The Best Certification for Nurse Managers: Top Picks & Benefits

While nurses are known as caretakers and versed medical professionals, they are, though less famously, often also great leaders and managers.

The job that nurses do requires a lot of responsibility, resilience, decisiveness, and quick thinking, which is exactly why many of them also thrive in higher managerial positions. If you think that you have the potential for such positions, you’re going to need certificates to back it up. To help you find ones that might be a good fit, here is a comprehensive list of the best certifications for nurse managers.

So if you are looking to get into a field of medicine that allows you to form meaningful connections with your patients, this might be the field for you.

Benefits of Getting Nurse Management Certificates

While it might not be the most obvious choice for many, there are numerous upsides to advancing your career in this direction.

1. Better salaries - Nurses who work in management positions get paid more, which is a great benefit. With this type of certification under your belt, you can have a significant bargaining advantage when negotiating a salary or raise.
2. Broader spectrum of possible jobs - If you're seeking more job opportunities, a nurse administrator certificate can set you apart and qualify you for more roles.
3. Gaining useful skills - Even if you don’t end up working in this field, the skills you gain through these certificates are invaluable in a myriad of life situations. They will never be a waste of time, though it is hard to imagine no job opportunities arising from them.

Top Certificates for Nurse Managers

Here is a list of the most highly esteemed and useful nurse manager certificates:

1. Nurse Executive Certification (NE-BC)

This certification is a true test of skills, both medical and managerial, provided by the ANNC. Through its 175 questions, it can discern the quality of your knowledge as an RN, as well as your capacity to manage a unit.

Requirements for taking this test are

• a valid nursing license
• a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in nursing
• at least 2 years' worth of experience working in upper-level nursing (including teaching or nursing management)

You’re looking at at least 30 hours of education spanning over the next three years to maintain this certification. ANCC Nurse Executive Practice Tests are a great way to begin your preparation and ensure you're on the right track.

2. Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML)

This certificate is provided by AONL with slightly lower requirements than the previous one. You must be a registered nurse with a designated number of hours of work experience as a nurse manager.

The exam consists of 115 questions divided into 4 topics - human resource management, strategic management and technology, financial management, and performance improvement. Make sure to take CNML practice tests before the exam to familiarize yourself with the format, identify knowledge gaps, and boost your confidence.

3. Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP)

Another AONE-offered certification, the Certified in Executive Nursing Practice credential is open to nursing executives with a valid nursing license as an RN.

You must have at least two years of experience working as a nurse leader with a master’s degree or four if you have a bachelor’s degree.

As with the NE-BC certification, the test has 75 questions and covers five areas:

1. professionalism and business skills
2. communication and relationship-building
3. environment
4. knowledge of the healthcare environment
5. leadership

To maintain this certification, you’ll need to complete 45 hours of education in this area.

Start by taking CENP Practice Tests to assess your current knowledge and identify areas that need improvement.

4. Nurse Executive, Advanced Certification (NEA-BC)

American Nurses Credentialing Center offers this credential, which is the continuation of the NE-BC, meaning you have to be the holder of the Nurse Executive Certification to obtain this one.

The requirements are similar to its precursor, though a higher level of education is required - at least a master’s degree, as well as the 30 hours of continued education having to be achieved in the past five years.

The test is the same length and the time to finish is the same - 3.5 hours.

Before taking the official exam, make sure that you practiced enough and familiarized yourself with the exam by taking NEA-BC practice tests.

5. Informatics Nursing Certification (RN-BC)

This somewhat new field is more than valuable in healthcare and is responsible for keeping the whole system running.

This test is offered by ANNC and is computerized. It is designed to detect a nurse’s skills in nursing informatics.

The conditions for taking this certificate are identical to the NE-BC and NEA-BC, with the level of education required being at least a bachelor’s in nursing, though the two years of working experience needed is only as a registered nurse.

We have got you covered with NI-BC practice tests to get you ready for the official exam.

Conclusion

No matter the certification you opt for, you won't find yourself regretting the effort you’ve put in. You’re almost guaranteed great job offers and career opportunities.

When you’ve decided what certification for nurse managers best aligns with your goals, visit Exam Edge, the #1 online test prep, and get the best practice to help you achieve your goals!