The Gerontological Nursing Certification (GERO-BC) is a credential awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to registered nurses who pass the Gerontological Nursing board certification exam, demonstrating the necessary skills and competencies for entry-level positions.
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Gerontological Nursing Certification Exam Eligibility
To be eligible for the exam, you must meet all of the following requirements:
- You must hold a current RN license
- You must have completed at least 2 years of full-time practice as an RN
- You must have at least 2,000 hours of gerontology-related clinical practice within the last 3 years
- You must have completed at least 30 hours of continuing education within the last 3 years
Gerontological Nursing Certification Exam Outline
The Gerontological Nursing exam contains 150 multiple-choice questions, 25 of which are unscored, and you will be given a time limit of three hours.
The exam is split into three content domains, and each domain contains some number of knowledge questions and skill questions.
I. Assessment and Diagnosis (35 scored questions)
The questions in this category assess your skills related to risk factor identification and age-related physiological change identification. You will also be tested on your knowledge of the following:
- Pharmacotherapy
- Assessment tools and techniques for physical examination and psychosocial assessment
- Age- and disease-related factors that affect clinical findings
II. Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation (50 scored questions)
The questions in this category assess your knowledge of treatment modality contraindications, unique medication needs of older adults, and interventions and expected outcome. You will also be tested on the following skills:
- Safety intervention implementation
- Care coordination across the continuum
- Nursing diagnosis and problem list evaluation
- Therapeutic environment creation
III. Professional Foundation (40 scored questions)
The questions in this category assess your knowledge of the following:
- Principles of adult learning and communication
- Regulatory compliance and quality improvement
- Disease prevention and health promotion
- Theoretical frameworks
- Diversity and subpopulations of older adults
- Legal and ethical considerations
- Self-management strategies
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Gerontological Nursing Certification Exam Registration
To register for the exam, you must submit an application via the ANCC website. Your application should include all of the necessary proof-of-eligibility documentation and the examination fee, which will vary depending on your membership status.
| Membership Status | Fee |
|---|---|
| ANA Member | $295 |
| GAPNA Member | $340 |
| Non-member | $395 |
Once your application is approved, you will receive a confirmation email containing your Authorization to Test (ATT) and information about scheduling your examination appointment.
Test Day
On the day of your exam, you should arrive at the testing center about 30 minutes before the exam is scheduled to begin. Once you arrive, you will be asked to provide two forms of identification, one of which must contain your photo and signature.
Personal items, such as cell phones, coats, wallets, food/drink, and reference materials, are not allowed in the testing area, so you will be asked to leave them in a secured locker before the exam begins.
Once the check-in process is complete, you will be led to your testing station and given a short tutorial on the testing system before beginning your exam.
How the Exam is Scored
The scores for the Gerontological Nursing exam are calculated using a criterion-based scoring system. This means that a panel of ANCC subject-matter experts has evaluated the questions and determined a passing score. The passing score is set using the modified-Angoff method, which means that your score is based solely on your performance, without any input from the performance of other test-takers.
Your score is reported on a scale of 1 to 500, and you must get a score of at least 350 to pass the exam.
You will be able to see your preliminary scores as soon as you complete the exam, and your final score report will be made available via your ANCC account.
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Online Gerontological Nurse Prep Course
If you want to be fully prepared, Mometrix offers an online Gerontological Nurse prep course. The course is designed to provide you with any and every resource you might want while studying. The Gerontological Nurse course includes:
- Review Lessons Covering Every Topic
- 450+ Gerontological Nurse Practice Questions
- More than 600 Digital Flashcards
- Over 80 Instructional Videos
- Money-back Guarantee
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FAQs
How many questions are on the Gerontological Nursing certification exam?
There are 150 multiple-choice questions on the exam.
How long is the Gerontological Nursing certification exam?
The time limit for the exam is 3 hours.
What is the passing score for the Gerontological Nursing certification exam?
To pass the exam, you must achieve a scaled score of at least 350.
How much does the Gerontological Nursing certification exam cost?
The examination fee is $295 for ANA members, $240 for GAPNA members, and $395 for non-members.
