AANPCB (American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board)
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.
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) — 3.5 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)?
After 60 days; limited attempts per year with required CE between failures.
What is the best way to study for the AANP FNP (NP-C)?
Study the official blueprint, not random material: the exam is weighted by domain (Assess 32%, Diagnose 26.5%, Plan 26.5%, Evaluate 15%). Spaced-repetition flashcards built domain-by-domain against that blueprint are the most time-efficient way to cover everything the exam tests.
Program in development
We're building a blueprint-complete program for this exam. Meanwhile, explore live programs across 11 exam.
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