Are you looking to take the next step in your nursing career? If so, there are many different paths available to you. The ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Center) offers a wide variety of certifications that registered nurses just like yourself can pursue. Take a look at what the ANCC has to offer regarding nurse credentialing. If you need help on a particular exam checkout our ANCC Certification Study Guides.
ANCC Certifications
From Ambulatory Care to Psychiatric-Mental Health and everything else in between, Mometrix Test Preparation has you covered to help you get that next ANCC certification and improve your nursing skills.
Nurse Practitioner Certifications
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP (AGACNP-BC)
Number of Questions: There are 200 questions on the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP certification exam. Out of those 200 questions, there are 25 pretest questions that do not count towards your score.
Length of Exam: The exam is 4 hours long.
4 Domains of Practice:
• APRN Core Competencies
• Clinical Practice
• Role-Professional Responsibility
• Health Care Systems
Minimum Requirements:
• Hold a current and active RN license
• Hold a masters, postgraduate, or doctoral degree from an adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner program.
• Have a minimum of 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours in an adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner role
Adult Gerontology ACNP Prep Course
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP (AGPCNP-BC)
Number of Questions: There are 200 questions on the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP certification exam. Of those 200 questions, 25 are pretest questions and are not counted towards your score.
Length of Exam: The exam is 4 hours long.
3 Domains of Practice:
• Foundations of Advanced Practice Nursing
• Professional Roles
• Independent Practice
Minimum Requirements:
• Hold a current and active RN license
• Hold a masters, postgraduate, or doctoral degree from an adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner program.
• Have a minimum of 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours in an adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner role.
Family NP (FNP-BC)
Number of Questions: There are 200 questions on the Family NP certification exam. Of those 200 questions, 25 are pretest questions and are not counted towards your score.
Length of Exam: The exam is 4 hours long.
3 Domains of Practice:
• Foundations of Advanced Practice Nursing
• Professional Practice
• Independent Practice
Minimum Requirements:
• Hold a current and active RN license
• Hold a masters, postgraduate, or doctoral degree from a family nurse practitioner program.
• Have a minimum of 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours included in your family nurse practitioner program.
Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Prep Course
Psychiatric-Mental Health NP (PMHNP-BC)
Number of Questions: There are 200 questions on the Psychiatric-Mental Health NP certification exam. Of those 200 questions, 25 are pretest questions and are not counted towards your score.
Length of Exam: The exam is 4 hours long.
Psychiatric-Mental Health NP Practice Test
3 Domains of Practice:
• Foundations of Advanced Practice Nursing
• Professional Role and Policy
• Independent Practice Competencies
Minimum Requirements:
• Hold a current and active RN license
• Hold a masters, postgraduate, or doctoral degree from a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner program.
• Have 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours included in your psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner program.
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Prep Course
Pediatric Primary Care NP (PPCNP-BC)
Number of Questions: There are 200 questions on the Pediatric Primary Care NP certification exam. Of those 200 questions, 25 are pretest questions and are not counted towards your score.
Length of Exam: The exam is 4 hours long.
3 Domains of Practice:
• Foundations for Advanced Practice
• Advanced Professional Practice
• Advanced Clinical Practice
Minimum Requirements:
• Hold a current and active RN license
• Hold a masters, postgraduate, or doctoral degree from a pediatric primary care nurse practitioner program
• Have 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours as pediatric primary care nurse practitioner role.
Clinical Nurse Specialist Certifications
Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AGCNS-BC)
Number of Questions: There are 200 questions on the Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist certification exam. Of those 200 questions, 25 are pretest questions and are not counted towards your score.
Length of Exam: The exam is 4 hours long.
Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Practice Test
3 Domains of Practice:
• Direct Care
• Professional Practice
• Systems Leadership/Quality/Outcomes
Minimum Requirements:
• Hold a current and active RN license
• Hold a masters, postgraduate, or doctoral degree from an adult-gerontology clinical nurse specialist program
• Have 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours in an adult-gerontology clinical nurse specialist role
Specialty Certifications
Ambulatory Care Nurse (RN-BC)
Number of Questions: There are 175 questions on the Ambulatory Care Nurse Certification exam. Of those 175 questions, 25 are pretest questions and are not counted towards your score.
Length of Exam: The exam is 3.5 hours long.
Ambulatory Care Nurse Practice Test
5 Domains of Practice:
• Clinical Practice
• Communication
• Professional Role
• Systems/Legal and Regulatory
• Education
Minimum Requirements:
• Hold a current and active RN license
• Have practiced the equivalent of 2 years as a full-time RN
• Have a minimum of 2,000 clinical practice in ambulatory care or telehealth nursing within the last 3 years
• Have completed 30 hours of continuing education in ambulatory care or telehealth within the last 3 years
Ambulatory Care Nursing Prep Course
Cardiac-Vascular Nurse (RN-BC)
Number of Questions: There are 175 questions on the Cardiac Vascular Nurse Certification exam. Of those 175 questions, 25 are pretest questions and are not counted towards your score.
Length of Exam: The exam is 3.5 hours long.
Cardiac-Vascular Nurse Practice Test
4 Domains of Practice:
• Assessment and Diagnosis
• Planning, Implementation, and Outcome Evaluation
• Education and Health Promotion
• Professional Role
Minimum Requirements:
• Hold a current and active RN license
• Have practiced the equivalent of 2 years as a full-time RN
• Have a minimum of 2,000 clinical practice in cardiac-vascular nursing within the last 3 years
• Have completed 30 hours of continuing education in cardiac-vascular nursing within the last 3 years
Gerontological Nurse (RN-BC)
Number of Questions: There are 175 questions on Gerontological Nurse Certification exam. Of those 175 questions, 25 are pretest questions and are not counted towards your score.
Length of Exam: The exam is 3.5 hours long.
Gerontological Nurse Certification Practice Test
5 Domains of Practice:
• Assessment
• Plan of Care
• Person-Centered Care
• Professional Practice
• Health Promotion
Minimum Requirements:
• Hold a current and active RN license
• Have practiced the equivalent of 2 years as a full-time RN
• Have a minimum of 2,000 clinical practice in the specialty area of gerontological nursing within the last 3 years
• Have completed 30 hours of continuing education in gerontological nursing within the last 3 years
Informatics Nurse (RN-BC)
Number of Questions: There are 175 questions on Informatics Nurse Certification exam. Of those 175 questions, 25 are pretest questions and are not counted towards your score.
Length of Exam: The exam is 3.5 hours long.
Informatics Nursing Practice Test
3 Domains of Practice:
• Foundations of Practice
• System Design Life Cycle
• Data Management and Health Care Technology
Minimum Requirements:
• Hold a current and active RN license
• Hold a bachelor’s degree or higher in nursing or a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
• Have practiced the equivalent of 2 years full-time as an RN
• Have completed 30 hours of continuing education in informatics nursing within the last 3 years
• Have one of the following requirements:
– Have practiced 2,000 hours in informatics nursing within the last 3 years
OR
– Have practiced a minimum 1,000 hours in informatics nursing in the last 3 years
– Have completed a minimum of 12 semester hours in informatics courses that are part of a graduate-level informatics nursing program
OR
– Have completed a graduate program in informatics nursing with a minimum of 200 hours of faculty-supervised practicum in informatics nursing
Medical-Surgical Nurse (RN-BC)
Number of Questions: There are 175 questions on Medical-Surgical Nurse Certification exam. Of those 175 questions, 25 are pretest questions and are not counted towards your score.
Length of Exam: The exam is 3.5 hours long.
