How Can I Get Ready for My Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam?

How Can I Get Ready for My Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam?

Discover study materials that can help you prepare for your nurse practitioner certification exam. Becoming a nurse practitioner (NP) with board certification is the final step after being a registered nurse (RN). The title of nurse practitioner is given to those who have the proper NP qualification, earned by passing the NP board-certification exam in their specialized field. This exam is the important final step after years of studying and working in clinical settings. Passing it lets nurses take on their specialized roles to help their patients.

Knowing what’s on the exam you’re taking and how to study for it is a vital part of your NP education. This guide gives you information and resources to help you get ready for the certification exam. Using these resources can increase your chances of passing the exam on your first try.

What Will the Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam Cover?

The organization giving the exam depends on your specialty. Usually, one organization certifies each NP specialty. However, in some cases (like pediatric primary care NP, emergency nurse practitioner, and adult-gerontology primary care NP), a nurse practitioner might need certification from one or more organizations.

Students should visit their certifying organization’s website to find an outline of the exam’s content. The website might also have other materials to help you prepare, like books, practice tests, and workshops. Find your certifying organization and its website by looking for your chosen NP specialization in the list below.

A Guide to Acing Nursing School Tests and Exams

American Nurses Credentialing Center

This center certifies specialties like acute care, adult, adult-gerontology acute care, and adult-gerontology primary care. It also offers certifications in adult psychiatric mental health (PMH) and psychiatric mental health. Other certifications include school, emergency, family, gerontological, and pediatric primary care.

Pediatric Nursing Certification Board

The Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) certifies pediatric primary care and pediatric acute care.

National Certification Corporation

The National Certification Corporation (NCC) certifies neonatal and women’s health.

American Association of Critical-Care Nurses

This association offers certification in adult-gerontology acute care.

American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program

The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP) certifies adult, family, gerontological, and adult-gerontology primary care.

Nurse Practitioner Board-Certification Exam Outlines

There are six different exams provided by the five main certification organizations. Each exam has 150 questions. There’s also a set of practice questions that don’t affect your final score. You’ll need to finish the exams within 3-3.5 hours.

The cost of the exams usually ranges from $300 to $400. However, most certification organizations offer a discount for nurses who are members.

Most of the exams are multiple-choice and are divided into 4-5 sections. Knowing these sections can help you focus your study efforts.

Below are outlines for some of the most popular certification exams.

AANPCB – FNP Exam Outline
The family nurse practitioner (FNP) certification exam from AANPCB has four sections: assessment, diagnosis, treatment plans, and evaluation. AANPCB members pay $240 for the FNP exam. Nonmembers pay $315.

AANPCB – ENP Exam Outline
AANPCB’s emergency nurse practitioner (ENP) certification exam covers five areas: medical screening, medical decision-making, patient management, patient disposition, and ethical practices. The ENP exam also costs $240 for members.

ANCC – FNP Exam Outline
ANCC’s FNP certification exam tests skills in four areas: assessment, diagnosis, clinical management, and professional role. Members of ANCC pay $295 for the exam, while nonmembers pay $395.

ANCC – PMHNP Exam Outline
The PMHNP exam checks a nurse’s understanding of scientific foundations, advanced practice skills, diagnosis and treatments. The exam includes questions about psychotherapy, ethical and legal principles, and more. ANCC members pay $295, while nonmembers pay $395.

PNCB – CPNP-PC Exam Outline
The certified pediatric NP-primary care (CPNP-PC) certification exam covers health maintenance, assessment and diagnosis, management, and roles and responsibilities. Taking the CPNP-PC exam costs $395.

NCC – NNP Exam Outline
The neonatal NP exam focuses on general assessment, management, pharmacology, as well as embryology, physiology, pathophysiology, systems management, and professional issues. NCC members pay $260, while nonmembers pay $370.

AACN – ACNPC-AG Exam Outline
AACN’s acute care adult-gerontology NP exam tests knowledge of patient care problems, skills, procedures, and competencies like clinical judgment, advocacy, and diversity. Members of AACN pay $260, while nonmembers pay $370.

HESI A2 Exam Guide

How to Get Ready for the Nurse Practitioner Certification Test

To make sure you’re prepared for your specific certification test, you need to come up with a plan. No matter which specialty you’ve chosen, preparing for the test can be quite a task.

Creating a plan is important because it helps you organize what and when to study. This is crucial for passing the test on your first try. The more you prepare, the better your chances of success.

1. Gather Study Resources and Review Materials

Using study resources and review materials can help you get ready for the certification test. Each certifying organization offers official materials that help nurses understand both the content and structure of the test. These materials come with practice questions that let you get used to the test format.

Online resources like practice tests, flashcards, study guides, and videos are also available. These materials can help you feel less anxious about the test. Practice tests, in particular, not only review content but also give you a sense of how long the test takes, so you can practice managing your time.

When looking for resources, make sure they’re accurate. Look for materials provided or approved by reliable sources, like respected academic institutions and nursing organizations.

It’s a good idea to start with the organization that administers the test. Their materials will closely match what’s on the actual test.

