[christvs]

I am graduating from my ACNP program in less than a month, and am planning on taking my certification exam in July (assuming all the paperwork does not get delayed, etc!) For all the NPs out there, how did you study? How many hours per day and for how long? Did you set up a schedule, like 2 hours for Cardiac diseases on Monday, and then 2 hours for GI on tue, etc? I am taking a Fitzgerald Review Course at the end of this month, but beyond that I am not sure how else to prepare...I heard that while doing practice questions helps, it's better to review the actual content. Is that right? Thanks for the advice in advance!

[RENP1]

That Review Course is absolutely perfect to take!! Just take the exam less than 3-4 weeks after taking the review course. But try to get as familiar with each topic as possible. What I did was study the booklet I reviewed from the Barkley review course and go over questions that he prepared and that was efficient for the ACNP exam. Please do not study from several review books because that will be very confusing. I had a friend that failed the exam from studying every review book. Good luck!!

[pinoyNP]

I used Fitzgerald Review Materials. I didn't get a chance to attend a live review session but I played the FHEA tapes (Sally Miller lecture) over and over again and went through her sample exam questions from cover to cover. I read up on questions where the concepts were not very clear to me so I can really understand the rationale behind the correct answers. I also practiced a lot on a book of questions by Barbara Todd. Her questions tend to be more in-depth and are harder than the actual ANCC test but it helped focus my studies on specific body systems and ANCC concepts. I had three months to study but really just devoted a couple of hours 5 days a week.

[DaisyRN, ACNP]

If you go look at my thread postings, I started a thread about the ACNP exam not too long ago. It might behoove ya to look at it... http://allnurses.com/forums/f34/ancc...-s-281465.html

I just graduated in December and took the test at the very end of February. I went to the Barkley review January 4-6th which, as I have said in many postings, was INVALUABLE. I cannot stress this enough. He use to write questions for the ACNP exam and was in the first ACNP class to sit for the board exam. And has been teaching review courses since helping write the test questions. He is a JOY to listen to and EXTREMELY knowledgeable about test question specifics (i.e. the way the ANCC has asked questions in the past, how many questions are generally on a certain topic - more info than what is simply on the test blueprint from ANCC, and let me say... he keeps in close contact with previous review-goers that take the test). It is an honest review, don't get me wrong, but if he learns of some information that would help his "students" out, then he shares it. It is my strongest recommendation to go to the Barkley review... everyone in my class that has attended his review and tested, has passed. He gives you a very simplified review "book" that is easy to just flip through on a certain topic or body system each night.

ALSO... I would suggest you change your way of thinking... what I mean is, no one "studies" for the certification exam. When I think of "study," I think of cramming and trying to "learn" materials. For this exam, you already KNOW the materials. You are simply going to "review." Give yourself some credit... you've succeeded in the program and should do fine. The test is not nearly as difficult as you are imagining. (Believe me.) I think it was simpler than the NCLEX... and I think it was simpler than any of my NP tests throughout my program.

Best of luck... keep us posted. PM me if you wanna...

[johnson0424]

ok how long did it take you to get your testing date from the time you graduated? i grad. may 3 and was wondering how long it will take me to get my paper in the mail saying i am eligible to test. I am taking it with ANCC

[RENP1]

For my advance practice recognition from Texas BNE took less than 3-4 weeks after filling/sending the forms. I sent off my application forms to ANCC it took approx. 6 weeks or less for the authorization to take the ACNP exam. The recognition and authorization to test comes quicker than stated on the forms, if everything is correct. Good luck!!!

[Smitty08]

I think it depends on 1. which test you are taking 2. where is your experience and 3. what materials are you using.
Take me, for example - I took the FNP test after going through an FNP program with a background in psych. I also used a test prep book that did not simulate the questions correctly. I did not pass 1st time (it was close!) but after getting a book that was a better match to the test, I sailed through.
Then, when taking the Psych. NP test, althought I studied I don't think it helped much. Most of the questions I was able to answer based on my experience alone!! Did very well.