{"id":46471,"date":"2018-11-28T16:22:40","date_gmt":"2018-11-28T16:22:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/?page_id=46471"},"modified":"2026-03-16T13:14:51","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T18:14:51","slug":"clinical-nurse-leader-exam","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/clinical-nurse-leader-exam\/","title":{"rendered":"Clinical Nurse Leader Practice Test"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) exam is administered by the Commission on Nurse Certification (CNC) to assess the knowledge and skills of prospective clinical nurse leaders.<\/p>\n<p>Click \u201cStart Test\u201d above to take a free CNL practice test, and check out our premium-quality CNL test prep resources by clicking the links below!<\/p>\n<div class=\"buttonlinks\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/studyguides\/clinicalnurseleader\/\">Clinical Nurse Leader Study Guide<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.flashcardsecrets.com\/clinicalnurseleader\/\">Clinical Nurse Leader Flashcards<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"Exam_Eligibility\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Exam Eligibility<\/h2>\n<p>To be eligible for this exam, you must be a graduate of an accredited CNL master&#8217;s or post-master&#8217;s program or be in your last term of said program.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"Clinical_Nurse_Leader_Exam_Outline\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Clinical Nurse Leader Exam Outline<\/h2>\n<p>The CNL exam contains 140 multiple-choice questions, and you will be given a 3-hour time limit.<\/p>\n<p>The exam is split into three domains.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"I_Nursing_Leadership_(32%25)\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>I. Nursing Leadership (32%)<\/h3>\n<p>The questions in this domain assess your knowledge and skills pertaining to the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ethics<\/li>\n<li>Horizontal Leadership<\/li>\n<li>Lateral Integration of Care Services<\/li>\n<li>Patient Assessment<\/li>\n<li>Healthcare Advocacy<\/li>\n<li>Implementation of the CNL Role<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span id=\"II_Clinical_Outcomes_Management_(23%25)\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>II. Clinical Outcomes Management (23%)<\/h3>\n<p>The questions in this domain assess your knowledge and skills pertaining to the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Illness\/Disease Management<\/li>\n<li>Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and Injury Reduction\/Prevention Management<\/li>\n<li>Healthcare Policy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span id=\"III_Care_Environment_Management_(45%25)\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>III. Care Environment Management (45%)<\/h3>\n<p>The questions in this domain assess your knowledge and skills pertaining to the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Interprofessional Communication and Collaboration Skills<\/li>\n<li>Knowledge Management<\/li>\n<li>Healthcare Systems\/Organizations<\/li>\n<li>Team Coordination<\/li>\n<li>Healthcare Finance and Economics<\/li>\n<li>Healthcare Informatics<\/li>\n<li>Quality Improvement and Safety<\/li>\n<li>Evidence-Based Practice<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sg-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sg-box-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"sg-box-title\">Check out Mometrix's Clinical Nurse Leader Study Guide<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>Get practice questions, video tutorials, and detailed study lessons<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"sg-box-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/studyguides\/clinicalnurseleader\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Get Your Study Guide<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/studyguides\/clinicalnurseleader\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"184\" height=\"238\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/clinnurselead.jpg\" alt=\" Study Guide\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"Exam_Registration\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Exam Registration<\/h2>\n<p>To register for the CNL exam, you must submit an application online via the CNC website. Your application must include proof-of-eligibility documents as well as the $425 exam fee.<\/p>\n<p>Once your application is approved, you will receive a confirmation email with further information on how to schedule an exam appointment with Prometric.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"Test_Day\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Test Day<\/h2>\n<p>You should arrive about 30 minutes early to the testing center, which will allow enough time for the check-in process. This process involves checking your ID and signing a confidentiality form.<\/p>\n<p>Once you are checked in, you will be asked to place all personal or prohibited items in a secure locker outside the testing area, and you will be given a piece of scratch paper and two pencils to take notes with during the exam.<\/p>\n<p>Once you are ready, the proctor will lead you to the testing station and provide a brief introduction to the testing system before the exam begins.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"How_the_Exam_is_Scored\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>How the Exam is Scored<\/h2>\n<p>You CNL exam score is determined using a scaled scoring system. This system takes the number of questions you answered correctly (your raw score) and converts it to a numerical score on a scale from 150 to 500. The minimum scaled score you need to pass is 350.