Introduction to CEARP

The acronym, CEARP, (pronounced "SURP"), stands for Continuing Education Approval and Recognition Program, and is a review process that WSNA uses to assure carefully-planned educational activities using ANCC criteria for nurses.

WSNA has been accredited as an approver of continuing nursing education by ANCC, the American Nurses Association credentialing arm, since 1976.

The application is reviewed by a volunteer nurse reviewer to assure that all ANCC criteria are addressed.  Information during the review process is exchanged between the applicant and the reviewer by email, telephone or fax.  All requested revisions must be received by the designated deadline.  Applicants can refer to the same criteria check-off sheet used by the reviewer.  It is encouraged that applicants check that list prior to submitting the application. 

Upon completion of the review, the application will be approved, given a conditional approval status or not approved.  Denials can be appealed.  

Retroactive approval is not permitted.

To allow sufficient time for a quality review of the application and to receive any additional material needed to comply with the criteria, the WSNA CEARP Committee has set a time period of 45 days  for the review and approval of all Faculty Directed and Independent Study applications.  A 90-day time period is allowed for Provider Unit applications.

The WSNA staff and CEARP Committee wants each application to be approved and are willing to provide assistance as needed. 

Getting Started

There are three kinds of educational activities approved by WSNA CEARP:

1. An approved Provider Unit is recognized for its capacity to award contact hours for its faculty directed or independent study CNE activities it plans to implement and evaluate. Provider Units must have offered a minimum of three CNE activities that have been approved by the WSNA CEARP or other ANCC accredited approver at least six months prior to applying for Provider Unit status. Provider Units include hospitals, community colleges, universities, health departments or other CNE providers. Specific application requirements and required Provider Unit activity forms can be found in our Provider Unit section on this website.
   
   
2. Those organizations not designated or applying as a Provider Unit can apply to have CNE approved as:
   
   
   • A Faculty Directed Activity which involves participant attendance, such as seminars, workshops, lecture series, journal clubs, conventions or other educational events. Specific application requirements can be found in the Faculty Directed section on this website.
     
     
   • An Independent Study Activity which is designed for completion by learners, independently, at the learners’ own pace and at a time of the learners’ choice. The content is designed and tested through a pilot study or other method to determine the amount of credit to be awarded. Examples of independent study include: viewing webinars, listening to audio tapes, reading selected article(s) and completing pre and/or post tests, accessing computer on-line activities. Specific application requirements can be found in the Independent Study section on this website.