GERO-BC - Gerontological Nursing Certification

Gerontological Nursing Board Certification (GERO-BC) validates the knowledge and skills of registered nurses working in a gerontological setting. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) offers the GERO-BC exam, accredited by the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC).

Eligibility

To be eligible to take the GERO-BC exam, applicants must have:

• An active RN license in any U.S. state or the legal equivalent in another country

• Practiced at least 2 years full-time as a registered nurse

• Completed 2,000 hours of clinical practice in a gerontological setting within the last 3 years

• Completed 30 gerontological-related Continuing Education Units (CEUs) within the last 3 years

Cost

• Non-member: $395

• American Nurses Association member: $295

• Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurse Association (GAPNA) member: $340

Exam Format

The GERO board certification exam includes 150 scored questions and 25 unscored questions. It takes 3.5 hours to complete and features Pass/Fail grading. The exam has a maximum possible scaled score of 500 and a minimum passing scaled score of 350. Exam topics include:

• Assessment and Diagnosis - 35 questions

• Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation - 50 questions

• Professional Foundation - 40 questions

Test Dates

Prometric Test Centers offer GERO-BC exams year-round. Examinees may also take the exam at home via Prometric’s Live Remote Proctoring (LRP) service.

• Go to the certification website 

• Click “Apply Online”

• Create an account or log in

• Complete education information

• List state RN licenses held in all states  

• Add any membership information to collaborating organizations

• Answer the eligibility questions

• Add CEU information

• Insert optional employer information

• Agree to the Statement of Understanding

• Input debit or credit card information

Applicants receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) upon approval. They must schedule and take the exam within 90 days of receiving their ATT.

GERO-BC is valid for 5 years. GERO-BCs can submit an online renewal application up to one year before expiration. To be eligible for renewal, applicants must:

• Have an active RN license in any U.S. state or the legal equivalent in another country

• Have a current, active GERO-BC certification from the ANCC

• Complete 75 Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

• Complete one of the 8 professional development categories 

• Pay renewal fee

The professional development component includes the mandatory 75 CE hours PLUS completion of at least one activity within the following 8 categories:

1. 75 CE hours in addition to the mandatory 75 CE hours

2. Academic credits: 5 semester credits or 6 quarter credits

3. One or more presentations totaling 5 hours

4. One Evidence-Based Practice (EBP), Quality Improvement Project (QI) or one qualifying publication or one Institutional Review Board research project, completed dissertation or thesis, or doctoral project

5. At least 120 hours as a preceptor for students in an academic program

6. Two or more consecutive years of volunteer service with an international, national, state, or local healthcare-related organization

7. 1,000 practice hours (not required to renew certification but option to fulfill professional development)

8. Pass the current GERO-BC exam

GERO-BCs must complete the professional development section before completing the online renewal application.

Renewal Fees

• Non-member: $350

• American Nurses Association member: $250

• Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurse Association (GAPNA) member: $295

Part of the renewal process requires 75 Continuing Education Units (CEUs). All CEUs must be directly related to the GERO-BC’s certification role and specialty. At least 60 CEUs must be formally approved CE hours, meaning they must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Continuing nursing education (CNE) approved by an accredited provider of CNE

• Continuing medical education (CME) approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits

• Continuing education hours approved through the Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education

The ANCC also accepts other healthcare discipline’s CEUs applicable to the GERO-BC’s certification specialty. Repeat courses aren’t accepted for renewal. Renewal applicants may also convert academic coursework applicable to their certification specialty to CEUs.

GERO-BCs can Track Professional Development on the ANCC website as they complete each activity. Renewal applicants must use their account and complete the CE section of the Professional Development Record to document their CEUs. ANCC doesn’t accept certificates of completion in place of completing Professional Development entries.

The ANCC provides several resources to help prepare for the GERO-BC exam, including:

• Test Content Outline

• Comprehensive List of References

• 25 Sample Questions

• Study Tips

The ANCC also offers the following certifications:

• Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification (MEDSURG-BC)

• Cardiac Vascular Nursing Certification (CV-BC)

• Ambulatory Care Nursing Certification (AMB-BC)

Other related certifications include the GAPNA APRN Gerontological Specialist Certification (GS-C).