<\/p>\n<p>You will receive a score report before you leave the testing center.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sg-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sg-box-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"sg-box-title\">Check out Mometrix's Clinical Nurse Leader Flashcards<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>Get complex  subjects broken down into easily understandable concepts<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"sg-box-button blue-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flashcardsecrets.com\/clinicalnurseleader\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Get Your Flashcards<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.flashcardsecrets.com\/clinicalnurseleader\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"238\" height=\"184\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/clinnurseleadflash.jpg\" alt=\" Flashcards\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"FAQs\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>FAQs<\/h2>\n<div class=\"faq-list\">\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">How many questions are on the CNL exam?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>There are 140 multiple-choice questions on the exam.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">How long is the CNL exam?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>The time limit for the exam is 3 hours.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">What is the passing score for the CNL exam?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>To pass the exam, you must achieve a scaled score of at least 350.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">How much does the CNL exam cost?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>The examination fee is $425.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p><div itemscope=\"\" itemprop=\"author\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Person\" class=\"author-bio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" itemprop=\"image\" class=\"author-image\" height=\"127\" width=\"127\" alt=\"Headshot of Kate Nockunas.\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/tinywow_tinywow_Kate-Nockunas-Cropped-min_24640345_24640389.webp\"><div class=\"author-text\"><p class=\"author-name\">By <span itemprop=\"name\">Kate Nockunas<\/span><\/p><div class=\"author-desc\"><p>Kate has been Mometrix\u2019s Nursing and Medical Editor for over four years. She has a bachelor\u2019s degree in Communications from Vanderbilt University, a bachelor\u2019s degree in Nursing from Marymount University, and a master\u2019s degree in Education from Johns Hopkins. Kate is a critical care registered nurse who still works occasionally in the ICU and PACU.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div itemscope=\"\" itemprop=\"editor\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Person\" class=\"author-bio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" itemprop=\"image\" class=\"author-image\" height=\"127\" width=\"127\" alt=\"Aaron Lanni profile pic\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/image_2024-12-11_124906662.png\"><div class=\"author-text\"><p class=\"author-name\">Edited by <span itemprop=\"name\">Aaron Lanni<\/span><\/p><div class=\"author-desc\"><p>Aaron is the content manager and lead editor for Mometrix Academy. He regularly produces, updates, proofreads, and edits content to ensure it meets Mometrix\u2019s quality and accessibility standards.<\/p>\n<\/div><p class=\"alignright author-desc author-link\"><a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/editorial-guidelines\/\">Learn more about our editorial guidelines<\/a> \u2192<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<div class=\"home-buttons\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/nursing-certification\/\">Nursing Certifications &#8211; Home<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"disclaimer\">Mometrix Test Preparation is not affiliated with or endorsed by any official testing organization. All organizational and test names are trademarks of their respective owners.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) exam is administered by the Commission on Nurse Certification (CNC) to assess the knowledge and skills of prospective clinical nurse leaders. Click \u201cStart Test\u201d above to take a free CNL practice test, and check out our premium-quality CNL test prep resources by clicking the links below! Clinical Nurse Leader Study &#8230; <a title=\"Clinical Nurse Leader Practice Test\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/clinical-nurse-leader-exam\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Clinical Nurse Leader Practice Test\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":205778,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-46471","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"page_category-nursing-certifications","7":"page_type-exam-overview","8":"page_domain-cnc-clinical-nurse-leader"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/46471","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46471"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/46471\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":284875,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/46471\/revisions\/284875"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/205778"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46471"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}