NPCB (Nurse Practitioners Certification Board; AANPCB doing business as NPCB)
AANP FNP (NP-C)
Family Nurse Practitioner National Certification Examination
One of two national board exams that license family nurse practitioners to practice across the lifespan. Passing confers the NP-C credential and is a prerequisite for state APRN licensure and prescriptive authority.
Full program: 14 decks, 852 cards.
What's on the exam
AANPCB FNP Test Blueprint (current)
Assess
32%Comprehensive and focused history and physical assessment · Functional assessment · Risk assessment · Evidence-based screening and health promotion · Documentation of findings
Diagnose
26.5%Pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of disease · Diagnostic test selection and interpretation · Differentiating normal from abnormal findings · Formulating differential diagnoses · Lifespan-specific presentations
Plan
26.5%Evidence-based clinical guidelines · Pharmacotherapeutics and pharmacokinetics · Primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention · Anticipatory guidance · Culturally sensitive, patient-centered planning
Evaluate
15%Treatment and intervention outcomes · Pharmacotherapeutic monitoring and adverse effects · Test results management and reporting · Care plan modification · Referral and follow-up
Frequently asked questions
How much does the AANP FNP (NP-C) cost?
The AANP FNP (NP-C) costs $315. Non-member fee; $240 for AANP/AAENP members.
How long is the AANP FNP (NP-C) and how many questions does it have?
150 items (135 scored, 15 pretest) — 3 hours.
What do you need to pass the AANP FNP (NP-C)?
Scaled score above the passing standard (pass/fail).
Can you retake the AANP FNP (NP-C)?
Re-apply after official score notification; up to three attempts per calendar year (re-examination application and fee required).
What is the best way to study for the AANP FNP (NP-C)?
Start from the official outline and your primary study materials: the exam is weighted by domain (Assess 32%, Diagnose 26.5%, Plan 26.5%, Evaluate 15%). Once you've learned the material, spaced-repetition flashcards organized by those domains are an efficient way to retain it and refresh it before test day.
Ready to prepare?
Our AANP FNP program is organized by this outline's domains and scheduled by spaced repetition, with a path from first card to test day.
Flashcards are a memory tool. Learn the material first, then use NoReread to retain it and refresh what you already know. It doesn't replace studying the subject.