NBCRNA / CPC Overview
Starting August 1, 2016, CRNAs will begin a new recertification process developed by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA). Northwest Anesthesia Seminars/Northwest Seminars is dedicated to providing our CRNA clients with what is needed to fulfill these new requirements and this is explained below. The Continued Professional Certification (CPC) Program consists of four components required each four-year cycle:

Class A Requirements
Class A continuing education credit (CEC) are prior approved, assessed CE. CRNAs will be required to have 60 Class A assessed credits during each four-year CPC cycle. Class A CEC not applied toward the Class A requirement can be applied toward the Class B requirement.

Beginning in 2016, all Northwest Anesthesia Seminars/Northwest Seminars programs (including ACLS/PALS, EKG, and Ophthalmic Block workshops) will offer Class A CE Credit upon prior approval by the AANA and fulfill these new CPC requirements. Although the CPC program will officially begin August 1, 2016, programs occurring prior to that date will still offer Class A credit. At the completion of each program, CRNA participants will be required to complete a self-assessment. Upon receipt of your self-assessment, you will receive a certificate specifying Class A CEC. Details about this process will be announced by NWAS/NWS staff at the beginning of each program. Once programs are approved for Class A CEC by the AANA, this will be indicated for each specific program.

Life Support Courses: NWS/NWAS ACLS and PALS courses are designed to meet requirements for Class A CE credit. CRNAs can report up to 20 credits per 4-year recertification cycle of initial and/or renewal life support courses.

Class B Requirements
Class B credits do not require prior approval or an assessment. CRNAs will be required to have 40 Class B credits during each four-year CPC cycle. Class A CEC can be applied toward the Class B requirement and can be used to fulfill the entire Class B requirement.

Core Modules
Completion of four core modules will be required during each four-year CPC cycle. Modules are optional during the first four-year CPC cycle (see recertification cycle timeline below). Core modules are prior approved, assessed CE and provide Class A credit. Each of the four modules (airway management technique, applied clinical pharmacology, human physiology and pathophysiology, and anesthesia equipment and technology) will include a formal assessment to complete (e.g. multiple-choice questions).

NWAS/NWS is in the process of developing these four core modules and will offer them online in the future.

CPC Examination
CRNAs must take the CPC examination every eight years. The first CPC exam (mandatory by 2024 or 2025 depending on recertification cycle) will be used to familiarize CRNAs with the exam content/format and will not impact certification. The second CPC exam (mandatory by 2032 or 2033 depending on recertification cycle) must be passed in order to recertify.

Recertification Cycle Timeline (as of 4/15/16)

Recertify in EVEN years:

Recertify in ODD years:

1st 4-year CPC cycle: August 1, 2016 – July 31, 2020

1st 4-year CPC cycle: August 1, 2017 – July 31, 2021

2nd 4-year CPC cycle: August 1, 2020 – July 31, 2024

2nd 4-year CPC cycle: August 1, 2021 – July 31, 2025

3rd 4-year CPC cycle: August 1, 2024 – July 31, 2028

3rd 4-year CPC cycle: August 1, 2025 – July 31, 2029

4th 4-year CPC cycle: August 1, 2028 – July 31, 2032

4th 4-year CPC cycle: August 1, 2029 – July 31, 2033

 

 

Requirements during 1st 4-year CPC cycle:
60 Class A CE Credits
40 Class B Credits
4 CPC Core Modules (optional)
NO CPC Examination

Requirements during 2nd 4-year CPC cycle:
60 Class A CE Credits
40 Class B Credits
4 CPC Core Modules
First CPC Examination (does not affect certification)

 

 

Requirements during 3rd 4-year CPC cycle:
60 Class A CE Credits
40 Class B Credits
4 CPC Core Modules
NO CPC Examination

Requirements during 4th 4-year CPC cycle:
60 Class A CE Credits
40 Class B Credits
4 CPC Core Modules
Second CPC Examination (does affect certification)

 

Information about CPC from the AANA:
https://aanacpc.com/

Information about CPC from the NBCRNA:
https://www.nbcrna.com/continued-certification

Please note that although this is current information from the NBCRNA and AANA, it is subject to change without notice. Therefore, please use NBCRNA as your primary source of information about the CPC program. Additionally, while we strive for accuracy at all times with our published information, we cannot be responsible for typographical and other errors.