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:

  1. Licensure Requirements
  2. Professional Practice Hours
  3. 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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ACCESS THE RECERTIFICATION PORTAL CLICK HERE
GAPNA Library
VIEW YOUR GAPNA EDUCATION VIA ONLINE LIBRARY CLICK HERE

Professional Practice Hours

Applicants must complete 1,000 professional practice hours as an APRN working with older adults within the last 5 years.

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
ACCEPTED
ALTERNATIVE HOURS

VIEW HERE 

Continuing Education Hours

Applicants must complete a total of eighty (80) NCPD contact hours within the 5 year certification period.
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.
THESE MATERIALS WILL BE REQUESTED FOR AUDITED APPLICATIONS ONLY
  1. Copies of certificates of attendance at approved seminars or conferences
  2. Copies of published materials, presentations, or multimedia productions (video, audio, or computer generated discs)

Examples of Accepted Hours

Continuing education hours must be earned through seminars or conferences focused on gerontological health care and accredited by organizations such as ANCC, AANP, a state board of nursing, nursing association, or ACCME.
Independent study (home study) by an accredited approver/provider of continuing education within the 5-year certification period. Note: 1 contact hour = 1 continuing education hour.
CME – 1 continuing medical education credit = 1 continuing education hour.
Membership on a national or local board or committee: a 1-hour meeting or conference call = 1 continuing education hour (max of 10 hours per recertification period).
GNCC Test Development Committee or Task Force participant: a 1-day session = 3 continuing education hours (max of 9 hours per recertification period).
Preceptor hours: 120 preceptor hours = 20 continuing education hours (max of 20 hours per recertification period).
Nursing and professional publications and presentations specific to gerontological health care. Click here to view informational chart.
Academic courses must be focused on older adults – each academic semester hour is equivalent to 15 continuing education hours, each quarter hour is equivalent to 10 continuing education hours.
Continuing education hours earned for general nursing or health care are awarded at the same rate as gerontological health care continuing education 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.