FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Welcome to the FAQs section for the American College of Legal Nurse Consulting. This area is provided to you as a source of information that may be more clarified, related to questions you may have in regards to our certification programs. Information regarding re-certification as well as information about our online continuing education courses, is also provided.
We highly recommend that you first thoroughly review all of the information on our website, under the main page for the American College of Legal Nurse Consulting. Access main page. If after reviewing all of the provided information and this FAQs section, any other questions may be addressed by completing our request for information form online here. Thank you for your interest in the American College of Legal Nurse Consulting.
LEGAL NURSE CONSULTING BLOG: Please visit our Legal Nurse Consultant interactive web blog. Our blog contains articles, news, events and information related the Legal Nurse Consulting field.
WHAT IS CERTIFICATION?
Answer: certification is a voluntary process, which is provided by a well organized organization, that through its qualified advisory boards, develops comprehensive and quality standards for the practice of a type of specialty. The developed standards address high quality requirements for the practice of a certain specialty. The defined standards speak to educational and/or practice requirements, any required prerequisites, and the need to adhere to a defined code of ethics for the practice specialty. Certification is a voluntary process. It is different than any type of licensing. Certification is one means by which professionals may be publicly recognized as achieving a high level of education, knowledge base and practice skills for a certain healthcare related specialty. Certification also assists employer organizations and clients in their assessment of appropriate qualifications for candidates seeking positions in organizations and/or involved in private practices. It is commonly held, today, that certification by a very well organized professional organization, is fast becoming a “gold standard” for specialty practices. Certification testifies and provides a verification of defined educational requirements, adherence to a solid code of ethics, and in many instances prerequisites of practice experience for the practice of legal nurse consulting.
What Are the Criteria/standards I Will Need to Meet to Achieve Certification?
Answer: The educational criteria and standards are well and clearly defined within our website. Please access our main page to preview these requirements. Access here.
May I Apply for and Be Conferred Certification in Legal Nurse Consulting if I Have Been Practicing as a Legal Nurse Consultant, Without the Need to Meet the Educational Requirements?
Answer: No. The Board that oversees the development and approval of defined criteria and standards for certification will not consider any practice experience as meeting requirements in full. This decision was made as those who are already in a health care practices have varied and different experiences related to this specialty and there is no insured uniformity that all who have practiced this specialty have the same knowledge base and skills attainment. The evaluation of one’s past practice experiences in health care practices is highly variable and subjective. As such, the Board has developed objective criteria/standards for the conferral of certification. For these reasons, practice experience without the attainment of education will not be considered as fulfilling criteria and standards for our certification. AIHCP Education program: access link.
What is the Role of the Certified Legal Nurse Consultant?
Answer: To help respond to this question we have prepared a full page of information related to the role of the certified legal nurse consultant. To access: click here
Over the Years, I Have Completed Many Seminars and Continuing Education Courses Related to Legal Nurse Consulting, and/or Legal Issues in Nursing and Malpractice. Will These Apply Toward the Education Requirements for Certification?
Answer: Please send in any transcript for review to determine if they can be utilized and an AIHCP course waived. You can contact us here.
Must I Be a Registered Nurse to Achieve Certification?
Answer: Yes. You must be a registered nurse with an active license in your state or country.
Has the American College of Legal Nurse Consulting Approved Any Education Programs That Qualify One to Apply for Certification?
Answer: Yes. the American College of Legal Nurse Consulting has reviewed and approved programs which will qualify graduates to apply for Certification. View approved programs. We continue to review programs, as requested by the academic administrator of legal nurse consulting education programs. If the program meets our standards for broad-based content in legal nurse consulting, including formal education at a minimum of hours, then we will consider approval of the program.
What is the Process for Achieving This Certification?
Answer: There is a two-phase process. In order to provide clear and sufficient information on the process we have developed a separate page that defines the process. You may access this information on the certification process at this link: click here.
How Can I Submit an Application?
Answer: Making application is easy. We provide an online application form and a printable application form as well. Those wishing to make application can find these forms at this link. Please note that incomplete applications will not be reviewed. All applications that are submitted must include all required documents and verification as specified for review and consideration of certification conferral. Before making any application, you must meet the defined pre-requisites for a given program and have successfully completed the full continuing education curriculum, or a curriculum from a program that AIHCP, Inc. has officially approved.
After Certification is There a Recertification Process?
Answer: Yes. The American Institute of Health Care Professionals provides a full program for recertification. Detailed information on the criteria to be recertified, after the four-year initial certification period, is provided on our website. Access here
I Am Currently Certified by the American College of Legal Nurse Consulting. I Know I Am Required to Achieve Additional Education in Legal Nurse Consulting in Order to Qualify for Re-certification in the Future. Does the American College of Legal Nurse Consulting Offer Any Continuing Education Courses That I May Take to Meet My Education Requirements?
Answer: Yes, we offer recertification CE courses. You can view them all by category at the following link. Access here.
Do You Have Any Testimonials From Professionals Who Have Become Certified Through Your Programs?
Answer: Yes. We have a testimonials page on our website that you may view at the following link. Access Here.