FNP
Offered by AANPCB (FNP-C) or ANCC (FNP-BC)
Family Nurse Practitioner board certification is offered by two bodies. AANPCB (Nurse Practitioners Certification Board, affiliated with AANP) awards FNP-C: 150 multiple-choice items (135 scored + 15 pretest) in 3 hours, focused on clinical care across the lifespan. ANCC awards FNP-BC: 175 items (150 scored + 25 pretest) in 3.5 hours, with additional professional-role, theory, and varied item types.
EXAM AT A GLANCE
Questions
175
135 scored
Testing time
3
hours
Sections
2
Delivery
AANPCB via Prometric
Cost
AANPCB: $240 AANP member / $315 non-member
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What the exam covers
AANPCB: clinical practice across prenatal, pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric populations
ANCC: clinical content plus professional role, theory, and research-informed items
About the FNP certification
Both are valid pathways to FNP licensure when your state board accepts them. Pick the exam your program prepared you for, then confirm with your Board of Nursing and target employers. Each credential renews on a 5-year cycle.
Who it’s for
Graduates of accredited FNP programs seeking national board certification for APRN licensure.
- Testing time
- FNP-BC: 3.5 hours
- Delivery
- ANCC via Prometric (120-day window after application)
- Passing score
- Criterion-referenced scaled standards (ANCC FNP-BC commonly cited as 350 on ANCC's scale). Confirm the current standard with the body you choose
- Cost
- ANCC: $295 ANA member / $340 AANP member / $395 non-member (confirm current published fees)
- Validity
- 5 years for both FNP-C and FNP-BC
- Prerequisites
- Graduate degree from an accredited FNP program meeting the certifying body's education and clinical-hour rules, plus RN licensure
Official exam page· Details verified September 2026
Exam details can change. Always confirm current requirements, fees, and exam policies with the certification provider before registering.
How to prepare
01
Choose FNP-C or FNP-BC first — then download that body's outline only. Dual-studying both blueprints wastes time.
02
Build an 8–10 week calendar by age cohort (AANP) or by ANCC domains if you sit FNP-BC.
03
Do timed blocks that match your exam (150 in 3 hours vs 175 in 3.5 hours).
04
Use an error log for primary-care management (pharm, diagnostics, red flags), not trivia.
05
Confirm state-board acceptance and your program's recommended exam before you pay.
FAQ
Is FNP-C or FNP-BC better?
Neither is universally better. Both support FNP practice. AANPCB is more purely clinical; ANCC adds professional-role content and more item types. Choose based on preparation, state board, and employer preference.
How do I plan FNP board study?
Lock the certifying body, pull the official outline, and schedule mixed primary-care cases by lifespan. Add at least two full-length timed exams in the last three weeks.
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