This overview includes information to help you prepare for the Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse exam. You will find details about eligibility, exam content, fees, registration, scoring, retakes, certification renewal, and study resources.
Questions150 multiple-choice questions | Time Limit3 hours |
Scored Questions135 scored questions | Certification Period4 years |
Exam Background and Purpose
The Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse, or CHPN, credential is offered by the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center. It is intended for experienced registered nurses who provide hospice and palliative care to patients with serious, chronic, or life-limiting conditions.
The certification exam measures the knowledge and clinical judgment needed to assess patients, manage pain and other symptoms, support patients and caregivers, coordinate care, and address professional and ethical issues.
Key point: CHPN certification is intended for registered nurses. HPCC offers separate credentials for advanced practice nurses, licensed practical or vocational nurses, nursing assistants, and pediatric registered nurses.
CHPN Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must hold a current, unrestricted registered nurse license in the United States, its territories, or the equivalent in Canada.
Applicants must also meet one of the following hospice and palliative nursing practice requirements:
12-Month OptionComplete at least 500 hours of hospice and palliative nursing practice during the most recent 12 months. | 24-Month OptionComplete at least 1,000 hours of hospice and palliative nursing practice during the most recent 24 months. |
HPCC may audit an application and require documentation of the applicant’s nursing license and practice hours.
CHPN Test Overview
The CHPN exam contains 150 multiple-choice questions. Of those questions, 135 are scored and 15 are unscored pretest questions being evaluated for possible use on future exams.
The pretest questions are mixed throughout the examination and are not identified. Candidates should treat every question as though it contributes to the final score.
Each question presents four answer choices, with one option representing the best response. Candidates have three hours to complete the examination.
Generic drug names are normally used on the examination. Candidates should be prepared to perform clinical calculations and apply nursing knowledge to patient and caregiver scenarios.
Costs and Payment
Candidates pay the examination fee when scheduling their appointment. The HPNA membership discount applies only when membership is purchased before the exam application is submitted.
CHPN Fee Basics
- HPNA member initial certification fee: $305
- Nonmember initial certification fee: verify the current amount during application
- reTEST Assured fee: $135
- Scheduled-exam transfer fee: $110
HPCC materials have listed different nonmember initial-certification fees. Verify the amount shown during the official application and scheduling process before paying.
Registration and Testing Windows
Candidates complete the CHPN application online. After eligibility is approved, the candidate schedules an appointment through PSI at a testing center or through live remote proctoring.
The CHPN exam is offered during four testing windows each year:
- March 1 through March 31
- June 1 through June 30
- September 1 through September 30
- December 1 through December 31
Each window has a separate application deadline. Apply early when you need a particular date, testing center, remote appointment, or accommodation.
What Should I Expect on Test Day?
How Is the CHPN Exam Scored?
The final result is based on the 135 scored questions. Performance on the 15 pretest questions does not affect the score.
Raw scores are converted to scaled scores ranging from 200 to 800. A scaled score of 500 is required to pass.
Scaling allows HPCC to account for small differences in difficulty between different versions of the examination. A scaled score of 500 therefore represents the same required level of competence across exam forms.
After completing the exam, candidates receive an on-screen pass or fail message. PSI emails the full score report after the exam. The report includes performance information for the major content categories.
Retaking the CHPN Exam
Candidates who do not pass may apply to take the examination again. A new testing appointment must be scheduled during an available exam window.
HPCC’s reTEST Assured program allows an unsuccessful candidate to retake the exam for a reduced fee during one of the next three testing windows.
Before retesting, review the score report and concentrate on the content categories in which you earned the lowest percentage of correct answers.
Certification and Renewal
CHPN certification is valid for four years. Certificants must complete the Hospice and Palliative Accrual for Recertification process to renew the credential.
CHPN renewal requires:
- Completion of the Situational Judgment Exercise
- Required hospice and palliative practice or work hours
- Required professional development points
- Submission of the HPAR application before certification expires
Professional development points may be earned through activities such as continuing education, academic education, publications, presentations, precepting, staff orientation, and professional service.
How Can I Prepare for the CHPN Exam?
Begin by reviewing the detailed content outline and identifying your strongest and weakest domains. The five scored domains are relatively balanced, so ignoring any one area is a bad strategy.
Preparation should emphasize clinical application rather than simple memorization. Practice assessing patients, setting goals, choosing appropriate interventions, evaluating responses, and supporting patients and caregivers through changing conditions.
CHPN Study Checklist
- Review goals of care, shared decision-making, and interdisciplinary care planning.
- Study pain types, assessment tools, opioids, adjuvant medications, breakthrough dosing, and equianalgesic conversion.
- Review common physical, psychosocial, emotional, and spiritual symptoms.
- Practice recognizing disease progression and indicators of imminent death.
- Review communication, caregiver education, grief, bereavement, and cultural humility.
- Study compliance, ethics, professional boundaries, regulations, and standards.
- Complete practice questions under a realistic three-hour time limit.
- Review the reasoning behind every missed practice question.
CHPN Study Resources
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CHPN® is a registered certification mark of the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center. HPCC is not involved with or affiliated with Mometrix Media LLC or StudyGuideZone.com, nor does HPCC endorse or sponsor any products or services offered by Mometrix Media LLC or StudyGuideZone.com.