Medical-Surgical Nurse Practice Test
4 Domains of Practice:
•Assessment and Diagnosis
• Planning, Implementation and Outcomes Evaluation
• Professional Role
• Health Teaching and Health Promotion
Minimum Requirements:
• Hold a current and active RN license
• Have practiced the equivalent of 2 years as a full-time RN
• Have a minimum of 2,000 clinical practice in the specialty area of medical-surgical nursing within the last 3 years
• Have completed 30 hours of continuing education in medical-surgical nursing within the last 3 years
Medical-Surgical Nurse Prep Course
Nurse Executive (NE-BC)
Number of Questions: There are 175 questions on Nurse Executive Certification exam. Of those 175 questions, 25 are pretest questions and are not counted towards your score.
Length of Exam: The exam is 3.5 hours long.
4 Domains of Practice:
• Structures and Processes
• Professional Practice
• Leadership
• Knowledge Management
Minimum Requirements:
• Hold a current and active RN license
• Hold a bachelor’s degree or higher in nursing
• Have held a mid-level administrative or higher position OR a faculty position teaching graduate students nursing administration OR a nursing management or executive consultation position full-time for the equivalent of 24 months in the last 5 years
• Have completed 30 hours of continuing education in nursing administration within the last 3 years. (This requirement is waived if you have a master’s degree in nursing administration.)
Nurse Executive-Advanced (NEA-BC)
Number of Questions: There are 175 questions on Nurse Executive-Advanced Certification exam. Of those 175 questions, 25 are pretest questions and are not counted towards your score.
Length of Exam: The exam is 3.5 hours long.
4 Domains of Practice:
• Structures and Processes
• Exemplary Professional Practice
• Transformational Leadership
• New Knowledge and Practice Applications
Minimum Requirements:
• Hold a current and active RN license
• Hold a master’s degree or higher in nursing, or hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s in another field.
• Have held an administrative position at the nurse executive level, or a faculty position teaching graduate students executive-level nursing administration full-time for the equivalent of 24 months within the last 5 years.
• Have completed 30 hours of continuing education in nursing administration within the last 3 years. (This requirement is waived if you hold a master’s degree in nursing administration.)
Nursing Case Management (RN-BC)
Number of Questions: There are 175 questions on the Nursing Case Management Certification exam. Of those 175 questions, 25 are pretest questions and are not counted towards your score.
Length of Exam: The exam is 3.5 hours long.
5 Domains of Practice:
• Fundamentals
• Resource Management
• Quality Management
• Legal and Ethics
• Education and Health Promotion
Minimum Requirements:
• Hold a current and active RN license
• Hold a bachelor’s degree or higher in nursing
• Have practiced the equivalent of 2 years full-time as a registered nurse
• Have a minimum of 4,000 hours of clinical practice in nursing professional development within the last 5 years
• Have completed 30 hours of continuing education in nursing professional development within the last 3 years
Nursing Professional Development (RN-BC)
Number of Questions: There are 175 questions on Nurse Executive-Advanced Certification exam. Of those 175 questions, 25 are pretest questions and are not counted towards your score.
Length of Exam: The exam is 3.5 hours long.
Nursing Professional Development Practice Test
7 Domains of Practice:
• Education
• Leadership
• Communication
• Ethical/Legal
• Practice and Process Improvement
• Technology
• Program and Project Management
Minimum Requirements:
• Have a current and active RN license
• Have a bachelor’s degree or higher in nursing
• Have practiced the equivalent of 2,000 years as a full-time RN
• Have a minimum of 4,000 hours of clinical practice in nursing professional development within the last 3 years
• Have completed 30 hours of continuing education in nursing professional development within the last 3 years.
Pain Management Nursing (RN-BC)
Number of Questions: There are 175 questions on Nurse Executive-Advanced Certification exam. Of those 175 questions, 25 are pretest questions and are not counted towards your score.
Length of Exam: The exam is 3.5 hours long.
