The Competency & Credentialing Institute Receives Accreditation of its CNOR®, CSSM®, CNAMB®, and CFPN® programs From the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification
Mt Laurel, NJ (4.10.2026) —The Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC), is pleased to announce the Competency & Credentialing has been granted reaccreditation for the Certified Perioperative Nurse® (CNOR®), Certified Ambulatory Surgery Nurse (CNAMB®), Certified Foundation Perioperative Nurse® (CFPN®), Certified Surgical Services Manager (CSSM®) certification programs.
The Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI) is the established leader in perioperative nursing certification, advancing professional practice through rigorous, accredited, exam‑based certification programs for more than four decades. Founded in 1979 as a nonprofit organization, CCI is an internationally recognized credentialing body and an industry leader in nursing competency assessment, offering certifications including CNOR®, CSSM®, CNS‑CP®, CNAMB®, CFPN®, and NPDA‑BC®. The reaccreditation of CCI’s exam‑based certifications affirms the organization’s longstanding commitment to excellence, continuous professional development, and the highest standards of safe, quality surgical patient care.
"Reaccreditation of CCI’s exam-based certification programs is a meaningful affirmation of the rigor, integrity, and relevance behind our credentials and leadership,” said Melissa Nosik, CEO of the Competency & Credentialing Institute. “Nursing has consistently been one of the most trusted professions in health care, and that trust is earned, not assumed. At CCI, we love credentialing because it is how trust is built and proven. Rigor is not a checkbox for us; it is the standard by which we hold ourselves accountable to nurses, employers, and, ultimately, patients. For more than four decades, that commitment has guided our work. As perioperative practice continues to evolve, this recognition from ABSNC reflects both the strength of our foundation and our continued investment in innovation to support nurses and promote safe, high-quality patient care.”
ABSNC accreditation is a peer-reviewed mechanism that allows nursing certifying organizations to obtain program accreditation by demonstrating compliance with the highest quality standards in the industry. To maintain accreditation, programs must exhibit continuing adherence to the 18 standards set forth. “ABSNC Accreditation represents a recognized standard in certification testing and indicates that the credential meets or exceed legal and regulatory guidelines,” said Felicia Lembesis, CAE, ICE-CCP, Executive Director.
The mission of ABSNC is to promote excellence in specialty nursing through a rigorous accreditation process for credentialing programs. It is the only accrediting body specifically for nursing certification. ABSNC currently accredits more than 80 certification programs from 27 specialty nursing certification organizations. The accreditation standards offered by ABSNC include Examination-Based Certification Programs, Portfolio Assessment Certification Programs, and Assessment-Based Certificate Programs. For more information about ABSNC and its accreditation standards, please visit www.absnc.org or contact Felicia Lembesis, CAE, CCP-ICE, ABSNC Executive Director, (flembesis@ahint.com, 856-439-9080).