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The National Board for Certification The National Board for Certification of School Nurses, Inc. (NBCSN) is an independently incorporated organization established for the purpose of developing and implementing the voluntary certification process of school nurses. It maintains an affiliation with the National Association of School Nurses, Inc. (NASN). Objectives of Certification: To Promote Delivery of Safe and Effective Care in School Nursing Practice Through the Certification of Qualified School Nurses by: ¨ Recognizing formally those individuals who meet the eligibility requirements of the National Board for Certification of School Nurses, Inc. and pass the Certification Examination for School Nurses. ¨ Promoting continued professional growth in the practice of school nursing. ¨ Establishing and measuring the level of knowledge required for certification in school nursing. ¨ Providing a standard of knowledge required for certification; thereby assisting the employer, public, and members of the health professions in the assessment of the school nurse. As of August 1, 2007 there were 2,631 NCSNs. How to Apply To apply to sit for the examination, you must file an application. The Handbook for Candidates includes the application as well as provides more comprehensive information about the examination. If you are unable to download the file, contact the Professional Testing Corporation to request a handbook and application. Click here to Download the Handbook and Application (note: In order to download the Handbook, you will need free Adobe® Acrobat® Reader® software.) Currently licensed as a Registered Nurse in the a. Attainment of bachelor's degree or higher, or the equivalent in other countries. Also, candidates: ¨ Must be currently employed in school health services or school related services. ¨ Completion and filing of the Application for the Certification Examination for School Nurses. ¨ Payment of required fee. ¨ THREE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN SCHOOL NURSING PRACTICE ARE RECOMMENDED Exam Administration & Fees The Certification Examination is administered for NBCSN by the Professional Testing Corporation (PTC). Application fee - $275.00 Testing Centers The Certification Examination for School Nurses will be administered during a two-week testing period. Click here to search for the site nearest you. You will not be able to select a testing center or schedule your examination appointment until you have received an Eligibility Notice from PTC. Please note that hours and days of availability vary at different centers. Test Dates The national exam for school nurses is held two (2) times annually. It is offered at various locations throughout the country (please refer to Testing Centers, above). Upcoming exam dates:
The national exam for school nurses is a written exam composed of a maximum of 250 multiple-choice, objective questions with a total testing time of four (4) hours. For a complete Content Outline and Sample Questions, please download the NCSN Handbook from this page (referenced above) or request one from the Professional Testing Corporation at www.ptcny@ptcny.com The exam will be weighted in approximately the following manner: 25% HEALTH APPRAISAL 30% HEALTH PROBLEMS AND NURSING MANAGEMENT 20% HEALTH PROMOTION/DISEASE PREVENTION 10% SPECIAL HEALTH ISSUES 15% PROFESSIONAL ISSUES Exam preparation is a unique process for each candidate. School nurses come to the practice from a wide range of backgrounds. Exam questions are chosen from a larger pool of questions enabling variation on exam content. Although there is no single study guide, a List of Resources, which may be helpful in preparing, is included in the NCSN Handbook for Candidates. In addition, you will find Sample Questions. For further information about the NBCSN exam, please contact Cindy Greenberg, the New Mexico NCSN liaison and NBCSN Board member, at greenberg_c@aps.edu. National Certification Exam Preparation Book NASN is publishing a national certification exam preparation book. It will be available at the NASN conference beginning June 28th. It will also be made available at that time through the NASN catalog (www.nasn.org). The price and official description is not yet available, but will be posted to the NASN website and in the NASN Weekly Digest when it is ready. If you are interested in the National Certification of School Nurses (NCSN) exam, visit the Natinoal Board of Certification of School Nurses (NBCSN) online at: www.nbcsn.org. Please note: THE DEADLINE FOR THE JULY - AUGUST TWO WEEK EXAM PERIOD IS MAY 31st, 2008 |
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