Vascular Access Certification

What Vascular Access Certification does

Vascular Access Certification Corporation (VACC) is an independent non-profit certification body founded in 2010 and headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that operates the Vascular Access-Board Certified (VA-BC™) credential—the only multidisciplinary vascular access certification in the United States. The VA-BC™ is a psychometrically validated, computer-based examination (150 multiple-choice items across eight domains) administered twice yearly (June and December) through Prometric test centers across the U.S. and Canada plus ProProctor remote delivery. The credential is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA, valid through June 30, 2027) and recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Magnet Recognition Program, making it a structural requirement in hospitals pursuing or maintaining Magnet status.

VACC's revenue model is a hybrid of transactional exam fees and a recurring three-year recertification cycle. Initial exam fees range from $300 (AVA member early bird) to $475 (standard final), with retakes at $375 and late applications escalating to $550. Recertification via continuing education runs $240-$390 standard and up to $540 for suspended credentials, applied against an active base of 6,015 certificants as of December 2025. Institutional bulk purchases are facilitated through a tiered Voucher Program ($215-$300 per seat depending on volume and exam type), and the organization has expanded its monetization surface with the $225 Vascular Access Industry Partner Certificate Program for non-clinical professionals and the $24.95 Vein Preservation Program as a low-friction pipeline course. Digital badges (via BadgeCert), embossed certificates ($45), verification fees ($25), and branded merchandise contribute supplementary revenue.

Go-to-market combines self-serve online applications, an inside-sales business office for institutional voucher orders, and a community-led motion anchored by the Association for Vascular Access (AVA) partnership, conference exhibiting (AVA Annual Scientific Meeting; ANCC Magnet/Pathway), webinars, a content-rich blog, and downloadable toolkits for candidates and employers. Distribution relies on Prometric's physical and remote testing infrastructure and BadgeCert's digital credentialing stack. The organization is governed by an elected board of directors (President Brenda Gray, PharmD) with no parent company, no venture backing, and no disclosed M&A activity.

Name

Vascular Access Certification

Legal name

The Vascular Access Certification Corporation

Website

https://vacert.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Vascular Access Certification Corporation (VACC) is a non-profit certifying body that issues the VA-BC™, the only NCCA-accredited multidisciplinary vascular access certification in the U.S., serving nurses, physicians, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, and other clinicians across hospitals and healthcare systems.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Healthcare Certification Services

NAICS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541)

akta.pro primary industry

Healthcare & Clinical Professional Certifications (EDAAANAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Healthcare Clinical Professions (CME/CE for Nurses, Allied Health, Pharmacy) (EDAAALAC), Healthcare Licensing, Accreditation & Credentialing Boards (HLAJACAC)

Keywords

• Professional certification services
• Healthcare credentialing programs
• Vascular access certification
• Board certification exams
• Continuing education verification

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Certification Exam Fees: Healthcare professionals pay a fee to sit for the VA-BC™ certification exam. Fees range from $400 (early registration, AVA member) to $475 (final registration, non-member) for initial exam applications; retest fees are $375. Late applications are subject to additional fees. The exam is administered twice per year (June and December). The primary revenue driver for first-time certification.
2. Recertification Fees: Current VA-BC™ holders pay a fee every three years to renew their credential, either by continuing education credits (CE) or by retaking the exam. Early registration fees are $340 (online, standard) / $240 (AVA member); final registration is $390 / $290. Late and suspended application fees escalate up to $540. This is the recurring revenue stream from the existing certificant base of 6,015 active professionals.
3. Industry Partner Certificate Program: Non-clinical industry professionals (marketing, sales, R&D, engineering, product development, technical support, medical science liaisons) pay $225 for an online, multi-module certificate program covering vascular access fundamentals. This includes terminology, anatomy, pathophysiology, device types, complications, special populations, and clinician collaboration. The program is delivered 24/7 via an online learning platform and is NOT a prep course for the VA-BC™ exam. Valid for two years.
4. Vein Preservation Program: A $24.95 online introductory course on vascular access (terminology, anatomy, devices, complications, best practices, patient education) for non-clinicians or those who do not meet VA-BC™ eligibility. Provides 1.5 CE credits for existing VA-BCs. Access is valid for 90 days from purchase.
5. Voucher Program (Institutional Bulk Purchases): Institutions (hospitals, healthcare systems) purchase VA-BC™ exam and recertification vouchers in bulk at discounted rates. Exam voucher pricing: 1–5 at $300/ea, 6–10 at $290/ea, 11+ at $275/ea. Recertification voucher pricing: 1–5 at $240/ea, 6–10 at $230/ea, 11+ at $215/ea. Vouchers are valid for two years. This provides a B2B revenue channel and locks in institutional commitments.
6. Certificate and Merchandise Sales: While digital certificates are included with digital badges at no extra cost, VACC charges $45 for embossed paper certificates ordered through the online store. The store also sells branded merchandise (patches, plaques) for certificants to display their credentials. This is a supplementary revenue stream from individual certificants.
7. Verification and Administrative Fees: VACC charges a $25 fee for primary source verification requests that require completion of a verification form or official letterhead. Mail/fax applications carry a $25 administrative fee on top of standard application fees. These fees cover processing overhead.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

