Certification Application Process
CNL graduates or faculty interested in taking the CNL certification exam must complete the online CNL Certification Application, pay the registration fee, and submit the required Education Documentation Form.
Need to change your exam date?
Please review the policy to Request Testing Date Changes. Note that you will need to request approval from CNC first in order to change your exam date. Email CNC at CNL@aacnnursing.org to confirm approval of being able to change to another testing period.
The Process
- If you meet CNC’s Eligibility Requirements, the next step is to select your exam date. Exam Dates and Fees.
- Once you have determined your exam date, you need to log into MyCNC Profile and complete all of the fields within your profile. Once you have saved your profile, look under the My CNL Certification tab and click on Apply for Certification to submit the Online CNL Exam Application with payment. All fees are subject to change and are non-refundable. Please review our CNL Exam Application Tutorial to help you complete your exam application.
- After submitting your application, contact your CNL Program Director and remind them to complete the Online Education Documentation Form (EDF). They will receive an email to complete the online form as soon as your exam application is submitted to CNC. The form is due by the registration deadline for the testing period you apply for.
- Once your application, payment, and documentation is verified, CNC will email you a confirmation letter (up to 2 weeks after applying) with important exam information.
Important Notes:
- Only the CNL Program Director can complete the EDF once they receive the email notification from CNC. All CNL Program Directors receive a password to access the form from CNC.
- For faculty, only the Dean of the faculty applying for the exam is able to submit the CNL Faculty Eligibility Form (FEF). The Dean will receive an email notification from CNC when the faculty completes the exam application. The FEF is due by the registration deadline for the testing period you apply for.
- If you require ADA accommodations, be sure to select this option within your online exam application.
