Certification in Holistic Nursing is obtained through the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation (AHNCC) which is a separate entity from AHNA. AHNCC is the only national credentialing corporation for Holistic Nursing.
The American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation (AHNCC)
AHNCC advances holistic nursing and nurse coaching through certification. Holistic nurses and nurse coaches promote health, wellness, and wellbeing as they facilitate their client’s growth and healing. Both certifications offer nurses a way to distinguish themselves as experts in nursing practice, education, and research. The examinations are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification [ABSNC] and are recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center [ANCC] Magnet Program.
www.ahncc.org
For issues, contact AHNCC at
info@ahncc.org
| Examination Level
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Eligibility Criteria
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| HN-BC® (Holistic Nurse Board Certified)
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- Unrestricted, current U.S. RN license*
- 2000 hours or 1 year full time holistic nursing practice within last 5 years**
- 48 CNE hours in Holistic Nursing Theory, Research, Practice, or related topics, within 2 years of applying***
- Graduate of nationally accredited Nursing program****
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| HNB-BC® (Holistic Nurse Baccalaureate Board Certified)
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- Unrestricted, current U.S. RN license*
- 2000 hours or 1 year full time holistic nursing practice within last 5 years**
- 48 CNE hours in Holistic Nursing Theory, Research, Practice, or related topics, within 2 years of applying***
- Graduate of nationally accredited Baccalaureate Nursing program****
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| AHN-BC® (Advanced Holistic Nurse Board Certified)
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- Unrestricted, current U.S. RN license*
- 2000 hours or 1 year full time holistic nursing practice within last 5 years, which includes a minimum of 500 hours at the advanced level**
- 48 CNE hours in Holistic Nursing Theory, Research, Practice, or related topics, within 2 years of applying***
- Graduate of nationally accredited Graduate Nursing program****
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| APHN-BC® (Advanced Practice Holistic Nurse Board Certified)
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- Unrestricted, current U.S. APRN license*
- 2000 hours or 1 year full time holistic nursing practice within last 5 years, which includes a minimum of 500 hours at the advanced practice level**
- 48 CNE hours in Holistic Nursing Theory, Research, Practice, or related topics, within 2 years of applying***
- Graduate of nationally accredited Graduate Nursing program****
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* International candidates who are not planning on working in the United States may submit an RN license from their country. A US license is required if the applicant plans to seek employment in the US.
** Holistic nursing is not setting dependent but rather is based on the nurse’s philosophy which guides their practice. If the nurse facilitates health, wellness, and well-being and plans care and interventions that integrate the client’s mind-body-spirit then she/he/they is/are practicing Holistic Nursing. In summary, holistic nursing is not using healing or integrative therapies such as aromatherapy or energy work BUT how you show up as a nurse when working with people. Many holistic nurses use healing therapies but that is not what defines them as holistic nurses. It is their way of thinking and being not doing that demonstrates holistic nursing practice. Holistic nurses work in all settings and with all populations. If this is how you think about people and nursing and have met the hours required then you meet the practice requirement.
*** If using academic credit, it must completed through an accredited higher education institution. A grade of “C” or higher or a grade of “pass” in a pass/fail system must be achieved. 1 quarter credit = 10 contact hours 1 semester credit = 15 contact hours
**** All international candidates with an RN license are eligible to sit for the HN-BC examination. Applicants wanting to sit for a higher level examination must submit documentation showing that their educational program is equivalent to the educational requirement of the examination level being sought. Questions regarding this process can be directed to ahncc@flash.net.
NOTE: Graduates or faculty of an AHNCC Endorsed academic university-based nursing program within the past 2 years meet most of the above requirements. See Endorsed Program Overview.
NOTE: If you are actively certified as both holistic nurse and nurse coach with AHNCC, HWNC-BC® is a nurse coach credential that can be used instead of NC-BC® (You can use both holistic nurse and nurse coach credentials.) If you are actively certified as both and need an HWNC-BC® certificate to replace your NC-BC® certificate, please contact us at info@ahncc.org.
Preparation for the Exam
Holistic Nursing CE Requirements
It is the responsibility of the individual to prepare for the exam. The two primary resources are the Core Practice Competencies of Holistic Nursing and the AHNA Scope and Standards of Holistic Nursing Practice. Examination items are developed to test the Core Practice Competencies of Holistic Nursing.
The HN-BC competencies may be found as an appendix in
the
HOLISTICNURSE (HN) CORE ESSENTIALS AND COMPETENCIES.
The HNB-BC competencies may be found as an appendix in the BACCALAUREATEPREPARED HOLISTIC NURSE (HNB) CORE ESSENTIALS AND COMPETENCIES.
The advanced competencies for AHN-BC and APHN-BC exams taken before June
1, 2025 may be found as an appendix in the
CoreEssentials for Advanced Holistic Nursing.
The AHN-BC competencies for exams taken starting June 1, 2025 may
be found as an appendix in the
AHNCore Essentials and Competencies.
The APHN-BC competencies for exams taken starting June 1, 2025 may
be found as an appendix in the
APHNCore Essentials and Competencies.
To obtain AHNA Scope and Standards of Holistic Nursing click here.
Only nurses certified by AHNCC may use the designated credentials. Nurses may NOT use the credential when the nurse has:
- Not completed the Certification or Recertification Process consistent with the level of competence;
- A restricted, inactive, or withdrawn license;
- Requested inactive status; or
- Certification has been withdrawn by AHNCC.
