Welcome AGN-BC and CGN-BC Renewal Applicants!
Here you will find all the detailed instructions and templates necessary to complete your renewal application.
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NPCC has updated the renewal requirements for nurses seeking continued credentialing to exemplify the expanding role changes in genomic nursing. All candidates for renewal of their genomic nursing credential must submit the following:
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Copy of their current, active RN license (all applicants).
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Copy of current, active Advanced Practice license (for AGN-BC applicants).
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Current CV including the applicant’s educational background, current role and responsibilities, present and past employers over the past five years, professional development activities including presentations, publications, volunteer and committee positions, etc)
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60 Continuing Education Hours in Genetics/Genomics (including 25 hours of pharmacology for Advanced Practice renewals) Continuing Education
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One additional item from Categories 1-7. Please see detailed description of each category requirement and be certain that your submission meets the requirement details.
CATEGORY 1.
75 Continuing Education Hours
1. All 75 CEs must be directly related to Genetics and Genomics
2. All CEs must be formally approved continuing education hours. Formally approved continuing education hours meet one or more of the criteria listed below:
a. Continuing nursing education (CNE) approved for nursing contact hours by an accredited
provider or approver of CNE.
b. Continuing medical education (CME) approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits ™
c. Continuing education hours approved through the “Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional
Continuing Education. Visit www.jointaccreditation.org/accredited-providers for a list of accredited providers
3. Other healthcare disciplines’ CH applicable to the genetics specialty (e.g., dietitian, social work, genetic counseling, pharmacy, etc.) are acceptable.
4. Repeat courses are not accepted for renewal. You may claim credit for a specific course
only once, even if you took that course multiple times during the past five years.
5. The hours achieved from academic coursework that are applicable to credentialing and can
be converted to contact hours. See Category 2 for accepted academic coursework.
6. As needed, you can use these formulas to convert continuing education credit or academic hours:
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1 Contact Hour = 60 Minutes or 1 Academic Semester Credit = 15
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1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit ™ Contact Hours
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60 Minutes = 1 Contact Hour or 1 Academic Quarter Credit = 12.5
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1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit ™ Contact Hours
Documentation: Complete the Continuing Education section of the Renewal Application to document the courses attended and the hours obtained. If the course title(s) does not reflect
the content, you must provide a brief description of the content. We will not accept certificates of completion in lieu of completing the Professional Development entries.
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Audit: If your record is audited, you will be required to submit supporting documents, such as a copy of the completion certificate(s) showing the dates, title, number of contact hours, sponsoring organization, etc. In addition, you may be required to provide evidence of the applicability of the course to the Genetics specialty.
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Please maintain supporting documentation for the entire five-year certification cycle.
CATEGORY 2.
Academic Credits
1. Complete five (5) semester credits or six (6) quarter credits of academic courses applicable to Genetics/Genomics.
2. If you do not have at least five (5) semester credits or six (6) quarter credits, you may convert those credits to contact hours and report them under Category 1 Continuing Education Hours.
1 Semester Credit = 15 Contact Hours 1 Quarter Credit = 12.5 Contact Hours
3. Repeat courses are not accepted for credential renewal. You may claim credit for a specific course only once, even if you took that course multiple times during the past five years.
4. Academic credit received for a thesis or dissertation related to Genetics/Genomics is
acceptable. (If you use your thesis or dissertation credits to meet Category 2, then you cannot use the same thesis or dissertation credits to meet Category 4.)
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Documentation: Complete the Academic Credit Spreadsheet in the Renewal Application to document the courses attended and the academic credits received. If the course title(s) does not reflect the content, you must provide a brief description of the content. Do not submit transcripts in lieu of completing the form. These are not acceptable and will delay the evaluation of your application for certification renewal.
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Audit: If your record is audited, you will be required to submit supporting documents, such as a
transcript(s) showing the number of academic credits, sponsoring organization, etc. In addition, you may be required to provide evidence of the applicability of the course content to your certification. Please maintain supporting documentation for the entire five (5) -year certification cycle.
CATEGORY 3.
Presentations
Complete one or more presentations totaling five (5) clock hours in Genetics/Genomics. The
presentation may not be repeated. You must fulfill these additional criteria:
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1. You were the primary presenter of a first-time presentation.
