Certification Nursing Practice Specialties

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Certification Exam-based Nursing Practice Specialties

The exam-based CNA Certification Program consists of 22 nursing practice specialties, with 19 exams offered. The list of certifications in nursing practice specialities is found below, along with a note identifying which is available to licensed/registered practical nurses or registered psychiatric nurses.

Once certified, you can proudly use the credentials associated with your specialty after your name.

Cardiovascular
for registered nurses, and nurse practitioners		 CCN(C) ® Certified in Cardiovascular Nursing (C)anada
Community Health
for registered nurses, and nurse practitioners		 CCHN(C) ® Certified in Community Health Nursing (C)anada
Critical Care
for registered nurses, and nurse practitioners		 CNCC(C) ® Certified Nurse in Critical Care (C)anada
Critical Care Pediatrics
for registered nurses, and nurse practitioners		 CNCCP(C) ® Certified Nurse in Critical Care Pediatrics (C)anada
Emergency
for registered nurses, and nurse practitioners		 ENC(C) ® Emergency Nurse Certified (C)anada
Gastroenterology — renewal by CL hours only* CGN(C) ® Certified in Gastroenterology Nursing (C)anada
Gerontology
for registered nurses, registered psychiatric nurses and nurse practitioners		 GNC(C) ® Gerontological Nurse Certified (C)anada
Gerontology
for licensed/registered practical nurses		 GPNC(C) ® Gerontology Practical Nurse Certified (C)anada
Hospice Palliative Care
for registered nurses, and nurse practitioners		 CHPCN(C) ® Certified in Hospice Palliative Care Nursing (C)anada
Medical-Surgical
for registered nurses and nurse practitioners		 CMSN(C) ® Certified in Medical-Surgical Nursing (C)anada
Medical-Surgical Nursing
for licensed/registered practical nurses		 MSPNC(C) ® Medical-Surgical Practical Nurse Certified (C)anada
Neonatal
for registered nurses, and nurse practitioners		 CNeoN(C) ® Certified in Neonatal Nursing (C)anada
Nephrology
for registered nurses, and nurse practitioners		 CNeph(C) ® Certified in Nephrology (C)anada
Neuroscience — renewal by CL hours only* CNN(C) ® Certified in Neuroscience Nursing (C)anada
Occupational Health
for registered nurses, and nurse practitioners		 COHN(C) ® Certified in Occupational Health Nursing (C)anada
Oncology
for registered nurses, and nurse practitioners		 CON(C) ® Certified in Oncology Nursing (C)anada
Orthopaedics — renewal by CL hours only* ONC(C) ® Orthopaedic in Nursing Certified (C)anada
Pediatrics
for registered nurses, and nurse practitioners		 CpedN(C) ® Certified in Pediatric Nursing (C)anada
PeriAnesthesia — renewal by CL hours only* PANC(C) ® PeriAnesthesia Nurse Certified (C)anada
Perinatal
for registered nurses, and nurse practitioners		 PNC(C) ® Perinatal Nurse Certified (C)anada
Perioperative
for registered nurses, and nurse practitioners		 CPN(C) ® Certified in Perioperative Nursing (C)anada
Psychiatric and Mental Health
for registered nurses, registered psychiatric nurses and nurse practitioners		 CPMHN(C) ® Certified in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing (C)anada
Rehabilitation — renewal by CL hours only* CRN(C) ® Certified in Rehabilitation Nursing (C)anada
Wound, Ostomy and Continence
for registered nurses, and nurse practitioners		 WOCC(C) ® Wound, Ostomy and Continence Certified (C)anada

® Registered trademarks of the Canadian Nurses Association.

There is a national association for each specialty, collectively forming part of CNA’s Canadian Network of Nursing Specialties. If you’re not already a member of your specialty association, learn more about how membership will benefit you professionally — especially if you are still considering certification.

*Exams were retired in November 2019. Nurses certified in any of these five specialties can maintain their credential by renewing every five years through continuous learning only.