Holistic Nurse

PLEASE NOTE:

AHNCC is excited to announce that we are moving to C-NET, a different testing management organization. We are pleased to offer new services to applicants at no additional cost. We will begin offering the Practice tests and national examinations through C-NET this spring. Details regarding the implementation date, when and how applications will be accepted, and when the examinations will be available, will be announced in early 2020.

Additional services to be offered to our applicants include:

  • year-round testing;
  • once approved, a three-month window for testing versus a two-week testing session;
  • immediate notification of examination results.
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Please stay tuned to our website for more details

If you have already applied to sit for the examination your application process will not have to be started over and you will be able to sit in the spring of 2020 for your examination. Also, with our new company there will be no application deadlines so do not worry about meeting any deadlines in order to sit for an examination. This is one of the benefits candidates will enjoy with the new testing vendor.

If you have any questions or are interested in sitting for one of our examinations in 2020 please contact Talysha Hickerson at info@ahncc.org, or call 785-267-0943. We look forward to working with you and helping you however we can.
Have a nice day. 🙂

Warmly,
Dr. Margaret Erickson, CEO, AHNCC

Holistic Nursing Certification Video


(Please note: There will be a change of the testing management company mentioned in the video, and testing will be available all year long, rather than in two two-week periods during the year.)

Certification Categories

For issues, contact AHNCC at info@ahncc.org

Examination Level Eligibility Criteria  
HN-BC® (Holistic Nurse Board Certified)
  • Unrestricted, current U.S. RN license*
  • 2000 hours or 1 year full time within last 5 years.
  • 48 CNE hours in Holistic Nursing Theory, Research, Practice, or related topics
  • Graduate of nationally accredited Nursing program**
  • Link to HN-BC®/ Handbook/Application/Practice Test – TBD
HNB-BC® (Holistic Nurse Baccalaureate Board Certified)
  • Unrestricted, current U.S. RN license*
  • 2000 hours or 1 year full time within last 5 years
  • 48 CNE hours in Holistic Nursing Theory, Research, Practice, or related topics
  • Graduate of nationally accredited Baccalaureate Nursing program**
  • Link to HNB-BC® Handbook/Application/Practice Test – TBD
AHN-BC® (Advanced Holistic Nurse Board Certified)
  • Unrestricted, current U.S. RN license*
  • 2000 hours or 1 year full time within last 5 years and a minimum of 500 hours at the advanced level.
  • 48 CNE hours in Holistic Nursing Theory, Research, Practice, or related topics
  • Graduate of nationally accredited Graduate Nursing program**
  • Link to AHN-BC® Handbook/Application/Practice Test – TBD
APHN-BC® (Advanced Practice Holistic Nurse Board Certified)
  • Unrestricted, current U.S. APRN license*
  • 2000 hours or 1 year full time within last 5 years and a minimum of 500 hours at the advanced practice level
  • 48 CNE hours in Holistic Nursing Theory, Research, Practice, or related topics
  • Graduate of nationally accredited Graduate Nursing program**
  • Link to APHN-BC® Handbook/Application/Practice Test – TBD

* International candidates who are not planning on working in the United States may submit an RN license from their country. A US license is required if the applicant plans to seek employment in the US.

** All international candidates with an RN license are eligible to sit for the HN-BC examination. Applicants wanting to sit for a higher level examination must submit documentation showing that their educational program is equivalent to the educational requirement of the examination level being sought. Questions regarding this process can be directed to ahncc@flash.net.

Preparation for the Exam

It is the responsibility of the individual to prepare for the exam. The two primary resources are the Core Practice Competencies of Holistic Nursing and the AHNA Scope and Standards of Holistic Nursing Practice. Examination items are developed to test the Core Practice Competencies of Holistic Nursing.

The basic competencies may be found as an appendix in the Core Essentials for Basic Holistic Nursing. The advanced competencies may be found as an appendix in the Core Essentials for Advanced Holistic Nursing. To obtain AHNA Scope and Standards of Holistic Nursing click here.

Expectations and Responsibilities

Only nurses certified by AHNCC may use the designated credentials. Nurses may NOT use the credential when the nurse has:

  • Not completed the Certification or Recertification Process consistent with the level of competence;
  • A restricted, inactive, or withdrawn license;
  • Requested inactive status; or
  • Certification has been withdrawn by AHNCC.