ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Center)
ANCC FNP-BC
Family Nurse Practitioner Board Certification Examination
The ANCC's board certification for family nurse practitioners, conferring the FNP-BC credential required for APRN licensure and prescriptive authority. Organized around the nursing process across the lifespan.
What's on the exam
ANCC FNP Test Content Outline (current; for exams through October 18, 2026 — revised outline applies to exams on/after October 30, 2026)
Assessment
19%Evidence-based health promotion and screening · Comprehensive history and physical assessment · Focused assessment · Functional assessment · Risk assessment
Diagnosis
17%Pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of disease · Diagnostic test selection · Differentiating normal vs abnormal physiologic changes · Formulating differential diagnoses
Planning
19%Age-appropriate prevention · Anticipatory guidance · Evidence-based clinical guidelines · Pharmacotherapeutics and pharmacogenetics · Culturally sensitive practice · Research appraisal
Implementation
29%Pharmacotherapeutic and non-pharmacologic intervention selection · Legal and ethical implementation (HIPAA, confidentiality) · Regulatory guidelines and reporting · Comprehensive documentation · Patient-specific education · Therapeutic communication
Evaluation
15%Pharmacotherapeutic intervention outcomes and monitoring · Non-pharmacologic treatment outcomes · Test results evaluation and reporting · Ethical and legal principles · Care plan revision
Frequently asked questions
How much does the ANCC FNP-BC cost?
The ANCC FNP-BC costs $395. Standard fee; discounts for ANA/AANP members.
How long is the ANCC FNP-BC and how many questions does it have?
175 items (150 scored, 25 pretest) — 3.5 hours.
What do you need to pass the ANCC FNP-BC?
Scaled score of 350.
Can you retake the ANCC FNP-BC?
Up to three attempts per 12-month period; 60-day wait between attempts.
What is the best way to study for the ANCC FNP-BC?
Study the official blueprint, not random material: the exam is weighted by domain (Assessment 19%, Diagnosis 17%, Planning 19%, Implementation 29%, Evaluation 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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