The continuing competency criteria for renewal of your AHNCC certification are the equivalent of 100 contact hours in your specialty (i.e. holistic nursing or nurse coaching) and related disciplines. Contact hours must have been acquired from the date of your last certification to the date for renewal and submission of your recertification application. Continuing competency means that you have completed learning experiences that result in updating and expanding your knowledge, and skills in your specialty. Therefore, credit is given for appropriate continued education courses and alternative activities such as publishing, presentations at conferences, and academic courses in your specialty. If you are interested in learning more about the alternative-equivalent hours for the continuing competency requirements, please check Appendix A. Specific information follows:
- At least 20% of contact hours must directly address holistic nursing, theories, theorists or major concepts such as spirituality, intention, self-care, sacred space or presence, that are relevant to your practice.
- Remaining contact hours can be related to holistic modalities, methods of practice, and studies that facilitate self-care, growth, and transformation within a holistic context. Medically oriented CEs are not accepted unless they relate to your practice.
- Contact hours must be approved either by a licensing board, credentialed body, educational institution, or other qualified individual or organization.
- Certificates of completion or documentation of CEs may be submitted with the renewal application. Submission is not necessary unless audited.
- There are a lot of different ways to earn continuing competency hours. You can learn more about this at: http://www.ahncc.org/resources/professional-development-activities/.
