What are the eligibility recommendations for the CPEN exam?
The PNCB and BCEN recommend that applicants have two years of full time experience in pediatric emergency nursing care. Pediatric emergency nursing care as defined by the PNCB and BCEN include providing direct care, health care facilitation, education, and advocacy for pediatric emergency patients and their families.

What are the minimum eligibility requirements to apply for the CPEN exam?
The PNCB and BCEN recognize that nurses prepare for their role in various ways, the minimum eligibility requirements to apply for the CPEN include:

1) holding a current unrestricted license to practice as an RN in the United States (a nursing certificate equivalent to a RN licensure in the US is also acceptable), and
2) having practiced at least 1,000 hours in pediatric emergency nursing practice in the past 24 months.

How can the 1,000 hours in pediatric emergency nursing practice in the past 24 months be obtained?
The 1,000 hours in pediatric emergency practice requirement may be obtained through practice in any setting, and may include providing direct care, health care facilitation, education, and advocacy for patients and families. Examples of ways in which the 1,000-hour requirement may be met include:

A) full time employment as an emergency nurse in a pediatric emergency setting for six months,
B) full time employment as an emergency nurse in a mixed-age emergency setting for two years with a population of approximately 20 percent pediatric patients,
C) part-time employment as an emergency nurse in a pediatric emergency setting, for example, for 20 hours per week for one year, or
D) any other combination of practice involving direct care, health care facilitation, education, and advocacy for pediatric patients and their families for a total of 1,000 hours in the past 24 months.

Do I have to sign an attestation statement on my application to confirm eligibility?
Yes, CPEN candidates are required to sign an attestation statement to confirm eligibility. The PNCB and BCEN reserve the right to conduct an audit of the applicant's attestation, and may require that the applicant provide confirmation, for example through agreement of a supervisor (or supervisors), of completion of the practice requirement in pediatric emergency nursing.

Is a BSN required?
No, it is NOT required to have a BSN to take the certification exam.

When can I register for the CPEN beta/pilot exam?
Registration for the beta exam will become available on the AMP website www.goAMP.com on the morning of August 5, 2008. 200 applicants will participate in the beta exam. Click here to learn more information about the beta exam.

When will the CPEN beta/pilot exam be offered?
The CPEN beta/pilot will be offered October 1 - 31, 2008.

How much does the CPEN beta/pilot test cost?
The CPEN beta/pilot test will cost $180.00.

What is the minimum passing requirement for the CPEN beta/pilot test?
The minimum passing score will be determined following the close of the beta/pilot test period. Beta candidates will receive score reports December 2008 - January 2009. Click here to learn more information about the beta exam.

How, When, and Where will the CPEN exams be administered?
The exam is administered via computer five days a week and occasional Saturdays at over 150 Applied Measurement Professionals (AMP) Assessment Centers located throughout the United States. Visit AMP's website at www.goAMP.com to locate a testing center near you.

How much time is allowed to complete the exam?
Candidates will be given three hours to complete the exam.

How many questions are on the CPEN exam?
The exam is composed of 175 multiple-choice, one-best-answer questions. Twenty-five unscored questions are included as pre-test items. A tutorial is provided prior to the exam to explain how to select answers and move from question to question. This tutorial does not reduce your testing time.

When can I register for the CPEN exam?
Registration for the CPEN exam will begin November 2008.

When will the CPEN exam be available?
The CPEN Exam will become available January 2009.

How much will the CPEN exam cost?
The cost of the exam will be $280.