Support Specialty Nursing Expertise in Obesity and Metabolic and Bariatric Care
The Certified Bariatric Nurse (CBN) credential recognizes registered nurses who have demonstrated specialized professional experience and knowledge in caring for patients with obesity and those undergoing metabolic and bariatric surgery.
The CBN Employer Toolkit provides resources for healthcare organizations and CBN certificants to support the recognition, verification, and advancement of specialty nursing certification. Whether your organization operates a dedicated metabolic and bariatric surgery program or cares for patients with obesity throughout the health system, CBN-certified nurses can serve as knowledgeable resources across the continuum of care.
For Employers: Learn about the CBN credential, accreditation, organizational value, verification, and ways to support certification.
For CBNs: Download resources you can share with your manager, nursing leadership, HR, or professional development department.
Downloadable Resources
- What Employers Need to Know about CBN Certification
- CBN Certification Support & Reimbursement Request [PDF] | [DOCX]
Quick links to Webpages
Understand CBN Certification
Why CBN Certification Matters
Patients with obesity (pre-clinical or clinical) and/or a history of metabolic and bariatric surgery receive care throughout the healthcare system – not only within dedicated bariatric programs. They may present in emergency departments, inpatient units, primary care, cardiology, orthopedics, perioperative services, imaging, rehabilitation, and other clinical settings.
CBN-certified nurses bring specialized knowledge of obesity and metabolic and bariatric care that can complement the expertise of the broader healthcare team.
CBN certification demonstrates that a nurse has:
- Met established professional nursing and specialty practice eligibility requirements.
- Demonstrated substantial professional experience in obesity (pre-clinical or clinical) and/or metabolic and bariatric nursing.
- Successfully completed a proctored certification examination assessing specialized knowledge.
- Committed to maintaining the credential through ongoing professional development and recertification requirements.
- Earned a credential administered according to nationally recognized certification standards.
Across the healthcare organization, CBNs may contribute specialized knowledge in areas such as:
- Considerations related to previous metabolic and bariatric procedures.
- Obesity-sensitive and person-centered care.
- Provide quality and safety recommendations for equipment & furniture for patients with obesity.
- Patient education and care coordination.
- Nutrition and postoperative considerations.
- Long-term management of patients with obesity.
- Interdisciplinary communication.
- Staff education and professional development.
- Quality improvement and bariatric program initiatives.
Depending on their role and experience, CBNs may also serve as specialty resources, educators, mentors, program leaders, and bariatric champions within their organizations, including when patients with obesity or a history of metabolic and bariatric surgery receive care outside a dedicated bariatric program.
An NCCA-Accredited Certification
The CBN Certification Program is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), the accrediting body of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (I.C.E.). NCCA accreditation provides independent recognition that the CBN Certification Program met nationally recognized standards for professional certification programs at the time of accreditation review.
The CBN Certification Program is accredited through August 31, 2031.
CBN and Magnet Recognition
The CBN credential is eligible for inclusion in the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program® Demographic Data Collection Tool (DDCT) as an accredited nursing certification.
This allows qualifying CBN-certified nurses to be included when organizations report eligible professional nursing certifications through the Magnet DDCT.
Organizations should refer to current Magnet Recognition Program requirements when determining how individual certifications are reported.
Support CBN Certification
Healthcare organizations can play an important role in supporting nurses who pursue and maintain specialty certification through financial support, professional development opportunities, and recognition of continued certification.
Supporting Nurses Pursuing CBN Certification
The CBN Certification Program establishes eligibility requirements designed to ensure candidates have both professional nursing experience and experience related to obesity and/or metabolic and bariatric surgery.
Candidates must meet current eligibility requirements before sitting for the certification examination. Managers may also be asked to verify a candidate’s qualifying professional experience when an application is selected for audit.
Organizations may support eligible nurses by providing:
- Reimbursement of certification examination fees.
- Reimbursement of examination preparation material fees.
- Professional development or continuing education funding.
- Paid or protected time for relevant professional development and examination preparation.
- Inclusion of CBN within organizational certification reimbursement programs.
Learn More about CBN Eligibility, upcoming Examination Dates and Fees
Because examination fees and program requirements may change, employers and candidates should refer to the current CBN Candidate Handbook for current information.
Examination Preparation Resources
ASMBS offers resources to help nurses prepare for the CBN certification examination, including study materials and the ASMBS CBN Examination Review Course.
Organizations with multiple nurses preparing for the examination may contact education@asmbs.org to inquire about group pricing for the review course. Group discounts are subject to minimum participation requirements.
Supporting CBN Recertification
CBN certificants must meet established recertification requirements to maintain their credential. Employers can support continued certification by:
- Providing access to relevant continuing education and professional development.
- Providing professional development or education funding.
- Reimbursing recertification fees.
- Recognizing continued certification within professional advancement or clinical ladder programs.
- Providing protected time for CBN-certified nurses to volunteer as subject matter experts for the CBN Certification Program.
SME opportunities may include examination development and other certification program activities. Qualifying volunteer service to the CBN Certification Program may count toward CBN recertification requirements.
CBN Certification Support Resources
These downloadable resources help employers understand the value and requirements of CBN certification and provide nurses with tools to request organizational support, including examination reimbursement, professional development funding, and recertification assistance.
- What Employers Need to Know about CBN Certification
- CBN Certification Support & Reimbursement Request [PDF] | [DOCX]
Recognize & Verify CBNs
Verify a CBN
Employers can verify an individual’s current CBN certification status through the CBN Public Registry. CBN certificants may also share their ASMBS-issued digital credential through Credly, providing an additional way to view and verify their certification.
Use of the CBN Credential
Nurses with current CBN certification may use the CBN designation following their name in accordance with organizational policies and applicable professional credentialing conventions. The CBN credential may be used only while certification is current. Individuals whose certification has expired may not represent themselves as currently CBN-certified.
Recognize a CBN in Your Organization
Certification represents a professional achievement and provides organizations with an opportunity to recognize nurses who demonstrate specialty knowledge and maintain professional certification. Organizations may recognize CBN-certified nurses through:
- Department or organization-wide announcements.
- Employee newsletters and intranet features.
- Nursing recognition programs.
- Professional advancement or clinical ladder programs.
- Staff profiles or professional directories.
- Organizational social media channels.
- Certified Bariatric Nurses Day annually on June 10th.
- Other nursing or professional recognition activities.
Want to nominate a CBN for the bi-annual CBN C.A.R.E. Newsletter? Email cbn@asmbs.org.
View the CBN C.A.R.E. Fall 2026 Newsletter
Questions?
For questions about CBN certification, email cbn@asmbs.org
Join the CBN Certification Committee
