National Certification Corporation
National Certification Corporation is a Chicago-based not-for-profit founded in 1975 that administers national certification exams for obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal healthcare professionals, having credentialed over 242,000 nurses and advanced practice clinicians.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1975
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What National Certification Corporation does
National Certification Corporation (NCC) is a not-for-profit certification organization founded in 1975 and headquartered in Chicago, IL. It develops and administers national certification examinations for licensed healthcare professionals in obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal specialties, including Registered Nurses (RNC certifications) and advanced practice Neonatal and Women's Health Nurse Practitioners (NP certifications). Since inception, NCC has awarded credentials to more than 242,000 professionals, with the neonatal community alone exceeding 62,000 active certificants. The organization also issues subspecialty certifications (Electronic Fetal Monitoring, Neonatal Pediatric Transport, Care of the Extremely Low Birth Weight Neonate, Obstetric and Neonatal Quality and Safety, Obstetric Emergencies, and Neonatal Neuro-Intensive Care), maintaining the only nationally accredited certification program for Electronic Fetal Monitoring.
NCC's product architecture consists of a self-service online platform supporting computer-based certification exams with remote proctoring, an integrated continuing education (CE) module library with specialty bundles, a Continuing Competency Assessment that generates personalized CE plans, and an online verification system used by state boards of nursing. Supporting products include preview tests, primary-source verification services for state regulators, specialty-specific weekly newsletters published in partnership with Multiview, and a "Bookshelf" of clinical guides tied to CE modules. The underlying platform is a standard web-based certification and CE delivery system rather than an AI-driven product.
The business model combines one-time exam fees, recurring annual/biennial maintenance fees (Core certification at $100/yr with discounts down to $60 for users completing 45 NCC CE hours; Subspecialty at $50/yr; Alternate maintenance at $175/yr), and ancillary fees for reinstatement, extensions, emeritus status, and CE pre-approval. CE modules are sold individually or as discounted bundles (e.g., Neonatal Imaging package at $115 for 38 hours). NCC distributes primarily through product-led growth via its website, supplemented by enterprise engagement with NNP and WHNP nursing programs for accreditation and a dedicated verification channel for state boards of nursing. Marketing is concentrated in digital channels, email newsletters, and conference exhibits (ANN, NANN, ONE).
National Certification Corporation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- National Certification Corporation
- Legal name
- National Certification Corporation
- Website
- https://nccwebsite.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1975
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- National Certification Corporation is a Chicago-based not-for-profit founded in 1975 that administers national certification exams for obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal healthcare professionals, having credentialed over 242,000 nurses and advanced practice clinicians.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where National Certification Corporation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
National Certification Corporation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Certification Exam Fees: Fees for initial certification examinations across core and subspecialty certifications
- Certification Maintenance Fees: Annual/biennial maintenance fees for certified professionals: Core certification $100, Subspecialty $50, Alternate maintenance $175
- CE Module Sales: Continuing education modules sold individually or in discounted bundles (e.g., Neonatal Imaging package at $115 for 38 hours, Neurology bundles at $26-$56)
- Reinstatement Fees: Fees for reinstating lapsed certifications: $215 for core certifications, $145 for subspecialty certifications
- Emeritus Application Fee: One-time $90 fee for NCC-E (Emeritus) lifetime credential for retired professionals
- Pre-approval Service Fee: $30 fee for pre-approval of CE activities before submission
- Program Reactivation Fee: $500 fee to reinstate a lapsed nursing program accreditation
- Extension Fee: $30 service fee for three-month maintenance extension
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Core Certification Maintenance - Standard Rate |
| Subscription | Annual | Core Certification with 15 NCC CE Hours |
| Subscription | Annual | Core Certification with 30 NCC CE Hours |
| Subscription | Annual | Core Certification with 45 NCC CE Hours |
| Subscription | Annual | Subspecialty Certification Maintenance |
| Subscription | Annual | Alternate Maintenance |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | NCC-Emeritus Lifetime Credential |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Core Certification Reinstatement |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Subspecialty Certification Reinstatement |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Maintenance Extension |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | CE Pre-approval Service |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Neonatal Imaging 2nd Edition CE Package |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Neonatal Neurology CE Bundle THREE |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Neonatal Neurology CE Bundle TWO |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Neonatal Neurology CE Bundle ONE |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
National Certification Corporation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
National Certification Corporation (NCC) is a not-for-profit organization that delivers national certification examinations and continuing education for nurses, physicians, and other licensed healthcare professionals in obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal specialties. NCC also offers subspecialty certifications (including Electronic Fetal Monitoring, Obstetric Emergencies, Neonatal Neuro-Intensive Care, Reproductive Health and Infertility), an integrated Continuing Competency Assessment with a CE module library, and online verification services used by state boards of nursing and employers.
