The start of 2026 has brought lots of change. On January 1st, we released some new policies and products that not only streamline our program processes, but also beneficially impact your certification goals. So, let’s get into it!

We Said Goodbye to Accrual Periods

Confused by what this means? Let’s break it down:

Our Old Process:

You had an accrual period (the time your credential was valid—3 to 5 years, depending on the credential) during which you could earn points. After that period ended, you had one additional year to recertify.

Our New Process:

The accrual period is gone. You now recertify in the final year of your credential’s validity (year 3 or 5). You can also earn points continuously from the day you pass until your credential expires—including during your recertification year.

Why did we change this? We wanted our recertification timeline to better reflect our credential validity lifecycles!

Well, what does this mean for those who have to recertify soon? For nurses whose recert year is 2026, they will just operate as if the process had never changed and recertify their credential before EOY. For nurses whose recert year would’ve been 2027 under the old system, they have till EOY to earn points AND recertify their credential. 

We understand that updates to the recertification process can sometimes cause confusion. Changing policies—especially during active recertification cycles—can feel frustrating, and we truly appreciate your patience.

We Said Hello to New Specialty Designations

We rang in the New Year by launching a second cohort of CNOR Specialty Designations. On top of that, we removed the associate's degree in nursing (ADN) eligibility requirement from our designations. 

We Removed Maximum Limits for Our Points Categories

Under our previous system, we used to cap how many points you could earn within a certain category. Now, that’s NO MORE! You can earn as many points as you would like from whatever category you want. And yes, with this change, you can earn points for recert entirely from continuing education credits!

Still need more information?

Your CCI credential handbook is your best friend, with all the policy updates reflected in that resource. Additionally, our dedicated credentialing associates our happy to clear up any confusion or help you navigate the new processes. 

Change may be scary, but no change is scarier! And our goal with these updates is to make certification simpler, more efficient, and even more fulfilling for you!

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