Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Exam

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The Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) Certification exam is provided by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) as an entry-level examination designed to evaluate the candidate’s clinical knowledge of young adults.

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AGPCNP Exam Eligibility

To meet the eligibility requirements to take this exam, you will need to have obtained all of the following:

  • A current RN license issued by the state you are working in.
  • A master’s, post-graduate certificate, or DNP from an accredited adult-gerontology primary care NP program
    • If you are in an AGPCNP program, you must have a minimum of 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours
  • Three comprehensive graduate-level courses in the following:
    • Advanced physiology/pathophysiology
    • Advance health assessment, including advanced assessment techniques and assessment of all human systems
    • Advanced pharmacotherapeutics, which includes pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacotherapeutics of all broad categories
  • Content in the following:
    • Health promotion and/or maintenance
    • Differential diagnosis and disease management

All of your verification to prove your eligibility must be sent to the ANCC along with a validation of education form, before registering for the exam. The proper form and submission documents can be found on the ANCC website.

You may submit your validation materials by emailing aprnvalidation@ana.org or by mail to the following address:

ANCC Certification
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 400
Silver Spring, MD 20910

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AGPCNP Exam Outline

The Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner exam contains 175 multiple-choice questions. You will only be scored on 150 of those questions, as the remaining 25 questions are “pre-test” questions that are used to create questions for future versions of the exam. You will be given 3.5 hours to complete the exam.

The exam is split into three content domains.

exam outline for the AGPCNP exam

I. Patient Assessment Process (36 scored questions)

The questions in this domain are designed to assess your knowledge and skills pertaining to assessment concepts and processes.

Knowledge
  • Differentiation between normal and pathophysiological changes
Skills
  • Comprehensive health history collection
  • Physical examination
  • Functional assessment
  • Psychosocial assessment
  • Cognitive and mental health assessment

II. Plan of Care (90 scored questions)

The questions in this domain are designed to assess your knowledge and skills pertaining to care plans.

A. Diagnosis

Knowledge
  • Evidence-based practice and treatment guidelines
  • Effects of development and aging on physiology and pathophysiology
Skills
  • Synthesis of assessment findings and differential diagnosis development
  • Laboratory and diagnostic test selection and results interpretation

B. Pharmacology

Knowledge
  • Effects of development and aging on pharmacology
  • Pharmacogenetics
  • Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics
Skills
  • Pharmacotherapeutic decision-making
  • Pharmacology management

C. Implementation and Evaluation

Knowledge
  • Behavioral change
  • Advance care planning
  • Palliative and hospice care
Skills
  • Non-pharmacologic intervention selection
  • Chronic condition management
  • Education and counseling
  • Reassessment and modification of treatment plan

III. Professional Practice (24 scored questions)

The questions in this domain are designed to assess your knowledge and skills pertaining to care plans.

Knowledge
  • Scope of practice and regulatory guidelines
  • Legal and ethical issues
  • Environmental and social determinants of health, including principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • Health promotion and disease prevention

Useful Topics to Study

The body systems and drug agents listed below are covered in some way on the exam, so you should ensure you are familiar with them.

Body SystemsDrug Agents
  • Cardiovascular
  • Endocrine
  • Gastrointestinal
  • Genitourinary
  • Renal
  • Head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat
  • Hematopoietic
  • Immune
  • Integumentary
  • Musculoskeletal
  • Neurological
  • Psychiatric
  • Reproductive
  • Respiratory
  • Analgesic
  • Anti-infective
  • Antineoplastic
  • Cardiovascular
  • Endocrine
  • Eye, ear, and skin
  • Gastrointestinal
  • Genitourological
  • Immunologic
  • Musculoskeletal
  • Neurological
  • Psychiatric
  • Respiratory

AGPCNP Exam Registration

Registering for and scheduling the exam can be done online.

The cost of the examination is $395 for all candidates who are not members of the American Nurses Credential Center. Active ANCC members will pay $295 to register for the exam.

Test Day

On the day of the test, you should arrive at the testing center about 30 minutes prior to the exam start time. When you arrive, you will be asked to provide two forms of identification. Your primary form of ID must include your name, signature, and photo (a passport or driver’s license can be used as your primary ID). The second form of identification must have your name and signature (a credit card or social security card can be used as a secondary form of ID).

Personal items such as food/drinks, cell phones, and coats are not allowed in the testing area.

How the AGPCNP Exam is Scored

Scores will be available online after you complete the examination. You will have to sign into your AANC account to view your scores.

You will need to achieve a score of 350 to pass, with the maximum score possible being 500. If you do not pass the exam, you can retake it after 60 days, and you will be asked to pay a fee of $270.

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FAQs

Q

How many questions are on the exam?

A

There are 175 questions on the exam, though only 150 will count toward your final score.

Q

What is the time limit of the exam?

A

The exam is timed at 3.5 hours.

Q

What is the cost of the exam?

A

The cost of the examination is $295 for ANCC members and $395 for all non-members.

Q

What is a passing score?

A

A passing score for this exam is 350.


By Kate Nockunas

Kate has been Mometrix’s Nursing and Medical Editor for over four years. She has a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Vanderbilt University, a bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Marymount University, and a master’s degree in Education from Johns Hopkins. Kate is a critical care registered nurse who still works occasionally in the ICU and PACU.

 

by Mometrix Test Preparation | Last Updated: January 23, 2024