Recertification – Overview
GS-C Expiration
Your Gerontological Specialist Certification (GS-C) is valid for 5 years. Maintain your GS-C credential by recertifying prior to your certification expiration date.
Recertify via Re-Examination
Complete the exam application and return with appropriate fees to the GNCC National Office. If you choose this option for recertification, proceed right to the exam application which can be found here: GS-C Exam Application.
Recertify via Continuing Education
The following requirements must be met in order to recertify via continuing education:
- Licensure Requirements
- Professional Practice Hours
- Continuing Education Hours
Recertify Through Continuing Education
Licensure Requirements
Applicants must hold a current GS-C and meet all eligibility requirements of the Gerontological Specialist.
Professional Practice Hours
Applicants must complete 1,000 professional practice hours as an APRN working with older adults within the last 5 years.
Continuing Education
Applicants must complete a total of eighty (80) NCPD contact hours within the 5-year certification period.
Keep Track of Your Education
The Recertification Portal makes it easy to keep track of the NCPD contact hours you earn over the course of your certification period. Once you log in and save your information, you can access and add education at your pace – saving you time when your recertification date approaches.

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Professional Practice Hours
Practice hours may be direct or indirect and include:
- Acute or Long-Term Care
- Clinics or Offices
- Home Care or Community Health Care
- Surgery
- Education
- Research
- Administration
- Advocacy
- Consulting
ALTERNATIVE HOURS
Continuing Education Hours
A minimum of fifty (50) continuing education hours must be gerontology-specific health care topics.
Remaining thirty (30) continuing education hours can be a combination of general nursing, health care, and academic.
- Copies of certificates of attendance at approved seminars or conferences
- Copies of published materials, presentations, or multimedia productions (video, audio, or computer generated discs)
Examples of Accepted Hours
Submitting Your Recertification Application
- Applications can be submitted up to 6 months prior to your certification expiration date.
- Once you are approved, your recertification expiration date will be 5 years after your initial certification expiration date.
- Late applications will be accepted up to 90 days after your certification expiration date with applicable fees.
- If you fail to submit your recertification application, your certification will become inactive. To achieve your certification again, you will need to submit an initial test application and start the process from the beginning.