About Us

Life Care Planning Certification

The Universal Life Care Planner Certification Board (ULCPCB™), formerly known as the Certified Nurse Life Care Planner Certification Board, is incorporated as a nonprofit 501(c)6 exemption in the state of New Hampshire.  The Board is historically and currently incorporated as its own entity-separate and apart from any/all Associations.  The purpose of the Board is to establish and implement psychometrically sound certification and re-certification standards and credentials for the Certified Nurse Life Care Planner (CNLCP®) and Certified Health Professional Life Care Planner (CHLCP™) professional designations, to process applications for such designations, and to establish the examination process for applicants for said designations.

Identifies and implements certification and re-certification standards and credentials for the Certified Health Professional Life Care Planner (CHLCP™) and the Certified Nurse Life Care Planner (CNLCP®) professional designations.

Ensures that all decisions made by the Certification Board are taken in accordance with the Universal Life Care Planner Certification Board established bylaws and guidelines.

Ensures that initial certifications and renewals meet established criteria.

Holds in highest regard the privacy and confidential information of its Certificants.

Does not discriminate against any person.

As healthcare has become more complex, it is increasingly vital to assure the public that healthcare professionals are competent. Individual state professional healthcare licensure measures entry-level competence only; and, in so doing, provides the legal authority for an individual to practice within their area of expertise. It is the minimum professional practice standard.

Certification, on the other hand, is a formal recognition that validates proficiency in knowledge, experience, skills, and clinical judgment within a specific healthcare specialty; and, as such, is reflective of a more stringent professional practice standard. It affirms expertise beyond basic licensure.

Certification in life care planning (CNLCP®/CHLCP™) indicates that the life care planner has met specific rigorous requirements and holds an active, unrestricted license in healthcare that allows for independent Patient/Client assessment. Periodic re-certification assures the public that the life care planner has participated in educational and other activities to maintain knowledge and competence.

It is the policy of the Universal Life Care Planner Certification Board members and staff to comply with all compliance laws that prohibit discrimination in employment or service provision and that no individual shall be excluded from the opportunity to participate in the CNLCP® and/or CHLCP™ program based on age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, and gender identity or any other protected characteristic.

A nursing specialty certification board validates the quality of its certification program by obtaining and maintaining accreditation from a national certifying agency such as the Accreditation Board for the Specialty Nursing Association (ABSNC), formerly known as the ABNS Accreditation Council. Just as JCHAO serves as an advocate for consumer protection by establishing and maintaining standards for hospital certification, ABSNC serves as an advocate for consumer protection by establishing and maintaining standards for professional nursing certification. Participation in either organization’s certification process is voluntary.

Obtaining ABSNC accreditation requires a specialty certification board policy to document compliance with specific standards to demonstrate that it has a mechanism in place to respond to issues of discrimination, test security, confidentiality, appeals, and non-compliance. ABSNC also requires documentation that the candidate certification examination construction, evaluation, and passing score criteria are developed using psychometrically sound and fair methods.

The Universal Life Care Planner Certification Board is actively pursuing accreditation of the CNLCP® certification process through the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC).

It is the policy of the Universal Life Care Planner Certification Board members and staff to comply with all applicable laws that prohibit discrimination in employment or service provision and that no individual shall be excluded from the opportunity to participate in the CNLCP® and/or CHLCP™ program based on age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, and gender identity or any other protected characteristic.

Are you ready to expand your professional career?

Contact the Universal Life Care Planner Certification Board for more information!