Why This Certification and Why Now?
Nursing, unlike other professions, has existed for more than 60 years with only one licensing examination regardless of the type of program from which the student graduated.
Nursing is one of a few professions that does not also offer a professionalism-specific and focused complementary certification at the time of graduation or during early career.
The Professional Nursing Validation Company (PNVC) has developed a complementary certification available to nursing students, new graduates and early career BSN-prepared nurses to differentiate professional competencies learned in school and practice.
The NCLEX is a valuable licensing examination that ensures that individuals possess the minimum competency to provide safe, effective patient care.
It protects the public by ensuring entry-level nurses are safe and competent to practice.
Will this take place of the NCLEX?
The PNVC examination is not a licensing examination for safety to practice.
It is a certification examination to provide evidence of competency beyond the elements tested in NCLEX.
The areas tested on the PNVC examination are not tested on NCLEX.
Will this differentiate levels of educational preparation?
The PNVC examination will demonstrate competency in areas beyond those tested on NCLEX.
Who should take the certification exam and when?
Students who have graduated from BSN, Master’s, or Doctoral entry to practice programs and have successfully passed the NCLEX examination are eligible to take the examination.
Nurses with their BSN and who are either enrolled in their respective nurse residency program (NRP) or within their first three years of professional practice are also highly recommended to sit for this certification.
What will be on the examination and how will students prepare?
A study guide will be provided to all applicants registering for the examination.
It will provide the weighing of the different elements on the examination, example questions under each domain, and references used to develop the examination items.
Is there a timeframe when people should take the test?
Applicants are encouraged to register for the certification exam upon successful completion of the NCLEX.
They may take the examination at any time after passing NCLEX.
Practicing nurses and those in new graduate residency programs are also highly encouraged to take the examination.
Value proposition for individuals taking the exam (Students)
This will be the first time that the nursing profession has succeeded in establishing professional differentiation among licensed nurses.
This exam highlights the knowledge that BSN and master entry to practice students gain in their professional nursing program.
The content on the examination also aligns directly with those recommended for nursing residency programs and included in clinical ladder programs.
The PVN credential will support new graduate nurses seeking to work in highly competitive health systems and hospitals.
This credential will also position a student as a highly competitive applicant for future Masters or Doctoral preparation.
Value proposition for individuals taking the exam (Nurse Residency Program Participants)
The PVN certification will serve to offer all NRP participants, regardless of their previous education background, an opportunity to expand their knowledge of all AACN Essentials, thus “leveling the playing field” for all new nurses in a given institution.
Value proposition for individuals taking the exam (Early Career Nurses)
Most clinical specialty certification exams require a high number of hours worked, CE accrual, and other portfolio-specific requirements.
These accomplishments can take years in preparation.
A new career nurse is able to sit for the PVN certification as soon as they deem themselves fit.
This credential differentiates a new career nurse as one interested in rapid progression as a leader in their institution.
Cost of the examination
The cost of the examination is $450, which includes all study preparation materials.
Why are we imposing another cost to early career nurses?
PNVC views this examination as a long-needed differentiator for professional nursing within the workforce.
New career nurses have limited certification options until they are further along within their clinical careers.
The PVN certification offers early entry and a fast-track for driven nurses who choose to advance professionally, and as future leaders.
Who benefits from this certification?
The nursing profession will benefit from an examination that differentiates components of professional nursing that are beyond the provision of safe and effective care.
Nurses who pass NCLEX and then the PVN certification exam can use the credential of RN, PVN meaning an RN that has been professionally certified.