2. Create a Study Plan

Once you have the study resources you need, make a plan for how you’ll study. Use the test’s content outline to figure out what areas to focus on. While you should review everything on the test, concentrating on the areas you find harder can be more effective.

After identifying the content that needs more attention, decide how much time you’ll spend on each topic. Set dates for finishing each aspect to help you stay on track.

Experts recommend spending 6-12 weeks preparing for the test.

Stick to your study schedule. Having a plan can prevent you from feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or cramming at the last minute.

Give yourself rewards when you meet goals to stay motivated. But also be flexible with your schedule in case you need to make changes without messing up your study plan.

Your study plan can also include group study time. Studying with others or taking review courses can help you perform better on the test.

3. Join a Study Group

Working with other nurses while preparing for the test can be really helpful. Whether you meet in person or online, being in a study group can be valuable if everyone is dedicated to the study sessions. Setting a schedule and clear goals for each meeting helps ensure you’re making progress.

In study groups, each member can take charge of researching and presenting information on specific topics. After the presentation, you can discuss and ask questions. Sharing responsibilities like this can make the process less overwhelming.

Every member in the study group needs to be responsible and committed to helping everyone. This group dynamic lets each person bring their strengths and benefit from others’ skills.

4. Take Online Practice Tests

Using online practice tests is a good way to understand how the test is structured. But don’t rely solely on them for studying. They aren’t the best way to gain knowledge. Instead, practice tests can help you in several ways:

Identify areas where you’re not so strong.

Practice tests show you the subjects you need to focus on more.

See which study methods work.

These tests help you figure out which study techniques are effective for you.

Calm your nerves.

Completing practice exams helps you become familiar with the test format, reducing test anxiety.

Apply what you’ve learned.

When you can use what you’ve studied to answer practice questions, you’re more likely to remember the material.

Manage your time.

Since the test is timed, practice tests help you learn how to manage your time effectively.

You can buy practice tests from the organization that administers the test. They often provide some free practice questions too. There are also other companies like Barron’s, Mometrix Media, Ascencia, and Trivium Test Prep that sell practice tests.

5. Sign Up for Review Courses

There are many review courses that can help you prepare for your specific certification test. When choosing a course, opt for one approved by the certifying organization or other trustworthy nursing groups.

Most courses are available online and offer live or pre-recorded lessons, practice exams, workbooks, and other self-study materials.

Review courses provide a deep dive into information relevant to your upcoming test. They can focus on content specific to the test.

Although these courses can significantly aid your test preparation, the cost might be a drawback for some nurses.

Three organizations that offer suitable AANP-accredited review courses are Advanced Practice Education Associates, Barkley & Associates, and Fitzgerald Health Education Associates.

Advanced Practice Education Associates

This organization was founded by a nurse practitioner and provides certification preparation resources, continuing education, books, and an online clinical reference library. They also offer live courses throughout the year across the United States.

Their books include pocket references, clinical practice guidelines, and certification practice questions. They cover specialties like family, adult-gerontology, and adult.

Barkley & Associates

Another organization tailored for nurse practitioners, they provide certification preparation, review books, and continuing education.

Their courses are available online, in person, or through audio CDs. They have expert nurse practitioners from different specialties as faculty. They offer materials for family, adult-gerontology primary care, pediatric, adult-gerontology acute care, psychiatric mental health, and women’s health.

Fitzgerald Health Education Associates

A well-known source for nurse practitioner continuing education and certification preparation. Founded by an NP, their faculty includes nationally renowned NP experts. They provide materials for family, adult-gerontology primary care, adult, adult-gerontology acute care, psychiatric mental health, women’s health, and pediatric primary care.

FAQs About the Nurse Practitioner Certification Test

1. How much time should I spend studying for the NP certification test?

Experts recommend dedicating around 6-12 weeks to prepare for your certification test. Breaking your study time into 3-4 hour chunks, 5-6 days a week, helps avoid burnout. This approach also increases your chances of truly understanding and applying the material.

2. What’s the difference between the ANCC and AANPCB-FNP certification tests?

The tests differ in terms of question types. The AANPCB test has only multiple-choice questions, while the ANCC test includes multiple-choice, multiple-response, drop-and-drag, and hotspot questions.

The questions also focus on different aspects. ANCC emphasizes clinical information and decision-making, while AANPCB covers commonly performed minor procedures.

3. How difficult are the NP board certification tests?

The difficulty varies depending on the certification and your own testing style. Recent pass rates can give you an idea of how tough the exams are.

Here are the 2020 NP board certification pass rates and the number of test-takers:

– ANCC – FNP Exam: 89% (6,031)
– ANCC – PMHNP Exam: 81% (4,114)
– PNCB – CPNP-PC Exam: 82% (1,459)
– NCC – NNP Exam: 93% (348)
– AACN – ACNPC-AG Exam: 83% (992)
– AANPCB – FNP Exam: 85% (18,515)

4. How many times can I take the AANP certification test?

You can take the AANP test twice

a year, between January 1st and December 31st, regardless of when you completed it.

If you don’t pass, you need to complete at least 15 continuing education hours in the areas where you struggled, as indicated in the score report. Only after finishing these hours can you retake the test.