How to Recertify

The Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN®) certification period is 5 years. You will need to recertify your certification at the end of 5 years to maintain it. You can recertify by taking the exam again or by the much more popular process of continuing education. And with a little help from MSNCB and its affiliated professional association, the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN), renewing your med-surg certification will be easy.

Apply for recertification by continuing education using the Recertification Application Guide. There is a 3-page application and a contact hour documentation form to complete.

You will need to have:

• Earned 90 contact hours in the past 5 years
• At least 68 contact hours must be med-surg specific
• Worked 1,000 practice hours in med-surg

Find Out Convenient Ways to Track Your Contact Hours

You can submit your recertification application starting one year prior to your expiration date. It is suggested you turn it in at least 3 months prior to your certification’s expiration date to ensure it is authorized by then, but you have until the expiration date to submit it.

For more information about recertifying your medical-surgical nursing certification and maintaining your CMSRN, view the Recertify section.