ANALYSIS | DEVELOPMENT | IMPLEMENTATION

What is a Certification in Addictions Nursing?

Addictions nursing is the specialty for nurses dedicated to the prevention, intervention, treatment, and management of addictive disorders. The Certification in Addictions Nursing is based on a nurse’s ability to practice within the context of the addictions nursing scope and standards of practice, and the American Nursing Association’s Code of Ethics. Addictions nurses can practice in many different care settings and across all nursing specialties.

 

Why do nurses become certified?

Nurses obtain certification for personal and professional reasons. For example, some nurses work for organizations that require certification, and many agencies offer higher salaries to certified nurses. Other nurses believe that having the certification and its credentials helps to legitimize their practice and demonstrate their expertise in the field of addictions nursing. Some nurses become certified because they want to be part of a unique association of nurses who boldly celebrate their specialization in addictions nursing.

 

How do I know which certification is best for me?

The Certified Addictions Registered Nurse (CARN) certification is for RNs with a minimum of 2,000 hours (1 year) of nursing experience related to addictions. The Certified Addictions Registered Nurse-Advanced Practice (CARN‐AP) certification is for RNs who hold a Master’s degree or higher in nursing. For both certifications, nurses may work in a variety of positions, including clinical, administrative, teaching, private practice, consulting, counseling, or research roles that are addiction-related. Full eligibility criteria for the CARN and CARN-AP certifications are below:

 

Requirements for Initial CARN Certification:

1. RN License: Candidates must provide evidence of a current, active license as a registered nurse (RN) by passing the NCLEX or by verifying license equivalency through the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS), World Education Services (WES), or Educational Records Evaluation Services (ERES). If the candidate holds licenses in multiple jurisdictions, each must be full and unrestricted* in the state(s) where they practice.

2.  Clinical Experience: Candidates must attest to at least 2,000 hours (approximately one year) of nursing experience related to addictions, accrued within the three years prior to submitting the application. This experience may include work in staff, administrative, teaching, private practice, consultation, counseling, or research roles. Candidates must complete an attestation confirming they have completed the required experience hours.

3. Continuing Education Contact Hours: Candidates must have completed 30 hours of continuing education in addictions nursing within the three (3) years prior to application. At least 51% of these hours must be directly related to addictions nursing, with the remaining hours relevant to addictions care (e.g., HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, pain management, mental health, etc.). These hours must be detailed in the online application. Certificates should not be included with the initial application but must be available upon request by the certification board or testing agency.

        a.    Formal course such as online or on-campus coursework, attending conferences, lectures, etc., where the applicant is the learner may be used                  for continuing education with the following equivalency (measured by hours of lecture time per week):
               One (1) academic semester = 15 points of credit
               One (1) academic quarter = 12.5 points of credit
        b.    Precepting hours, writing entries or articles for publications, giving presentations or lectures, etc., are considered professional contact hours                    and may not be used for initial certification.
 

 

Requirements for Initial CARN-AP certification:

1. RN License. Candidates must provide evidence that they hold a current license as a registered nurse (RN) by passing the NCLEX or must demonstrate the license has been verified for equivalency by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS), World Education Services (WES), or Educational Records Evaluation Services (ERES). If licensed in more than one jurisdiction, the candidate must hold full and unrestricted licenses* in all jurisdictions where they practice. 

2. Scholastic Documentation: Candidates must provide evidence that they hold a Master’s degree (or higher) in nursing.

3. Clinical Experience: Candidates must attest to a minimum of 500 hours in advanced clinical practice. These hours must involve direct client contact and be supervised (in-person or virtually), working with individuals and families affected by addictions and/or dual diagnoses. All hours must have been earned within the last four (4) years, either during the Master’s program or afterward.
    a.    During Master’s: If any or all of the 500 required hours were completed during a Master’s program, candidates must upload a transcript                   and highlight the itemized experience hours they are submitting. These hours must be specific to addictions or dual diagnosis and must                   have been earned within the last four (4) years.

4. Additional Clinical Hours: In addition to the 500 supervised clinical hours, candidates must verify at least 1,500 hours of nursing experience in addictions as an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) within the three (3) years prior to application. These hours may include administrative, teaching, private practice, consultation, counseling, or research work.

