Nursing Certification

ADVANCE Clinical Ladder Resources:

Education Reimbursement and Certification:

Certification Resources- Success Pays:

For Success Pays: 
When you complete your online initial certification application you will need an Inova specific discount code.  Contact the system professional practice office at 571.472.8641 or email Rebecka.Bennett@inova.org to secure this discount code. Responses will be available within five business days in most instances. This discount code is not to be shared with anyone else.

Other Professional Development Tools and Opportunities:

Please ensure that you are on an Inova computer or logged into Inova Citrix using your 5+2 and password

Certification Resources

Where to Start:

• See the “Educational Assistance Program Policy” on PolicyStat, Policy ID15072806
  • Inova Education Assistance Program Quick Reference PDF
• Check for your certification on the ‘'List of Approved Magnet Certification'. 
• Ask your department leaders which certification applies to your practice area
• Research your certification's governing body webpage for eligibility requirements (e.g., ONC, ANA)
  • ANCC/Magnet Approved Certification website

Preparation Resources: 

• Search the HealthStream Catalog for exam review materials. 
• Utilize unit materials, Inova provided review courses, or ask the library for assistance- Email: Fairfax.Library@inova.org

Certification Payment:

• See if certification applies to Success Pays Program for 17 ANCC certifications:
  • No upfront, out-of-pocket expense for you
  • No payment for a failed exam (max of two attempts)
  • Prior to your exam, contact the system professional practice office (571-472-8641 or Email Rebecka.Bennett@inova.org) for Success Pays discount code.
• Follow Education Assistance Program guidelines reimbursement certifications outside Success Pays will be paid by the applicant and reimbursed through Guild.

Please ensure that you are on an Inova computer or logged into Inova Citrix using your 5+2 and password

ADVANCE Clinical Ladder 

Where to Start:

• See "IHS ADVANCE Clinical Ladder Procedure" on Policy Stat through Inova Connect (Policy ID 13879493)
• Eligibility Criteria:
  • Be a registered nurse in a budgeted and benefit eligible position (0.5 FTE or higher),
  • Beyond 90-day probationary period
  • Not in Disciplinary Process
• Ensure your E-Profile on Staff Garden is 100% complete prior to application start. 
  • E-profile information includes.
    • Work history. 
    • Certifications
    • Highest earned degree
    • And more!

Quick Guide on the ADVANCE Ladder Program

• 4 levels on the advance ladder: RN2, RN3, RN4, RN5!

• Please work with your ADVANCE Committee practice area representative to ensure your application is complete. If you do not know your ADVANCE Committee representative, please email: 

• For each ADVANCE level, there are certain requirements that need to be met, Breakdown of categories below: 

  • RN 2 requires 15 points with 1 activity from at least one of the ADVANCE Ladder categories. 1-2 years of nursing experience 
  • RN 3 required 30 points with 2 activities from at least two of the ADVANCE Ladder categories. 2 or more years of nursing experience 
  • RN 4 requires 45 points with 3 activities from at least three of the ADVANCE Ladder categories. 3 or more years of nursing experience 
  • RN 5 requires 60 points with 4 activities from all four ADVANCE Ladder categories. 5 or more years of nursing experience, at least 2 years at Inova Health System 

• The ADVANCE Categories are: Transformational Leadership, Structural Empowerment, Exemplary Professional Practice New Knowledge, and Innovation

  • These follow the four pillars of the Magnet Model 

  • Provides a space for nurses to get credit for their work, and also provides a platform for nurses to document the excellent leadership and nursing excellence initiatives nurses provide for all of Inova. 

• The Point System:

  • Each item of evidence from the different categories provide a certain amount of points

  • To help increase points you may use the miscellaneous option, but this does not count towards the 4 categories discussed above. 

  • You must have at least 5 points per category to use for application

Please ensure that you are on an Inova computer or logged into Inova Citrix using your 5+2 and password

Education Assistance

Family Scholarship Program

• For Team Members’ children for the financial assistance of a post-secondary degree in a healthcare field.

• $5,000 scholarship annually for:
  • team members' children in 3rd, 4th or 5th year of undergraduate study or
  • last two years of an accelerated program in a health care related field
• Lifetime maximum of $10,000

Scholarships & Discounted Tuition

• Additional funds beyond $5,250 can be requested through the Professional Development Award Application.
• Inova offers discounted tuition rates at

Student Loan Assistance 

• Financial assistance for outstanding student loan debt.
• Monthly payments to student loan services with team member’s payments
• Payments made based on years of service
  • $150 for < 3 years and
  • $250 for > 3+ years or more of continuous service
• $5250 maximum for education assistance in calendar year The lifetime maximum is $10,000.

Higher Education Assistance 

• $5,250 a calendar year in educational expenses for completing:
• undergraduate or graduate degree courses
• professional certifications that are relevant to your present job or that help prepare you for future opportunities within Inova.