Applicants must have earned one of the following advanced degrees:

- Registered Nurse: graduate degree (e.g. MSN, DNP, PhD) 

- Pharmacist: A Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy (BSPharm – graduated on or prior to 2005) or Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) 

- Physician: A Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) plus completion of a residency in family medicine or internal medicine 

- Physician Assistant (PA): Master of Science in Physician Assistant or Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies

- Physicians Licensed Outside the US: A Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), or equivalent degree in your country of practice, plus completion of a residency in family medicine or internal medicine. *Please refer to International Eligibility for full criteria*

Applicants must have one of the following active licenses in good standing, with no current restrictions or pending actions, in the United States:

- Registered Nurse

- Pharmacist

- Physician

- Physician Assistant

If you are a physician who is licensed outside of the United States, view international eligibility below!

Applicants have two options to meet the Experience requirement:

- Option 1: Applicants with at least three (3) years of documented experience and a minimum of 1,240 clinical hours during the previous two (2) years that have a practice focus in heart failure across the HF-Cert content domains will have satisfied the Experience requirement.  
  

- Option 2: Physicians who have completed a dedicated one (1) year (non-accredited) heart failure fellowship that includes a minimum of 1,240 clinical practice hours will have satisfied the Experience requirement.  

 
*Eligible experience is attained after completion of the respective advanced degree.  

Applicants must attest to comply with the HFSA Code of Ethics and report any State Board suspensions. Any State Board suspension must be reported to HFSA within 15 days. Applicants and certificants must abide to practice heart failure specialty in a manner consistent with the certification standards and responsibilities set forth in the HFSA’s Code of Ethics. Applicants must attest to the accuracy of information reported within the application.

All individuals who seek certification must meet the established eligibility requirements in effect at the time of application. Each eligibility requirement has been established to ensure that certified individuals have an acceptable level of knowledge, as evidenced by the examination and education requirements, and skill, as evidenced by the experience requirement, needed to provide heart failure services at an advanced proficiency level.

Education

Applicants must have earned one of the following advanced degrees:

• Physician Licensed Outside the US: A Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), or equivalent degree in your country of practice, plus completion of a residency in family medicine or internal medicine. 

Licensure

Applicants must have one of the following active licenses in good standing, with no current restrictions or pending actions, in the applicant’s country of practice:

• Physician

Experience

• Applicants with at least three (3) years of documented experience and a minimum of 1,240 clinical hours during the previous two (2) years that have a practice focus in heart failure across the HF-Cert content domains will have satisfied the Experience requirement.

Background, Code of Ethics, and Application Accuracy Attestation

Applicants must attest to comply with the HFSA Code of Ethics and report any restrictions, limitations, or suspensions. Any suspension must be reported to HFSA within 15 days. Applicants and certificants must abide to practice heart failure specialty in a manner consist with the certification standards and responsibilities set forth in the HFSA’s Code of Ethics. Applicants must attest to the accuracy of information reported within the application.