NCC Updates Clinical Hour Requirements for Nurse Practitioner Certification
CHICAGO, Sept. 1, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- National Certification Corporation (NCC), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting quality healthcare, has announced that its CEO, Robin Bissinger, PhD, APRN, NNP-BC, FAAN, contributed to an article titled "Nurse practitioner program director survey: Direct patient care clinical hours and DNP degree," published in the Journal of Nursing Regulation through ScienceDirect. The article, which is available for complimentary access until October 10, 2026, without registration, was aimed at identifying barriers to implementing 750 direct patient care clinical hours.
Bissinger's contribution to the article underscores NCC's commitment to staying current with regulatory and educational standards. As part of these efforts, NCC has recently updated its clinical hour requirements for two of its certification programs. Effective January 1, 2030, all applicants graduating after December 31, 2029, must document a minimum of 750 direct patient care clinical hours to be eligible for NCC's nurse practitioner certification examinations. Simulation hours will not be accepted or included in this requirement.
These changes reflect the current regulatory climate and align with national educational benchmarks, specifically the 2022 Standards for Quality Nurse Practitioner Education (6th Edition), the 2023 NANN/NANNP Educational Standards (6th Edition), and the 2020 NPWH Educational Standards addendum. The updated requirements are designed to ensure that NCC's certifications remain relevant and meet the high standards set by the nursing community.
For detailed information on the transition, including deadlines and requirements, interested parties can visit NCC's website at NCCwebsite.org and navigate to the Faculty, Students, State Boards, and Volunteers tab.
Founded in 1975, NCC has awarded over 242,000 certifications to licensed healthcare professionals in obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal specialties. The organization continues to play a crucial role in advancing the quality of healthcare provided by nurses and other licensed professionals.