Post-Licensure Certification and Post-Licensure Course Providers

Welcome to the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT) vocational nurse Post-Licensure Certification and Post-Licensure Course Provider page.

Getting licensed as a vocational nurse (VN) won’t be the end of the education for your career. Beyond completing biannual continuing education hours, each licensee may earn post-licensure certificates to expand their career potential. Below, you shall find tools to guide you to find either the training to gain such certification or how to create a program to train others for certification.

Vocational nurses are approved to train with three distinct certificates under the law. These are the practices of intravenous therapy (IV), blood withdrawal (BW), and a combination of both (IVBW) under the California Code of Regulations commencing under sections 2542, 2544, and 2547, respectively. These regulations authorize not just the post-licensure certification of vocational nurses but also the authorization to become a provider for that education; both are discussed below. We will first provide the method of becoming certified within each field. Afterward, we will offer instruction on creating such provider programs.

Helpful Links

• BreEZe – California’s central application for managing licenses.
• DCA License Search – California’s website for the tracking of public information on all licensees.
• Fee Schedule – The BVNPT’s webpage to track the fees associated with our applications and licenses.
• 16 CCR §§ 2542 through 2542.5 – The regulation governing IV certification and education.
• 16 CCR §§ 2544 through 2544.4 – The regulation governing BW certification and education.
• 16 CCR §§ 2547 through 2556 – The regulation governing IVBW certification and education.

Intravenous Therapy and/or Blood Withdrawal Certifications

For clarity’s sake, there are three separate, distinct post-licensure certificate categories authorized by law. The first governs intravenous therapy and intravenous therapy providers. The second governs blood withdrawal and blood withdrawal providers. The third governs the combination of both intravenous therapy and blood withdrawal as well as providers for the combination of both.

Procedure for Intravenous Therapy, Blood Withdrawal, or Combination Certification for Licensees

For clarification, if you have two certifications, one to perform intravenous therapy and one to perform blood withdrawal, there is no difference than the IVBW combination certificate in practice. The distinction lies in the training requirements. The first thing to know about becoming certified to perform intravenous therapy or blood withdrawal is that there are two paths. You may take an accredited course, or you may have a qualifying individual verify your competence.

IV, BW, and IVBW certification programs

Step one:

Find a course using the Department of Consumer Affairs license search.

On the website linked above, you can look under the licensing headings of Vocational Nurse Intravenous Therapy Provider, Vocational Nurse Blood Withdrawal Provider, or Vocational Nurse Intravenous Therapy Blood Withdrawal Provider. Each program listed under those search categories are a program approved to teach the respective arts. You may use an advanced search to find out more details to fit your needs and availability.

Step two:

Reach out to the selected school and find out more about their program. You will want to know where the course will be in time and location, whether they start your application with the Board or whether you are expected to do so yourself, and any other questions you feel is appropriate.

Step three:

Attend the course. Either you or the program will be starting an application for your post-licensure certification. Fees can be found on our fee schedule. Usually, providers handle this. If you are filing for your application, you will need to access BreEZe. On BreEZe, you will log in and under the heading “manage license information,” you will click on “Application for Post-Certification Licensure.”

Regardless of whether you submit the application, or your school does, we shall not be able to approve your application until we get documents from the provider to support training.

IV, BW, and IVBW certification by verification

Certification by verification is quite a deal more complicated and difficult than attending a program. You won’t have the support of an established program to take care of the application or forms for you, you will have to find someone that is both qualified and willing to verify your training in accordance with California regulation, and you’ll have to remedy any error on your own. However, when everything goes smoothly, certification by verification can sometimes be a faster process. You will need to review every detail of the process before you begin to have a chance for a smooth process.

Step one: application

Your first step is to apply for qualification with the BVNPT via BreEZe. You will log in. Under the heading, Manage License Information, you will find the application for whichever post-licensure certification you are applying for. Fill out the application and pay the fee. We shall not begin processing any application without the fee being paid.

Step two introduction: qualifying professional

The hardest part of certification by verification is in finding someone that is both qualified and willing to verify you. The requirements are specific and the individual places their professional reputation to state whether you are qualified.

Listed below are the requirements for each of the three paths. You may notice that they are quite similar in requirements. That’s no accident. However, they are different. You will need to make sure that you complete the specific requirements for the verification you are applying for. Each requires you to find a qualifying professional. To qualify, the professional must be:

1. A physician or surgeon licensed by the Medical Board of California or
2. A registered nurse licensed by the California Board of Registered Nursing

In addition, each path has additional requirements, and it will be damaging for both careers if your education/verification is out of compliance. Finally, remember that no professional is required by their license nor by their role as your supervisor to provide this verification.

Step one a: intravenous therapy

The qualifying professional must fulfill one of two requirements within the last five years: They need at least six months of experience starting and superimposing intravenous fluids in an “organized health care system,” as defined in Section 2860.5(c)(2), or they must have experience teaching courses in intravenous therapy or blood withdrawals.

The professional shall need to verify that you have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to safely practice venipuncture.

Step two b: blood withdrawal

For certification for blood withdrawal on its own, the qualifying professional may be a clinical laboratory scientist licensed by the California Department of health Services.

