Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician® (CCHT®)
Continuing competence is the ongoing ability of a nurse and those working under the nurse's direction to integrate and apply the knowledge, skills, judgment, and personal attributes required to practice safely and ethically.
To maintain competence and prevent professional obsolescence, the Board of Commissioners requires that each NNCC certificant participate in continuing education to refresh existing knowledge and skill and to acquire knowledge and proficiency pertaining to new advances as well as state of the art information over the full spectrum of nephrology.
The three-year time period established for recertification is based on both the scope of issues that face dialysis technicians and the Board’s belief that new practices, research, and information are introduced in the field with enough frequency that professional development activities should be conducted routinely so that certificants remain current with best practices and emerging knowledge.
Attention Experienced Dialysis Technicians. If you have worked a minimum of 5 years and 5000 hours as a dialysis technician, you may be eligible to apply for the advanced CCHT-A examination. Show your knowledge and expertise with the advanced CCHT-A credential.
Current CCHT Certificants, NNCC's FailSafe policy protects you. If you take, but do not pass the CCHT-A examination, NNCC will grant recertification of your CCHT credential automatically.
Notification/Expiration
As a courtesy, the NNCC will send reminders approximately every 30 days starting 120 days prior to certification expiration. Ultimately it is the applicant's responsibility to obtain the necessary application form and submit it to the NNCC before the certification expiration date. The NNCC is not responsible for undelivered mail. A recertification application can be obtained here on the NNCC website or by calling 888.884.6622. Your completed application, appropriate forms, copies of supporting materials, and fee must be submitted at one time. The initial certification is effective for three years from the last day of the month in which the applicant passed the examination. Certification must be renewed every three years.
Continuing Education and Clinical Experience
If you elect the continuing education option, you must submit a recertification application with required documentation and the recertification fee. Applications for renewal of your CCHT by continuing education must be postmarked by the last day of the month in which your certification expires to avoid a late fee; however, because it can take up to 8 weeks from the date applications are received to be reviewed, NNCC recommends submitting your application at least 3 months in advance of your certification expiration date. All recertification eligibility requirements must be met during the three year certification period.
- Applications for renewal of your CCHT by continuing education must be postmarked by the last day of the month in which your certification expires to avoid a late fee.
- Applicant must have acquired 30 contact hours of approved continuing education during their current 3-year certification period. A minimum of ten (10) contact hours must be nephrology specific. Continuing education must be from the following sources:
- Nursing continuing education programs
- Independent study programs offering nursing contact hours
- Academic credit
- Includes all course work in academic programs leading to a health/science degree. It is not necessary that the course content be nephrology nursing concepts. This option may be used for only one recertification period.
- Five contact hours will be assigned for one semester credit.
- Three contact hours will be assigned for one quarter credit.
- It is strongly recommended but not required that continuing education submitted for recertification be approved by one of the following:
- Organizations accredited by the American Nurses' Credentialing Center - Commission on Accreditation (ANCC-COA) the credentialing body of the American Nurses Association.
- The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).
- The Council of Continuing Education.
- California, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, or Ohio State Boards of Nursing.
- Continuing education submitted must be completed during the recertification period.
- Continuing education certificates must include the following information:
- Name of attendee
- Date of program
- Name of program
- Number of contact hours awarded
- Accreditation statement, when applicable
- You must retain all continuing education certificates in your personal files, in order to demonstrate that the criteria have been met for recertification. This documentation is required in the event your application is randomly selected in an audit.
Recertification by Examination
When seeking recertification by examination, all requirements for recertifying must be met with the exception of the submission of continuing education. Testing must be completed at a computer-based testing center or approved testing site before the certification expiration date to avoid a lapse in certification. Applicants who choose the recertification by examination option will be notified of their scores by C-NET, the testing center, or immediately upon completion of a computer-based exam.
All NNCC examinations are administered through computer-based testing, by appointment upon approval of an examination application or at an approved testing site. NNCC does not offer at home or internet testing.
All of the following eligibility requirements must be met:
- The certificant must be a current Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician (CCHT).
- The certificant must have at least 3,000 hours of work experience as a dialysis technician during within the three (3) years of the current certification period.
- Unless recertifiying by examination, the certificant must have acquired 30 contact hours of continuing education credit relevant to the dialysis technician scope of practice in caring for patients who require dialysis in the three (3) years of the current certification period. Any contact hours claimed must be in compliance with the requirements stated in Recertification Options.
Recertification application fees are non-refundable. Periodically fees are re-evaluated and adjustments may be made. Only NNCC Commissioners can authorize fee changes.
Standard Fees
| Fee Name | Amount |
|---|---|
| Recert By Exam Fee |
$225 |
| Recert by Continuing Education Fee |
$100 |
| Exam Rescheduling |
$85 |
| Exam Application Processing Fee (Non-refundable, included in exam fee) |
$50 |
| Expedited Review |
$50 |
| Late Fee |
$50 |
| Incomplete Application Fee |
$40 |
| Returned Check/Cancelled Payment Fee |
$30 |
| Duplicate Wallet Card or Certificate |
$25 |
| Certification Validation Letter (Except to State Boards of Nursing) |
$20 |