New Jersey Nurse Informatics Certification - NJ

By allied health world contributing writer
Published: February, 26 2010

After completion of the necessary educational requirements (registered nurse and New Jersey state licensure, Bachelor of Science in nursing, and master’s degree in nursing informatics) you are then eligible to apply for certification in nursing informatics through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).  This branch organization of the American Nurses Association (ANA) is recognized as the most prestigious credentialing agency for the profession of nursing and its specialties.  Certification is required before you can seek employment in the field and you will be expected to maintain continuing education hours and pay the necessary fee when your certification is up for renewal. 

The process for certification is listed in detail at www.nursecredentialing.com/NurseSpecialties/Informatics.aspx.  In addition to the educational requirements as noted above, prior to submitting your examination application you must also have practiced at least two full years as a registered nurse, completed a minimum of 30 hours of continuing education in the nursing informatics field, and met at least one of three practical requirements in the field.  In most cases, the graduate level courses taken during your master’s degree work will satisfy this practical requirement.  Additionally there is an examination fee due with the application of $270 for American Nursing Association members and $390 for non-members.  Completion of the exam, which is computer based, will allow you to become certified in nursing informatics.  The certification is good for five years, at which time you will need to complete the ANCC renewal process.  There is no New Jersey nursing informatics certification; rather it is all done through the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

The state of New Jersey does not regulate the profession of nursing informatics through licensure, however, you must maintain your New Jersey registered nurse (RN) licensure in order to remain in good standing and remain employed in nursing informatics.