirements include any role that supports or advances perianesthesia nursing, such as care coordination, direct patient care, education, informatics, leadership, navigation, patient/family liaison, quality improvement and research. The practice area for perianesthesia nursing is defined by Schick & Windle (2021) as:
“Perianesthesia nursing encompasses caring for patients during the pre-anesthesia level of care, (pre admission and day surgery/procedure), in post-anesthesia levels of care (Phase I, Phase II, and Extended Care), ambulatory care settings, extended observation settings, and special procedure areas (e.g. endoscopy, radiology, cardiovascular, oncology), obstetric units, pain management services, and physician or dental offices.” (p. xi).
In April 2023, the ABPANC Board of Directors approved the following recommendations of the Recertification Task Force with the directive that these changes be fully enacted beginning on January 1, 2024:
- All contact hours must be perianesthesia related.
- The number of required contact hours will be reduced from 90 hours to 70 hours.
- The direct versus indirect care categories for contact hours will be eliminated.
- The recertification reinstatement period will be extended from 15 days to 90 days.
- Recertification by exam option will be discontinued by 2027.
- Life support classes (PALS & ACLS) are no longer eligible for submission for contact hours.
Please note: CPAN and/or CAPA nurses with a recertification period after January 1, 2024 will not be able to count contact hours that are no longer eligible, even if the activities had been previously uploaded to the renewal application in Learning Builder. Perianesthesia-specific contact hours eligible within the new guidelines, and previously loaded into Learning Builder, will count towards your 70-contact-hour renewal requirement.
New Recertification Eligibility Requirements
- Possess a current, unrestricted* registered nurse license in the United States or any of its territories which use the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX) as the basis for determining RN licensure.
- A minimum of 900 hours of perianesthesia nursing practice during your three-year period of certification.
- Successful completion of either the CPAN® or CAPA® examination (whichever credential you currently hold) OR attain 70 contact hours of continuing education. (Examination option available until November 15, 2026.)
New Recertification Contact Hour Requirements
Every contact hour submission must be perianesthesia related.
All contact hours submitted for recertification may be reviewed by ABPANC’s RN Certified Consultant. When submitting your contact hours consider the question: “Does this activity advance perianesthesia nursing?” If the answer is yes, chances are good that these hours will count towards your CPAN and/or CAPA recertification.
Please note that ABPANC will no longer accept the submission of activities that are not perianesthesia related. The following list includes examples of activities that will no longer count towards your required contact hours. This list is provided as an example only and is not a complete listing of ineligible activities:
- Active Shooter Training/Drills
- HIPAA Information
- Fire & Safety Information
- General Health Stream-Related Activities (Only perianesthesia-specific activities will qualify.)
- Annual / Onboarding Compliance Training
- Volunteer Activities Outside of Those Specified Below (Example: School Board, Neighborhood Walks, Food Pantry, etc.)
ACADEMIC COURSES acceptable activities include:
| Activity | Number of Contact Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Perianesthesia-specific academic courses offered by accredited colleges or universities | 30 maximum per renewal (1 semester hour or 1 credit = 15 Contact Hours; 1 quarter unit credit, 1 quarter hour or 1 credit = 10 Contact Hours) | A passing grade; and a formal transcript or grade report which clearly states (1) whether credit is given in semester hours or quarter hours; (2) grade; and (3) date of the course |
CONTINUING EDUCATION acceptable activities include:
| Activity | Number of Contact Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Attendance at formal continuing education offerings (seminars, conferences, etc) | Hour for Hour | Confirmation should include attendee name, session/conference title, date, and contact hours |
| Attendance at hospital and unit in-services | Hour for Hour | Signed Attestation Form |
| Participation in online offerings/self-study journals with associated contact hours | Hour for Hour | Confirmation should include attendee name, session/conference title, date, and contact hours |
TEACHING/MENTORING ACTIVITIES acceptable activities include:
| Activity | Number of Contact Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Creating a learning module for health care providers | Contact hours 10 per module; 30 hours maximum per cycle | Signed Attestation Form |
| Teaching a one-hour learning module for health care providers. | Contact hours 5 per module; 15 hours maximum per cycle | Signed Attestation Form |
| Presenting a Professional Poster | Contact hours 5 per poster; 15 hours maximum per cycle | Signed Attestation Form |
| Precepting Staff | Contact hours 5 for every 80 hours of precepting; 40 Hours maximum per cycle | Signed Attestation Form |
| Professional One Hour Podium or Virtual Presentation | Contact hours 5 per presentation; 30 maximum per cycle | Signed Attestation Form |
AUTHORSHIP acceptable activities include:
| Activity | Number of Contact Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Writing an article in a newsletter | 6 maximum per cycle | Evidence of submission by author; Signed Attestation Form |
| Writing a chapter in a textbook | 20 maximum per cycle | Evidence of submission by author; Signed Attestation Form |
| Writing a research article (must be published) | 35 maximum per cycle | Letter of acceptance with date of publication or published article |