5. Continuing Education Contact Hours: Candidates must have completed 45 contact hours of approved continuing education in addictions within the three (3) years preceding their application. At least 51% of these hours must be specific to addictions nursing, and the remaining hours must relate to addictions nursing (e.g., HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, pain management, mental health, etc.). Certificates should not be included with the initial application but must be available upon request by the certification board or testing agency.
   a.    Formal course such as online or on-campus coursework, attending conferences, lectures, etc., where the applicant is the learner may be used           for continuing education with the following equivalency (measured by hours of lecture time per week):
          One (1) academic semester = 15 points of credit
          One (1) academic quarter = 10 points of credit
   b.    Precepting hours, writing entries or articles for publications, giving presentations or lectures, etc., are considered professional contact hours             and may not be used for initial certification.

Requirements for CARN Recertification:

1. RN License: Hold a current, active license as a registered nurse (RN).

2. Clinical Experience: A minimum of 2,000 hours of nursing experience related to addictions. All experience must have occurred during the most recent four-year certification period. Examples of practice include, but are not limited to, clinical practice, clinical supervision, administration, research, education/teaching, training, leadership, consulting, etc. The certificant must complete an attestation confirming they have completed the required experience hours. 

3. Continuing Education Contact Hours: Sixty (60) hours of Continuing Education (CE) are required for CARN recertification. All CE hours must have occurred during the last four (4) years. At least 51% of the CE hours must be specific to addictions nursing. The remaining hours may be related to addictions (HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, pain management, medically oriented as it relates to substances, pharmacology, symptom management as it relates to addictions, therapies used in addictions – motivational interviewing, etc.). All contact hours must be approved by a national accrediting agency, such as the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), state departments of health and/or education, accredited universities, or colleges, or continuing medical education programs. CE hours may be earned in any of the following categories:

        a.    Continuing Education: All 60 required CE hours may be in continuing education. These may include workshops, seminars, professional                             development offerings, and state/national conferences. Online courses, teleconferences, and “webinars” are acceptable, provided they are                       approved by a national or state accrediting agency, as those listed above.

        b.    Preceptorship: A minimum of 120 hours as a preceptor for students in an academic program related to addictions nursing; or provide a                           minimum of 120 hours of clinical supervision to clinicians in a formal fellowship, residency, or internship program related to your addictions                   nursing. A certificate or other official documentation of precepting must be submitted with the recertification application.

        c.    Formal Coursework: Formal coursework related to the enhancement of professional nursing practice in addictions, including the roles of an                     addictions nurse clinician, supervisor, administrator, consultant, researcher, or educator, may be used for continuing education. Coursework                   must be at the graduate level.

        d.    Scholarly Activity: Publication and curriculum development related to addictions nursing practice, research, consultation, or education.

        e.    Scholarly Activity: Presentation of content related to addictions nursing practice, research, consultation, or education. To obtain credit,                               activities should be extracurricular and not part of the nurse’s job description. Activities must also include contact hours, contact hours may                     include hours of preparation.

        f.     ANCB Exam Development Volunteer: Serving as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) volunteer for ANCB exam development activities including item                 writing, item review, practice analysis, and standard setting panels. 

        g.    Volunteer Service: Professional volunteer activity in a service area that promotes prevention and/or treatment of addictions.

        h.    Volunteer Service: Community volunteer activity in addictions-related activities.
 

For detailed information on acceptable CE categories and maximum points of credit awarded within each category (if applicable), please refer to the CARN Candidate Handbook.

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Requirements for CARN-AP Recertification:

1. RN License: Hold a current, active license as an Advanced Practice registered nurse (APRN).

2. Clinical Experience: A minimum of 1,200 hours of nursing experience related to addictions. All experience must have occurred during the most recent four-year certification period. Examples of practice include, but are not limited to, clinical practice, clinical supervision, administration, research, education/teaching, training, leadership, consulting, etc. The certificant must complete an attestation confirming they have completed the required experience hours.

