The current requirement to be eligible for either certification is a U.S. registered nursing license and 1,800 hours of direct patient care in a perianesthesia setting within the prior 2 years. Nurses that were certified before this requirement and that did not meet it are still eligible for recertification. Nurses may choose to take either exam; however, nurses caring mostly for phase I postanesthesia patients will find the CPAN exam more relevant to their practice and nurses spending the majority of their time caring for preanesthesia, phase II, and extended-care patients will find the CAPA exam more relevant for their practice. Nurses may choose which certification to pursue if they meet the requirements, and may also obtain both certifications (CPAN and CAPA).