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Forensic Nursing Certificates & Certifications
Chanel Miller, formerly known as Emily Doe in a high-profile sexual assault case at Stanford University in 2015, says of the nurses who treated her, “My clothes were confiscated and I stood naked while the nurses held a ruler to various abrasions on my body and photographed them. The three of us worked to comb the pine needles out of my hair, six hands to fill one paper bag. To calm me down, they said it’s just the flora and fauna, flora and fauna.”
Forensic nursing is an emerging field that is growing due to the increased number of sexual assault victims and survivors coming forward in the wake of the #metoo movement started by activist and community organizer Tarana Burke. As the title suggests, forensic nurses work with law enforcement and other legal professionals to provide medical care and support to victims of crime, including sexual assault and murder.
Who can become a forensic nurse? Registered nurses (RNs) and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) can pursue a forensic nursing career through an educational certificate program or a professional certification. Colleges and universities offer academic certificate programs, while professional organizations provide certification training.
Once a university certificate program is complete, graduates can take a certification exam, such as the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) exam, which allows credential holders to specialize in adult, adolescent, or pediatric patients. To maintain certification, credential holders must complete continuing education credits every three years.
Forensic nurses work in various environments such as hospitals, clinics, law enforcement agencies, or private practice. Regardless of where they practice, forensic nurses provide a vital service to the justice system and play an essential role in investigating and prosecuting sexual assault crimes that often go unreported.
Pursuing forensic nursing is a great career option for nurses looking to specialize in a field that integrates the disciplines of healthcare and law. Read on for details on the differences between forensic nursing certificate programs and certificates, including a side-by-side comparison chart and information about educational and professional programs.
What’s the Difference Between Forensic Nursing Certificates & Certifications?
While forensic nursing certificates and certifications are similar, they are separate in many ways. Simply put: forensic nursing certificates are educational programs, and forensic nursing certifications are professional credentials.
Forensic Nursing Certificate Programs
Forensic nursing certificate programs are educational programs offered by colleges and universities. The first step to becoming a certified forensic nurse is completing an accredited nursing program at the BSN (bachelor of science in nursing) or MSN (master of science in nursing) and passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). Forensic nursing programs are typically offered at the graduate level, but many universities also offer undergraduate programs, which are featured below.
For example, Drexel University offers an online certificate program in forensic trends and issues in contemporary healthcare. This post-baccalaureate certification is for healthcare providers and educators who work with victims and offenders in healthcare agencies. Admission is open to anyone with a bachelor’s degree and takes one year to complete.
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
- Duration: One year
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Tuition: $1,355 per credit
Forensic Nursing Certification Programs
On the other hand, forensic nursing certifications are credentials that nurses can earn once educational certificates and degrees are complete. Nurses can enroll in an accredited forensic nursing certification training program with two years of nursing experience and a current RN or APRN license. Most programs offer 40 to 60 hours of didactic training that culminates in a certification exam. To maintain certification, nurses must complete continuing education requirements and recertify every three years.
One of the most common certification programs is the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) offered by the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN). The IAFN offers two credentials: SANE-A for adults and adolescents and SANE-P for pediatric patients.
To qualify for certification, nurses must complete a 40-hour didactic course and a clinical preceptorship, and have 200 to 300 documented hours of SANE-related clinical practice. Healthcare organizations and universities offer certification programs. Some BSN and MSN programs include SANE certification in their curriculum.
An example of a SANE certification program is Duquesne University’s online Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner adult and adolescent program, which results in a SANE-A credential. This program is available for currently enrolled and not currently enrolled students.
- Location: Pittsburgh, PA
- Duration: One year
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Tuition: $1,568 per credit
In short: forensic nursing certificate programs require one to two years of college or university courses, while forensic nursing professional certification requires a 40-hour training program and a few years of forensic nursing experience.
Read on for a side-by-side comparison chart of educational programs that offer forensic nursing certificates and how they differ from professional forensic nursing certification programs.
Side-by-Side Comparison: Forensic Nursing Certificates & Certifications
| Forensic Nursing Certificates | Forensic Nursing Certification | |
|---|---|---|
| Time to completion | 12 to 15 months | 40 hours |
| Credentials |
|
|
| Sample programs |
Drexel University – post-baccalaureate certificate Penn State University – post-master’s certificate Fitchburg State University – graduate certificate |
Duquesne University – SANE-A University of California Riverside – professional certificate Michigan State University – SANE |
| Accreditation | Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) | American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) |
| Certifying organizations | Not applicable; however, some MSN programs with forensic nursing concentrations include prerequisite coursework and clinical hours required for professional certification. |
International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) – SANE-A & SANE-P credentials Academy of Forensic Nurses (AFN) – Nurse Certified (AFN-C™) credential American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants (AALNC) – Legal Nurse Consultant Certified (LNCC®) credential |
| Who should enroll |
|
|
| Years of experience required to apply |
|
|
| Clinical hour requirements | Varies for each program | 200-300 hours before the credential exam |
| Cost |
$11,000 to $24,000 total, depending on residency status and undergraduate or graduate program. |
$275 to $475, depending on membership and country of residence. |
| Renewal | Not applicable; however, colleges and universities may offer continuing education courses required for SANE certification renewal. |
Requirements vary, but most organizations require credential holders to:
|
Rachel Drummond is a freelance writer, educator, and yogini from Oregon. She’s taught English to international university students in the United States and Japan for more than a decade and has a master’s degree in education from the University of Oregon. Rachel writes about meditation, yoga, coaching, and more on her blog (Instagram: @racheldrummondyoga).