How to Motivate Nurses to Complete the Requirements for Certifications and Licenses
Many nurses avoid becoming certified in their specialty due to the initial time and cost of certification. Obtaining a specialty certification requires preparation, time, and money, which can be difficult for the staff nurse to justify. Nurses must understand the cost of certifications and licenses to make informed decisions. This blog will discuss the benefits of obtaining a specialty certification and the various costs and discounts available to assist with these fees.?
How Much Does it Cost to Get a Certification or License?
Understanding the cost of certifications and licenses is a crucial first step for nursing professionals. The type of nursing license or certification will determine how much you will have to pay for the initial certification as well as the recertification fees. Researching licenses and certificates online in the specialty of your choice will help you understand how much it costs to become certified. Initial certifications can range from $100 to $1,000.
Here are some of the most popular nursing specialty certifications and their initial fees:
Are there Discounts or Financial Aid Options Available to Help Cover Certification or Licensing Costs?
Certifications can seem expensive to many nurses when they first look into the costs. But the benefits of certification can outweigh the fees.
These benefits include the following results:
Specialty nursing certification allows nurses to validate their skills and expertise in their field. Patients today require more skill and knowledge to care for, and certification shows that a nurse has that skill. Healthcare organizations are willing to pay more for a nurse with credentials and will often help cover the fees for professional development.
In addition, specific programs can support nurses by covering the costs. Success Pays, a program by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, works with organizations to increase the number of Certified Nurses in their organization. The program pays an individual nurse's initial certification fees and one retest, decreasing the financial risk to that company and providing free certification to the nurse. Other certifying agencies also offer incentives for certification, such as discounts to association members and veterans.
Are There Any Hidden Costs Associated with Certifications or Licenses?
There are hidden fees that nurses must consider when reviewing the cost of certification for nursing specialties. When becoming certified in a nursing specialty, nurses must have a specific number of hours working in that field and a specific number of continuing education hours.?
Furthermore, obtaining experience in a specialty can require time outside of the current job. For example, a nurse that wants to become a Certified Diabetic Education and Care Specialist (CDECS) must have 200 hours of diabetic education and care before they sit for the CDECS exam. Many nurses may have to pay for programs that award these hours to obtain this requirement.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Certification or License?
The time it takes to obtain certification depends on the specialty and whether the nurse currently works in that specialty. Most certificates require anywhere from 1500 to 5000 hours working in that specialty before sitting for a certification exam. Nurses can obtain these hours by working, volunteering, picking up shifts, or paying for programs that provide clinical hours in the specialty.
Understanding the cost of certifications and licenses is essential to the professional nurse. Research shows certification can improve nurse satisfaction, decrease healthcare costs, and improve patient care outcomes. Therefore, organizations should look into programs that reduce the cost of certification and increase the number of certified nurses. This blog has discussed some examples of occupational licenses or certifications that nurses can obtain to improve their careers and the knowledge needed to make informed decisions.
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Rebecca Flynn, MSN, RN, AMB-BC, NE-BC is a writer that specializes in nursing management, health, and wellness. She has 28 years of experience as a nurse working in primary care and nursing management. Her years of working as a patient advocate and leader provide her with the knowledge to write with an understanding of the needs of patients and nursing staff.?