Do You Need a License to Be a Clinical Nurse Leader?
No separate one. Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) is a national certification, and you practice on your RN license.
Sources checked October 13, 2026.
Key points
- No CNL license exists. CNL is a certification, not a state license. You practice on your RN license, and CNC will not grant CNL status until it receives proof of RN licensure.
- CNL is not an APRN role. The APRN Consensus Model names four: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM), Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP) (Consensus Model).
- The exam costs $425 ($325 to retake) and is run by the Commission on Nurse Certification, part of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (CNC dates and fees).
- Renewal is every 5 years. 2,000 hours of professional practice across the five years (the job title need not be CNL) and 50 contact hours. CE used for RN license renewal is accepted. The deadline is December 31.
CNL certification at a glance
| License or certification | Certification, held on your RN license |
|---|---|
| Exam | CNL Certification Examination |
| Run by | Commission on Nurse Certification (CNC), part of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (not the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses) |
| Credential | CNL |
| Exam fee | $425 |
| Retake fee | $325 |
| Certification period | 5 years |
Initial exam $425 ($475 late registration); retake $325 ($375 late). Fees are non-refundable and no member discount is listed. CNL certification at AACN.
Who can sit the exam
In the last term of, or a graduate of, an accredited CNL master's or post-master's program. Students who enrolled on or after January 1, 2024 need at least 500 clinical hours, 300 of them in immersion. Full certification also requires an RN license not under current board discipline.
Keeping the credential
CNL certification runs for 5 years. 2,000 hours of professional practice across the five years (the job title need not be CNL) and 50 contact hours. CE used for RN license renewal is accepted. The deadline is December 31.
Two organizations called AACN
The CNL exam belongs to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is a different organization. It certifies clinical nurse specialists (ACCNS-AG, ACCNS-P, ACCNS-N), an APRN role covered in our CNS guide.
Comparing roles? The nursing certification exams table lists the exam, fee, and renewal cycle for every nursing role, and our guide to online nursing degrees and licensure covers program approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a Clinical Nurse Leader?
Is a Clinical Nurse Leader an APRN?
Who runs the CNL certification exam?
How much does the CNL exam cost?
Who is eligible to take the CNL exam?
How do you renew CNL certification?
Sources
- aacnnursing.org/our-initiatives/education-practice/clinical-nurse-leader/cnl-certification/exam/dates-fees
- aacnnursing.org/our-initiatives/education-practice/clinical-nurse-leader/cnl-certification/Renewal
- aacnnursing.org/Portals/0/PDFs/CNL/faq.pdf
- aacnnursing.org/Portals/0/PDFs/CNL/1-2024-CNL-Clincal-Hour-Requirements-Changes.pdf
- ncsbn.org/public-files/Consensus_Model_for_APRN_Regulation_July_2008.pdf
Related Resources
Nursing Certification Exams
Every role's exam, fee, and renewal in one table.
Nurse Educator Certification
Another certification you hold on your RN license.
NCLEX Guide
The RN licensure exam that comes first.
APRN roles: Nurse Practitioner · CRNA · Nurse-Midwife · Clinical Nurse Specialist