Certification

Whether you are a transplant coordinator, transplant nurse, procurement transplant coordinator or transplant preservationist, the work you do is very meaningful and vitally important in saving and improving lives. Depending on your transplant specialty consider becoming ABTC certified in one or more following roles:

NCCA Accredited Certifications

• Transplant Procurement Coordinators: Certified Procurement Transplant Coordinator (CPTC®) – Professionals who are responsible for the clinical duties related to donor identification, authorization, management, organ recovery, and post-donation follow-up.

• Clinical Transplant Coordinators: Certified Clinical Transplant Coordinator (CCTC®) – Professionals who are responsible for the coordination of processes related to solid organ transplantation for both live and deceased donors and transplant recipients.

• Clinical Transplant Registered Nurses (RN): Certified Clinical Transplant Nurse (CCTN®) – Registered nurse professionals who monitor and educate patients pre- and post-transplant, providing psycho-social support. Transplant nurses deliver post-transplant immediate care of the patient and evaluate the function of recipient's graft while monitoring complications for infection, rejection, metabolic disorder, and malignancies. Additionally, transplant RNs administer prescribed medications and support the discharge of the transplant donor and recipient.

Professional Certifications

• Transplant Preservationists: Certified Transplant Preservationist (CTP®) – Professionals who are responsible for organ recovery, aseptic techniques, organ preservations, specimen collection, and packing, labeling, and shipping.

• Transplant Financial Coordinators: Certified Transplant Financial Coordinator (CTFC) – Professionals who provide accurate financial information to patients and their families in a compassionate and tactful manner, while maximizing reimbursement for transplant centers.

WHAT IS TRANSPLANT CERTIFICATION

In general, certification is a voluntary process by which a non-governmental agency formally recognizes specialized knowledge, skills and ability in a designated area through examination. Successful exam candidates are able to use the credential to identify their achievements. Additionally, a public registry of credentialed individuals is provided for verification by employers and members of the public.  
 
Certification establishes the minimum standard in the specialty and offers recognition for those who have met this standard. Test specifications for the exam are derived through an industry-recognized process, in accordance with best practice guidelines, known as a Job Task Analysis or Role Delineation Study.
 
Through the requirements of the recertification process, certificants demonstrate continuing competence in the field of transplantation.
In particular, practitioners who achieve certification on the CPTC, CCTC, CCTN or CTP meet recognized certification standards and through established recertification procedures continue to demonstrate continuing competency.

BENEFITS OF TRANSPLANT CERTIFICATION

Practitioners dedicate years of hard work and study to their profession and should be recognized for their transplant specialty skills and dedication, as well as their enormous personal commitment to patients and families. ABTC certification provides that recognition, along with many other benefits associated with certification: ​

• Greater control over your career - With certification in organ donation or transplantation, practitioners will be recognized for jobs with higher salaries at quality institutions.
• Professional excellence - Certification signals to employers, colleagues and patients that your skills are highly specialized – that you embody exceptional expertise in your area of specialty.
• Personal achievement - Becoming certified in your field boosts confidence and competence, which can lead to greater job satisfaction and improved patient safety.
• Expert guidance and support - Transplant certification welcomes you into an elite community of ABTC-certified professionals. Through ABTC's growing channels of connectivity among candidates and certified professionals, you will have many opportunities to seek guidance and support from other ABTC-certified professionals in your field.​

• Error Reduction - Certification programs often emphasize patient safety protocols, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, which help prevent errors in medical treatment.

​​Why Transplant Centers and OPOs Support Certification

For transplant centers and organ procurement organizations (OPOs), there are many benefits to having ABTC-certified professionals on your transplant team:

• Elevated competitive positioning - When organ donation and transplantation professionals hold specialty certifications from ABTC, it signals to the entire community and practice – and to the public – that your team embodies exceptional expertise in organ transplantation.
• Public Trust and Confidence - Patients are more likely to trust certified professionals, knowing they have met stringent qualifications and maintain high standards in their practice.
• Continuous education and professional growth for your team - By encouraging transplant certification, you can help ensure ongoing professional and intellectual growth for members of your transplant or organ procurement team.
• Magnet-Recognized Transplant Certification - ABTC certifications are Magnet-recognized, which bolsters your organization's efforts in achieving and maintaining Magnet designation.
• Demonstrated Commitment to Excellence: CCTC®, CPTC® and CCTN® ABTC certifications are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, so having certified professionals on your transplant team underscores your organization's commitment to very high standards of practice.

ABTC certification is granted to qualified candidates who complete and pass the certification examination. Each certification is valid for three years, and ABTC-certified professionals can recertify through continuing education activities or by successfully retaking the examination. The number of Continuing Education Points for Transplant Certification (CEPTCs) required for recertification through continuing education is 60.

Empower your transplant team with professional certification through the American Board for Transplant Certification (ABTC)! Organizations can support their transplant professionals by facilitating the certification process, which validates expertise and enhances patient care standards.

To get your team certified:
✔ Identify Eligible Candidates – Ensure your professionals meet the required experience for their respective certification exams.
✔ Provide Resources – Encourage candidates to review the ABTC Candidate Handbook and utilize self-assessment tools.
✔ Streamline the Application Process – Assist employees in creating an account and submitting applications via ABTC's Certemy portal.
✔ Facilitate Exam Scheduling – Coordinate with PSI Exam Centers, which offer nearly 200 secure testing locations nationwide.
✔ Support Continued Education – Encourage professionals to maintain certification by becoming an Approved Provider of Continuing Education Points for Transplant Certification (CEPTCs).

Invest in your team's growth and set the standard for excellence in transplantation. Learn more and start the certification process today

Below is a table summarizing the benefits of certifications in healthcare and nursing with corresponding source:

1. • Benefit	Citation	Summary
     Enhanced Patient Outcomes	Kendall-Gallagher D, Blegen MA. Competence and Certification of Registered Nurses and Safety of Patients in Intensive Care Units. Am J Crit Care. 2009. Link	Certified nurses improved patient outcomes by reducing mortality and hospital-acquired infections.
     Improved Organizational Performance	Fitzpatrick JJ, Campo TM, Graham G. Promoting Certification Through Supportive Leadership in Healthcare Organizations. Int J Nurs Sci. 2023. Link	Organizations with higher certification rates achieved better compliance with standards and improved team efficiency.
     Financial and Career Advancement	Blanchflower DG, Oswald AJ. Does Certification Pay? Evidence From the Human Capital Theory Applied to Healthcare Professionals. Hum Resour Health. 2023. Link	Certified healthcare workers earned 4.8% more weekly than non-certified counterparts, supporting economic benefits.
     Increased Patient Trust and Satisfaction	Frenk J, Chen L, Bhutta ZA, et al. Health Professionals for a New Century: Transforming Education to Strengthen Health Systems in an Interdependent World. BMC Med Educ. 2010. Link	Certification was linked to higher patient satisfaction due to perceived expertise and professionalism.
     Professional Development and Job Satisfaction	Kendall-Gallagher D, Blegen MA. Competence and Certification of Registered Nurses and Safety of Patients in Intensive Care Units. Am J Crit Care. 2009. Link	Certified professionals experienced greater job satisfaction, autonomy, and recognition in their roles.
     Crisis Management and Leadership	Fitzpatrick JJ, Campo TM, Graham G. Promoting Certification Through Supportive Leadership in Healthcare Organizations. Int J Nurs Sci. 2023. Link	Certified professionals effectively handled crises, such as organ shortages, through better protocols and coordination.