The qualifying professional must fulfill one of two requirements within the last five years: They need at least six months of experience performing blood withdrawals and/or starting and superimposing intravenous fluids in an “organized health care system,” as defined in Section 2860.5(c)(2), or they must have experience teaching courses in intravenous therapy or blood withdrawals.

The professional shall need to verify that you have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform blood withdrawals.

Step two c: intravenous therapy and blood withdrawal combination

The qualifying professional must fulfill one of two requirements within the last five years: They need at least six months of experience performing blood withdrawals and starting and superimposing intravenous fluids in an “organized health care system,” as defined in Section 2860.5(c)(2) within the last five years, or they must have experience teaching courses in intravenous therapy or blood withdrawals.

The professional shall need to verify that you are knowledgeable and competent in the practice of venipuncture and blood withdrawals.

Step three:

If the qualifying professional is willing to verify your capacity, you shall need to provide them with a form appropriate to what you are asking of them. If they are to verify you as competent for IV therapy, then you shall provide them with the form 55ED-10. If they are to verify you as competent for blood withdrawal, then you shall provide them with the form 55ED-5. If they are to verify you as competent for both IV therapy and blood withdrawal, then you shall provide them with the form 55ED-15. Once they have filled out the document, they shall mail the sealed original to the Board directly.

Step four:

You will need to access BreEZe. On BreEZe, you will log in and, under the heading “manage license information,” you will click on “Application for Post-Certification Licensure.” Your application will not begin processing until all fees are paid.

We shall not be able to approve your application until we obtain a properly completed verification form.

Conclusion

Once your certification has been approved, you can most easily confirm that your license has your certificate posted by going to the DCA license search and looking up your own license. Under license type look up vocational nurse, add your license number, and then hit search. You will find your new certification after clicking the “more details” button.

Procedure for Approval as an Intravenous Therapy, Blood Withdrawal, or Combination Certification Provider

The BVNPT is California’s authority regulating certification providers in intravenous therapy, blood withdrawal, and the combination thereof for vocational nurses. If you wish to become a provider, the Board will need a complete application. Your application won’t be approved until the Board also approves your course program and your course instructors. The three independent applications shall be detailed below in the order of intravenous therapy, blood withdrawal, and then the combination of both intravenous therapy and blood withdrawal.

Application to become an intravenous therapy provider

The first step in becoming a provider is to file 55ED-6 along with the application fee as posted within the fee schedule. On the top-right corner, you will see that your initial approval is only for two years–Afterward you must file for a 2-year renewal. The document has room for you to publish your course program and course instructors; however, you may always attach more if the space provided is not enough.

Review

The Education team will review your program and in approximately four to six weeks you can expect to receive an initial response with any deficiencies or concerns tolling our ability to complete your application. Our team will work with you to strengthen your proposal as may be needed. Our team will focus on several areas outlined within the California Code of Regulations, such as:

Course Content

Under 16 CCR § 2542.3, each course shall be limited to 15 students per instructor for clinical experience, and it shall be at least 30 hours in length, including 24 hours theory and 6 hours clinical experience, including at least 3 individually supervised successful venipunctures by each student on live human subjects.

The theory shall include, but not be limited to the following:

1. The requirements contained in Section 2860.5(c) of the code necessary for a nurse to start and superimpose intravenous fluids;
2. Psychological preparation of the patient;
3. Universal precautions for infection control; and
4. Intravenous therapy;
   1. Indications for intravenous therapy
   2. Types of venipuncture devices
   3. Types of delivery systems
   4. Types of intravenous fluids
   5. Preparation and immobilization of the venipuncture site
   6. Observation of the patient
   7. Regulation of the fluid flow
   8. Local and systemic reactions

Intravenous therapy clinical experience must include:

1. Preparation of equipment;
2. Safety factors;
3. Choice of vein;
4. Choice of device for intravenous therapy;
5. Techniques of venipuncture;
6. Universal precautions for infection control.

Course Instructors

Any instructor for a post-licensure course needs to be approved by the Board. There are several legal requirements which will be relevant before the Education team can make an affirmative recommendation. These could be found in greater detail under 16 CCR § 2542.4. However, they are stated briefly below:

Any instructor must be of one of the following regulated professions:

1. A physician or surgeon licensed by the Medical Board of California
2. A registered nurse licensed by the California Board of Registered Nursing

In addition, within the last five years, an instructor must fulfill one of two qualifiers:

1. Has had a minimum of 6 months of experience, including blood withdrawal and starting and superimposing intravenous fluids in an “organized health care system”; or
2. Has had experience teaching courses in blood withdrawal and/or intravenous therapy.

Application to become a blood withdrawal provider

The first step in becoming a provider is to file 55ED-1 along with the application fee as posted within the fee schedule. On the top-right corner, you will see that your initial approval is only for two years–Afterward you must file for a two-year renewal. The document has room for you to publish your course program and course instructors; however, you may always attach more if the space provided is not enough.

