ASORN: Certification

National Certifying Board for Ophthalmic Registered Nurses

The National Certifying Board for Ophthalmic Registered Nurses is an independently incorporated organization supported by the American Society of Ophthalmic Registered Nurses for the purpose of developing and implementing the certifying process for Ophthalmic Registered Nurses.

Why Certification for Ophthalmic Registered Nurses?

To promote delivery of safe and effective care in ophthalmic registered nursing practice through the certification of qualified Ophthalmic Registered Nurses by:

Recognizing formally those individuals who meet the eligibility requirements of the National Certifying Board for Ophthalmic Registered Nurses and pass the Certification Examination for Ophthalmic Registered Nurses.Encouraging continued personal and professional growth in the practice of Ophthalmic Registered Nursing.Establishing and measuring the level of knowledge required for certification in Ophthalmic Registered Nursing.
Encouraging continued personal and professional growth in the practice of Ophthalmic Registered Nursing.
Establishing and measuring the level of knowledge required for certification in Ophthalmic Registered Nursing.
Providing a standard of requisite knowledge required for certification; thereby assisting the employer, public and members of the health professions in the assessment of the Ophthalmic Registered Nurse.

What Certification Does for You

Recognizes your professional qualifications and knowledge in ophthalmic nursing.
Demonstrates your personal commitment to the improvement of ophthalmic nursing practice.

Eligibility

Candidates who meet the following criteria are eligible to take the Certification Examination for Ophthalmic Registered Nurses:

Currently licensed as a Registered Nurse in the United States or the equivalent in other countries.At least two years of full time or the equivalent (4000) hours experience in ophthalmic registered nursing practice.Completion and filing of an Application for the Certification Examination for Ophthalmic Registered Nurses.
At least two years of full time or the equivalent (4000) hours experience in ophthalmic registered nursing practice.
Completion and filing of an Application for the Certification Examination for Ophthalmic Registered Nurses.
Payment of required fee.

Examination Information

The CRNO examination is now offered as a computerized test offered at LaserGrade testing centers. Candidates select from a list of test centers located in their region and select one test date from the two-week testing period designated for the CRNO exam. Candidates may not select a test center and date until the examination application and required fee have been submitted to Professional Testing Company (PTC). Once the application and fee have been submitted candidates are encouraged to select a test date and center as soon as possible to ensure that your first choice is available.

Examination Fees

ASORN Members $325.00
Non-ASORN Members $425.00

Examination Dates

Application Deadline: January 31, 2009 -- Exam Dates: March 14-28, 2009
Application Deadline: July 31, 2009 -- Exam Date: September 12-26, 2009

Content Outline

Ocular Conditions
Pharmacology
Ophthalmic Nursing Interventions
Professional Issues
Nursing Assessment of Ophthalmic Patient

Further Information

To obtain a copy of the "Handbook for Candidates", visit the Professional Testing Corporation web site and fill out the Request Form (requires Adobe Acrobat reader) or mail a request to:

NCBORN Examination
1350 Broadway, 17th Floor
New York, NY 10018
(212) 356-0660
Fax: (212)356-0678
E-mail: PTCNY@PTCNY.com

The handbook contains an exam application, total content outline, sample questions, suggested bibliography and test center locations.

Recertification

The National Certifying Board of Ophthalmic Registered Nurses accepts recertification by continuing education as an alternative to retesting. To recertify by continuing education, you must recertify before your CRNO expires.

Requirements for Recertification by Continuing Education

75 Contact Hours (CH) Obtained during the 5 yrs prior to renewal date	At least 60 CH ophthalmology specific (see certification content outline, Topics I through IV in the Handbook for Candidates); all 75 CH may be ophthalmology specific. Up to 15 CH may be on professional issues/topics (see certification content outline, Topic V)Up to 5 CH may be from ophthalmology-specific courses taught by the CRNO; maximum of 1 CH per presentation. Up to 15 CH may be from academic coursework (undergraduate or graduate, 1 academic credit is equivalent to 10 contact hours) ACLS, BCLS, PALS, and CPR courses/credits may not be used toward recertification.
Accreditation	CH for continuing education courses must be provided by: Organizations accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center‘s Commission on Accreditation (ANCC-COA) State Nurses Associations (SNA) A Registered Nurse or a Registered Nurse organization that is accredited as a Provider by a State Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) Organizations accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) – ophthalmology-specific topics only
Deadline	Applications to recertify via continuing education must be received by the following dates August 1 for certifications that expire in August or September. February 1 for certifications that expire in February or March. Appropriate forms may be obtained from the Professional Testing Corporation.
Audit	10% of applications will be audited, meaning that information, including CH transcripts, must be provided upon request to NCBORN for review.
Fee	ASORN Member = $325 ASORN Nonmember = $425

This information is provided as an overview of the process of recertification by continuing education. Certified candidates may elect to recertify via test or continuing education. To recertify by continuing education, you must recertify before your current CRNO expires. Any lapse in certification status causes a candidate to be ineligible to recertify by continuing education. The Professional Testing Corporation will administer the recertification by continuing education process, as well as the certification/recertification process by testing. Please contact the Professional Testing Corporation if you have questions or concerns: Professional Testing Corporation, 1350 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10018, (212) 356-0660.

Ophthalmology specific content is not automatically accepted. Know and understand the accreditation requirements.
Providers must meet the criteria stated in the Accreditation section above.

If you have any questions or concerns about the eligibility of your continuing education courses for CRNO recertification, please call NCBORN well before your certification expiration date.

Documentation Form for CRNO Recertification through Continuing Education
<Sample Form>

Professionalism in the Practice of Ophthalmic Nursing