Geriatric Nurses

Certification or Licensing

Certification is available from the American Nurses Credentialing Center and is highly recommended. Candidates with one of the three educational backgrounds (associate's degrees, diplomas, and bachelor's degrees), current RN licenses, and a certain amount of experience in the area of practice (gerontology) are eligible to take specialty and informatics exams. Upon passing one of these tests, they are board certified and can use the initials RN-BC after their names. They can also earn become certified as gerontological clinical nurse specialists, adult-gerontology clinical nurse specialists, adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioners, and in other categories. Additionally, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses offers several applicable certifications.