Apply for Approval to Award Contact Hours

• Two Year Approval Period – Ongoing/repeated activities can be offered as often as desired during the two-year approval period.
• Broad Exposure - All AHNA approved activities are included on the searchable Approved CNE Programs Directory; each listing includes contact information, total contact hours, and a brief description of the course
• Value & Credibility for Clients and Consumer
  • Nurses trust activities approved under ANCC criteria to ensure quality education that adheres to evidenced based standards
  • Contact Hours recognized for RN licensure and re-licensure by *all state Boards of Nursing. (*California and Iowa have exceptions to online/home study courses and live courses held in their state.  Individual Educational Activity Applicants are responsible for the unique requirements of any state board of nursing in which they wish to offer contact hours.)
• Contact Hours Approved by AHNA can be used toward the AHNCC requirements for holistic nurse certification and re-certification. 
• Contact Hours Approved by AHNA can be applied to ANCC Certification Requirements
• Upon approval, you may use the AHNA Approval Statement in the marketing materials for your Individual Educational Activity. Note: This does NOT include the AHNA or ANCC logos

1. Download the Application Packet appropriate for your activity.
   1. Clinical Application Packet: Choose this if any portion of the content relates to clinical patient care knowledge or skills e.g. energy practices, coaching, imagery
   2. Nonclinical Application Packet: Choose this if the content is not related to clients, patients e.g. leadership, mentoring.
2. The Application Packets have ALL of the forms you will need to submit as part of your application. The Index lists all documents and delineates those that are ALWAYS required and those submitted in special circumstances e.g. you have commercial support for your activity. Review the forms and get a sense of what is needed to complete them...this is akin to a first look..
3. Download the Resource Folder- this is a rich repository of resources and examples that will be helpful as you complete your application. Read the Nursing Continuing Professional Development (NCPD) Tips to Assist Applicants and the additional resources. This further deepens your familiarity with the application and approval process. 
4. Complete the required application forms and all related documentation. 
5. Submit all documents as individual attachments via email to approval@ahna.org. It is acceptable to send them in multiple emails if necessary.

What is next?

1. The Education Specialist (ES) acknowledges receipt of the application and conducts a quantitative pre review of the application to ensure that all documents have been received and are complete, with a reply to the applicant within three (3) business days. If you do not get this, you should call to confirm your email was received. 
2. A tracking number is assigned to the application and must be used in all communication related to the application, particularly in the email subject line.  
3. When all staff pre-review criteria are met, the application is sent to the Nurse Peer Reviewer (NPR); please note that only complete applications are sent for review. 
4. The Nurse Peer Reviewer conducts a qualitative review of the application within ten (10) business days and recommends  approval, approval with revisions or denial.
5. The Education Specialist (ES), working with the Accredited Approver Program Director (AAPD), notifies the applicant in writing the results of the application review; any additional required revisions are reviewed for completeness. The AAPD is responsible for and makes all final approval decisions, and email notification will be sent from approval@ahna.org. 
6. It is important to remember that approval must occur before the date of the live or go-live event; there is NO retroactive approval and contact hours cannot be awarded prior to approval.