3. Continuing Education Contact Hours: Eighty (80) hours of Continuing Education (CE) are required for CARN-AP recertification. All CE hours must have occurred during the last four (4) years. At least 51% of the CE hours must be specific to addictions nursing. The remaining hours may be related to Addictions (HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, pain management, medically oriented as it relates to substances, pharmacology, symptom management as it relates to addictions, therapies used in addictions – motivational interviewing, etc.). All contact hours must be approved by a national accrediting agency, such as the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), state departments of health and/or education, accredited universities, or colleges, or continuing medical education programs. CE hours may be earned in any of the following categories:
   ​
    a.    Continuing Education: All 80 required CE hours may be in continuing education. These may include workshops, seminars, professional                      development offerings, and state/national conferences. Online courses, teleconferences, and “webinars” are acceptable, provided they are                approved by a national or state accrediting agency, as those listed above.
   
   b.    Preceptorship: A minimum of 120 hours as a preceptor for students in an academic program related to addictions nursing; or provide a                    minimum of 120 hours of clinical supervision to clinicians in a formal fellowship, residency, or internship program related to addictions                      nursing. A certificate or other official documentation of precepting must be submitted with the recertification application.
   
   c.    Formal Coursework: Formal coursework related to the enhancement of professional nursing practice in addictions, including the roles of an              addictions nurse clinician, supervisor, administrator, consultant, researcher, or educator, may be used for continuing education. Coursework            must be at the graduate level.
   
   d.    Scholarly Activity: Publication and curriculum development related to addictions nursing practice, research, consultation, or education.
   
   e.    Scholarly Activity: Presentation of content related to addictions nursing practice, research, consultation, or education. To obtain credit,                        activities should be extracurricular and not part of the nurse’s job description. Activities must also include contact hours, contact hours may              include hours of preparation.
   
   f.    ANCB Exam Development Volunteer: Serving as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) volunteer for ANCB exam development activities including item          writing, item review, practice analysis, and standard setting panels.
    
   g.    Volunteer Service: Professional volunteer activity in a service area that promotes prevention and/or treatment of addictions.
   
   h.    Volunteer Service: Community volunteer activity in addictions-related activities.
    

For detailed information on acceptable CE categories and maximum points of credit awarded within each category (if applicable), please refer to the CARN-AP Candidate Handbook.

​

​*ALTERNATIVE TO DISCIPLINE POLICY: ANCB recognizes the positive impact nurses in recovery bring to the specialty of addiction nursing. If a nurse is engaged with an Alternative to Discipline program, the following stipulations must be met to sit for the CARN or CARN-AP exam:

 

1.  If a candidate’s nursing license is surrendered or if the nurse has violated the agreement within their state for an Alternative to Discipline program for a substance use disorder-related issue, the applicant will be found ineligible to sit for the exam.

2. If the candidate has a license with restrictions and is currently in a monitoring program, a letter from the monitoring program will be required before they may sit for the exam. The monitoring program letter will need to support that the candidate’s nursing license is active, the applicant is complying with their state’s Alternative to Discipline program agreement, and that the monitoring program supports the candidate sitting for the exam.

3. All candidates will be expected to abide by their state nursing practice regulations and the laws of their state regarding alternative to discipline programs.

 

Can I hold both certifications?

No. You may only hold one certification. The CARN-AP may only be held by those with a Master’s degree in nursing (MSN). However, one may have an MSN and hold a CARN.

 

Can a CARN provide counseling services and bill for them independently or do they have to be working under another provider?

This is determined by the Nurse Practice Act of each state as well as a given clinical facility’s regulations, so this will vary depending on your practice location.

 

Where can I get a copy of the Scope and Standards of Addiction Nursing?

You may order it from www.nursingworld.org   Addictions Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, 3rd Edition, 2022

 

How do I become certified as a CARN or CARN-AP?

To pursue certification as a Certified Addictions Registered Nurse (CARN) or a Certified Addictions Registered Nurse–Advanced Practice (CARN-AP), candidates must complete the full certification process outlined in the ANCB Candidate Handbooks. This includes submitting an online application, providing proof of current RN licensure, and documenting both qualifying work hours and continuing education contact hours. For complete details , visit the ANCB's website. You can also find additional resources and application support on the C-NET website.

 

Where can I find the online application for certification?

The application can be found on the certification page of our website under “Nursing Certifications/Addictions Nursing” on the C-NET website: https://www.cnetnurse.com

 

How is the exam scored, and do I get a score report?

Scores are available at the testing facility immediately after you complete your exam. All score reports shall include the candidate’s total percentage correct. A passing score on the CARN exam is at least 75%, and a passing score on the CARN-AP exam is at least 77%.  Candidates who do not pass will receive their overall percentage correct on the exam, along with sub-scores showing the percentages correct in the major subject areas covered.

 

Where can I find the exam application periods and submission deadlines?

