NURSE-PATIENT EDUCATOR
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
Certification Program: Courses and Prices
Code of Ethics for Certified Members
FAQS: Frequently Asked Questions
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The American Institute of Health Care Professionals, Inc. offers a comprehensive, quality, Certification program for Registered Nurses in Patient Education. This certification focuses on the validation of the attainment of advanced continuing education related to all facets of patient teaching including learning principles, program developments, implementation and evaluation. This program is open only to Registered Nurses, Advance Practice Nurses and Practical Nurses who are currently licensed to practice in their state or country.
This program is designed for nurses who are patient teachers or aspire to become specialists in patient teaching/education. Health care reform, with its emphasis on patient outcomes, wellness, disease prevention and health promotion has and will require more time for nurses in patient teaching and educating communities on preventative health and wellness. While professional nurses have always been involved in patient teaching, this program provides them an opprotunity to significantly expand their knowledge of patient teaching principles and establish patient teaching/education as a specialty practice. This program also focuses on issues of health promotion, so that nurse-patient educators can incorporate promotion interventions in their teaching programs.
objectives of the nurse-patient educator certification Program are:
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Provide a high quality program of Certification for registered nurses, advance practice nurses and practical nurses, practicing in the speciality or adding to their specialty practice as a nurse-patient educator.
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Develop and support high standards of education and practice requirements for the attainment of certification.
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Provide a mechanism for the ongoing involvement of a peer advisory board of qualified professionals to oversee program development and requirements for certification.
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Provide society with a mechanism to ascertain the appropriate education, skills, knowledge and experience required by professionals who offer such services.
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Establish quality standards and requirements for the recertification of its credentialed members, attesting to ongoing education and skill attainment in the practice specialty of patient education/teaching.
- Provide a comprehensive program of approvals for continuing education, seminars, offerings, independent study, and other related educational activities, to ensure high quality standards are met and that such programs are of value to professionals practicing patient teaching as a specialty.
Certification
Certified Nurse-Patient Educator- requires attainment of the following certification criteria:
- Completion of an official, established education program to prepare Nurses for the practice of Patient Teaching/Education.
Candidates for the Certification must successfully complete the continuing education program endorsed by The American Institute of Health Care Professionals, Inc. Completion of the required education courses qualifies the educational component necessary to apply for Certification. This program consists of 150 contact hours of continuing education. See Full Program: Access here
- Requisite for all Applicants for Certification: in addition to meeting the educational criteria as provided above, applicants for Certification must hold a current/valid license to practice nursing in their state or country of residence.
Certification- Identification & Credentials
Those applicants who become certified by the AIHCP in Nurse-Patient Education may use the initials/credential "NPE-C", after their names:
"Certified Nurse-Patient Educator"
THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS: We have a dedicated page that provides a quick over-view of our certification process. It will provide you with good information about the process/phases of both the education courses and application for certification. To access: click here
Timeline
All certifications shall be for a period of 4 years from the date that the initial certification.
Recertification
Certified members may receive recertification at the expiration of their three year term by:
- Obtaining 60 or more hours of continuing education within the four year period of certification. Click here: Criteria for Recertification
Certificate
Those applicants who have successfully achieved certification, or recertification receive a large size official Certificate attesting to certification, as well as an official letter of notification. The certificate is suitable for framing and details the official professional certification title, initials that may be used, and time frames for certification. Those recertifying receive a new, updated certificate. Wallet size identification cards of certification are also presented.
Fee Schedule
- The certification fee for the Nurse-Patient Educator is $200.00 for the four-yeare year term of certification. Payment in full is due at the time of application. If an applicant does not meet certification criteria, the application fee is refunded. A completed application must be mailed in to the with full payment to be considered for certification. Application is available on this website.
- Application for Recertification is $ 200.00 for the next four-year period. This is a one time payment and is required in full at the time of application for recertification. A completed application must accompany the payment.
- Major credit cards are accepted. Check and money orders are to be payable to : The American Institute of Healthcare Professionals.
Education Programs for Recertification
Applicants may obtain education hours by completion of any type of formal program in specifically related to education/patient teaching. Such programs include:
- University/College Programs and Courses
- Continuing Education Courses
- Seminars
- Distance Learning Programs
- Self-Study Programs
- Courses offered by Professional Associations
The AIHCP reserves the right to approve all such courses for consideration toward re-certification. For any courses to be considered, applicants must submit copies of all certificates of completion or transcripts verifying completion. Applicants who are using their degrees to meet partial fulfillment of the education requirements for certification must have official transcripts submitted from their University or College, directly to the AIHCP.
Fellowship Program
The American Institute of Health Care Professionals, provides a "Fellowship Program" for its certified Nurse-Patient Educators. Access Information.
Online Application
Click here for the online application. Please print application and postal mail.
August 2011