Med-Surg Certification: CMSRN vs MEDSURG-BC

The Certifying Bodies

The MSNCB administers the first credential. This board affiliates closely with the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN). The ANCC administers the MEDSURG-BC. Both organizations hold accreditation from the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC). This means hospitals view both as valid, rigorous markers of your clinical competence.

Test Structure and Content

The MSNCB test contains 125 scored questions. You need a standard scaled score of 95 (about 71% correct) to pass. The content spans five official domains. Patient/Care Management makes up 32% (40 items). Nursing Teamwork and Collaboration covers 21% (26 items). Elements of Interprofessional Care is 17% (21 items). Holistic Patient Care and Professional Concepts each account for 15% (19 items). For the exact question breakdown and passing score of the ANCC test, check the official MEDSURG-BC handbook.

Maintaining Your Credential

You must recertify your MSNCB credential every five years. You can do this by re-examination or by completing 90 contact hours. If you choose contact hours, 68 must be in medical-surgical nursing and up to 22 can be professional development. You also need an active RN license and 1,000 medical-surgical practice hours within those five years. To verify the renewal requirements for the ANCC route, check the official MEDSURG-BC handbook.

How to Decide

Start by asking your unit manager or hospital educator. Some facilities strongly prefer the ANCC credential for Magnet recognition reporting, though Magnet accepts both. Other hospitals partner with the MSNCB through specific voucher programs. If your employer pays for your test upfront through a specific program, take that route. If neither applies, review the content outlines for both and pick the one that best matches your daily clinical practice.

FAQ

Is one medical-surgical certification better than the other?

No. Both are nationally recognized and accredited. Your choice depends entirely on employer preference and your own professional goals.

Do hospitals pay differently based on which credential I hold?

Generally, no. Most hospitals offer a standard specialty certification differential or bonus regardless of whether you hold the MSNCB or ANCC credential.

Can I use the same study materials for both?

There is heavy overlap in clinical knowledge. Reviewing core medical-surgical concepts will help you prepare for either. For targeted practice, you can use our 4,100+ practice questions, but always align your final review with the specific content outline of your chosen board.

Can I hold both credentials at the same time?

Yes, but this is redundant. Holding both requires paying double the renewal fees and tracking two sets of continuing education requirements without providing additional clinical or financial benefits.