Eligibility for Initial Certification by Examination

Eligibility criteria include:

• Registered nurse (RN) with a current license in the US or Canada

• A minimum of 1,500 hours of experience in Ig therapy within the past two years in the following areas of practice:

  • Nursing practice

  • Managed care

  • Research

  • Education

  • Pharmaceutical/device industry

Eligible candidates are required to take the two-hour computer IgCN^®/ IgCP^® credentialing examination, offered during four 2-week windows per year.  The examination is offered at computerized testing centers or via live remote proctoring at the candidate’s location of choice. The IgCN^®/ IgCP^®  credentialing examination is a 2-hour, 110-question test.  Each of the exams’ content is based on the core content areas of immunoglobulin nursing (for IgCN^®) and pharmacy (for IgCP^®), respectively, and derived from the results of formal Practice Analysis Studies that ensure that the examinations’ content accurately reflects the practice of the average Ig nurse and Ig pharmacist.

Please see full candidate eligibility requirements in the IgCN^®/IgCP^® Candidate Handbooks

IgCN^® Handbook CLICK HERE
IgCP^® Handbook CLICK HERE

IgCN^®/IgCP^® Credentialing Examination Cost:

• IgNS Member: $575
• Non-Member: $675

Recertification Requirements:

The IgCN^®/ IgCP^® recertification period is every 2 years.

Recertification can be attained by attending the IgNS National Conference, continuing education, or retaking the examination.

Please see full candidate eligibility requirements in the IgCN^®/ IgCP^® Candidate Handbooks

IgCN^® Handbook CLICK HERE
IgCP^® Handbook CLICK HERE

Recertification fee:

Members                         $325
Non-members                 $385

Becoming an IgCN^®/IgCP^® is the only method of validation and recognition of the specialized knowledge, skills, and expertise of an Ig Nurse or Pharmacist.

The IgCN^® and IgCP^® Credential:

• Is the only tangible metric of expertise in Ig therapy
• Empowers clinicians as confident and highly competent clinical decision-makers.
• Improves patient outcomes and satisfaction
• Protects and informs the public of clinicians™ competence
• Improves professional satisfaction
• Reduces work-related errors
• Protects individual clinicians and employers
• Improves employee retention

Supporting employees in achieving the IgCN^® and IgCP^® credential has far-reaching benefits for employees:

• IgCN^®/IgCP^® credentialing results in standardization of Ig practice within organizations.
• Ig-certified staff is the only defined differentiation factor for clinical service providers
  • Establishes your organization as a leader in Ig practice
  • Standardizes the quality of your Ig practice
  • Improves patient care, outcomes and satisfaction
  • Reduces in-house training and competencies burden
  • Improved trust and confidence from patients and prescribers
  • Employers who support their clinicians™ certification significantly improve retention rates and develop stable and highly skilled Ig clinical teams.

The IgCN^®/IgCP^® credential protects the patients by demonstrating, validating and documenting clinicians’ competence, specialized knowledge and skills. 

The IgCN^®/IgCP^® credential ensures compliance with the national standards of practice, the highest quality care, efficacy, safety and best patient outcomes.

IgCN^®/IgCP^® credentials provide patients with peace of mind, comfort and confidence in their clinical team.

The IgCN^®/IgCP^® credential is valid for two years from the date of successfully passing the exam. The expiration date depends on when the exam was taken:

• If the exam date falls between January 1 and June 30, the certification expires on June 30, two years later.
• If the exam date falls between July 1 and December 31, the certification expires on December 31, two years later.

Certification holders must earn recertification units within the defined recertification period. Units cannot be carried over to the next period.

All recertification applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Registered nurse (RN) with a current license in the US or Canada

OR

• Registered pharmacist (RPh) with a current license in the US or Canada

A minimum of 1,000 hours of experience in Ig therapy within the past two years in any of the following areas of practice:

• • Nursing / Pharmacy practice
  • Managed care
  • Research
  • Education
  • Pharmaceutical/device industry

Meeting the Recertification Unit (RU) requirements

1. 1. Attend one IgNS National Conference within the two-year recertification period (20 RU)

OR

1. 2. Complete at least 20 CE contact hours (units) in Ig therapy from IgNS through the IgNS online educational platform

OR

1. 3. Take the IgCN^®/IgCP^® credentialing examination before your credential expiry date

You must earn a total of 20 recertification units in the 2-year recertification period.

1. Recertifying by attending the IgNS National Conference

Attending one IgNS National Conference earns 20 recertification units and completes the 20 RU recertification requirement.

2. Recertifying by continuing education

Earning 20 RUs by completing continuing education courses offered by IgNS, including live and enduring webinars, CE supplements, CE podcasts, and other programs.

Additional options for earning RUs:

• Publish a manuscript on Ig therapy in a peer-reviewed journal (10 RU maximum)
  • For each manuscript published on the topic of Ig therapy in a peer-reviewed journal, the author is eligible for 5 RU.
  • A maximum of 10 RU can be applied to a recertification period.
• Develop and present a scientific session at an IgNS National Conference (5 RU maximum)
  • An IgCN®/ IgCP® is eligible for 5 RU for each contact hour presented.
  • A maximum of 5 RU can be applied to a recertification period.
• Complete Continuing Education (CE) course(s) pertaining to Ig therapy from sources other than IgNS (5 RU maximum)

An IgCN®/ IgCP® is eligible for one (1)  RU for each contact hour earned.
A maximum of 5 RU can be applied to a recertification period.

• Develop and present immunoglobulin therapy-related education programs (5 RU maximum)
  • Educators in immunoglobulin therapy-related programs are eligible for one RU per contact hour delivered.
  • CE credit must be awarded for the program.
  • The program must be related to one of IgCN®/IgCP® clinical content areas.
  • Repeated presentations of the same program will not be awarded multiple credits.
  • Program outlines and objectives, date, and CE credit provider’s name must be submitted with the recertification application.
  • A maximum of 5 RU can be applied to a recertification period.
• Publish a chapter or edit an immunoglobulin therapy-related book (5 RU maximum)

The book’s reference information, including author, year, title, and publisher information must be submitted with the recertification application.
A maximum of six recert units can be applied to a certification period. 

3 . Take the IgCN®/IgCP® credentialing examination before your credential expiry date

Recertification is required to maintain the IgCN®/ IgCP® credential. Individuals whose certification has expired or been suspended or revoked may not represent themselves as IgCN®/ IgCP® certificant.

Reinstatement

• Less than sixty (60) days from recertification expiry date
  • The IgCN®/ IgCP®  may request to reinstate expired certification by submitting the recertification application, including recertification and reinstatement  fees, and meeting all requirements. If the application is approved, the individual’s expiration date for the reinstated credential will be original recertification date. The reinstatement fee is $325 and must be paid once the recertification application is approved.

• More than sixty (60) days from the recertification expiry date
  • Individuals must retest and meet all the current eligibility requirements, including passing the IgCN®/ IgCP®  exam. The full examination fee will be applied.