Our Exams

Our national exams for pediatric nurses and nurse practitioners are unique in that they are the only certification exams collaboratively designed by CPNPs®, CPNs®, and pediatricians.

PNCB exams are recognized and endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Society of Pediatric Nurses (SPN), the Association of Faculties of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (AFPNP) and the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP). Our Certified Pediatric Nurse and Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (Primary Care and Acute Care) programs are accredited by The National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

All PNCB exams are approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Veterans can now be reimbursed for the cost of their certification examination. For more information, call 1-888-GI Bill (442-4551) or visit the VA Web site at www.gibill.va.gov.

The Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN® ) Exam

This exam is for the nurse who has extensive experience in pediatric practice and who demonstrates knowledge and abilities related to pediatric nursing beyond basic RN licensure. Nurses passing this exam are called Certified Pediatric Nurses and earn the CPN® credential, which they are entitled to use as long as they actively maintain their certification. The PNCB has certified over 10,000 nurses since 1990.

To learn more about the CPN® role, please read our Role Delineation Study.

To learn more about pediatric nurses who maintain certification, please see A Profile of Certification for Pediatric Nurses.

To learn more about the CPN® Exam, please click here.

To begin the application process, please click here.

The Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care (CPNP-PC® ) Exam

This exam is for the advanced practice nurse with extensive knowledge related to the diagnosis and management of primary care pediatric health care issues. PNPs passing this exam earn the designation Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care (CPNP® ) and are entitled to use this credential as long as they actively maintain their certification, which is linked to licensure in most states.

The CPNP® role is historic and represents the first nurse practitioner role developed in the United States. For more about this role, please read our 2000 CPNP® Role Delineation Study.

To learn more about the CPNP-PC® Exam, please click here.

To begin the application process, please click here.

The Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care (CPNP-AC® ) Exam

We created this exam in response to the emerging role of Acute Care PNPs. These advanced practice pediatric nurse practitioners manage the acute and urgent care needs of children in hospital, clinics and home settings. Successful candidates earn the title of Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care and can use the CPNP-AC® credential as long as they actively maintain their certification, which is linked to licensure in many states.

To learn more about this unique role, please read our CPNP® Role Delineation Study.

To learn more about the CPNP-AC® Exam, please click here.

To begin the application process, please click here.

Our Acute Care CPNP® Program meets the National Council of State Boards of Nursing's APRN criteria for certification programs. Click here to view this documentation.

The Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN™) Exam

In 2008, the PNCB developed this exam with the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN®). This unique exam was developed in response to the Institute of Medicine's report (2006) identifying an urgent need for specialized nursing expertise in the management of the emergency healthcare needs of pediatric patients. Visit our Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse Exam webpage for more about this historic exam.