Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Examination

The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) offers the Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Examination for certification purposes. This computer-based assessment is for licensed RNs with completed graduate work in an accredited family nurse practitioner program who have earned a master's, post-master's or doctorate degree. Candidates must have taken graduate classes in advanced health assessment, advanced pharmacology, advanced pathophysiology, health promotion and disease prevention and differential diagnosis and disease management. Candidates also need to have completed at least 500 clinical hours in an accredited academic program, and have met specific requirements before taking this test. This test is taken as part of the Family Nurse Practitioner - Board Certified (FNP-BC) credential.

This test has 175 questions; 25 questions on the test are not scored, as they are used for pre-trial purposes only, but the candidate will not know which questions are scored and which are not. The score is derived from the remaining 150. Candidates must get a minimum of 105 correct in order to receive a passing raw score. The actual score will be weighted on a 500-point scale, and candidates need a minimum of 350 to pass. If a candidate does not succeed on the assessment exam, an account is provided which will help pinpoint the areas that need improvement. The subject areas of the Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Examination include:

  • 53 questions on clinical management
  • 7 questions on professional role and policy
  • 16 questions on nurse practitioner and patient relationship
  • 39 questions on assessment of acute and chronic illness
  • 4 questions on research
  • 31 questions on health promotion and disease prevention

The questions cover a range of life stages from birth to aging adult (including pregnant women), although some questions may not be precise about the stage of life.

Commercial Resources for the Family Nurse Practitioner Exam Preparation (provided for information only, no endorsement implied)

Family Nurse Practitioner Exam Study Guide from Mometrix Media

Family Nurse Practitioner Exam Flashcards from Mometrix Media

ANCC Certification Resources

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