4 Domains of Practice:
• Foundations of Pain
• Assessment and Reassessment
• Interventions
• Education and Collaboration
Minimum Requirements:
• Hold a current and active RN license
• Have practiced the equivalent of 2 years as a full-time RN
• Have practiced in a nursing role that involves aspects of pain management nursing for at least 2,000 hours in the past 3 years prior to applying for the exam
• Have completed 30 hours of continuing education in the 3 years prior to taking the exam, 15 hours of which must be related to pain management
Pediatric Nursing
Number of Questions: There are 175 questions on Nurse Executive-Advanced Certification exam. Of those 175 questions, 25 are pretest questions and are not counted towards your score.
Length of Exam: The exam is 3.5 hours long.
4 Domains of Practice:
• Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, and Outcomes
• Implementation and Evaluation
• Family Centered Care
• Professional Role
Minimum Requirements:
• Hold a current and active RN license
• Have practiced the equivalent of 2 years as a full-time RN
• Have a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice in the specialty area of pediatric nursing within the last 3 years
• Have completed 30 hours of continuing education in pediatric nursing within the last 3 years
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing
Number of Questions: There are 175 questions on Nurse Executive-Advanced Certification exam. Of those 175 questions, 25 are pretest questions and are not counted towards your score.
Length of Exam: The exam is 3.5 hours long.
4 Domains of Practice:
• Assessment, Diagnosis, and Planning
• Implementation and Evaluation
• Nurse-Patient Relationship and Professional Development
• Patient Education and Population Health
Interprofessional Certifications
National Healthcare Disaster Certification (NHDP-BC)
Number of Questions: There are 175 questions on Nurse Executive-Advanced Certification exam. Of those 175 questions, 25 are pretest questions and are not counted towards your score.
Length of Exam: The exam is 3.5 hours long.
4 Domains of Practice:
• Mitigation
• Preparedness
• Response
• Recovery
Minimum Requirements:
• Have a minimum of 3 years of disaster experience in the last 10 years in one or more of the professions list below:
– RN with a current and active RN license
– Physician with a current and active MD or osteopathic medicine (OD) license
– APRN with a current and active RN and/or APRN license
– Physician Assistant with a current and active PA license
– Pharmacist with a current and active pharmacist license
– Paramedic or Emergency Medical Technician with a current and active state or National Registry Emergency Medical Technician certification
– Respiratory Therapist with a current and active national registration
– Behavioral Health Professional with a current and active license to practice in one of these graduate-level behavioral health professions:
• Counseling
• Marriage and Family Therapy
• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Social Work
-Emergency Management Professional, with organizational documentation of employment as an Emergency Management Professional in a healthcare setting
-Public Health Professional with organizational documentation of employment as a Public Health Professional
ANCC Certification FAQ
What is an ANCC Certification?
The ANCC Certification is a certification that demonstrates that you have the knowledge and skills needed to specialize in a particular field of nursing such as pediatrics or psychiatric-mental health. ANCC also offers certifications for those who want to go into a nurse practitioner specialization.
How much does it cost to take the ANCC Certification?
To take an ANCC Certification exam is $395. However, if you are a member of ANA, you will pay either $295 or $270 depending on which specialization certification you are taking.
What are the requirements to become ANCC Certified?
Each ANCC certification have different minimum requirements such as some certifications will require you to have a master’s degree or higher, while other certifications require you to have an active and current RN license with a minimum number of years of experience and continuing education hours.
How long is the ANCC Certification good for?
The ANCC Certification is required to be renew every 5 years. When you renew your certification, you must have proof of continual learning such as continuing education hours or practice hours.
Is the ANCC Certification exam all multiple-choice?
Yes. Each ANCC Certification exam is multiple-choice. However, not every certification exam contains the same number of questions. Some certifications contain 200 multiple-choice questions while others can contain 175 multiple-choice questions.
How long is the ANCC Certification exam?
Some ANCC Certification exams last for 4 hours while others last for 3.5 hours.
