Licensure says you're safe. PNVC says you're ready.
The PVN Certification
The Essential Certification for Today's Professional Nurse
Professional Validated Nurse (PVN)
The Professional Validated Nurse (PVN) certification provides college-educated nurses with a clear professional credential that validates readiness to practice across the full scope of modern nursing practice.
Going beyond licensure, PVN bridges the gap between academic preparation and professional expectations by validating the broad knowledge, skills, and judgement required of today's nurses.
What it validates
What the PVN Certification Validates
Beyond Licensure
PVN is a post-licensure professional certification designed to validate competencies that extend beyond entry-level clinical safety.
While licensure exams confirm minimum competencies to begin practice, the PVN certification validates professional nursing competencies.
The certification was developed with input from:
- Nursing education leaders
- Health systems
- Professional nursing organizations
Core Competencies Include
- Knowledge for Nursing Practice
- Population Health
- Scholarship for the Nursing Discipline
- Quality and Safety
- Interprofessional Relationships
- Systems-based Practice
- Informatics and Healthcare Technologies
- Professionalism
- Personal, Professional and Leadership Development
Our Process
See How It Works
Eligibility
Nurses must have graduated from a BSN or Master's entry program and successfully completed NCLEX.
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Registration
Contact us to be the first to know when registration opens in 2026.
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Exam
The exam is administered online and can be taken on demand.
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Certificate
You will receive your exam scores and then can begin using your PVN designation.
Ready to earn the credential the profession has been waiting for?
Registration takes minutes. The credential lasts a career.