RNAS-C Recertification by Points

To recertify RNAS-C by points, 240 points are required for recertification. Thirty points must be earned by practicing 300 hours in the RNFA role (250 hours must be intraoperative).

A list of eligible activities to recertify by the points method is presented below. There are maximum numbers of points allowed for each activity, with the exception of Contact Hours and Academic Study, which have no points limits.

Recertification by points gives you the flexibility to earn points for activities you are probably already participating in at work. Here are a few examples of how you can earn 240 points over three years:

SAMPLE RECERTIFICATION PLAN #1	POINTS
300 Clinical Practice Hours	30 points
40 Social Media Practice Questions	20 points
1 Perioperative Certification	20 points
2 Hours Volunteer Service	10 points
Mentor 2 employees	30 points
65 CEs or CMEs	130 points
Total	240 points

SAMPLE RECERTIFICATION PLAN #2	POINTS
1,400 Clinical Practice Hours	140 points
40 Social Media Practice Questions	20 points
40 CEs or CMEs	80 points
Total	240 points

SAMPLE RECERTIFICATION PLAN #3	POINTS
500 Clinical Practice Hours	50 points
90 CEs or CMEs	180 points
Total	240 points

RNAS-C Recertification Points Table

This table shows the various ways you can earn points.

240 points are required for recertification.

	POINTS AWARDED	MAXIMUM POINTS ALLOWED
1. Contact Hours	1 CE = 2 points 1 CME = 2 points	Unlimited
2. Academic Study	1 semester hour = 30 points 1 quarter hour = 20 points	Unlimited
3. Teaching/Presenting	Academic teaching = 100 points per course	100
	NCPD presentation = 25 points/30 min.	100
	Healthcare provider presentation = 20 points/30 min	80
	Panel presentation = 10 points/15 min.	30
	Community teaching = 10 points/15 min	30
	Poster Presentation = 20 to 40 points	50
4. Preceptor	Each precepted RNFA employee = 25 points	50
5. Mentor	Each mentored RNFA employee = 15 points	30
6. Board Member	Each board membership = 20 points per year	60
7. Committee Member	Each committee membership = 20 points per year	40
8. Perioperative Volunteer Service	Perioperative Volunteer = 5 points per hour of service	90
9. Attain/Maintain Perioperative-Related Certification	Initial Certification = 30 points Recertification = 20 points	60
10. Publication	Book chapter, peer-reviewed journal article, guest editorial, book review, patient education, or other health care resources	90
11. NASC Task Force/Committee	Job Analysis Task Force, item writer, and other ad hoc committees	60
12. NASC Social Media Practice Questions	Each correct answer = 0.5 point	20
13. Clinical Inquiry	Primary or co-investigator or project leader	60
14. CCI Free Educational Activities	Free professional points activities, micro-credentials, certificates of mastery. Each CCI point = 0.5 points	45
15. Clinical Practice Hours	A minimum of 300 hours is required. At least 250 hours must be intraoperative. A practice hour log must be submitted. 10 practice hours = 1 points	140 points (1400 practice hours)

RNAS-C Recertification Points Details

1. Continuing Education

• You may submit nursing CEs or Category 1 CME Credits as contact hours.
• Contact hours must be earned through accredited, approved providers and approved topics. In addition, each certificate you are awarded for your continuing education activities must have an accreditation statement and/or provider number.
• At least 50% need to be periop-related.

1 Contact Hour = 2 points

2. Academic Study

RNAS-Cs may use academic credits in fulfillment of the requirements for recertification. Academic credits must be relevant to clinical practice or must be courses required for a higher academic degree or additional bachelor’s degree. A grade of C or better must be earned for each course.

1 semester hour/credit = 30 points
1 quarter hour/credit = 20 points

3. Teaching/Presenting

TYPES OF TEACHING/PRESENTING	INDIVIDUAL POINT VALUE	MAXIMUM POINT VALUE
Academic teaching	100 points per course	100 points
Nursing continuing professional development (NCPD) presentation	25 points per 30 minutes	100 points
Healthcare provider presentation	20 points per 30 minutes	80 points
Panel presentation	10 points per 15 minutes	30 points
Community teaching	10 points per 15 minutes	30 points
Poster Presentation	20 – 40 points	50 points
•  Primary author/presenter where attendees earn contact hours for attendance – 40 points • Contributing author/presenter where attendees earn contact hours for attendance – 30 points • Primary author/presenter where attendees do not earn contact hours for attendance (eg, facility educational fair) – 25 points • Contributing author/presenter where attendees do not earn contact hours for attendance (eg, facility educational fair) – 20 points

4. Service as Preceptor in the RNFA role—Max 50 points

RNAS-C recertification candidates can earn a maximum of 50 points by serving as a preceptor (ie, providing supervision and evaluation during clinical practice) for an RNFA student or new employee in the RNFA role.

