The North Carolina Nurses Association (NCNA) is
accredited as an APPROVER of continuing nursing education (CNE)
by the American Nurses Credentialing
Center's Commission on Accreditation (ANCC COA).
Approval of an
educational activity ensures participants that the activity/program
meets professional
standards for continuing nursing education.
Prior to planning, implementing, and evaluating a learning activity
or if you are deciding whether to pursue Approved Provider status, you
can contact the NCNA Continuing Education Approver Unit (CEAU) to help
you.
Individual Activity Process - If you are planning an educational activity, you can apply for nursing
contact hours.
NEW timeline requires that an application arrive at NCNA no less than six weeks in advance of the event. This is the minimum, so be aware it will take this six weeks to complete the process and give notification of result. If you need notification sooner than this (for printing brochures, etc.) it is your responsibility to plan ahead and get your application in sooner than the minimum six weeks.
Complete the application,
submit to NCNA with application fee, and then satisfy any criteria the reviewers
cite during the review process. Your activity will be approved for two
years and can be delivered as often as you like to as many learners as
possible.
Application Fee 1.0
to 4.9 CHs—$125.00
5.0
to 9.9 CHs—$175.00
10.0
to 17.9 CHs—$225.00
18 to 27.9 CHs—$275.00
28
to 37.9 CHs—$325.00
38
to 54.9 CHs—$425.00
55 or
more CHs—$525.00
All application fees are non-refundable.
Approved Provider Status Process - If you are planning many educational activities during the next three years
and wish to forego approval every time you plan and implement an activity,
then consider the Approved Provider process. Once you are approved to
function as an Approved Provider, you can deliver as many activities
as you like to as many learners as possible for the three year approval
period. Eligibility to apply or re-apply must be confirmed before NCNA will accept the Approved Provider Application.
AP Application Fee $1, 500*
All application fees are
non-refundable.
*Notice of Fee Increase:
NCNA Board of
Directors
voted on July 17, 2009
to increase the Approved Provider
Status Application Fee to
$1,500.00.
This fee
will be for anyone
new
or anyone
renewing the AP status. Please Note: If you are a current AP and your app is due to be at NCNA during Nov and Dec of 2009, your fee for this next renewal is what was stated in your renewal notice.
BLS, ACLS, PALS and related courses Notification (Sent from ANCC COA on May 21, 2009):
At their May 19, 2009 meeting, the Commission on Accreditation decided that contact hours for BLS and other basic “canned” courses may not be awarded. Any courses currently being presented (by either accredited providers or approved providers) must cease to award contact hours by June 1, 2011. The Commission also decided that contact hours for renewal of ACLS, PALS and other advanced “canned” courses may not be awarded. Any courses currently being presented (by either accredited providers or approved providers) must cease to award contact hours by June 1, 2011. Awarding contact hours for initial ACLS, PALS and other advanced “canned” courses is still permitted.
ANCC notice of the interpretation of the COA regarding the practice of awarding contact hours for activities such as BLS, ACLS, PALS, etc.:
This practice was considered after receiving a request and information from a state board of nursing. The discussion of the COA was: BLS is no longer an augment to the nurse’s basic knowledge. Therefore it doesn’t meet the definition of continuing nursing education. Universities now require the student to be certified in BLS before ever entering the academic program. BLS is not an augmentation of knowledge; it is a basic preparation for training. The advanced life support activities meet the definition of CNE because they are not included in the nurse’s basic training and therefore augment that training. However, these courses do not change often or significantly. Therefore, renewal of certification is meant to validate that the knowledge previously obtained has been retained. It does not augment that knowledge. Please note:
The issue discussed was related to whether the courses meet the definition of continuing nursing education. It did not address the issue of these courses typically being ‘canned’ courses.
The COA’s discussion did not even mention the issue of ‘canned’ courses and that was not a relevant factor in the decision.
The effective date of this interpretation is two years away. This was done in order to avoid necessitating any mid-stream changes.
The COA understands that the courses sometimes see significant revisions based on new evidence. The COA has agreed to continually monitor the more common advanced courses for significant revisions. If significant revisions occur, then the COA may re-visit the current interpretation of whether the course meets the definition of continuing nursing education.
Continuing Nursing
Education (CNE) Requirements
Many nurses look for approved NCNA CEAU / ANCC COA contact hours when making
educational activity decisions. Because NCNA is ANCC COA accredited, its
approval is recognized
by all other state nurses associations and most state boards of nursing. Nurses
licensed in other states are advised to check on that state’s specific
requirements regarding reciprocity.
Nurses in North Carolina must demonstrate Continuing Competence
through self-assessment, development of a learning plan, and selection of a learning
activity to satisfy the plan. This rule became effective July 1, 2006 and is being
audited beginning with license renewal July 1, 2008.
NCNA MISSION STATEMENT: The North Carolina Nurses Association serves the changing needs of its members, addresses nursing issues and advocates for the health and well-being of all people.
The North Carolina Nurses Association (NCNA) is
accredited as an APPROVER of continuing nursing education (CNE)
by the American Nurses Credentialing
Center's Commission on Accreditation (ANCC COA).
