Recognizing that life and career paths can evolve, ABPANC is proud to offer alternate participation statuses for CPAN® and CAPA® certified nurses: Inactive, Alumnus, and Retired.

These options honor the dedication and hard work nurses have invested in earning their certification while acknowledging that recertification may not always be possible or practical. Whether transitioning out of the workforce, shifting professional focus, or facing personal circumstances, these statuses allow nurses to maintain a meaningful connection to the perianesthesia nursing community and celebrate their professional achievements. See below for a description of all our non-active status options.

If you have any questions about these statuses, or which option is best for you, please contact the ABPANC office at abpanc@cpancapa.org.

Unsure of which option is best for you? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions or one of these additional resources:

Reinstatement

• Cost: $175
• Reinstatement is available to CPAN and/or CAPA certificants who meet eligibility requirements within the stated timeframe, but have missed the deadline to recertify. The reinstatement window will be open for three months following the end of the recertification window. When applying for reinstatement, an audit will automatically occur.

Inactive Status

• Cost: $100 per year
• Inactive status is available to CPAN and/or CAPA certificants who do not meet eligibility requirements within the stated timeframe for recertification (practice hours or contact hours), and do not want to forfeit their credential. The credential cannot be used while on inactive status.

Eligibility
To be eligible for CPAN and/or CAPA Inactive status, candidates must:

• be a current CPAN and/or CAPA in the last year of their recertification cycle (i.e. due to expire April 30 or October 31st of the current year)
• have a current, unrestricted RN license
• not meet the recertification eligibility criteria, but plan to meet the renewal requirements within a 3-year timeframe from their expiration date

Other Considerations

• Inactive status is conferred for one year and can be renewed with the payment of an annual inactive fee. The status will not extend beyond three years.
• The credential can be reactivated once requirements are met within the 3-year timeframe from the original recertification expiration date.
• Applications must be submitted prior to the end of the current renewal cycle (e.g. if your certification expires on October 31, 2024, the Inactive application must be submitted by October 31, 2024).
• No contact hours submission is required at the time of applying for Inactive status; however, to regain full status, the renewal requirements at the time of reactivation must be met. Contact hours and practice hours must be earned no earlier than the 3 years preceding the original recertification cycle end date.
• If eligibility is not met at the end of the 3-year allowable inactive status period, the certification will no longer be renewable except by meeting the current exam eligibility criteria, paying the examination fee, and passing the CPAN and/or CAPA exam.
• Dual certified nurses must apply for inactive status separately for each credential.

Reactivation

• Applicants can reactivate their CPAN and/or CAPA once recertification requirements can be met. The CPAN and/or CAPA credential will be reactivated upon approval of a completed recertification application form and payment of the recertification fee. The renewal cycle will be adjusted to reflect the date at which applicant comes out of Inactive status.
• When applying for reactivation, an audit will automatically occur.

Restrictions

• Those who have an Inactive status may not volunteer on any ABPANC committees, task forces, as coaches, or on the ABPANC Board of Directors during the inactive status time period.
• The credential cannot be used while on inactive status.

To access the Inactive application:

• Log into your Learning Builder account.
• Click on the Learning Plans tab.
• Click Open button on Recert Application.
• Scroll down to Application Type.
• Change application type to Inactive Status.
• Complete the application, pay the fee; click submit.
• You will receive a confirmation email regarding the status of your application.

Alumnus Status

• Cost: $100 per three-year period
• Alumnus status is designed for CPAN and/or CAPA-certified nurses who no longer meet eligibility for active certification (i.e. no longer working directly or indirectly in perianesthesia nursing) but are still in the nursing profession in some capacity and wish to remain connected with their credential.

Eligibility:

• be a current CPAN and/or CAPA in the last year of their certification.
• have a current, unrestricted RN license.
• no longer be working in direct or indirect perianesthesia nursing and do not plan to return to the field of perianesthesia nursing.
• be working in the nursing profession in some capacity.

Other Considerations:

• Applications must be submitted prior to the end of the current renewal cycle (e.g. if your certification expires on October 31, 2024, the Inactive application must be submitted by October 31, 2024).
• No contact hours submission is required.
• Alumnus status is renewable every 3 years.
• If an Alumnus re-enters the perianesthesia nursing field, they may no longer use the Alumnus status.
• Dual certified nurses must apply for alumnus status for each credential.
• Applicants can re earn their CPAN/CAPA credential only by meeting the current exam eligibility criteria, paying the examination fee, and passing the CPAN or CAPA exam.

Restrictions:

• The “Alumnus CPAN,” “Alumnus CAPA,” or “Alumnus CPAN/CAPA” may be used on a CV or resume or below an individual’s name and credentials on a business card but may not be used after a signature or on a professional name badge.
• Those who have an Alumnus status may not volunteer on any ABPANC committees, task forces, as coaches, or on the ABPANC Board of Directors during the inactive status time period.

To access the Alumnus application:

• Log into your Learning Builder account.
• Click on the Learning Plans tab.
• Select Other Applications tab.
• Select Alumnus Status Application.
• Complete the application, pay the fee; click submit.
• You will receive a confirmation email regarding the status of your application.

Retired Status

• Cost: $100 one-time charge
• This fee covers the retirement of one or both credentials.

Eligibility:
To be eligible for CPAN and/or CAPA Retired status, candidates must:

• be a current CPAN and/or CAPA in the last year of their certification
• have a current, unrestricted RN license
• have retired from perianesthesia nursing and do not intend to return
• not meet the eligibility requirements to recertify their credential(s)

Other Considerations:

• For those dually certified, application for Retired Status may be submitted after BOTH credentials meet the eligibility requirements for Retired Status. This program would be retroactive to those who have already retired.
• Applicants who have had their CPAN and/or CAPA credential revoked are not eligible for retirement status.
• Should the retired status change, the individual must notify ABPANC that they are no longer retired from perianesthesia nursing practice.

Restrictions:

• Per diem employment in a perianesthesia setting is acceptable but the use of the designation, Retired CPAN and/or Retired CAPA, is not permitted in this situation.
• An individual who has been granted Retired Status may not represent themselves as a current (Active) CPAN/CAPA.
• The retired nurse may use “Retired CPAN and/or Retired CAPA” on a resume or below their name and credential on a business card, but the credential may NOT be used after signature (e.g. patient chart, name badge) or on a legal document.
• The Retired CPAN and/or Retired CAPA designation may not be used to satisfy licensing requirements for advanced practice nurses.
• If a Retired CPAN and/or Retired CAPA intends to re-enter the workforce full-time, they may no longer use the retired designation and can only regain the CPAN and/or CAPA credential by meeting the current eligibility criteria, paying the examination fee, and passing the CPAN and/or CAPA examination.
• Applicants who use the retired status designation inappropriately will have the credential permanently revoked and will not be eligible for retired status in the future.

To access the application:

• Log into your Learning Builder account.
• Click on the Learning Plans tab.
• Scroll down to Practitioner Role and open up the selections with the +.
• Select Retirement Status Application.
• Complete the application. When prompted: indicate your retirement position and date, accept the attestation statement; pay the $100 fee online; click submit.
• You will receive a confirmation email regarding the status of your application.

If you have any questions about these statuses, or which option is best for you, please contact the ABPANC office at abpanc@cpancapa.org.