VACC administers the VA-BC™ (Vascular Access-Board Certified) certification examination — a 150-question, psychometrically validated computer-based credential covering eight domains of vascular access practice that validates baseline knowledge for healthcare professionals across nursing, medicine, pharmacy, respiratory therapy, and other disciplines. The organization also operates recurring recertification via continuing education credits, a separate Industry Partner Certificate Program for non-clinical industry professionals, a Vein Preservation introductory course, and an institutional Voucher Program for bulk purchases by hospitals and healthcare systems.

Product overview

VACC offers a single primary product—the VA-BC™ (Vascular Access-Board Certified) credential—which is a multidisciplinary certification exam for healthcare professionals in vascular access. The organization supplements this core certification with supporting programs including the Industry Partner Program (a $225 certificate for non-clinical industry professionals), the Vein Preservation Program (a $24.95 introductory course with 1.5 CE credits), and Digital Badges for credential verification. Additional offerings include Certification and Recertification Toolkits containing checklists, FAQs, and justification templates, as well as Practice Questions for exam preparation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VA-BC (Vascular Access-Board Certified): The primary certification credential awarded to healthcare professionals who pass the vascular access certification exam.
• Vascular Access Industry Partner Certificate Program
• Vein Preservation Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 82–84% exam pass rate (December 2025: 82%; 2025 overall: 84%)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments11 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• PrometriccoreTechnology or IntegrationPrometric is VACC's exclusive testing partner for administering the VA-BC™ certification exam. Prometric provides test center infrastructure (hundreds of sites across the U.S. and Canada plus select international locations) and the ProProctor remote proctoring platform for candidates outside primary geographic areas. Candidates complete a system check at rpcandidate.prometric.com before scheduling remote exams. Prometric also provides training to VACC's Test Committee members on psychometric item development.
• Association for Vascular Access (AVA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAVA is VACC's primary professional association partner. Joint activities include co-hosting free CE webinars (e.g., 'CPG Section 4, Clinical Considerations for Insertion'), exhibiting at the AVA Annual Scientific Meeting, offering AVA members discounted rates on VA-BC exams and recertification, and sponsoring CE content through AVA Academy and JAVA CE. AVA is the creator of Vascular Access Specialty Day (October 5). VACC actively participates in AVA events and considers AVA members its core constituency.
• BadgeCertcoreTechnology or IntegrationBadgeCert provides VACC's digital badge platform, enabling certificants to claim, share, and verify their VA-BC™ credential digitally. Badges are uniquely linked to each individual, contain verifiable credential metadata, and can be shared on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, email signatures, resumes, and websites. BadgeCert sends issuance emails, reminder emails, and supports social media integration.
• National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA)coreOthersNCCA, a division of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence, provides formal accreditation of the VA-BC™ certification program. NCCA accreditation (valid through June 30, 2027) is the gold standard for professional certification and is a prerequisite for ANCC Magnet recognition. NCCA requires job analyses every five years and strict separation between certification and education activities.
• American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)coreOthersANCC recognizes the VA-BC™ certification for the Magnet Recognition Program as an NCCA-accredited board certification. This recognition is a major driver of institutional demand for the VA-BC credential in hospitals pursuing or maintaining Magnet status.
• B. Braun Medical Inc.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerB. Braun is listed as a CE resource provider on VACC's Continuing Education Resources page, offering E-University courses and educational webinars. VACC's Dr. Lorelle Wuerz (Board member) serves as Clinical Success Director at B. Braun Medical Inc., creating an organic link between VACC leadership and the industry partner. B. Braun provides free CE content relevant to vascular access.
• BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBD is listed as a CE resource provider on VACC's CE Resources page, offering on-demand webinars on vascular access and medication delivery topics. BD's product portfolio in vascular access devices creates alignment with VACC's certification mission.
• TeleflexminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTeleflex is listed as a CE resource provider, offering The Teleflex Academy with free educational content on vascular access topics. Teleflex's vascular access product line aligns with the VA-BC certification scope.
• Solventum (Formerly 3M Healthcare)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSolventum (formerly 3M Healthcare) is listed as a CE resource on VACC's CE Resources page, offering medical education courses through 3M Medical Education.
• Employers supporting VA-BC certification (hospitals and healthcare systems)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproximately 50% of VA-BCs receive employer-paid exam fees, indicating significant institutional investment in the credential. VACC recognizes employers who supported certification among their staff and offers an Employer Guide, justification letter templates, and a Voucher Program to facilitate institutional adoption. Notable institutional adopters include Madigan Army Medical Center (certified ~30 of 60 vascular access staff in 2021) and Dynamic Access (Richardson, TX; 100% pass rate in December 2025).
• Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs (NOVA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerVACC offers a discount to members of the Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs (NOVA), in addition to its standard AVA member discount. This partnership supports certification uptake within the VA healthcare system.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI): CCI offers CNOR and other perioperative nursing certifications through an NCCA-accredited, Magnet-aligned model with recurring recertification. Same revenue mechanics (exam fees, recert, institutional vouchers) and same target market of specialty nursing professionals.
• Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC): ONCC administers multiple NCCA-accredited oncology nursing certifications (OCN, CPHON, CBCN). Closely analogous operating model to VACC: multidisciplinary, periodic job-task analysis, NCCA accreditation, Magnet-recognized, employer-paid fees, and recurring recertification cycles.
• Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC): NNCC offers CNN, CDN, and CCHT certifications for nephrology and dialysis nursing. Comparable structure: NCCA-accredited specialty nursing credential, Magnet-recognized, recurring recertification, employer-paid fees, and multidisciplinary exam content.
• Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS): BPS offers board certifications across pharmacy specialties and is the structural analog for the pharmacist VA-BC cohort, which tripled in 2024. Same NCCA-accredited model, periodic job analyses, Magnet-recognized, and recurring recertification for specialty clinicians.
• National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC): NBRC credentials respiratory therapists (RRT, CRT), an audience VACC explicitly targets as one of the top positions among VA-BCs. Same NCCA-accredited exam structure, Magnet-recognized, three-year recertification, and multidisciplinary specialty certification model.
• National Certification Corporation (NCC): NCC provides NCCA-accredited certifications for obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing specialties. Operates a near-identical business model to VACC: specialty nursing board certification, Magnet-recognized, periodic job analyses, three-to-five year recertification cycles, and employer-paid adoption.
• Infusion Nurses Society (INS): INS offers the Certified Registered Nurse Infusion (CRNI) credential, the most directly comparable specialty nursing certification covering infusion therapy and vascular access device management. Same target audience (nurses performing vascular access), similar NCCA-accredited structure, and overlapping exam/recert revenue model.
• National Board of Nutrition Support Certification (NBNSC): NBNSC certifies nutrition support clinicians (CNSC), a discipline that intersects directly with vascular access (parenteral nutrition, central venous access). Leadership overlaps with VACC: Brenda Gray and Lillian Harvey Banchik are past or current board members of both organizations, signaling close operational and governance parallels.
• American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Certification Corporation: AACN Certification Corporation issues CCRN and related critical-care nursing credentials with NCCA accreditation and Magnet alignment. Highly comparable structure: specialty nursing body, NCCA-accredited exams, three-to-five year recertification, large certificant base, and institutional partnerships.

Broad incumbents

• American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC): ANCC is the largest U.S. nursing credentialing body and operates the Magnet Recognition Program that drives institutional demand for VACC's VA-BC. While not a direct competitor in vascular access, ANCC sets the broader Magnet framework and competes across many nursing specialties, making it both an enabler and a potential substitute threat.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/VACCcert
• Facebookfacebook.com/VACCcert

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vascular Access Certification