Nurse Managers

Certification or Licensing

All states and the District of Columbia require nurses to have a license to practice nursing. To obtain a license, graduates of approved nursing schools must pass a national examination. Nurses may be licensed by more than one state. In some states, continuing education is a condition for license renewal. Different titles require different education and training levels.

In advancing to the level of nurse manager, the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) sponsors the certified in executive nursing practice (CENP) and the certified nurse manager and leader (CNML)—premier credentials in nursing leadership. To earn the CENP credential, applicants must pass an examination that is based on the AONL Nurse Executive Competencies of communication and relationship building; knowledge of the health care environment; professionalism; business skills and leadership. Applicants for the CNML certification must pass a 115-question exam that tests their knowledge of the four core principles of financial management; performance improvement; human resource management; and strategic management and technology. Visit https://www.aonl.org for more information about certification requirements.