Who is Eligible:
To be eligible for certification, the applicant must hold a state or national license as listed below:
- Nurse Practitioner
- Registered Nurse
- Licensed Practical Nurse
- Certified Nursing Assistant
- Physician Assistant
- Respiratory Therapist
- Social Worker
- Registered Dietician
- Occupational Therapist
- Physical Therapist
- Speech-Language Pathologist
- Pharmacist
By applying for certification, the applicant agrees to adhere to Evergreen Certifications’ Professional Code of Ethics
Training Requirements:
A minimum of 18 hours of continuing education in specific end-of-life care areas.
Pre-approved, 3rd party trainings that meet the training requirements for ELCS certification include:
Wondering if a course meets the requirements for ELCS certification? Submit a copy of or link to the course title, speaker, outline and learning objectives to info@evergreencertifications.com for review.
Please note that Evergreen Certifications does not offer continuing education, all training must be purchased directly through the accredited training organization. Training is not included in the certification fee.
Complete Clinical Hours:
The applicant must attest that they have spent a minimum of two (2) years working in a healthcare setting.
Application Process:
For your initial 2-year certification, please complete the following steps.
- Complete a qualifying training
- Remit your initial application payment of 199.99 USD online
- Upload the following documents to your account:
- A copy of the candidate’s professional license
- Evidence of completion of qualifying training, in the form of a CE or completion certificate
- A completed ELCS application form
Evergreen Certifications will certify applicants who meet the above requirements.
Please note: Certification does not imply endorsement of clinical competency. As a licensed professional, you are responsible for reviewing the scope of practice, including activities that are defined in law as beyond the boundaries of practice in accordance with and in compliance with your profession’s standards.
Renewal Process:
To maintain ELCS certification, a renewal is required. After your initial 2-year certification, you have the option to renew for 2 years. A 2-year renewal requires 12 clock hours of continuing education related to serious illness or end-of-life care.
Sample ELCS renewal trainings include:
Renewal CE content cannot be the same content used for prior renewal or initial certification
Renewal Process
- Complete a qualifying training
- Upload the following documents to your account:
- A copy of the candidate’s professional license
- Evidence of completion of qualifying training, in the form of a CE or completion certificate
- Remit your ELCS renewal fee of 99.99 USD online
Renewal training hours need to have been taken in the time since you were certified or last recertified.
Renewals are calculated from the date that your certification was issued. If you allow your certification to lapse for more than 2 years, you are no longer eligible to renew your certification and instead can reapply for certification
Nancy Joyner - RN, MS, APRN-CNS, ACHPN, ELCS
Nancy Joyner, RN, MS, APRN-CNS, ACHPN is a nationally recognized consultant, speaker, educator, and author. As a Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist, she works as the palliative care specialist disseminating awareness and education regarding palliative care statewide. Nancy has over 40 years of nursing proficiency that includes 17 years as an advanced practice nurse in palliative care. She has had training through the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC). Nancy created numerous CME sessions on palliative care for the University of North Dakota’s Project ECHO. She has presented and published at local, state, and national levels. She has researched and published articles on POLST and advance care planning. Nancy is an ambassador for the Serious Illness Community of Practice, Ariadne Labs. She is currently president of Advanced Care Planning of North Dakota (formerly, Honoring Choices® North Dakota), North Dakota’s POLST Program Coordinator and co-creator of the HCND ACP Facilitator Certification Course.
Paul Langlois - APN, PhD, CCRN, CCNS, ELCS
Dr. Paul Langlois, APN, PhD, CCRN, CCNS, is a critical care clinical specialist in the Surgical, Medical, Neurologic, Burn, CCU and Trauma ICUs of Cook County Hospital, Chicago. Drawing on over 40 years of experience assessing and managing patients with life-threatening diseases, Dr. Langlois provides advanced-level training to nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists and physicians. Dr. Langlois is committed to providing the highest quality of care to patients through advanced education. His presentations are evidence-based, timely and provide participants with numerous case studies to facilitate critical thinking. As a bedside clinical nurse specialist, he has developed several institution-wide protocols for the multidisciplinary assessment and management of the infectious disease and multi-system organ failure patient. His presentations are enthusiastically delivered and offer highly practical tips that help make the most challenging concepts easy to understand. Linking knowledge to clinical practice is the goal of every education program.
Lores J. Vlaminck - MA, BSN, RN, CHPN, LALD, ELCS
Lores Consulting, LLC has been a leading provider of consulting, training, and mentoring for hospice, assisted living, home care and related health care providers for the past 17 years. "Lores has the heart of a teacher, and her passion is to support others in the hospice, palliative, and the home care industry."
Lores Consulting, LLC provides providers with education training and mentoring as well as mock surveys, agency analysis and audits. Drawing on her 45 years of nursing experience, Lores seeks to empower all her client providers to utilize their skills and expertise to reach their greatest potential. Her extensive nursing background includes clinical practice in cardiac and intensive care, outpatient clinic services, as well as serving as a home care and hospice administrator/director for 19 years in greater Minnesota.
In addition to being a certified hospice and palliative care nurse, Lores is also a trainer for the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) curriculum that encompasses palliative and hospice care. She was named the "2010 Geriatric ELNEC Educator of the Year" by ELNEC.
Speaking topics include end-of-life care, grief and loss, compassion fatigue, professional boundaries, pain and symptom management, and many health and employee related topics. Lores also offers national, international consulting and mentoring services – encompassing education, training and compliance evaluations – to hospice and home care agencies, assisted living providers, and long-term care facilities.
As Principal of Lores Consulting, LLC, Lores sees her company’s mission to coach and encourage care providers to work to the ‘top of their license’ to ensure excellence in their delivery of care.
Currently, Lores serves as a board member of three non-profit health care organizations, and is a national speaker for PESI Healthcare and ELNEC. Lores is a graduate of Bethel University in St Paul, MN and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing, as well as a master’s degree in nursing education.