The National Lymphedema Network aims to inspire clinicians to provide world-class care for people with lymphedema by promoting best practice guidelines and standards of care. To work towards this mission, the National Lymphedema Network established the NLN Expert Clinician designation in 2021 to elevate the standards of therapeutic care being provided to patients with lymphatic diseases by implementing a mentorship with expert clinicians in their fields with live competency-based assessment on multiple facets of current lymphatic treatment. This includes, but is not limited to: manual lymph drainage, multi-layered short stretch bandaging, elastic taping, wound care, compression garment decision prescription, body-specific considerations (such as head and neck, genital, and breast/chest), pneumatic compression pump, and fibrosis treatment. There will also be a written examination for the NLN EC designation to assess that the clinician possesses functional knowledge related to safety with patient care and best current treatment practice. This will include though is not limited to: anatomy and physiology of the lymphatic system, current surgical procedures for lymphatic disease, contraindications and precautions related to therapeutic interventions, such as manual lymph drainage and compression, skin care and potential physical changes, and modalities.
Please read the NLN Expert Clinician Policy v2.23 to learn more about the application process and necessary requirements.
Congratulations to the newly certified clinicians in 2022!
View the active NLN Expert Clinicians
To support the continuing education of our Expert Clinicians, all NLN Expert Clinicians who have maintained an active status are offered complimentary registration to the annual conference.
Now accepting applications for the 2023 NLN Expert Clinician program
2023 Date to be Announced
*Please note: If you have received the NLN Expert Clinician in the past, you do not need to attend the assessment day. Please refer to the guidelines to maintaining the desgination below.
New Applicants
- Before you apply for the NLN Expert Clinician coaching and assessment program, please have the following items available:
- Current practitioner license number
- URL link for license verification
- Name of school where the certified lymphedema therapist certification was received
- CV / resume, highlighting a minimum of five years experience treating lymphedema and other lymphatic diseases
- Three statements of recommendation: one from your supervisor, and two from clinician colleagues – forms available here
- For clinicians in private practice, a personal statement attesting to the lymphatic practices will replace the Supervisor Statement of Recommendation (please refer to forms above)
- Submit application for the NLN EC designation program. The application is complimentary for active NLN members and $75 for non-NLN members. *Members, please log in to your account to receive the discount.
Upon approval of the application to sit for the NLN Expert Clinician program, instructions will be provided on how to complete the next step for the In-Person Coaching and Assessment registration. The cost to participate in the live program is $475, both NLN member and non-member alike. This includes admission to the annual conference.
To become a member, click here.
Maintaining Designation
This process is for those who have been awarded the NLN Expert Clinician designation.
- Before you submit the documentation for the NLN Expert Clinician renewal, please have the following items available:
- NLN Expert Clinician number – can be found on your certificate or in your member profile
- Current practitioner license number
- URL link for license verification
- Supervisor Statement of Recommendation – form available here
- For clinicians in private practice, a personal statement attesting to the lymphatic practices will replace the Supervisor Statement of Recommendation – form here
- Documentation demonstrating a minimum of 8 contact hours completed in a live, hands-on, manual skills training
- *Attending the annual NLN Conference in-person will automatically satisfy this requirement.
- Documentation demonstrating a minimum of 8 contact hours of didactic learning
- *Attending the annual NLN Conference in-person or virtually will automatically satisfy this requirement.
- Updated CV / resume – only necessary if it has changed from last year
- Updated Professional Headshot – optional (see example here)
- Updated Short Professional Bio – optional (see example here)
- Complete the form for NLN EC designation renewal. The renewal process is complimentary for active NLN members and $75 administrative fee for non-NLN members. *Members must be logged in to their NLN account to receive the discount.
To become a member, click here.
Use of NLN Expert Clinician Medallion Logo
Clinicians who would like to use the NLN EC logo for marketing purposes must submit an application for approval. When an application is approved, the clinician will receive written notice, as well as a copy of the file.
Use of the NLN EC medallion logo requires agreement to the following:
- The medallion file will be used professionally and only related to marketing directly associated to the NLN Expert Clinician’s name and no other clinician.
- Each NLN EC clinician needs to submit their individual requests.
- If found to be using the file inappropriately, the privileges to use the logo will be revoked, and the clinician will no longer be allowed to use the logo in any personal or commercial capacity.
- The clinician may only use the logo while the NLN EC status is current and in good-standing. If the NLN EC designation receives an inactive status, the clinician can no longer use the logo until all necessary requirements have been fulfilled. The clinician will then have to complete a new application to use the medallion logo file.
Please contact our Continuing Education Officer with any questions.
Please log in before completing the forms if you are a member.
Please click on the SUBMIT button at the bottom of the page after completing the form below. Thank you!
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