Accreditation

The National Association of School Nurses is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

Collaborative Partnership in Nursing Continuing Professional Development (NCPD) with NASN

In addition to NASN as sole developer and provider of nursing continuing professional development (NCPD) continuing education in live and enduring formats for school nurses, NASN also partners with other organizations on educational activities that optimize the health of students and advance the practice of school nursing. The partnering organization may not be a commercial interest or sponsor. Contact NASN today to discuss the collaborative partnership process.

NASN is not an approver organization, so it cannot provide NCPD continuing education contact hours to programs that have already been developed. If you are seeking approval for a completed program, visit the ANCC website for approver organizations in your area.

NCPD Attendee Requirements

When NCPD is offered/awarded with an NASN program, attendees paying the appropriate registration fee will receive NCPD contact hours for the program once attended and completed. Attendees are provided 90-days from the program’s start date to claim NCPD contact hours.

Attendees must attend the entire program. Partial credit cannot be awarded.

Attendees must complete post-program requirements including assessments and evaluations.

Extension to Claim NCPD Request Criteria

If extenuating circumstances prevent an attendee from claiming NCPD contact hours, they may request an extension to complete post-program requirements if the following criteria is met:

  1. Extension grants attendee access to post-program requirements including assessments and evaluations.
  2. Extension is for a program that started in the same calendar year as the extension request.
  3. Extension is placed by December 1st.
  4. Extension request is accompanied by a payment of $60.00.
  5. Extension is mailed to the National Association of School Nurses.
  6. Approved extension is granted for 5 business days.

To request an extension, save and complete the extension form. Submit it with payment to NASN. 

NCPD Continuing Education Record Retention

NASN keeps NCPD continuing education records for 6 years. If your state requires you to keep your records longer than 6 years, it is the responsibility of the individual to keep those records.

Reporting NCPD Continuing Education

California: NASN is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing: Provider No. CEP 12292

Pennsylvania: To receive Act 48 credit for an NASN program, individuals will need to submit the information to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PA DOE) on their own. Members of the Pennsylvania Association of School Nurses and Practitioners (PASNAP) may receive support from PASNAP with submitting NASN credit to the PA DOE.

Nurses licensed in other states, who have concerns about recognition by their state of NASN provided NCPD CNE contact hours, are encouraged to, first, direct any questions to the authoritative body in that state.

CE Broker: NASN is not responsible for providing NCPD CNE contact hours earned from our learning platform to CE Brokers. It is the learners responsibility to maintain the appropriate records for reporting to their CE Broker and/or licensing board for renewals.

Other Credit Types

Clock Hours or Teacher/Educator Credits: NASN does not convert NCPD CNE credits to clock hours or teacher/educator credits. NASN’s NCPD CNE qualifies for credit towards the department of education if the department accepts continuing nursing educational (CNE) contact hours for school nurses. For those seeking educational credits (e.g. educational credits for teachers, etc.), NCPD CNE contact hours do not qualify. For those looking to convert NCPD CNE contact hours to other credit types, please reach out to the designated department of education (DOE) or accrediting board for the credit types that are accepted before enrolling in an NASN activity that does not qualify.

CEUs: NCPD continuing nursing education (CNE) is different from continuing educational units (CEUs). CEUs can be used by various professional groups requiring licensing renewal that is measured in units, whereas CNE is nursing specific educational content as outlined by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) guidelines and measured in minutes spent on education.

Information for Presenters

The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) has language regarding presenters claiming NCPD CNE contact hours. ANCC Accreditation does not allow for the presenters to claim contact hours for an activity that they are the speakers/educators. The rationale behind this decision derives from the concept stated in the 2015 ANCC Primary Accreditation Provider Application Manual, on page 31, "Contact hours are awarded to participants for those portions of the educational activity devoted to the learning experience and time spent evaluating the activity" (ANCC, 2015). The presenter cannot evaluate the program in the role of the learner. It is noted that some State Boards of Nursing do allow presenters to claim contact hours for an activity they present. However, that is different from the ANCC accreditation standards which the Provider Unit must maintain.

Page last updated March 2023.