Each precepted student or employee = 25 points

5. Service as Mentor in the RNFA role—Max 30 points

RNAS-C recertification candidates can earn a maximum of 30 points by serving as a mentor (ie, providing guidance, motivation, emotional support, role modeling) for an RNFA student or new employee in the RNFA role.

Each mentored student or employee = 15 points

6. Service on a Board Member—Max 60 points

RNAS-C recertification candidates can earn a maximum of 60 points by serving as a member of a board whose work is related to perioperative care or the perioperative setting. Attendance at a minimum of four meetings is required. Each board membership earns 20 points per year.

7. Service as a Committee Member—Max 40 points

RNAS-C recertification candidates can earn a maximum of 40 points by serving as a member of a committee whose work is related to perioperative care or the perioperative setting. Attendance at a minimum of four meetings is required. Each committee membership earns 20 points per year.

8. Perioperative Volunteer Service—Max 90 points

RNAS-C candidates can earn a maximum of 90 points for medically-related volunteer perioperative service.  Examples include surgical mission trips, service at medically under-served clinics, or other community outreach.

Perioperative Volunteer = 5 points/hour of service

9. Attain/Maintain Perioperative-related Certification—Max 60 points

For those who have earned an accredited perioperative certification. Examples of accredited perioperative-related certifications include CNOR, CPAN, CRCST, or ABCGN. Accreditation by ANSI, ABSNC, or NCCA will meet these criteria. The list is not intended to be all-inclusive. Other accredited certifications deemed equivalent by NASC may be accepted.

Initial Certification = 30 points
Recertification = 20 points

10. Publication—Max 90 points

MATERIAL	POINT VALUE
Book Chapter, First author	50 points
Book Chapter, Contributing author	40 points
Peer-reviewed journal article, First author	50 points
Peer-reviewed journal article, Contributing author	40 points
Guest editorial, First author	30 points
Book review, First author	20 points
Patient education or other health care resources, First author	30 points
Patient education or other health care resources, Contributing author	20 points

11. NASC Task Force Committee—Max 60 points

Job Analysis Task Force = 40 points
Item Writer = 20 points
Other Ad Hoc = 15 points

12. NASC Social Media Practice Questions—Max 50 points

NASC posts an RNFA practice question each week on social media. RNAS-Cs can earn a maximum of 20 points by commenting on the correct answer to weekly practice questions on NASC social media (LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram). Each correct answer = 0.5 point.

2 correct answers = 1 point

13. Clinical Inquiry—Max 60 points

Quality Improvement (QI), Quality Assurance (QA), Evidence-Based Practice (EBP), and Research projects are accepted under this heading. To receive points under this activity, you must have primary responsibility for developing, implementing, and/or evaluating projects in these categories. The activity must show evidence of participation in, or application of, clinical inquiry that improves current practice and/or patient outcomes.

Primary Investigator or Primary Project Leader = 50 Points
Co-Investigator or Project Lead = 30 Points

14. CCI Free Educational Activities—Max 45 points

RNAS-Cs can use points earned on the CCI website in partial fulfillment of recertification points. CCI points activities can be found in the CCI Store in the categories: “Free Professional Points Activities” and “Microcredentials and Certificates of Mastery.” Each CCI point = 0.5 point for RNAS-C recertification.

2 CCI points = 1 point for RNAS-C recertification

15. Clinical Practice Hours—Min 30 points and Max 140 points

RNAS-Cs can use clinical practice hours toward recertification. Documented practice hours may include patient care provided while performing in the RNFA role during the preoperative, intraoperative, or postoperative phases (defined below). RNAS-Cs must document at least 300 practice hours during the 3-year recertification cycle. Of the 300 practice hours, at least 250 hours must be for care during the intraoperative phase.

Click here for details on Documenting Clinical Practice hours for RNAS-C Recertification