DURATION OF CERTIFICATION

The Multiple Sclerosis Certified Nurse (MSCN) certification is recognized for five years. The expiration date of the MSCN certificate is the fifth year after certification. For those who certified in May/June, the expiration date will be June 30th and those who certified in November, the expiration date will be November 30th. Application for recertification must be submitted at least 3 months prior to expiration date. To renew certification, the applicant must be a licensed, registered nurse, complete and file the application with fees, and choose one of the three options listed below. Eligible learning activities and practice hours must be obtained during the five-year certification period.

Prior to certificate expiration you will need to obtain an MSCN Recertification Application Form. If you do not receive this form, it will be available through the Professional Testing Corporation (PTC) by written request or from their web site. It is the responsibility of the MSCN to initiate the recertification process and to notify PTC* or the Multiple Sclerosis Nurses International Certification Board (MSNICB)** of any name or address changes. The deadline for recertification submissions for each certified group will be identified in the application package and web site. Applications received after the application deadline is subject to a $75.00 late administration fee. Applications received after certification expiration date will be . At this point, candidates will need to rewrite and pass the certification examination to maintain their MSCN.

Lapsed Certification

If you do not recertify when the five-year term has ended, your MSCN certification is considered lapsed. To regain certification you must meet the eligibility criteria (registered nurse with at least two years experience in MS nursing), submit application for initial certification, and write and pass the certification examination.

ELIGIBILITY FOR RECERTIFICATION

1. Current licensure as a registered nurse or the equivalent country regulatory requirement
2. Completion and filing of the MSCN Recertification Application form with required payment
3. There are 3 options available to fulfill recertification requirements:
   Option 1: Write and pass the Multiple Sclerosis Nursing International Certification Examination.
   OR
   
   Option 2: Submit a record of 75 MS learning activity hours over the five-year certification term.
   OR
   
   Option 3: Submit 50 MS learning activity hours and 1000 MS practice hours over the five-year certification term.

What are MS Learning Activities?

Examples of MS nursing learning activities are MS-related courses, presentations, conferences, publications, independent study, professional development, and mentoring activities (see Guidelines for Learning Activities starting on page 2).

Definition of MS Practice Hours

Multiple sclerosis nursing practice hours include clinical practice, consultation, research, administration, or education related to the field of multiple sclerosis.

*Candidates for recertification who choose to write the examination and fail will not be eligible to recertify with options 2 or 3 (learning activities or practice hours and learning activities).

GUIDELINES FOR LEARNING ACTIVITIES (LA)

Each LA must be relevant to MS. Not all LA hours must be nursing activities, but all LA hours should promote improved knowledge and/or skills in MS nursing. If you repeat an identical LA during the five-year certification term, it can only be counted once. Subtract the time taken for breaks, lunch, etc. from your LA. ALL LA hours must be earned during the five-year certification term. Pre-authorization from IOMSN is not required for your LA to count.

Academic Courses

1. The course must be applicable to MS.
2. Courses taken toward degree completion can be counted if they apply to MS nursing. For example, a MSCN taking a family studies course towards a nursing degree has focused one's assignment on family issues in MS nursing.
3. Allow one LA hour for every hour you spend attending the course (e.g., 2 hours/week x 10 weeks = 20 LA hours).
4. Academic courses shall not exceed 20 LA hours over the five-year certification period.
5. Ph.D. degree/dissertation equals 40 LA hours. Must be completed within the five-year certification period.
6. Master's degree/thesis equals 20 LA hours. Must be completed within the five-year certification period.

Conferences, Teleconferences, Video-Conferences, Seminars, Workshops, and Internet Offerings

1. Must be MS-related. Medical and allied health educational activities can be used if they enhance MS nursing practice.
2. One LA hour for 1 hour in attendance.
3. Maximum 50 LA hours.

In-Service for Staff

1. Attendance at a staff MS-related education session (i.e., nursing grand rounds or physiotherapy in-service on the benefits of stretching exercises for spasticity). One LA hour for 1 hour in attendance.
2. Maximum 10 LA hours.

