An appeal procedure is available to any applicant ("Applicant") who has applied for ANCC certification and wishes to contest any adverse decision affecting his/her certification eligibility, only. Any individual who does not file a request for an appeal within the required time limit shall waive the right to appeal.

Discussion
Pursuant to the ANCC Board of Directors Appeal Policy and Procedure Guidelines, the Commission on Certification ("COC") assures Applicants seeking ANCC certification/re-certification an appeal policy and procedure is in place for adverse decisions affecting certification/recertification eligibility, only. Applicants cannot appeal, 1) actions taken by the Content Expert Panel ("CEP") in setting a passing score; 2) actions taken against an individual's certification status as a result of a lack of valid registered nurse license, unless proof of licensure is submitted with the appeal; 3) establishment of an eligibility requirement; 4) individual test items; and 5) test content validity.

Definition
An "adverse decision" shall mean misinterpretation/misapplication of eligibility requirements.

Procedure for Appeals for Certification/Certification Renewal Applicants and Certified Individuals

	Filing the Appeal
	1.	An appeal will be considered timely if postmarked within twenty (20) business days following the postmark date on the envelope in which the Appellant was notified of the adverse decision.
	2.	Appeals must be sent by certified mail with return receipt requested. Appeals by overnight courier service (e.g., FedEx), facsimile or email are not accepted.
	3.	An appeal must be submitted in writing (preferably typewritten) to the ANCC Director of Certification who will, in turn, submit it to the COC executive committee. The appeal must contain the envelope from ANCC showing the postmark date of the adverse decision.
	4.	The appeal should identify the adverse decision being appealed and explicitly state the reasons for the appeal. The appeal shall set forth any new or additional information to be considered.
	5.	The only additional information that may be submitted after the initial filing is that which is requested by the COC executive committee.
	COC Executive Committee Review and Consideration
	1.	The COC executive committee shall review and consider a properly filed appeal during its regularly scheduled monthly meeting.
	2.	If an appeal is received after the regularly scheduled monthly meeting, it will be reviewedand considered during the next regularly scheduled monthly meeting.
	3.	Where it deems necessary, the COC executive committee has the authority to request from theappropriate CEP an opinion regarding any aspect of the Applicant's appeal.
	4.	The COC executive committee shall make a determination as to whether it will uphold the adverse decision or not, or order other action that it deems necessary.
	5.	The ANCC, on behalf of the COC executive committee shall notify the Applicant of the COCexecutive committee's decision, and the reasons therefore, within fifteen (15) business days following the date of the COC executive committee's decision.
	6.	The COC executive committee's decision is final.