Objective To explore the certification management of specialty nurses in China based on the existent problems to provide evidence for practice and decision making for management of the specialty nurses. Methods The modified Delphi technique was applied in this study from July to December 2017. A structured consultation questionnaire based on expert interview and literature review was designed, and modified after preliminary experiment. Then the questionnaires were delivered to 32 nurse experts to complete 3 rounds of Delphi process, which reached consensus gradually. Results The response rates of three round consultations were 96.9% (31/32), 100.0% (31/31), and 96.8% (30/31), respectively. The suggestion rates were 25.8% (8/31), 16.1% (5/31), 0% (0/31), respectively. The familiar coefficient, adjustment coefficient and authority coefficient was 0.82, 0.87 and 0.85, respectively. The experts had the agreement finally for all of the 16 items in the consultation questionnaire, and they formed an expert opinion draft on specialty nurse certification and registration. Conclusion It’s crucial and essential to establish a certification and registration system in China and renew the credentials regularly to promote the management and construction of specialty nurse team.