Frequently Asked Questions
1. Will I be certified when I complete the LSUHNO-SON Online LNC course?
No. You will be issued a "certificate of completion" from the program attesting to your meeting the course requirements. National certification recognized by the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants and the ANCC may be applied for after meeting the eligibility requirements for taking the certification exam.
2. What Agency/association certifies LNCs?
The American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants provides the Legal Nurse Consultant
Certified (LNCC) credential in conjunction with the ANCC. Contact the AALNC Headquarters
at:
401 N. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
877/402-2562
Fax: 312/673-6655
Or online at www.aalnc.org
3. Am I required to be certified to work as a LNC?
No. Certification is not required to practice as an LNC. However some RNs who plan to pursue the LNC career path want the certification which recognizes prior experience and the broad knowledge base attained through the completion of a comprehensive LNC program.
4. Can AD or Diploma nurses become certified as a LNC?
Yes. AD or Diploma nurses who are licensed as RNs can achieve the LNCC credential. To “be eligible to take the examination, the AALNC and ANCC require candidates to meeting the following criteria at the time of application:
- Current licensure as a registered nurse in the United States or one of its territories, with a full and unrestricted license
- a minimum of five years of experience practicing as a registered nurse
- Evidence of 2000 hours of legal nurse consulting experience within the past three years.
5. How long will it take me to complete each Module?
Modules are completed on self -paced format.
9. How much do LNCs earn?
LNCs may earn on the average in the range of $75 - $125/hour as independent consultants. The fee may be higher for serving as an expert witness to provide testimony in litigation. LNCs employed full or part time must negotiate their salaries and benefits with the prospective employer. If the employer can bill your time to a client, you may be able to negotiate a higher fee.
10. Where do LNCs work?
LNCs are working and finding jobs in many different practice environments, including: law firms, independent LNC practice, insurance companies, government offices, risk management departments, hospital/facility legal departments, attorney general's office, worker's compensation offices, case management departments, administrative offices/departments, e.g. State Boards of Nursing, courts, home health, district attorneys' office, coroner's office - any area where the combined knowledge of medicine and law would be beneficial.
11. Does the course help you find a job after you finish?
The course prepares the student for a career in Legal Nurse Consulting in the many different venues as listed above, however LSUHNO School of Nursing does not provide specific job contacts. Many LNCs start their own business and work as independent contractors.