How hard are the NP boards to pass?

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Jan 3, 2008

I can only speak for the ACNP exam through ANCC. I thought the exam was quite challenging. I found myself having to seriously analyze each question and making sure I picked the best answer among the choices presented. I also found that the exam not only covered clinical content but also some professional issues such as malpractice and even research (????). I also remember using almost the entire time allotted to finish the exam and having a major headache after.

But just like any standardized test, the key to success is exam preparation. I used ACNP review tapes from fhea.com and also practiced on a book of sample test questions written by Barbara Todd. I was insanely stressed out weeks preceding the exam and during the wait for the test result which was about 7 days. I passed with a score way above the average among examinees in the quarterly period posted in the ANCC website. Unfortunately, exam statistics covering this type of information is not available in the ANCC website anymore. But I do know of a couple of ACNP grads who didn't quite do well on their first attempt.

I think some people who are smart clinicians and nurses simply do not perform as well in standardized tests. I am not attributing this as the reason for this person you knew who passed the test after several attempts. By the way, there is another ACNP exam available now through the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. I know nothing about the content of this exam but I do know that this organization is still in the process of securing BON recognition of their NP exam across all the states. Maybe that's a harder exam and that is what that person took.

I shared with your fear of embarrassment of not passing the test after having accepted a position and working as an NP orientee. That was actually the reason why I did not start work right away even though I have already accepted a job after graduation. I was hired but I asked to start 3 months later and was accommodated for it. I wanted to make sure that by the time the third month was over, I would have had taken and passed the test. I also thought the orientation period might get in the way of my studying. But that's just me. I always tend to expect the worst case scenario. Many of my classmates weren't as scared. They took a position right away and worked before taking the exam.

By the way, the 3 month period was not an arbitrary number - I graduated in December 2003 and ANCC stopped offering the exam from mid-Sept 2003 to late March 2004 due to a planned revision of the test. I had no choice but to wait until ANCC re-opened the ACNP exam again so I could sit for it.

DaisyRN, ACNP · Jan 7, 2008

i haven't taken the test yet, but i just completed a certification review course in houston and will tell you that it was well worth the cost... even without taking the test yet. go to http://www.npcourses.com. they have courses all over... and the instructor is hysterical and does a fantastic job of putting things into perspective for the test. his name is dr. thomas barkley - he's an acnp and was in the first acnp class to test. just a side note: he keeps in touch with students as they take the test, so he is very well aware of what is on the current tests... this information alone is worth the cost of registration.

he also helped me get a better grip on what to expect (and pinoy can probably agree or refute); with the nclex, it was a minimal competency test... you didnt have to know a whole lot about everything, but you had to be "minimally competent" to pass... and just be familiar with everything. well, the acnp exam is a test of "mastery" meaning you have to be able to logically analyze each disease process/problem presented to find the right answer. being simply "familiar" with the subjects will not result in success.

i have so many test-taking strategies from his course.. and he gives you a great overview of everything... in fact, i felt like he taught my entire program in 12 hours. and he bases all of the review on the exam blueprint (and information received from new testtakers), so if research utilization is on the test... he covered it... np professional role and patient relationships... covered. he touches on everything in the blueprint from ancc.

again... http://www.npcourses.com - it's worth it! i will update this post accordingly after i test. :)

i tested: successfully!!!! the barkley review is, as suspected... worth it. good luck all! you can see my post about the specific acnp exam on this board as well.

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Jan 7, 2008

That is another excellent review course provider for the ACNP exam. Half of my classmates went to his live review and were raving over how well-prepared they were. I didn't attend a live review because first, there was none offered in my home state and second, I was too broke to pay for airfare and out-of-state courses at the time.

True, the ACNP exam delves into the nitty gritty details of patient management. For instance, I was hammered with tons of hyponatremia questions, figuring out what is causing this patient to be hyponatremic and what needs to be done. I also got some hemodynamics questions which at this point in my career I could've easily answered but at the time, it was a different story.

Porkchop696 · Feb 16, 2008

I just took my ACNP boards yesterday. I was so nervous, but I did feel well prepared. I took the Barkley & Associates review course which is fantastic and I highly recommend. I did pass with flying colors, so if you did well in school and took a review course, I'm sure you will do fine. Also, the ACNP question book by Miller is an awesome resource to have for questions to review. The test questions are very similar to the ones in that book. Another ACNP cert review is out by Todd which has extremely hard questions and is way harder than the exam.

:chuckle I DID PASS MY ACNP BOARDS just yesterday. Now, I do have critical care background, but it is very passable even without that if you prepare well. Good luck and have faith in yourself.

Editorial Team / Admin · Feb 16, 2008

congratulations, porkchop!!!!!

Porkchop696 · Feb 16, 2008

Thanks! It's a huge relief! Now, I can get on with my life and enjoy my time off!

yellow finch, BSN, RN · Feb 18, 2008

Congratulations on passing the boards, Porkchop! Best wishes on your new career path!

Porkchop696 · Feb 19, 2008

Thanks a million!

ninjanurse89 · Feb 26, 2008

Has anyone out there taken the AANP certification exam? If so, when did you receive your test results? Also, did anyone ever take a FNP review course with APEA (Amilie Hollier?) I hear she is wonderful!! Thanks!!

Dana

Dana RN, MSN, MA

FNP Student

P. S. Congrats to you Porkchop696!! I hope to be in the same boat with you next year!!

hcmanp, NP · Feb 26, 2008

I participated in the 2003 test-revision in Baltimore for the ANCC. They wanted NPs who had less than 5 years experience, and we took the test about 4 times (didn't I pray I would never have to take that test again after I graduated and passed the first time!?) to make sure the test represented new practitioner's experience, and was not too hard, nor too easy. I passed easily on certification, and also during the work at ANCC. BUT some of the board members even with 3-5 years experience did NOT pass the newly designed test. We had to justify why the questions were ok to include if we could not get the right answer. It was the most interesting thing I have done professionally. We had to swear not to give away the test answers after we were done. As a result, I highly recommend review courses. They should reinforce learning, not just give "test taking techniques" - that crap is a waste of time and money. Fitzgerald did great for me.

Being an ICU nurse has very to do with being a nurse practitioner. (sorry). Sometimes very experienced nurses can over-analyze questions, too. Go with a good review, study your butt off, and try to relax. Good luck, but you don't need that. Just knowledge.

dhigbee · Feb 26, 2008

Has anyone out there taken the AANP certification exam? If so, when did you receive your test results?

I took the AANP FNP test in 2005. You get a preliminary result immediately upon finishing the test (pass or fail). I remember looking at my "pass" result for about 2 minutes, just to make sure I could trust my vision! I think the official results came about 2 weeks later.

Dana