DNC Certification
Certification is awarded to those who have successfully completed the certification process by meeting the eligibility criteria and passing a multiple choice written examination. The designated credential is Dermatology Nurse Certified (DNC).
Certification is valid for a period of three (3) years. Re-certification may be attained through contact hours of continuing education credit or by examination.
The dermatology nursing certification examination is based on a job analysis of dermatology nursing practice. The job analysis and the examination were developed with the assistance of the Center for Nursing Education and Testing (C-NET). The test consists of 175 multiple choice items, written within the framework of the nursing process. The examination is approximately 4 hours in length.
Objectives of the Examination
The dermatology nursing certification examination is designed to measure the nurse’s ability to:
- Assess and monitor the status of patients with dermatologic disorders before, during, and after treatment. (30%)
- Plan, administer (or assist others to administer), and monitor the medical, surgical, and phototherapeutic interventions for patients with dermatologic disorders. (30%)
- Select appropriate strategies to meet the educational, health promotion, and psycho-socio-cultural needs of dermatology patients, their significant others, and the community. (29%)
- Coordinate care to ensure safe, efficient delivery of high-quality dermatology care, in collaboration with other healthcare providers and community resources. (11%)
Content Areas of the Examination
- General Dermatology – 55%
- Surgical Dermatology – 30%
- Phototherapy – 15%
- Infections – 15%
- Tumors/Malignancies – 15%
- Dermatitis – 13%
- Papulosquamous Disorders – 13%
- Photosensitivity/Photodamage – 9%
- Hypersensitivities, Vasculitis, Infestations – 7%
- Pigmentation/Vascular Disorders – 6%
- Hair and Nails – 5%
- Acne and Rosacea – 5%
- Wounds and Ulcers – 5%
- Bullous and Immune Disorders – 4%
- Miscellaneous – 3%
View the DNC Patient Problem List (pdf)
DNC Individuals
Trudy Adamson
Yvonne A. Alameddine
Tammy Turner Alexander
Jona L. Allen
Sheri Altic
Jeanne Alvarez
Lisa Anastasia
Merlie F. Ancheta
Linda Armstrong
Melissa Baker
Cheryl Balestrieri
Carolyn Barth
Michelle Barton
Joan Bedlion
Michelle Bell
Donna M. Beyer
Dana Bigham
Anna L. Blake
Angela Borger
Debra Bourque
Rebecca S. Brady
Joan Brandsgaard
Rosemary Brinsek
Rebecca Brosnan
Blake S. Bryant
Dina Bryant
Nadia Buchko
Stephanie J. Burkholder
Denise M. Buti
Allison P. Cangialosi
Katherine M. Carlson
Rebekah Carlson
Markus Edward Carter
Julia Chan
Jennifer Chirico
Angela Ciliberto
Melissa P. Cooper
Janet T. Crawford
Stephanie Creek
Susan K. Dean
Katherine deKanter
Laura DeLap
Elizabeth M. Denson
Mary Alice Deutsch Broomell
Jacqueline P. Dickinson
Katherine R. DiStefano
Cecelia Donelson
Molly H. Dority
Kayla Dortland
Rachel M. Dutcher
Patricia Eidenback
Stacy L. Ellens
Cheryl Elmore
Maryrose O’Hara Espil
Karen Fairbrother
Meredith Ferris
Donna Fichera
Abigail J. Florentino
Maura Flynn
Theresa Foster
Geraldine Fricker
Veronica Fromann
Marisa K. Gallardo
Alexandria Gamboa
Erin Gaylord
Teri J. Geitner
Lisa Gerler
Tara Gillespie
Jane Glaze
Kathy Goers (Retired Status)
Heather M. Goff
Heather M. Goff
Phyllis Greeley (Retired Status)
Jessica A. Greetan
Kathy A. Gross
Tracy Grove
Catherine Haake
Kristina R. Haar
Carmen Halbohn
Harriet Lin Hall
Kelly Halloran
Suzanne Haman
Rhonda L. Hand
Heather L. Hayes
Jonathan M. Heiser
Stephanie Hernandez
Margaret Hirsch
Shirley Hoehn
Christine L. Howard
Lynne Hulvey
Sandra Hurwitch
Sabrina Hwee
Brooke Ingram (Retired Status)
Rhonda Jackson
Kelley L. Jimenez
Joanie Jones
Kimberly Jones
Kimberly Jones
Toni M. Juenemann
Sierra K. Kane
Melanie Karner
Elizabeth Klincewicz
Kelsey Klostermeier
Mark Knight
Kristine Ko
Michelle Kolada
Nancy H. Kota
Mary Krempa
Daniella Lavignani
Adriana Laze
Jeanne LeBlanc
Michelle Lee
Jordyn Lewandowski
Christina Lewis
Brooke Macdougall
Ann-Marie Magee
Rebecca L. Maness
Linda Markham
Sheryl Martinec
Idalia Massey
Sue Herold McCann
Ashley McIntyre
Ingrid R. Meyris
Helen M. Middleton
Cynthia Miller
Catherine Moxham
Martha Adigwe Mozia
Chasity H. Newsom
Kari Pardeik
Cecelia M. Pasquesi
Arlene Peregrin
Carmela Stacy Peterson
Jennifer Phillips
Teresa Pipper
Donica Plamenatz-Willman
Mary Post
Colleen Powell
Roberta Ann Purdome (Retired Status)
Jasmin Que-Laohoo
Megan M. Redmond
Kinga Reeise
Courtney Reubin
Kimberly M. Reyes
Jennifer I. Rogers
Jessica Rose
Janina Rukavina
Carli J. Russell
Macee Safranski
Karen S. Santonil
Monik Savoie
Pamela Schell-Werschler
Nicole Schlueter
Colleen Schmidt
MaryBeth Schneeberger
Monica Scholl
Holly E. Scogin
Karen M. Shara-Griggs
Karen Shara-Griggs
Erin M. Sigler
Jessica Simmons
Jennifer Sorce
Peggy Sorenson
Claire C. Spence
Teresa Sprague
Amanda Stachlewitz
Ashley B. Stevenson
Marla Stiles
Rita J. Stueder
Mary Kathleen Tapia
Brie Trefrey
Sophia L. Tuazon
Maria Tully
Laura Vincent
Stephanie Visco
Sandra Walsh
Lisa Wan
Mandy Wever
Mary Wiatrowski
Donica Rani Willman
Leila Woods
Krista Woolsey
Shelley Wrisinger
Jill P. Wyrick
Kristin A. Yonker
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible to sit for the Dermatology Nurse Certified (DNC) exam, candidates must meet the following requirements:
- Have a minimum of 2 years of dermatology nursing experience as a RN.
