ANCC and the APHN-BC

Specialties Public/Community

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Specializes in ER, HH, Case Management.

Does anyone know why they decided to discontinue offering this credential?

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From what I understand in my participation in a national public health nursing professional organization, when they switched it to portfolio review back in .. 2016? The ANCC had less than 200 applicants per year and thus decided to retire it since there wasn't high enough demand. To which I read between the lines: they did not get enough money. It's very frustrating because I am in graduate school now because I wanted the credential. The graduate school degree will still be worth having but not having an option for professional board certification in my specialty anymore limits my ability to get better pay in some places that I want to work after graduate school.

I know other nurses who wanted the APHN-BC credential have instead sat for the CPH (certified in public health) exam that is open to anyone who completed an MPH, but it is not nursing specific and thus not the same.

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Thank you for sharing this! I have been wondering too why they retired the credential. So frustrating!!

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I too was informed that the reason for the discontinuance of the APHN-BC credential was due to low numbers of applications. I wonder, however, if that will change in the future as population health is growing in popularity. At some point, the public health specialty may change over to population health.

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Specializes in ER, HH, Case Management.

Thanks all for your answers!

Starting work next week with the state of Texas in public health and was curious about it. Figured it was not enough applying/not enough money thing too, but I Have no knowledge of the field yet..

Mijourney I think you're probably right as health care dollars get slimmer and slimmer the demand might return for more money shifting to prevention. Lets hope so at least. Ounce of prevention... pound of cure... blah blah blah. ?

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Specializes in PICU.

I'm graduating from an MSN, public health program this August. I REALLY wanted this certification. Has anyone heard a rumor that it may be coming back?

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If so it is not a rumor I have heard. Where is your source?

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