If you’re considering working as a pediatric nurse, it makes sense first to consider what you need to do to become one.
Some schooling is involved, whether that’s an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN), a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), or a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP).
For some pediatric (peds) nursing positions, this is all you’ll need. However, some employers may require or prefer that you have specialized pediatric certifications. They may require these certifications to be obtained either before hiring or within a specific time frame after starting your position.
So what are pediatric nurse certifications? Where can you get them, and what can they do for you? In this post, we’ll answer all that and more.
What Are Pediatric Nurse Certifications?
Pediatric nursing certifications are specialized certifications that allow you to acquire or demonstrate core knowledge and skills in pediatric care.
Some may involve short courses providing specialized training in niche topics. These may be offered online or in person, depending on the course. Others only involve passing an exam to receive certification.
Some employers may require certifications. But, even if they aren’t required, certifications can give you a competitive edge when applying for jobs or picking up PRN shifts.
Certification vs. Licensure: What’s the Difference?
First, let’s clear up a common misconception with terminology.
To become a registered nurse (RN), you’ll first complete a program like an ADN or a BSN to get the knowledge and skills needed to work as a nurse. Then, after graduation, you’ll take a nursing licensure exam. For registered nurses, this will be the NCLEX-RN exam. After passing this exam, you’ll obtain your license.
Certifications are not licensure. A licensed RN can go on to work in most nursing fields, including different pediatric specialties. However, your chosen career may require specialized certifications or training, depending on the position and the employer.
6 Different Pediatric RN Certifications
The certifications you need or could benefit from will vary depending on the specific role you work in and your own employer’s requirements.
In general, it’s always a good idea for peds nurses to have both the Pediatric Advanced Life Support and the Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition, and Stabilization certifications.
Let’s take a look at six different options for peds certifications nurses can pursue as RNs.
1. Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Certification
The PALS certification is offered by both the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Red Cross. It teaches healthcare providers how to recognize and intervene in patients experiencing cardiopulmonary arrest, shock, and respiratory emergencies. You need a score of 84% or higher to pass the exam.
The courses teach crucial information like pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation and basic life support recommendations, how to triage patients who do and don’t require immediate attention, and differentiation between respiratory distress and failure.
2. Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition, and Stabilization (PEARS®) Certification
The PEARS® certification is offered by the American Heart Association and is co-branded by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). It was created for healthcare providers who may not have more in-depth pediatric experience but still need to be able to work with peds patients.
It can help with the following:
- Improve competency in peds basic life support
- Teach the AHA’s approach to assess, intervene, and stabilize pediatric patients in emergent conditions
- Teach skills in cardiopulmonary arrest and respiratory and shock emergencies for pediatric patients
3. Pediatric Nursing Certification (PED-BC™)
The American Nurses Credentialing Center offers the PED-BC™ certification for RNs with some working experience. It involves taking a competency-based exam that assesses the entry-level pediatric clinical skills and knowledge of RNs. The credential lasts for five years.
To sit for this certification exam, you need to meet the following criteria:
- Hold a current RN license
- Have at least two years of work experience as a full-time RN
- Complete at least 2,000 clinical hours in pediatrics within the last three years
- Have thirty hours of completed education within the past three years
4. Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN)
The CPN exam is offered by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB). The CPN certification has been well-respected since the 1980s; it demonstrates that you’re well-versed in the pediatric skills and knowledge needed to work as a peds nurse.
To sit for this exam, you need a current, valid RN license and must have either of the following:
- 1,800 clinical hours in peds within the last two years
- A total of 3,000 clinical hours in peds within the past five years, with a minimum of 1,000 of those hours accrued during the previous two years
5. Acute/Critical Care (CCRN) Pediatric Certification
Offered by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN), the CCRN pediatric certification is a great option for nurses who may want to work in pediatric intensive care units, cardiac care units, surgical units, acute care, or trauma units. Note that there are also certifications available for neonatal care if you’re interested in becoming a neonatal nurse.
Any RN or advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) working with critically ill pediatric patients should consider this certification.
To be eligible, you must meet the following criteria:
- Hold a valid and current RN or APRN license
- Have 1,750 clinical hours in the direct care of acutely ill pediatric patients within the previous two years, with at least 875 of those hours coming from the last year, or 2,000 clinical hours in the direct care of acutely ill peds patients within the past five years with 144 hours coming from the previous year
6. The Acute/Critical Care Knowledge Professional (CCRN-K) Pediatric Certification
The AACN also offers the CCRN-K pediatric certification, created for nurses who don’t work with pediatric patients as their prime role but who may still play an essential role in their care. Providers who may want to consider this certification include managers or supervisors, nursing administrators, or clinical educators. If you’re working as a pediatric nurse, opting for the CCRN Pediatric certification is probably the better choice.
To be eligible, you need to meet the following criteria:
- Hold a current, valid RN or APRN license
- Have 1,040 practice hours in the previous two years, with 260 of those hours in the past year, in which you’ve applied knowledge to influence patients, organizations, or nurses to impact critically ill peds patients or their families
Final Thoughts
There are plenty of pediatric certifications to consider, and all of the options listed above come from highly respected healthcare organizations. Even if your employer doesn’t require these certifications, having them will only help your employment and career advancement potential.
Want to learn more about pediatric nursing as a potential career? Take a look at our ultimate guide to pediatric nursing.
