| FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
Q. Do I have to be an attorney to practice
as a Legal Nurse Consultant?
A. No. Active RN licensure, in good standing, is all that is required.
Q. How do I become educated
in Legal Nurse Consulting?
A. There are many choices for education in the field; and the options
continue to grow as colleges, universities, and independent entities
enhance their curriculum with courses on Legal Nurse Consulting.
A formal education is not mandatory; however, most benefit from
a structured introduction to the specialty. To determine which program
is right for you, consider these issues: cost; time commitment;
ability to travel for an intensive, on-site program; reputation
and credibility of the program/instructor(s); etc. For more details
see the AALNC position statement on education at www.aalnc.org/about/faq.cfm.
Information regarding AALNC online course can be found at www.aalnc.org/onlinelearning/index.cfm
Q. Once I’ve been
educated, how do I get started in the field?
A. If you don’t feel sufficiently prepared to take that first
step after completing the program of your choice, AALNC has educational
products on marketing and setting up a business. You can view them
at www.aalnc.org/about/marketing.cfm
and www.aalnc.org/edupro.
In addition, networking within the St. Louis Chapter as an active
member provides a continuous connection to colleagues experienced
in the field. Frequently, Chapter meetings feature guest speakers
and Chapter members sharing tips on marketing.
Q. Do I have to be certified
to practice as a Legal Nurse Consultant?
A. No, certification is not necessary.
Q. Are all certifications
the same?
A. No. Various educational entities and professional organizations
each have their own certification process. AALNC holds that certification
in a nursing specialty promotes a level of expertise, education
and professionalism. LNCs must meet the eligibility requirements
set forth by AALNC to earn the LNCC (Legal Nurse Consultant Certified)
designation. This includes proof of consulting experience, and a
passing score on a multiple-choice examination that is administered
by the American Legal Nurse Consultant Certification Board (ALNCCB).
The LNCC certification program is accredited by the American Board
of Nursing Specialties (ABNS). Additional information on certification
can be found at www.aalnc.org/lncc/.
Q. Do I have to be practicing
as a LNC and/or certified to join AALNC?
A. No. AALNC welcomes all professionals who share in our mission
and goal. There are varying levels of membership, including a level
for non-nursing professionals. Bylaws do state however, that you
must be a member of the national association in order to join a
local Chapter.
Q. Do I have to be a member
of the AALNC and/or the local Chapter to attend one of your meetings?
A. No. For 2010, the St. Louis Chapter meetings are scheduled on
the third Thursday in the months of JANUARY, MARCH, JUNE and SEPTEMBER
from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. The meeting site is The Heights, located
at 8001 Dale Ave, St Louis, MO 63117 US Website (314) 645-1476.
For directions click here.
We invite you to attend two meetings as our guest,
after which you may either join or pay $10 for each subsequent meeting
you attend. Be sure to check the Educational
Opportunities page of this website at for the most current details
on meeting topics.
Q. How do I become a member?
A. AALNC bylaws state that the individual must first be a member
of the national organization in order to join a local Chapter. Membership
fees for national are $150.00 per calendar year. The application
form can be accessed through the national website at www.aalnc.org/membership/.
Once you have received your national membership number, you may
then apply for membership in our St. Louis Chapter. Local membership
fees are $55.00, covering the calendar year. Please note that dues
paid to the St. Louis Chapter by a newly joining member from January
1 through September 30 are applicable for that calendar year only.
Dues paid from October 1 through December 31 are applicable to the
remainder of the current year, as well as all of the upcoming year.
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP
The St. Louis Chapter application form and
additional membership information can be found at: http://www.aalncstlouis.org/application.html.

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