Product overview
National Certification Corporation (NCC) is a not-for-profit national certification organization for healthcare professionals, established in 1975. The company offers a dual-tiered product architecture consisting of core certification exams and subspecialty certifications. Core offerings include certification examinations for nurses in obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal specialties (RNC certifications) and advanced practice Neonatal and Women's Health nurse practitioners (NP certifications). Subspecialty certifications include Electronic Fetal Monitoring, Neonatal Pediatric Transport, Care of the Extremely Low Birth Weight Neonate, Obstetric and Neonatal Quality and Safety, Obstetric Emergencies, and Neonatal Neuro-Intensive Care. Supporting products include continuing education modules (online tests with reading materials), CE convenience packages (Neonatal Imaging and Neonatal Neurology bundles), continuing competency assessment tools, practice/preview tests, verification services for state boards, and specialty-specific newsletters. NCC has certified over 242,000 healthcare professionals since inception.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- EFM Certification: Electronic Fetal Monitoring certification program with dedicated website at ncc-efm.org
- Neonatal Educational Resources
- NCC Quality and Safety
Products and services
- Core Certification Exams
- Subspecialty Certifications
- Continuing Education Modules
- Neonatal Imaging 2nd Edition CE Series
- Neonatal Neurology CE Bundle ONE
- Neonatal Neurology CE Bundle TWO
- Neonatal Neurology CE Bundle THREE
- Continuing Competency Assessment
- State Board Verification Services
- Preview Tests
- NCC's Bookshelf
Quantifiable outcome
- 80% pass rate for Obstetric Emergencies certification exam
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use National Certification Corporation
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
National Certification Corporation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
National Certification Corporation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Professional Certification Coalition (PCC)coreNCC joined the Professional Certification Coalition, formed to counteract harmful legislative initiatives that undermine recognition of certifications from non-governmental organizations. Spearheaded by Institute for Credential Excellence (ICE) and American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).
- Intermountain HealthminorNCC President Cynthia Krening serves as Fetal Telemetry Nurse at Intermountain Health. Represents connection between NCC leadership and healthcare delivery organizations.
- ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Center)coreANCC accreditation recognized for continuing education credit accepted by NCC maintenance program
- AWHONN (Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses)coreAWHONN recognized as CE accrediting organization for NCC maintenance requirements
- NPWH (National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health)coreNPWH accreditation recognized for continuing education credit for women's health certifications
- NANN (National Association of Neonatal Nurses)coreNANN accreditation recognized for neonatal nursing continuing education
- ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists)coreACOG cognates recognized as equivalent to CE hours for NCC maintenance
- AMA (American Medical Association)coreAMA Category 1 hours accepted as continuing education credit (1 hour = 1 hour CE)
- AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics)coreAAP accreditation recognized for continuing education for neonatal certifications
Scale indicators7 records
National Certification Corporation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN): BCEN offers specialty nursing certifications in emergency, trauma, and critical care transport, mirroring NCC's specialty/subspecialty certification model. Highly comparable target market (specialty nurses seeking credential validation) and revenue mechanics.
- Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB): PNCB certifies pediatric and neonatal nurses, overlapping directly with NCC's neonatal specialty certifications and serving similar hospital employer customers. Closely aligned business model: exam-based certification with maintenance and CE components.
- Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI): CCI provides specialty nursing certifications (e.g., perioperative, cardiac, surgical services) using the same credentialing exam + maintenance + CE architecture as NCC. Closely comparable operating model in a different clinical niche.
- National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA): NCCPA certifies physician assistants nationally, operating the same exam + maintenance + CE architecture as NCC. Comparable scale, mission, and reliance on employer/state recognition for credential value.
- National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC): NBRC certifies respiratory therapists through credentialing exams and continuing competency assessments. Closely analogous not-for-profit credentialing structure serving allied health professionals with comparable recurring revenue mechanics.
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB): AANPCB certifies nurse practitioners in family and adult-gerontology primary care, operating an exam-and-maintenance model directly analogous to NCC's NP certifications. Competes for the same nurse practitioner wallet share.
- American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB): AMCB certifies nurse-midwives and midwives, overlapping with NCC's women's health and obstetric specialty portfolio. Same exam-and-recertification model, similar state-board recognition dynamics.
Others
- Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN): AWHONN is both a NCC reciprocal CE accreditation partner and a professional association whose continuing education and emerging credentials partially overlap NCC's offering. Comparable audience (obstetric/neonatal nurses) but functions more as an association than a dedicated certification body.
Broad incumbents
- American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT): ARRT is the dominant credentialing body for radiologic technologists, with a larger portfolio of certifications and similar annual maintenance requirements. Comparable operating model at greater scale and broader clinical scope.
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC): ANCC is the largest US nursing credentialing body under the ANA, offering certification across many nursing specialties. Comparable in mission and operating model, but at a significantly larger scale and broader scope than NCC's perinatal focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
National Certification Corporation social profiles
Digital presenceNational Certification Corporation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
National Certification Corporation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
National Certification Corporation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
National Certification Corporation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about National Certification Corporation
What does National Certification Corporation do?
National Certification Corporation (NCC) is a not-for-profit organization that delivers national certification examinations and continuing education for nurses, physicians, and other licensed healthcare professionals in obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal specialties. NCC also offers subspecialty certifications (including Electronic Fetal Monitoring, Obstetric Emergencies, Neonatal Neuro-Intensive Care, Reproductive Health and Infertility), an integrated Continuing Competency Assessment with a CE module library, and online verification services used by state boards of nursing and employers.
Is National Certification Corporation a public or private company?
National Certification Corporation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was National Certification Corporation founded?
National Certification Corporation was founded in 1975. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is National Certification Corporation based?
National Certification Corporation is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does National Certification Corporation make money?
Eight revenue lines are on record. Certification Exam Fees are the primary driver. The others are certification Maintenance Fees, CE Module Sales, reinstatement Fees, emeritus Application Fee, pre-approval Service Fee, program Reactivation Fee and extension Fee.
Who are National Certification Corporation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN), Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB), Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI), National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) and American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB). Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) and American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Does National Certification Corporation have an API?
No public API is recorded for National Certification Corporation.