- Hold a current and unrestricted license as a RN in the U.S. or Canada.
- Have a minimum of 2,000 hours of work experience in dermatology nursing within the past 2 years in a general staff, administrative, teaching or research capacity.
Download the DNC Certification Application and Exam Brochure (Computer Based Version) (PDF).
Complete the application, include supporting documentation and payment and mail to
DNCB Certification Program
c/o C-Net
35 Journal Square, Suite 901
Jersey City, NJ 07306
Obtain an application by mail
To obtain an application by mail, please write to C-Net at the address above, call 800.463.0786, or fax 201.217.9785.
Registration Cost
DNA Member: $260
DNA Non-Member: $335
See application for full description of fees including re-certification fees.
Re-certification Requirements
Each certification granted by the Dermatology Nursing Certification Board (DNCB) is valid for a three-year period. Expiration of certification shall occur uniformly on December 31. Candidates for re-certification must meet eligibility requirements for certification:
- Hold a current and unrestricted license as a registered nurse in the U.S., Canada, or a country approved by C-NET for the first certification test.
- Have a minimum of two years of dermatology nursing experience as an RN.
Re-certification candidates must also pay re-certification fees, and must meet one of the following criteria:
- Successful completion of the certification examination prior to certification expiration.
OR - Submission of completed application for re-certification through continuing education prior to certification expiration.
- DNC Re-certification Packet (PDF)
- DNC Re-certification Packet (Word)
To reactivate certification within two years after expiration:
If a certified nurse fails to re-certified allowing their certification to lapse, they have up to two (2) years from expiration to submit a re-certification packet requesting reactivation of certification. All requirements for reactivation/re-certification must have been met during the 3 year period prior to the date of application.
To reactivate certification more than 2 years after expiration:
Reactivation is still possible. Individuals must test.
DNC Recertification Fee
- DNA member $175
- Non DNA member $250
DCNP Reactivation Fee
- DNA member $240
- Non DNA Member $315
Application Process
The same application for re-certification applies. In addition, the applicant understands that the reactivation option for the DNC or DCNP credential can only be used once.
Download the Reactivation Application (PDF)
Prepare Yourself!
The Dermatology Nurses’ Association offers a variety of study tools to help you prepare for the exam:
• Certification online review course (Launched 2020)
• Dermatologic Nursing Essentials: A Core Curriculum, 2nd & 3rd editions, with chapter self-assessments
• Full-day courses and symposiums
• Educational sessions at the DNA Annual Convention and on the DNA CE Center
Dermatologic Nursing Essentials: A Core Curriculum, 2nd Edition (2003)
DNA has set the nursing standard with the scope and content of Dermatologic Nursing Essentials. This is the 2nd edition of our best-selling core curriculum textbook. It is a primary certification exam reference.
Dermatologic Nursing Essentials: A Core Curriculum, 3rd Edition (2016)
DNA has set the nursing standard with the scope and content of Dermatologic Nursing Essentials. This is the 3rd edition of our best-selling core curriculum textbook. It is a primary certification exam reference.
- Dermatology content & study questions
- Over 90 color clinical photos
- Hardcover, user-friendly format
For more information visit the DNA website at www.dnanurse.org
The following books are the primary references used by the DNCB Test Committee during the 2023 update of the Dermatology Nursing Certification Examination.
- Bolognia, J. L., Schaffer, J. V., & Cerroni, L. (2018). Dermatology, 4th ed., Elsevier.
- Dinulos, J. G. (2021). Habif’s Clinical Dermatology, 7th ed., Elsevier.
- James, W. D., Elston, D. M., Treat, J. R., Rosenbach, M. A., & Neuhaus, I. M. (2020). Andrews’ Diseases of the Skin, 13th ed., Elsevier.
- Nicol, N. H. (2016). Dermatologic Nursing Essentials: A Core Curriculum, 3rd ed., Walters Kluwer.
- Paller, A. S. & Mancini, A. J. (2022). Hurwitz Clinical Pediatric Dermatology, 6th ed., Elsevier.
- Wolverton, S. E. (2021). Comprehensive Dermatologic Drug Therapy, 4th ed., Elsevier.