Review

The Education team will review your program and in approximately four to six weeks you can expect to receive an initial response with any deficiencies or concerns tolling our ability to complete your application. Our team will work with you to strengthen your proposal as may be needed. Our team will focus on several areas outlined within the California Code of Regulations, such as:

Course Content

Under 16 CCR § 2544.2, each course shall be limited to 15 students per instructor for clinical experience, and it shall include a minimum of three theory hours and three hours of clinical experience.

Theory hours shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

1. The requirements contained in Section 2860.5(b) of the Code necessary for a nurse to perform blood withdrawal;
2. Psychological preparation of the patient;
3. Universal precautions for infection control;
4. Blood withdrawal;
   1. Methods of blood withdrawal;
      1. Skin puncture;
      2. Venipuncture; and
      3. Arterial puncture (optional).
   2. Selection of appropriate method;
   3. Safety measures;
   4. Possible complications; and
   5. Preparation of withdrawal sites.

Blood withdrawal clinical experience must include:

1. Preparation of equipment for blood withdrawal;
2. Safety factors;
3. Choice of withdrawal site;
4. Choice of artery (optional);
5. Choice of device for blood withdrawal;
6. Techniques of venipuncture;
7. Techniques of arterial puncture (optional);
8. Skin puncture practice must include instruction in:
   1. Preparation of site; and
   2. Preparation of equipment.
9. Universal precautions for infection control.

Course Instructors

Any instructor for a post-licensure course needs to be approved by the Board. There are several legal requirements which will be relevant before the Education team can make an affirmative recommendation. These could be found in greater detail under 16 CCR § 2544.3. However, they are stated briefly below:

Any instructor must be of one of the following regulated professions:

1. A physician or surgeon licensed by the Medical Board of California
2. A registered nurse licensed by the California Board of Registered Nursing
3. A clinical laboratory scientist licensed by the California Department of health Services.

In addition, within the last five years, an instructor must fulfill one of two qualifiers:

1. Has had a minimum of 6 months of experience, including blood withdrawal and/or starting and superimposing intravenous fluids in an “organized health care system”; or
2. Has had experience teaching courses in blood withdrawal and/or intravenous therapy.

Application to become a combination intravenous therapy/blood withdrawal provider

The first step in becoming a provider is to file 55ED-11 along with the application fee as posted within the fee schedule. On the top-right corner, you will see that your initial approval is only for two years–Afterward you must file for a two-year renewal. The document has room for you to publish your course program and course instructors; however, you may always attach more if the space provided is not enough.

Review

The Education team will review your program and in approximately four to six weeks you can expect to receive an initial response with any deficiencies or concerns tolling our ability to complete your application. Our team will work with you to strengthen your proposal as may be needed. Our team will focus on several areas outlined within the California Code of Regulations, such as:

Course Content

Under 16 CCR § 2547.3, each course shall be limited to 15 students per instructor for clinical experience, and it shall be at least 36 hours in length, including 27 hours theory and 9 hours clinical experience, including at least 3 individually supervised successful venipunctures and 3 individually supervised skin punctures by each student on live human subjects. Arterial punctures are optional.

Theory hours shall include:

1. The requirements contained in Section 2860.5(b) and (c) of the Code necessary for a nurse to start and superimpose intravenous fluids and perform blood withdrawal;
2. Psychological preparation of the patient;
3. Universal precautions for infection control;
4. Intravenous Therapy;
   1. Indications for intravenous therapy;
   2. Types of venipuncture devices;
   3. Types of delivery systems;
   4. Types of intravenous fluids;
   5. Preparation and immobilization of the venipuncture site;
   6. Observation of the patient;
   7. Regulation of the fluid flow; and
   8. Local and systemic reactions;
5. Blood Withdrawal;
   1. Methods of blood withdrawal:
      1. Venipuncture;
      2. Skin puncture; and
      3. Arterial puncture (optional).
   2. Selection of appropriate method;
   3. Safety measures;
   4. Possible complications; and
   5. Preparation of withdrawal sites.
   6. Intravenous therapy and blood withdrawal clinical experience must include:
      1. Preparation of equipment for intravenous therapy and blood withdrawal;
      2. Safety factors;
      3. Choice of vein;
      4. Choice of artery (optional);
      5. Choice of device for intravenous therapy and blood withdrawal;
      6. Techniques of venipuncture;
      7. Techniques of arterial puncture (optional);
      8. Skin puncture practice must include instruction in:
         1. Preparation of site; and
         2. Preparation of equipment.
      9. Universal precautions for infection control.

Course Instructors

Any instructor for a post-licensure course needs to be approved by the Board. There are several legal requirements which will be relevant before the Education team can make an affirmative recommendation. These could be found in greater detail under 16 CCR § 2547.4. However, they are stated briefly below:

Any instructor must be of one of the following regulated professions:

1. A physician or surgeon licensed by the Medical Board of California
2. A registered nurse licensed by the California Board of Registered Nursing

In addition, within the last five years, an instructor must fulfill one of two qualifiers:

1. Has had a minimum of 6 months of experience, including blood withdrawal and starting and superimposing intravenous fluids in an “organized health care system;” or
2. Has had experience teaching courses in blood withdrawal and/or intravenous therapy.