How do I apply? 

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If you have a voucher code

If you have a voucher code from a review program or have a bulk purchase voucher code make sure you register under the "Special testing opportunities" (See link on right side of the page).  If you register below you will not receive the benefits of the voucher system and will have to follow all policies related to exam registration.

Available certification exams for Computer Testing:
     Computer Test Center 
     Live Remote Proctoring 

COMPUTER EXAM: Below are available certifications for Computer Examinations. All NCC exams are offered at Computer Testing Centers. Please note that with the current pandemic sites may open and close canceling appointments.  The closest site may be several hours away. Usually, there are sites within 2-4 hours but this can change.  See the information in the Test Guide. Test centers are only working at 50% capacity due to social distancing rules and seating is limited. If you choose this mode of delivery please be sure you can travel to the test center and that you schedule early. Click here for a list of the available test centers and locations near you "Available TEST CENTERS".

LIVE REMOTE PROCTORING: Ten of the 12 exams are also offered by Live Remote Proctoring. The links below will take you to more information about the exam and methods of testing. 

PLEASE NOTE YOU NEED  A COPY OF YOUR LICENSE OR STATE BOARD VERIFICATION FROM THE VERIFICATION PORTAL TO REGISTER FOR AN EXAM.
  • You are required to upload a copy of your license or license verification from the licensing board that includes the Licensing state, your name, type of license, expiration of the license, and the website if it is from a verification portal. 
  • The majority of nursing licenses can be obtained at Nursys.com. The remaining licenses can be obtained from the licensing board in your state. Helpful directions for using Nursys: GUIDE TO NURSYS

Available certification exams for LIVE REMOTE PROCTORING. 

Ten of NCC's exams are offered through Live Remote Proctoring (LRP). Read more about LRP at

Testing with Live Remote Proctoring

Neonatal Neuro-Intensive Care Is not offered using Live Remote Proctoring. 

Please review detailed information about these two new subspecialty exams.     

Obstetric and Neonatal Quality and Safety Examination (May test with LRP)


Subspecialties (Interprofessional Exams) (May test with LRP)

(ABOG-approved EFM certification to meet the annual Improvement in Medical Practice (Part IV) MOC requirement 2023-2024)
 

Core certification (May test with LRP )

Nurse Practitioner board certification (May test with LRP)

MAGNET APPROVAL
All accredited NCC certifications are approved for MAGNET.

NCCA & ABSNC ACCREDITATION:
NCC Core and subspecialty certification programs are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) for a five-year period through March 31, 2025. Care of the Extremely Low Birthweight Infants is accredited for a five-year period through April 2026. Obstetric and Neonatal Quality and Safety is accredited for a five-year period through November 30, 2026.

NCC nurse practitioner certification programs are accredited by both the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC) for a five-year period through October 2026  and the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) for a five-year period through March 31, 2025.

Important Information and Links

How will the results be disseminated?

  • NO RESULTS ARE PROVIDED IMMEDIATELY AFTER TESTING FOR ANY EXAM FORMAT. After completing the examination, an email will be sent by the testing company explaining how test results can be obtained. 
  • Official results, with the score report, can be found in your NCC account within 15 business days of computer exam administration (the date of certification is based on the date on the official results, not the exam date). You will receive an email when your test results are in your account but you can check your account at any time by signing in using your user name (email) and password. 
  • When new forms of an exam or new test grids are developed official results can take up to 21 BUSINESS days. 
  • You are not certified until your official results are in your account.
  • When official results are in your account a certificate and pin will be mailed to the address you provided in your account.  If you do not receive the certificate and pin within two weeks of getting your test results you must contact NCC.  After 6 months a lost certificate and or pin will not be provided and would need to be purchased. 
  • Test result reports are NOT available by phone or email.  Pass/fail status only can be seen in your account. 

  • NCC reserves the right to cancel test scores when there is reason to believe that scores are invalid. Proof of misconduct is not required to cancel scores.

Verification of certification

  • Verification of certification status to third parties cannot be made until after the official results are posted in your account.
  • Verifications are done ONLY through the online verification system. There are fees for sending verifications. This process is initiated by the certified professional. This verification is for primary source verification, meaning the entity requesting the verification requires the verification to come from NCC directly and not the individual certified professional. 
  • NCC does not send verifications to state boards of nursing or any other entity automatically. The individual holding the NCC certification must initiate the verification process via the online verification system.
  • Verification of eligibility to test should be submitted with the registration application or can be submitted separately. There is no fee for this service. This is not a verification of certification.
  • Official documentation of the NCC certification is available to the individual certified professional at any time free of charge from their NCC account on the NCC website.  This information is password protected. To access, the individual must first sign in with their email and password.

Retesting

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If you wish to retest:

  • You must wait 90 days from the date the exam was taken for all computer exams to register again. (this date is provided in your results notification)
  • If you have difficulties testing using Live Remote Proctoring you will have to retest at a Computer Test Center.
  • You must submit another application with full documentation, including a current license.
  • You must pay the current examination fee
  • If an applicant files earlier than 90 days from the date the exam was taken, the application will be determined ineligible. The applicant will be subject to the $50 nonrefundable application fee
  • The exam can only be taken TWICE in a calendar year
  • There is no limit on how many times an individual can retest

The ability to retest is intended to decrease the probability that a candidate will be incorrectly classified as not meeting the knowledge competencies for the certification. The retesting policy is designed to prevent unwarranted score gains in the professional certification exams. The 90-day window between testing is used to minimize the impact of test security and exposure to the exam. Failing candidates should use the results report and the performance indicators to identify areas where additional study may be needed before retesting.

Internet Disconnection, Power Outages, or Site Issues during an Exam:

  • If you start the exam and are disconnected please use the PSI tech lines if you are testing with LRP or if at a test center please discuss with the proctor to attempt to get reconnected and continue testing.
  • If you are unable to get reconnected after starting the exam, the timing for a second attempt to take the exam will be based on how much time and how many questions you were exposed to.  If you are disconnected and cannot be reconnected and have tested for under 15 minutes and were exposed to less than 10% of the exam you will be rescheduled within your current eligibility window. You must work directly with PSI that day to reschedule and if you run into any issues you must notify NCC within 3 days of testing.   If you tested for longer than 15 minutes and/or saw more than 10% of the questions on the exam you will have to wait 90 days and will be rescheduled. A decision on the timing of your second attempt will be made after reviewing the test exposure.  Please note, you will need to retest at a computer center. Please notify NCC when you arrive home from the test site. 

Special testing opportunities for use of VOUCHER CODES