Nurse Coaching Video
Certification Categories
Preparation for the Exam
Expectations and Responsibilities
New Test Management Organization
NOTE: Certified Nurse Coaches Recognized in Category III CPT Code Definition Effective July 1, 2022
See Press Release
Nurse Coaching Programs
The following programs can provide the 60 CE and 60-hour supervision requirements for applying. All other requirements must still be met.
Advancing Nurse Coaching
The CIINDE (pronounced The KIND) – The Canadian Institute of Integrative Nursing Development & Education Ltd.
Huntington Meditation and Imagery: (Transpersonal Nurse Coaching) (10 CEs may be required in addition to the program)
Integrative Nurse Coach Academy
National Institute of Whole Health (in cooperation with another organization for supervision)
The Nurse Coach Collective (Transformative Nurse Coach Certificate Program)
Wisdom of Whole
What Does a Nurse Coach Do?
To see additional video presentations and testimonials, visit our Video Library
Additional information about Nurse Coaching can be found on the AHNA website at www.ahna.org/Home/Resources/Nurse-Coaching
For issues, contact AHNCC at info@ahncc.org
| Examination Level
|
Eligibility Criteria
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NC-BC® (Nurse Coach Board Certified)
HWNC-BC® (Health and Wellness Nurse Coach Board Certified) – same exam as NC-BC – must hold AHNCC Holistic Certification
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- Unrestricted, current U.S. RN license*
- Active practice as an RN for a minimum of 2 years full-time or 4,000 hours part-time within the past 5 years if you have a Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing.
- Active practice as an RN for a minimum of 4 years full-time or 8,000 hours part-time within the past 7 years if you have an Associate or Diploma Degree in Nursing.
- A degree in Nursing from an accredited academic institution (International candidates must have their Nursing degree evaluated to determine that their program is equivalent to the US Nursing degree program.)
- Completion of a minimum of 60 CNEs, accrued over the past 3 years, that include content consistent with the Nurse Coach Core Values and Nurse Coach Competencies. If using academic credit, it must be completed through an accredited higher education institution. A grade of “C” or higher or a grade of “pass” in a pass/fail system must be achieved. 1 quarter credit = 10 contact hours 1 semester credit = 15 contact hours**
- 60 hours coaching experience that has been mentored and/or supervised by a Certified Nurse Coach Supervisor AND Validation letter from a Certified Nurse Coach.***
- Must agree to the terms contained in the Candidate’s Agreement with AHNCC and complete and sign the Application attesting to agreement.
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*International candidates who are not planning on working in the United States may submit an RN license from their country. A US license is required if the applicant plans to seek employment in the US.
**A minimum of 10 hours of personal coaching experience is recommended (but is not required) as a way of obtaining learning experiences related to Core Value 5 pertaining to Nurse Coach Self-Development.
***A list of those willing to be Nurse Coach Supervisors can be found here.
NOTE: The HWNC-BC (Health and Wellness Nurse Coaching – Board Certified) credential is a nurse coach credential and is used instead of the NC-BC credential if you are actively certified with AHNCC as both holistic nurse and nurse coach. (It is not a combined credential. You want to use both the holistic nurse credential and the HWNC-BC credential.)
The HWNC-BC certification is the only national Health and Wellness Coach credentials specific to Nurses. It is also the only national Health and Wellness Coach certification that is nationally accredited and ANCC Magnet recognized. There are other generalist Health and Wellness Coaching focused certifications but they are not nursing focused, nationally accredited, or ANCC magnet recognized.
C-NET sends out only NC-BC certificates for new nurse coach certificants. If you are actively certified with AHNCC as both holistic nurse and nurse coach, and need an HWNC-BC certificate to replace your NC-BC certificate, please contact us at info@ahncc.org.
It is the responsibility of the individual to prepare for the exam. The two primary resources are the Core Essentials for the Professional Nurse Coach Role and The Art and Science of Nurse Coaching: The Provider’s Guide to Coaching Scope and Competencies, Second Edition (Hess, Dossey, Southard, Luck, Schaub, & Bark). Examination items are developed to test the Core Practice Competencies of Nurse Coaching.
The competencies may be found as an appendix in the Core Essentials for the Professional Nurse Coach Role.
To obtain The Art and Science of Nurse Coaching: The Provider’s Guide to Coaching Scope and Competencies, Second Edition (Hess, Dossey, Southard, Luck, Schaub, & Bark) click here.
Only nurse coaches certified by AHNCC may use the designated credentials. Nurse coaches may NOT use the credential when the nurse coach has:
- Not completed the Certification or Recertification Process consistent with the level of competence;
- A restricted, inactive, or withdrawn license;
- Requested inactive status; or
- Certification has been withdrawn by AHNCC.
PLEASE NOTE:
The AHNCC Application and testing organization is Center for Nursing Education and Testing (C-Net).
Handbooks, Practice Tests, and Applications are available. Flyer
Services offered to our applicants include:
- practice tests ($65 fee)
- year-round testing
- once approved, a three-month window for testing
- immediate notification of examination results
For questions related to the AHNCC Application or Testing process, contact C-NET at:
info@cnetnurse.com
C-NET
800-463-0786
For other questions, please contact us at info@ahncc.org, or call 785-267-0943. We look forward to working with you and helping you however we can.
Information regarding AHNCC examinations is available. To learn more, click here.