| Writing a journal article (must be published) | 10 maximum per cycle | Evidence of submission by author; Signed Attestation Form |
| Peer reviewer of a professional journal | 30 maximum per cycle | Evidence of submission by author; Signed Attestation Form |
| Writing research abstract proposal | 30 maximum per cycle | Proof of submission or proof of acceptance |
PERIANESTHESIA-RELATED RESEARCH acceptable activities include:
| Activity | Number of Contact Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Perianesthesia-Related Research | 15 Per Year of Research Work; 45 maximum per cycle | Must be supported by an IRB. Must be listed as a researcher in the study. |
| Quality Improvement Projects | 10 per year; 30 maximum per cycle | Submit a copy of the process improvement. Examples include PowerPoint, poster presentations, meeting minutes, etc. (must include name and date). |
FACILITATION OF QUALITY CARE acceptable activities include:
Quality care activities are defined as those that assist in promoting the improvement of patient/family care in the perianesthesia setting. Activities that facilitate quality care include:
| Activity | Number of Contact Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Creating or rewriting greater than 50% of an evidence-based nursing policy, procedure, or protocol | 5 Hours per policy – 20 Hours maximum per cycle (Includes Review & Update of Policy, Procedure or Protocol) | Signed Attestation Form |
| Review and minor edits of an evidence-based nursing policy, procedure, or protocol | 1 Hour per policy – 20 Hours maximum per cycle (Includes Creating/Revising/Reworking of Policy, Procedure or Protocol) | Signed Attestation Form |
| Creating patient education materials including booklets or audiovisual projects | 5 Hours per booklet or project; 20 Hours maximum per cycle | Signed Attestation Form |
| Designing or enhancing the electronic medical records for perianesthesia care | 5 Hours per project; 20 Hours maximum per cycle | Signed Attestation Form |
VOLUNTEERING/LEADERSHIP acceptable activities include:
| Activity | Number of Contact Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Service on unit or hospital committees with attendance at 75% of meetings annually: such as audit, policy and procedure, QA, continuing education, Magnet, anesthesia review, etc. | 2 Hours Per Committee; 6 Hours Per Year; 18 Hours maximum per cycle | Signed Attestation Form |
| Involvement in a professional health care organization outside of your hospital | 2 Per Organization; 4 Hours Per Year; 12 Hours maximum per cycle | Signed Attestation Form |
| Participating in a health care mission in a perianesthesia role | 5 Per Mission; 15 Hours maximum per cycle | Signed Attestation Form |
| Participating in legislative activities | 5 per activity; 5 Hours Per Year; 15 Hours maximum per cycle | Signed Attestation Form |
VOLUNTEERING WITH ABPANC acceptable activities include:
ABPANC Committees
| Activity | Number of Contact Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing and Awards Committee | Up to 10 Hours Per Year; 30 Hours maximum per cycle | ABPANC Attestation Form |
| Exam Review Committee | Up to 20 Hours Per Year; 60 Hours maximum per cycle | ABPANC Attestation Form |
| Item Review Committee | Up to 20 Hours Per Year; 60 Hours maximum per cycle | ABPANC Attestation Form |
| Professional Practice & Disciplinary Review Committee | Up to 5 hours Per Year; 15 Hours maximum per cycle | ABPANC Attestation Form |
| Exam Preparedness Committee | Up to 10 Hours Per Year; 30 Hours maximum per cycle | ABPANC Attestation Form |
| Professional Development Committee | Up to 10 hours Per Year; 30 Hours maximum per cycle | ABPANC Attestation Form |
| Nominations & Board Development Committee | Up to 10 hours Per Year; 30 Hours maximum per cycle | ABPANC Attestation Form |
| Executive Committee (Serves as Finance Committee and Review & Appeal Committee) | Up to 10 hours Per Year; 30 Hours maximum per cycle | ABPANC Attestation Form |
Certification Coach
| Activity | Number of Contact Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Serving as an ABPANC Certification Coach | 5 hours per individual coached; 30 Hours per cycle | ABPANC Attestation Form |
| Certification Coach Virtual Training / Coaches Forum | Up to 2 Hours Per Year; 6 Hours per cycle | ABPANC Attestation Form |
ABPANC Liaisons
| Activity | Number of Contact Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Board Liaison Positions | Hour for hour; 15 hours maximum per cycle | ABPANC Attestation Form |
Special ABPANC Surveys
| Activity | Number of Contact Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Completion of Role Delineation Survey (RDS) | TBD based on the survey | ABPANC Attestation Form |
| External Survey Participation (Case by Case) | TBD based on the survey | ABPANC Attestation Form |
Special ABPANC Activities
| Activity | Number of Contact Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Recertification Task Force | Up to 20 Hours; 20 Hours maximum per cycle | ABPANC Attestation Form |
| Role Delineation Study Task Force | Up to 20 Hours; 20 Hours maximum per cycle | ABPANC Attestation Form |
| Standard Setting Panel | Up to 8 Hours; 8 Hours maximum per cycle | ABPANC Attestation Form |
| Practice Exam Task Force | Up to 20 Hours; 20 Hours maximum per cycle | ABPANC Attestation Form |
| Item Writing for CPAN/CAPA Exams | 2 hours Per Complete Referenced Item Submitted; 60 Hours maximum per cycle | ABPANC Attestation Form |
| ABPANC Task Forces | TBD based on project scope | ABPANC Attestation Form |
Evidence/Documentation
All evidence must include the date the activity occurred and your full name. If it does not include these requirements, a signed attestation form must be submitted. A new ABPANC Attestation Form will be available on the ABPANC website after the close of the fall 2023 recertification window.
New Recertification Handbook
Please note that the new Recertification Handbook will not be available until after the close of the fall 2023 recertification window.