Information about exam application periods and registration deadlines is available in the ANCB Candidate Handbooks, which can be accessed through C-NET's website. While testing is offered year-round and there are no fixed submission deadlines, applicants should allow up to two (2) weeks for application processing. Eligible candidates will receive an exam permit via email, which provides a 90-day testing window. You must schedule and complete your exam within 90 days of the permit’s issue date.

 

What can I use to prepare for the exam?

The most up-to-date list of references for the CARN exam is available here.

 

The most up-to-date list of references for the CARN-AP exam is available here.

 

The Scope and Standards of Addictions Nursing, 3rd Edition, 2022, can be purchased from the ANA at www.nursebooks.org

 

Can I apply for certification before I complete nursing school?

No. You must document that you have met the criteria, including your nursing degree, and have 2,000 hours (1 year) of experience as an RN before you can apply.

 

What are good sources for Continuing Education Contact Hours?

• Free Continuing Education (CE) credits can be found at: pcssnow.org or addictiontraining.org

• Members of ASAN have access to CE credits. To become a member of ASAN, visit: addictionnursing.org

• Many nursing journals have addictions courses (e.g., Journal of Addictions Nursing, American Journal of Nursing, RN, and Journal of Nurse Practitioners). CEs may also be found online via NetCE.com, WesternSchools.com, MedScape.com, Quantum Units Education Online, and ContinuingEducation.com. Many other sources of CE credits can be found by searching the web. A running list of CE sources is available on C-NET’s website: https://www.cnetnurse.com   

 

How long is my certification valid?

CARN and CARN-AP certifications are valid for 4 years. To maintain certification, certificants can access the Online Recertification Portal once their new certification period begins to log continuing education (CE) hours. CE hours may be submitted as early as six months before the certification expiration date. After the expiration date, candidates have an additional 3 months to submit their CE documentation through the Online Recertification Portal; however, a late fee will apply during this time.

 

How do I obtain a receipt for my exam or recertification payment?

A receipt is automatically emailed to you after you submit your online application to C-NET. Be sure to check your inbox—and your spam or junk folder—in case it was filtered. It is the applicant’s responsibility to confirm receipt immediately after submission.

 

Are IntNSA and ANCB the same organization?

No. IntNSA is a professional, educational, and membership organization offering educational opportunities, conferences, and an academic journal. ANCB was founded in 1989 by IntNSA to support the certification of addiction nurses. ANCB has been autonomous since 2014 due to accreditation standards that require such autonomy for certifying organizations. ANCB offers the only national-level certification for Addictions Nursing.

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How often are the certification exams offered?

Certification exams are offered year-round at hundreds of testing locations across the United States. After C-NET approves a candidate’s certification application, they’ll receive an exam permit along with detailed instructions on how to choose a convenient testing site, date, and time within their assigned testing window.

 

Whom should I contact with questions about the certifications, applications, or test administration?

C-NET handles all questions regarding applications and exam administration. To reach C-NET, please visit them at https://www.cnetnurse.com and click on the “Contact” link at the top of the page or call (800) 463-0786 (ext. 11).

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If I register for the exam and then am unable to take it, what are my options?

Once you’ve been registered for the exam, refunds are not available, and credit cannot be transferred to a new application. If you’re unable to test during your original 90-day testing window, you may request a one-time 90-day extension at a reduced fee. However, this request must be submitted via email before your original testing window expires. In cases of extenuating circumstances affecting you, or an immediate family member (parent, sibling, or child), you may submit documentation to C-NET for consideration. All such requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and approval is not guaranteed.

 

If my certification lapses, do I have to retake the exam?

If your certification lapses, you’ll automatically receive a three-month grace period. During this time, you may still submit your continuing education (CE) credits along with a late fee to renew your certification. However, once the grace period ends, you will no longer be able to use the CARN or CARN-AP credential. At that point, the only way to regain certification is to reapply and retake the exam.

 

I’m getting ready to retire. Does ANCB offer a retired status for the certification credential?

Yes—ANCB offers a Retired Certification Status for individuals who are leaving active nursing practice.

To qualify, you must:

• Have held your CARN or CARN-AP certification for at least two consecutive certification periods (8 uninterrupted years)

• No longer be actively practicing as a nurse

• Submit your application before your certification expires (no later than the last day of the expiration month)

If approved, you may use the Retired designation to acknowledge your previously held credential. If you decide to return to active practice, you’ll need to meet current eligibility requirements, reapply for certification, and pass the current certification exam.

The Retired Status Application can be found on C-NET’s website.