Section 218.5 - Clinical nurse specialist; qualifications(a) The board may certify a licensed registered nurse as a clinical nurse specialist if the nurse satisfies the requirements established by this act. Certification of a clinical nurse specialist by the board shall expire on the same date as the license of that nurse expires. Beginning on the effective date of this section, a nurse shall not qualify for initial certification by the board unless the nurse holds a master's degree, doctoral degree or post-master's certificate from an educational program in nursing that has been approved by the board and that prepares graduates to practice as a clinical nurse specialist and: (1) holds current national certification as a clinical nurse specialist in a designated specialty or in an area pertinent to the designated specialty;(2) meets equivalence requirements as specified in regulations of the board where there is no certification examination available in the specialty area; and(3) meets all other board requirements to practice as a clinical nurse specialist.(b) Individuals who completed an educational program in a related discipline previously recognized for national certification as a clinical nurse specialist from a board-recognized national certification organization shall be issued certification by the board upon: (1) submitting evidence of having current American Nurses Association or American Nurses Credentialing Center certification; and(2) submitting an application to the board.(c) As a condition of biennial certificate renewal by the board, a clinical nurse specialist shall: (1) Pay a renewal fee as set by the board.(2) In the two years prior to certification renewal, complete at least thirty (30) hours of continuing education approved by the board, as required by section 12.1. (d) For certification under this act, a licensed registered nurse shall file a board-prepared application with the board and pay a fee as established by the board by regulation.(e) A clinical nurse specialist practicing in this Commonwealth shall maintain a level of professional liability coverage as required for a nonparticipating health care provider under the act of March 20, 2002 (P.L. 154, No. 13) , known as the "Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (Mcare) Act," and shall not be eligible to participate in the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (Mcare) Fund.1951, May 22, P.L. 317, No. 69, § 8.5, added 2007, July 20, P.L. 320, No. 49, § 4, effective in 60 days [9/18/2007].