Nursing Specialty Certification
Get Board Certified
Stand out in emergency care, build your clinical credibility, and take the next step in your career with nursing specialty certification.
What is Nursing Board Certification & Why Does It Matter?
Board certification with BCEN is a nationally recognized way to validate your expertise in adult or pediatric emergency, flight, transport, trauma, or burn care nursing. It distinguishes nurses among their peers and challenges them to stay current with the standards and skills their practice demands.
Find Out Which Certification is Right For You
And learn more about the certification process, your eligibility, how to study, and what to expect on exam day.
Certified Emergency Nurse
The Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN®) is the cornerstone credential for adult/mixed emergency care and ED nursing excellence. It validates the broad clinical judgment RNs need to treat any patient who walks through the door and supports long-term professional growth across the full emergency spectrum.
Certified Flight Registered Nurse
Earning the Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN®) prepares a flight nurse for the complexities of delivering care in flight, whether they are responding to the scene of an accident, a natural disaster, or an inter-facility transfer.
Certified Transport Registered Nurse
Designed for the demands of critical care ground transport, the Certified Transport Registered Nurse (CTRN®) recognizes the skill it takes to care for patients in unpredictable environments, often providing essential support when air transport is not an option.
Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse
From neonatal and infant care all the way through childhood and adolescence, the Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN®) prepares RNs to handle pediatric emergencies for every age and stage with expertise and confidence.
Trauma Certified Registered Nurse
Built for trauma nurses providing injury prevention education, prehospital care, acute care, rehabilitation and reintegration into society, the Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN®) validates mastery across the trauma care continuum.
Certified Burn Registered Nurse
The Certified Burn Registered Nurse (CBRN®) validates advanced knowledge and expertise across burn care, including initial management, critical and acute care, patient and family support, and recovery and rehabilitation.
Once you put those initials behind your name, it’s a big deal.
They carry weight. People see that you’ve invested in yourself and invested in your profession.
Why Nursing Certification Matters
Expand Your Expertise, Grow New Opportunities
90% of emergency nurses said holding the CEN® gives them a feeling of accomplishment and pride.
Certified emergency nurses enjoy higher pay, better opportunities, and greater career success.
Strengthen Your Clinical Judgment
Certification reinforces the specialty knowledge you use every day and shows your team you make solid decisions under pressure.
Build Confidence in High-Stakes Moments
Realistic preparation based on rigorous national standards helps you become the nurse people trust when patient care shifts quickly.
Earn Recognition Across Your Team and Organization
Board certification signals that you’re ready for more responsibility and puts you on leadership’s radar for advanced roles.
I pursued my certification to broaden my knowledge base and to elevate the standard of practice that is paramount to my professional career growth, as well as to improve overall patient safety.
As a certified nurse, I am proud to associate myself with a team that has a proven validation of their knowledge in their specialty to their peers, our administration, our patients and most importantly our community.
When Hospitals Look for Leaders, They Look for Certified Nurses
Supervisors consistently look for certification when promoting nurses, assigning advanced responsibilities, and identifying those ready for leadership or management roles.
Earning and maintaining board certification demonstrates a commitment to lifelong learning and always being at your best when it matters most.
Hospital managers rely on certified nurses because they bring proven expertise, stronger clinical judgment, and a level of reliability that supports better outcomes across the department.
of leaders say the CEN is valuable to the emergency nursing profession.
say it’s important for nurses to maintain their certification over time.
say it’s important to have CENs in their organization.
Here to Help You On Your Nursing Journey
No matter where you are in your nursing career, the road to certification and professional development can be exciting and rewarding.
Whether you’re preparing for your first exam or working toward renewal, BCEN offers clear steps, realistic tools, and guidance on how to get certified as a nurse and maintain your certification to stay at the top of your practice.
Affordable Access to Board Certification
The BCEN Voucher Program lowers the cost of certification and exam prep when you purchase at least three exams or preparation materials at a time, so you can move forward in your career without letting price decide when you take your next step. Share with coworkers, your administrator or purchase vouchers for the entire ED to save with volume discounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
We’re here to help with the answers you need to start your certification journey.
Is nursing board certification worth it?
Yes. Certification is proven to help nurses advance faster, earn trust from leadership, and stand out in competitive hiring and promotion decisions. Hear more from real nurses.
How long does certification last?
BCEN certifications last four years. Our renewal requirements are clear from the start, so you can plan without stress. Learn more about recertification.
What counts as CE hours?
More than you think. Accredited courses, clinical learning, and many specialty activities count — and BCEN spells it out with simple guidelines. View CE requirements.
Will my employer reimburse certification costs?
Many hospitals do. Certification is directly tied to clinical quality, so employers frequently reimburse exam fees or CE requirements. Check with your educator or HR team, and explore the BCEN Voucher Program.
The Proven Impact of Nursing Certification
Research shows that certified emergency nurses demonstrate stronger clinical judgment, stronger adherence to evidence-based practice, and improved patient outcomes across emergency settings.
Board certification assures employers, patients and their families, and communities that you are an expert in your specialty so you can deliver the safest, most efficient, and highest quality care possible.
Take the Next Step Toward Certification
Nursing specialty certification promotes consumer confidence and contributes to better patient care, better patient outcomes, and higher patient satisfaction.
You have the skill. You have the experience. We offer the resources that help you take the next step with clarity.