2. The presentations were delivered in a structured teaching/learning framework to nurses, other healthcare providers, or the public as part of conferences, grand rounds, in-services, seminars, Internet-based or other e- learning formats, teleconferences, patient/family teaching, or public education.
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Do not submit the following types of presentations, as they are not accepted toward
your certification renewal: repeat presentations of the same material or modifications of the same material.
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Documentation: Complete the Presentation Spreadsheet of the Renewal Application.
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Audit: If your renewal record is audited, you will be required to submit supporting documents, such as a copy of the presentation outline, abstract, letter accepting your abstract, or letter inviting you to speak, as well as evidence that you presented the topic (e.g., a thank-you letter on official letterhead). Please maintain supporting documentation for the entire five-year certification cycle.
CATEGORY 4.
Evidence-Based Practice or Quality Improvement Project, Publication, or Research​
EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE OR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
Complete one evidence-based practice (EBP) project or quality improvement (QI) project that
demonstrates the use of a problem-solving approach using the best evidence to answer a defined question related to Genetics/Genomics.
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The project must be started and completed during the time frame of the certification renewal period.
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Documentation: Complete the EBP/QI spreadsheet in the Renewal Application.
Audit: If your renewal record is audited, you will be required to submit supporting documents showing:
• Title of the project;
• Identification of the question;
• Review and critique of the current evidence, research, or data;
• Evaluation of the current practice/problem;
• Identification interventions and strategies to implement the changes;
• Evaluation of the effectiveness of the translation/transfer of the evidence and/or intervention
into practice;
• Your role in the project; and
• Contact information and signature of the responsible project leader verifying your role on the
team or the project.
PUBLICATION
1. Publish one article in a peer-reviewed journal or a book chapter related to your certification specialty. You must be the author, co-author, editor, co-editor, or reviewer.
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Documentation: Complete the Publication Spreadsheet in the Renewal Application.
Audit: If your certification record is audited, you will be required to submit supporting documents, including:
• A copy of the table of contents and a copy of the entire article or chapter, journal name with the date, and your name;
• If you were the editor, then a copy of the page from the journal identifying you as the editor or a letter from the publisher stating you were the editor; and
• If you were the peer reviewer, then a letter from the publisher stating you reviewed the article and the date this occurred.
OR
2. Publish five different articles related to your certification specialty in a non-peer-reviewed journal and/or newsletter.
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Documentation: Complete the Publication Spreadsheet in the Renewal Application.
Audit: If your renewal record is audited, you will be required to submit the following information:
• Detailed outline of the content;
• Copies of the e-learning journal or newsletter articles that clearly state you were the primary
author; and
• Letters from the publishers stating that you were the primary author.
OR
3. Serve as the primary author of content related to Genetics/Genomics utilized in e-learning and/or other media presentations.
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Documentation: Complete the Publication Spreadsheet in the Renewal Application.
Audit: If your record is audited, you will be required to submit the following information:
• Detailed outline of the content;
• Copy of the e-learning document that clearly states you were the primary author; and
• Letter from the publisher stating you were the primary author.
OR
4. Serve as the primary grant writer for a federal, state, or national organization project, even if grant writing is not a primary component of your employment responsibilities. The purpose of the grant must be related to Genetics or Genomics.
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Documentation: Complete the Publication Spreadsheet of the Renewal Application.
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Audit: If your certification record is audited, you will be required to submit a copy of the grant summary abstract and the letter from the grant sponsor acknowledging receipt of your grant application. These publications are generally not accepted: publication(s) that is a component of your job (e.g., patient education materials, course syllabi), letter(s) to the editor, or publication(s) “in press”.
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RESEARCH
1. Complete an IRB research project related to your certification specialty, during your five-year Credentialing period, for which you are clearly identified as one of the primary researchers.
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Documentation: Complete the Research Spreadsheet in the Renewal Application.
Audit: If your record is audited, you will be required to submit supporting documents such as
a copy of the IRB approval letter or IRB letter of exemption and a one-page abstract of no more than 250 words describing the research study and findings and the period when the research was conducted.
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OR
2. Complete a dissertation, thesis, or graduate-level scholarly project (e.g., DNP project) related to Genetics/Genomics.
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Documentation: Complete the Research Spreadsheet in the Renewal Application.
Audit: If your record is audited, you will be required to submit supporting documents such as the dissertation, thesis, or scholarly project approval letter and a one-page abstract of no more than 250 words that describes your dissertation, thesis, or scholarly project findings and the time period during which the dissertation, thesis, or scholarly project was conducted.
