Q: Will the development of education and practice models for the CNL include creating a new
legal scope of practice and license?
AACN, in collaboration with practice partners, public consumers, and a professional test
development agency, has created a certification examination and process to credential graduates
of the CNL master’s degree programs. The Commission on Nurse Certificationsm (CNC) was
established in 2007 to manage and oversee the certification of CNLs. The CNC is an
autonomous arm of AACN and is governed by its own Board of Directors, comprised of
representatives from the education setting, practice setting, working CNLs, and consumers