Eighty (80) continuing education hours must be earned during the five (5) year certification period:

  1. A minimum of fifty (50) continuing education hours must be gerontological health care specific topics (Category A).
  2. The remaining thirty (30) continuing education hours can be a combination of general nursing, health care and academic (Category B).

Category A: Gerontological Health Care (minimum of fifty (50) continuing education hours)

  1. Continuing education hours awarded for attendance at seminars and conferences with content specific for gerontological health care and are accredited as an approver/provider of continuing education, such as the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a state board of nursing, nursing association or Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
  2. Nursing and professional publications and presentations specific to gerontological health care:

Book chapter (author/co-author)

  • 5 continuing education hours per chapter
  • maximum 25 continuing education hours per recertification period

Journal article (author)

  • 5 continuing education hours  
  • maximum 10 continuing education hours per recertification period

Multimedia presentation/lecture (must be approved by an accredited approver/provider of continuing education)

  • A 60-minute presentation will equal 3 continuing education hours in recognition of preparation time  
  • maximum 9 continuing education hours per recertification period  
  • the applicant must be the only presenter for the 60-minute presentation

Research abstracts – published/presented

  • 2 continuing education hours  
  • maximum 6 continuing education hours per recertification period

Editor/ textbook

  • 15 continuing education hours

Research proposal submitted to a federal agency, foundation or industry

  • 15 continuing education hours

Study site coordinator

  • 5 continuing education hours per study  
  • maximum of 2 studies, for total of 10 continuing education hours per recertification period  
  • if applicant’s primary job is a study coordinator, the study cannot be used for recertification

Editors, assistant editors, and manuscript reviewers

  • 1 manuscript = 1 continuing education hour  
  • 2 manuscripts = 3 continuing education hours  
  • 3 or more manuscripts = 5 continuing education hours per recertification period

Independent study (home study) by an accredited approver/provider of continuing education within the five (5) year certification period

  • 1 contact hour = 1 continuing education hours

CME

  • 1 Continuing Medical Education credit = 1 continuing education hour

Membership on a national/local board or national/local committee

  • A 1-hour meeting or 1-hour conference call = 1 continuing education hour   
  • Maximum 10 continuing education hours per recertification period

GNCC Test Development Committee or task force participant

  • One-day session = 3 continuing education hours  
  • Maximum of 9 continuing education hours per recertification period

Preceptor hours

  • 120 preceptor hours = 20 continuing education hours

 

Category B: General Nursing, Health Care, and Academic (maximum of 30 continuing education hours)

  1. Continuing education hours awarded for attendance at seminars and conferences with content specific for gerontological health care and are accredited as an approver/provider of continuing education, such as the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a state board of nursing, nursing association or Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
  2. Nursing and professional publications and presentations specific to gerontological health care:

Academic courses must be biopsychosocial content

  • Each semester hour = 15 continuing education hours 
  • Each quarter hour = 10 continuing education hours

Continuing education hours earned for general nursing or health care same as Category A

  • Professional publications or presentations in general nursing or health care same as Category A  
  • Independent study in general nursing or health care same as Category A  
  • CME - 1 Continuing Medical Education credit = 1 continuing education hour

Continuing education hours must be documented with:

  • copies of certificates of attendance at approved seminars or conferences  
  • copies of published materials, presentations, or multimedia productions (i.e., video, audio tapes, or computer-generated discs)