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 NP certification 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 NP certification exam. Using these resources can increase your chances of passing the NP certification 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 nurse practitioner certification, emergency nurse practitioner, and adult-gerontology NP exam), 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 (PMHNP) 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 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
  The Emergency Nurse Practitioner Exam from AANPCB 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 Nurse Practitioner 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 Nurse Practitioner 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 Nurse Practitioner 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.

How to Get Ready for the Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam

To make sure you’re prepared for your specific NP certification exam, you need to come up with a plan. No matter which NP 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 NP 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 questions for NP certification 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 for NP certification can help you in several ways:

• Identify areas where you’re not so strong.
• Practice questions show you the subjects you need to focus on more.
• See which study methods work.
• Calm your nerves.
• Apply what you’ve learned.
• Manage your time.

You can buy practice tests for NP certification 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 questions.

5. Sign Up for Review Courses

There are many review courses that can help you prepare for your specific NP certification exam. 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.

Nurse Practitioner Certification Preparation Resources

Advanced Practice Education Associates (APEA)

Advanced Practice Education Associates is a company founded by nurse practitioners that provides a wide range of certification prep materials, continuing education, and clinical reference resources. They offer books, pocket guides, clinical practice guidelines, and practice questions for nurse practitioners. APEA also conducts live courses across the U.S. year-round. Their certification materials cover specialties like Family, Adult-Gerontology, and Adult Nurse Practitioners.

Barkley & Associates

Barkley & Associates is another top provider of nurse practitioner education. They offer online, in-person, and audio CD courses designed to help nurse practitioners prepare for certification exams. Their courses cover a range of specialties, including Family, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care, Pediatric, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care, Psychiatric Mental Health, and Women’s Health. Their expert faculty includes experienced nurse practitioners across various fields.

Fitzgerald Health Education Associates

Fitzgerald Health Education Associates is a trusted resource for nurse practitioner education and exam preparation. Founded by a nurse practitioner, the company offers certification prep for a wide range of specialties, including Family, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care, Adult, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care, Psychiatric Mental Health, Women’s Health, and Pediatric Primary Care. Their courses are led by nationally recognized nurse practitioner experts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Nurse Practitioner Certification

1. How much time should I dedicate to studying for the NP certification exam?
It is recommended to dedicate 6-12 weeks of study for the certification exam. Break your study time into 3-4 hour sessions, 5-6 days a week, to avoid burnout. This approach will also help you retain and apply the material more effectively.

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

The two exams differ in their question types. The AANPCB exam consists of multiple-choice questions only, while the ANCC exam includes multiple-choice, multiple-response, drag-and-drop, and hotspot questions. The ANCC focuses more on clinical decision-making, while the AANPCB exam includes questions on minor procedures commonly performed by nurse practitioners.

3. How difficult are the NP board certification exams?

The difficulty level of each certification exam depends on the specific specialty and your test-taking skills. Pass rates from 2020 provide some insight into the exam difficulty:

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

4. How many times can I take the AANP certification exam?Candidates can take the AANP certification exam up to two times per year. If you do not pass the exam, you must complete at least 15 continuing education hours in the areas identified as weaknesses on your score report before retaking the exam.

Optimizing your study plan and using trusted resources like online nursing papers, custom nursing papers and online nursing essays, Barkley & Associates, and Fitzgerald Health Education Associates can improve your chances of success in passing the NP board certification exams.