The Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) Certification exam is provided by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) as an entry-level examination designed to evaluate the candidate’s clinical knowledge of young adults.
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AGPCNP Exam Eligibility
To meet the eligibility requirements to take this exam, you will need to have obtained all of the following:
- A current RN license issued by the state you are working in.
- A master’s, post-graduate certificate, or DNP from an accredited adult-gerontology primary care NP program
- If you are in an AGPCNP program, you must have a minimum of 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours
- Three comprehensive graduate-level courses in the following:
- Advanced physiology/pathophysiology
- Advance health assessment, including advanced assessment techniques and assessment of all human systems
- Advanced pharmacotherapeutics, which includes pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacotherapeutics of all broad categories
- Content in the following:
- Health promotion and/or maintenance
- Differential diagnosis and disease management
All of your verification to prove your eligibility must be sent to the ANCC along with a validation of education form, before registering for the exam. The proper form and submission documents can be found on the ANCC website.
You may submit your validation materials by emailing aprnvalidation@ana.org or by mail to the following address:
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 400
Silver Spring, MD 20910
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AGPCNP Exam Outline
The Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner exam contains 175 multiple-choice questions. You will only be scored on 150 of those questions, as the remaining 25 questions are “pre-test” questions that are used to create questions for future versions of the exam. You will be given 3.5 hours to complete the exam.
The exam is split into three content domains.
I. Patient Assessment Process (36 scored questions)
The questions in this domain are designed to assess your knowledge and skills pertaining to assessment concepts and processes.
Knowledge
- Differentiation between normal and pathophysiological changes
Skills
- Comprehensive health history collection
- Physical examination
- Functional assessment
- Psychosocial assessment
- Cognitive and mental health assessment
II. Plan of Care (90 scored questions)
The questions in this domain are designed to assess your knowledge and skills pertaining to care plans.
Knowledge
- Evidence-based practice and treatment guidelines
- Effects of development and aging on physiology and pathophysiology
Skills
- Synthesis of assessment findings and differential diagnosis development
- Laboratory and diagnostic test selection and results interpretation
B. Pharmacology
Knowledge
- Effects of development and aging on pharmacology
- Pharmacogenetics
- Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics
Skills
- Pharmacotherapeutic decision-making
- Pharmacology management
C. Implementation and Evaluation
Knowledge
- Behavioral change
- Advance care planning
- Palliative and hospice care
Skills
- Non-pharmacologic intervention selection
- Chronic condition management
- Education and counseling
- Reassessment and modification of treatment plan
III. Professional Practice (24 scored questions)
The questions in this domain are designed to assess your knowledge and skills pertaining to care plans.
Knowledge
- Scope of practice and regulatory guidelines
- Legal and ethical issues
- Environmental and social determinants of health, including principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Health promotion and disease prevention
Useful Topics to Study
The body systems and drug agents listed below are covered in some way on the exam, so you should ensure you are familiar with them.
| Body Systems | Drug Agents |
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AGPCNP Exam Registration
Registering for and scheduling the exam can be done online.
The cost of the examination is $395 for all candidates who are not members of the American Nurses Credential Center. Active ANCC members will pay $295 to register for the exam.
Test Day
On the day of the test, you should arrive at the testing center about 30 minutes prior to the exam start time. When you arrive, you will be asked to provide two forms of identification. Your primary form of ID must include your name, signature, and photo (a passport or driver’s license can be used as your primary ID). The second form of identification must have your name and signature (a credit card or social security card can be used as a secondary form of ID).
Personal items such as food/drinks, cell phones, and coats are not allowed in the testing area.
How the AGPCNP Exam is Scored
Scores will be available online after you complete the examination. You will have to sign into your AANC account to view your scores.
You will need to achieve a score of 350 to pass, with the maximum score possible being 500. If you do not pass the exam, you can retake it after 60 days, and you will be asked to pay a fee of $270.
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FAQs
Q
How many questions are on the exam?
A
There are 175 questions on the exam, though only 150 will count toward your final score.
Q
What is the time limit of the exam?
A
The exam is timed at 3.5 hours.
Q
What is the cost of the exam?
A
The cost of the examination is $295 for ANCC members and $395 for all non-members.
Q
What is a passing score?
A
A passing score for this exam is 350.
