Acute Care CPNP® Exam Administration

The National Acute Care CPNP® Exam is delivered by computer at over 280 Prometric Testing Centers geographically located throughout the United States. Computer knowledge is not required to take a computer-based exam. Before the exam begins, a tutorial is provided that explains how to select an answer and move from question to question. This tutorial does not reduce your assigned testing time.

Disability-related Needs. We work with Prometric to arrange specific accommodations. Please indicate the need for special accommodations when applying and complete our Request for Special Examination Accommodations.

Making Your Appointment. Once eligibility is determined, you will be notified by the PNCB via email and postcard of your assigned 90-day testing period. Once you receive this email, you are ready to make your appointment. Make your appointment promptly to obtain a desired time and place within a testing period since many other groups use Prometric for testing. Available dates will be indicated when scheduling an examination. Candidates are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Exam Length and Format. Effective 10/5/09, the Acute Care CPNP® Exam contains 175 multiple-choice items. Of these, 150 questions are preselected as scored questions and 25 are non-scored pretest questions. Total testing time for the exam is 3 hours. If you want to become familiar with the structure and presentation of the Exam, we offer PEDs Exam Prep. Acute Care Exam candidates may benefit from the Health Promotion module of this learning activity.

After the Exam. Before you leave the testing center, you'll receive a personal exam score report to inform you of your their exam status: pass or fail. Within three weeks, you'll receive official notification from the PNCB of your status as a CPNP®. Documents will include a CPNP-AC® wall certificate, a wallet card and your CPNP® lapel pin. Important information about annual recertification will also be included. Unsuccessful candidates may repeat the Acute Care CPNP® Exam. Effective March 1, 2010, the PNCB will be transitioning to a new testing vendor, Prometric. As of March 1, 2010, Acute Care PNP exam candidates who do not pass will have the opportunity to retest after a 90-day waiting period following a previous unsuccessful exam attempt. Opportunities for re-examination will be based upon the number of available exam forms. Candidates will not be allowed to repeat the test using the same exam form. There is no waiting period PNCB's eligibility requirements must be met at time of application. On receipt of an application and reexamination fees, a new 90-day testing period will be assigned.

Exam Integrity. PNCB and Prometric are responsible for the validity and integrity of the scores they report. On occasion, occurrences, such as computer malfunction or misconduct by a candidate, may cause a score to be suspect. The PNCB and Prometric reserve the right to void or withhold examination results if, upon investigation, violation of its regulations is discovered.