VA-BC certification: eligibility, exam and renewal
VA-BC™ (Vascular Access Board Certified) is the certification for clinicians who specialize in vascular access: placing and caring for PICCs, midlines and other devices. It's awarded by the Vascular Access Certification Corporation (VACC). Unlike the CRNI®, it isn't limited to RNs. To sit for the exam you need post-secondary education, a healthcare credential, and at least a year of professional experience that includes vascular access practice.
- Awarded by: VACC. Membership in the Association for Vascular Access (AVA) is not required.
- Open to: credentialed professionals who use vascular access skills, such as RNs, LPNs/LVNs, NPs, PAs, physicians, respiratory therapists and EMTs.
- Experience: at least 1 year of professional experience, with current vascular access practice.
- Exam: 150 multiple-choice questions (125 scored), at Prometric test centers.
- Renewal: every 3 years, by retaking the exam or with 30 vascular access continuing education credits.
Who is eligible
According to the VACC 2026 handbook, every candidate must:
- Have at least post-secondary education (a diploma, associate or bachelor's degree, or higher).
- Be a credentialed healthcare professional in clinical practice that requires vascular access skills.
- Have at least 1 year of professional experience, with practice in vascular access. VACC bases this on about 2,080 hours, one year of full-time work. Current practice must include at least two of: caring for patients who need vascular access; educating others in vascular access best practice; writing vascular access policies and procedures; managing vascular access activities; or consulting on them.
- Attest that they work in vascular access, or in a field that complements it, such as education, infection control or nutrition support.
VACC notes the credential is not intended for sales, marketing or other non-clinical industry roles.
The exam
The VA-BC exam has 150 multiple-choice questions. 125 of them count toward your score, and the rest are trial questions. It's given by computer at Prometric testing centers and is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). The content outline is based on a job analysis of vascular access professionals, and VACC publishes it in the candidate handbook.
Renewal
The credential lasts three years. You can renew in one of two ways:
- By exam: apply and retest before your expiration date.
- By continuing education: 30 CE credits related to vascular access, earned across the cycle rather than in a single year, from a nationally recognized provider.
VA-BC vs. CRNI
| VA-BC™ | CRNI® | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Vascular access: device selection, insertion and care | All of infusion nursing: access, therapies, safety |
| Who can take it | Several professions | RNs only |
| Experience | 1 year of professional experience with vascular access practice | 1,600 infusion hours as an RN in the past 2 years |
| Best for | PICC and vascular access teams | Infusion center, home infusion and hospital infusion nurses |
If you work chairside at an infusion center, the CRNI® is usually the better fit. If you place lines, VA-BC is built for you. See all the options in infusion nurse certifications compared, and brush up on device basics in PICC line vs. port.
Source: Vascular Access Certification Corporation, VACC Certification and Recertification Handbook (2026) and Eligibility. Check VACC for current fees and dates.
How we write our guides. Certification, pay and practice facts are checked against primary sources (INCC/INS, ONS, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics), listed at the end of the guide where they apply. Pay and job counts come from the job posts on this site and update weekly. These guides describe careers and job duties. They aren't clinical advice: follow your orders, your employer's protocols and the product labeling. More about our data.
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