Cardiac Vascular Nursing Exam

Cardiac-Vascular Nursing Exam at a Glance

Who Is Eligible for the Exam?

Before applying for Cardiac-Vascular Nursing certification, you must meet ANCC’s professional experience and education requirements.

• Hold a current, active RN license in a U.S. state or territory, or a legally recognized professional equivalent in another country.
• Have the equivalent of at least two years of full-time practice as a registered nurse.
• Have completed at least 2,000 hours of clinical practice in cardiac-vascular nursing within the previous three years.
• Have completed at least 30 hours of continuing education in cardiac-vascular nursing within the previous three years.

Applicants must satisfy all applicable eligibility requirements before certification can be awarded. International applicants should review any additional ANCC documentation requirements.

Exam Fees and Registration

The cost of the Cardiac-Vascular Nursing certification exam depends on your professional association membership.

These initial certification fees include a $140 nonrefundable administrative fee. Fees may change, and additional charges may apply for certain services.

Applications are accepted year-round. After ANCC approves your application, you can schedule your examination through Prometric within your 120-day testing window. Testing appointments are subject to availability.

What Is on the Cardiac-Vascular Nursing Exam?

The exam contains 150 questions, including 125 scored questions and 25 unscored pretest questions. The unscored questions are mixed throughout the examination and cannot be identified, so you should answer every question.

According to ANCC’s test content outline effective December 5, 2025, the scored questions are divided into four domains:

Assessment and Diagnosis

This domain covers the collection and interpretation of clinical information needed to identify cardiovascular problems. Topics include patient histories, physical assessments, diagnostic findings, risk factors, and the recognition of changes that require prompt intervention.

Planning and Implementation

This is the largest exam domain. It focuses on selecting and carrying out appropriate nursing interventions based on patient needs, clinical evidence, and established standards of practice. Topics include cardiovascular therapies, medications, procedures, patient safety, and coordination of care.

Evaluation and Modification

This domain evaluates your ability to monitor patient responses, determine whether interventions are effective, recognize complications, and modify care plans when patient conditions or treatment goals change.

Patient and Community Education

This domain focuses on helping patients and communities understand cardiovascular health and disease management. Topics include risk-factor reduction, medication education, lifestyle changes, self-management, follow-up care, and community resources.

For a more detailed breakdown of the knowledge and skills tested in each domain, consult the official ANCC Cardiac-Vascular Nursing Test Content Outline.

How Is the Exam Scored?

Your certification result is based on the 125 scored questions. ANCC uses scaled scoring to account for differences in difficulty among examination forms. The passing scaled score is 350 on a scale with a maximum of 500.

There is no penalty for guessing, so it is important to answer every question. If you do not pass, review your score report to identify areas where additional preparation may be needed. ANCC has specific retesting requirements, including waiting periods and limits on the number of attempts.

For current score-reporting procedures and retesting policies, consult the official ANCC certification page and its certification handbook.

What to Expect on Test Day

The Cardiac-Vascular Nursing exam is administered on a computer through Prometric. Plan to arrive early enough to complete identification and check-in procedures before your scheduled appointment.

• Identification: Bring identification that meets ANCC and Prometric requirements. Your identification information should match your registration.
• Personal belongings: Phones, study materials, watches, and other unauthorized items are not permitted in the testing room.
• Testing time: You have three hours to answer the 150 examination questions.
• Accommodations: Candidates who require testing accommodations should follow ANCC’s approval process before scheduling their examination.

How to Prepare for the Cardiac-Vascular Nursing Exam

Effective preparation starts with understanding the exam outline and identifying the clinical topics that need the most review. Rather than spending equal time on every subject, use your practice results to guide your study schedule.

1. Review the official exam outline. Become familiar with the four domains and the clinical competencies assessed within each one.
2. Take a practice test. Use your results to identify weaknesses in assessment, interventions, evaluation, and patient education.
3. Prioritize high-impact subjects. Planning and Implementation accounts for 35% of the scored questions, making it an important area of preparation.
4. Practice clinical decision-making. Work through patient scenarios that require interpreting assessment findings, selecting interventions, and evaluating outcomes.
5. Review missed questions. Study the reasoning behind correct answers and revisit weak topics until you can consistently apply the relevant concepts.

Cardiac-Vascular Nursing Study Resources

The following resources can help you review cardiovascular nursing concepts, practice exam-style questions, and strengthen your test-taking skills.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the Cardiac-Vascular Nursing exam?

There are 150 questions in total. Of these, 125 are scored and 25 are unscored pretest questions.

How long is the Cardiac-Vascular Nursing exam?

You have three hours to complete the examination.

What score do you need to pass?

The passing score is 350 on ANCC’s scaled scoring system, which has a maximum score of 500.

How long is Cardiac-Vascular Nursing certification valid?

The CV-BC™ credential is valid for five years. To maintain certification, you must satisfy ANCC’s renewal requirements.

Can you retake the exam if you fail?

Yes. ANCC permits candidates to retake certification examinations, subject to its retesting policies, waiting periods, and applicable fees. Check the current certification handbook before reapplying.

Where can you take the Cardiac-Vascular Nursing exam?

The examination is administered through Prometric. Once ANCC approves your application, you can schedule an appointment at an available testing location within your authorized testing window.