Participating in Certification Examination Development

1. Examples include translating examination, participating in item review, and item writing for the MSNICB examination.
2. Examination content must be MS-related.
3. Five examination items are worth 3 LA hours.
4. Item writing and item review are worth 10 LA hours.
5. Maximum 10 LA hours.

MS Patient Care

1. Involved in the development, implementation, or publication of MS-related practice guidelines, pathways, or protocols.
2. One LA hour for 1 hour of participation.
3. Maximum 15 LA hours.

Independent Study

1. Completing the requirements for continuing education credits related to MS articles in professional journals, on-line journals, on-line MS education monographs. Follow the continuing education credit submission guidelines as outlined by the journal.
2. Learning activities will equal credits allotted by the journal.
3. Maximum 50 LA hours.

Preceptorship

1. Preceptorship is a formal one-on-one relationship of predetermined length, between an experienced nurse (preceptor) and novice nurse (preceptee). The preceptor facilitates learning activities with the preceptee to develop MS nursing knowledge and practice experience.
2. Maximum number of LA hours claimed by either the preceptor or preceptee is 15.

Research

1. Research activities must be MS-related.
2. Research activities are defined as conducting a study, participation in collaborative study, or utilizing research in practice (critique of research article; implement evidence-based care).
3. Participation in clinical drug trials does not fulfill the LA criteria (See MS practice hours).
4. Each hour of research activity counts as one LA for maximum of 15 hours.

Publication

1. Publication of material relevant to MS.
2. LA hours allotted:
   • Authorship or co-authorship of a book, 20 LA hours.
   • Contribution to a book chapter, journal article, monograph, or patient education pamphlet, 10 LA hours.
   • Manuscript review for publication or MS-related journal article or book chapter, 2 LA hours
3. Maximum 40 LA hours.

Poster Presentation

1. One poster equals 3 LA hours.
2. Maximum 15 LA hours.

Presenter/Lecturer

1. Presentation or lectures to other health professionals or community groups on topics related to MS.
2. A presentation of 30 minutes is worth 2 LA hours and a presentation of 60 minutes is 3 LA hours.
3. Duplication of presentation cannot be counted toward LA unless the presentation was revised.
4. Maximum 15 LA hours.

Professional Committee Membership/Participation

1. The committee must be MS-related.
2. Activities could be MS conference planning committee, community volunteer, board member or executive (e.g., IOMSN, CMSC, MS Society or national equivalent, MSNICB).
3. Participation in committee activities per year is worth 5 LA hours.
4. Maximum 15 LA hours.

Keeping Track of Learning Activities

Professionally and ethically you are the best judge of which learning activities apply toward recertification. Keep a list of all your learning activities. Identify activity/title, sponsor or provider, date of activity, and hours of activity. For example: Conference CMSC 2003, sponsored by the Biosymposia, Inc. May 28-June 1, 23.5 LA hours. Submit your list at the time of application for recertification. Maintain a file of all LA documentation (e.g., educational certificates, course outlines, etc.). It is important to refer to the learning activity guidelines to ensure you are providing allowable activities. You may want to list more than the required LA hours to ensure you meet your recertification requirements.

Quality Assurance Audits

MSNICB will randomly audit 10% of the candidates applying for recertification by learning activities. If you are audited, you will be required to provide documented proof of learning activities so keep your file up to date.

Appeals Process

Any candidate has the right to appeal the decision of denial. Appeal must be made in writing to the MSNICB* within 30 days of notification of ineligibility. Full details of the appeal process can be requested from the Professional Testing Corporation or obtained from their website.

Contact Sources

* Professional Testing Corporation, 1350 Broadway, 17th Floor, New York, New York, 10018 USA (www.ptcny.com)

** MSNICB c/o IOMSN, 359 Main Street, Suite A, Hackensack, New Jersey 07601 USA (www.IOMSN.org)