Guide to Pain Management Certification for Nurses

Author

Dr. Stephen Cosentino

Tens of millions of Americans live with chronic, debilitating pain. For years, the medical community’s response was to prescribe opioid medications at the first sign of serious pain, regardless of the underlying cause.

The results have been predictable and tragic. Wide availability of cheap, powerful opioid medications like fentanyl contributed to a surge in overdose deaths — more than 80,000 in 2021, according to the CDC.

This has prompted soul-searching among prescribers and medical support professionals, including registered nurses. A more holistic approach to pain management is now the norm, with registered nurses, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners at the forefront.

If you’re eager to make a positive difference for chronic pain patients, consider pain management certification for nurses. Here’s what you need to know.

Why Get a Pain Management Nursing Certification?

Getting certified in pain management nursing takes time, so it’s important to decide if it’s right for you. You might be a good fit for pain management nursing if:

You want to help patients struggling with opioid use disorder
You enjoy helping patients live more capably and with less pain
You’re interested in alternative pain management techniques, such as acupuncture, massage, yoga, Botox and vitamin injections, and nutrition therapy
You want to work in a fast-growing field, where entry-level nurses can move up quickly
You want to keep your practice setting options open — pain management nurses work in hospitals, general outpatient clinics, sports medicine clinics, rehabilitation facilities, and skilled nursing facilities
You enjoy being on the cutting edge of medical science and applying the latest medical best practices in your work

See yourself here? Keep reading to find out what’s required to become a pain management nurse.

What’s Required for Pain Management Nursing Certification?

The requirements to become a pain management nurse are similar to those for cosmetic nurses.

To start, you’ll need to become a registered nurse. Once you have your ADN or BSN degree and pass the NCLEX-RN exam, do the following to become eligible for a pain management nursing certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC):

Practice the equivalent of two years full time as a registered nurse
Practice in a setting or role involving pain management for at least 2,000 hours total over three consecutive years, typically working under a board-certified medical professional
Complete at least 30 hours of continuing education over three consecutive years
Complete at least 15 hours of continuing education related to pain management during the same period (can include advanced pain management certification courses)

How to Get Your Pain Management Nursing Certification

Once you’ve completed these requirements, you’ll need to visit an ANCC testing center and pass the exam to become a pain management nurse.

The certification exam is computerized and has 175 questions. It takes several hours to complete, and you may need to travel a considerable distance to reach a testing center, so plan to spend a full day and possibly an overnight.

If you pass the exam, you’ve done it — you have your ANCC pain management certification. This credential is good for five years. Use it wisely!