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Note: The academic hours awarded for your dissertation, thesis, or scholarly project that are used to meet Category 4 requirements cannot be used to meet the requirements of professional development Categories 1 or 2.
OR
3. Serve as a content reviewer on an IRB, dissertation, thesis, or scholarly project (e.g., DNP project) that is not a component of your employment duties.
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Documentation: Complete the Research Spreadsheet in the Renewal Application.
Audit: If your renewal record is audited, you will be required to submit supporting documents from the organization describing this work and the dates you served as the reviewer (e.g., a letter on official letterhead).
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OR
4. Serve as a content expert reviewer of other activities related to Genetics/Genomics that are not a part of your employment duties (such as software and e-learning).
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Documentation: Complete the Research Spreadsheet in the Renewal Application.
Audit: If your renewal record is audited, you will be required to submit documentation from the
publisher and/ or organization describing the work and the dates you served as the reviewer (e.g., a letter on official letterhead).
CATEGORY 5.
Preceptor Hours
Complete a minimum of 120 hours as a preceptor in which you provided direct clinical supervision/teaching to students in an academic program that is related to Genetics/Genomics
OR
Provide a minimum of 120 hours of clinical supervision related to your Genetics/Genomics in a formal fellowship, residency, or internship program at the same practice level or higher.
For either option above, the following rules apply:
• Clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners must precept APRN, medical, physician assistant, or pharmacy students in an academic program related to Genetics/Genomics.
• Orientation preceptor hours are not accepted.
• Preceptor hours cannot be counted toward your certification practice hour requirement.
• Faculty may not utilize this category for clinical supervision of students in their educational program.
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Documentation: Complete the Preceptor Spreadsheet in the Renewal Application.
Audit: If your renewal record is audited, you must submit a completed, signed Preceptorship Documentation Form , showing the hours, objectives, outcomes, and location of the
preceptorship, signed by the institution responsible for the person being precepted.
CATEGORY 6.
Professional/Volunteer Service
Complete two or more consecutive years of volunteer service during your certification period with an international, national, state, or local healthcare-related organization in which your Genetics specialty expertise is required. Accepted volunteer activities include serving on boards of directors, committees, editorial boards, review boards, task forces, and medical missions.
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Documentation: Complete the Volunteer Spreadsheet in the Renewal Application.​
Audit: If your renewal record is audited, you must submit an official description of your volunteer duties and a detailed, typewritten document of 500 words or less describing the impact of this service on your ability to obtain new knowledge in Genetics/Genomics. In addition, you will be required to provide supporting documentation of your volunteer service (e.g., a copy of an official letter or other documents from the organization attesting to your service and the dates of service).
CATEGORY 7.
Practice Hours
Practice or work hours are an option to renew your certification, but are not required. If you chose to use practice or work hours, the practice or work hours must meet the requirements listed below.
• Practice hours must be completed within the five years preceding the date on your renewal
application submission.
• A minimum of 2500 practice hours in Genetics/Genomics nursing is required and can be
completed either through employment or as a volunteer.
• CNSs and NPs must complete practice hours in their certification role at the advanced level.
• Faculty can use hours of direct clinical supervision of students for clinical practice. The direct
clinical supervision must be in the certification role and population. CNS and NP faculty must have direct supervision of APRN students.
• Hours accumulated as a family caregiver are not accepted.
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Documentation: Complete the Practice Hours Spreadsheet in the Renewal Application.
Audit: Submit a letter from your immediate supervisor, on organizational letterhead, stating that you have practiced a minimum of 2500 practice hours in Genetics/Genomics nursing over your five-year certification period. You may submit multiple letters if you have changed jobs. If you are self-employed, please submit a statement attesting that you have practiced a minimum of 2500 practice hours in Genetics/Genomics over your five-year certification period. This statement must be notarized prior to submission.
Once you've completed all documents/templates shared on this page, you may upload them into the application management system. Follow the prompts outlined in the email received after you purchase the credential you are renewing.
If you have questions during the application process, contact NPCC by email at headquarters@nurseportfolio.org.
NPCC is proud to be the credentialing commission for genetic and genomic nursing, and we look forward to providing this important credential to well-qualified, practicing nurses in genetics and genomics clinical care.