The ANCC Nursing Professional Development Certification exam assesses the knowledge and skills that registered nurses must have in the nursing professional development specialty.
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Eligibility
To be eligible for this exam, you must meet the following requirements:
- You must hold a current RN license in the US
- You must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher in nursing
- You must have at least 2 years of full-time practice as an RN
- You must have at least 2,000 clinical practice hours in nursing professional development within the last three years
- You must have at least 30 hours of continuing education in nursing professional development within the last three years
Exam Outline
The ANCC Nursing Professional Development Certification exam contains 150 multiple-choice questions, 25 of which are unscored, and you will be given a time limit of 3 hours.
The exam is split into six content domains, which are designed to cover the various competencies and points of knowledge that a registered nurse in the nursing professional development specialty should possess.
I. Educational Process Standards (25 questions)
The questions in this domain are grouped into three subareas:
Knowledge
- NPD practice standards
- Professional development models
- Teaching/learning theories, principles, and models
- Critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and clinical judgment frameworks
B. Educational Design and Delivery
Knowledge
- Types of educational activities
- Education design process
- Competency management process
Skills
- Outcomes identification
- Evaluation of process and outcomes
- Initial and ongoing learning needs assessment
- Planning and implementation
C. Continuing Education Accreditation
Knowledge
- Processes for providing continuing education
- Continuing education organizational structures and roles
Skills
- Managing process for continuing education credits
II. Leadership (29 questions)
The questions in this domain are grouped into two subareas:
Knowledge
- Change management
- Leadership principles
- Organizational structure
- Organizational principles and concepts
- Communication principles
Skills
- Negotiation and collaboration
- Promoting a healthy work environment
- Appropriate communication methods
- Conflict resolution
- Situational awareness and environmental scanning
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion advocacy
- Resource management
B. Professional Development
Knowledge
- Professional practice
Skills
- Coaching processes
- Group facilitation
- Effective feedback strategies for a given situation
III. Ethical, Legal, and Regulatory Standards (20 questions)
The questions in this domain are grouped into three subareas:
Knowledge
- Professional standards, certification, and credentialing
- ANA Scope and Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics
- Accreditation at the organizational level
B. Risk Management
Knowledge
- Accountability
- Safety
- Incident command structures
- Incident reporting and escalation
- Just culture
- Failure mode affect analysis
- Root cause analysis
Skills
- Analysis of gaps in practice that indicate potential risk management issues
C. Legal and Regulatory
Knowledge
- Sensitive information protection
- Copyright law, plagiarism, and intellectual property
- Conflicts of interest
- Regulations
Skills
- Integration of legal and regulatory requirements
- Record-keeping and protection of sensitive information
IV. Evidence-Based Practice and Research (12 questions)
The questions in this domain fall under a single domain:
Knowledge
- Research process
- Practice and excellence initiatives
- Translation of research into practice
Skills
- Data collection and interpretation
- Implementation of evidence-based practice process
- Literature review
- Disseminating research- and evidence-based practice findings
V. Technology (19 questions)
The questions in this domain are grouped into two subareas:
Knowledge
- Information management
- Information systems
Skills
- Business tools
- Virtual meetings
- Utilization of information technology systems
B. Technology Tools and Strategies
Knowledge
- Learning technology principles
- Virtual learning principles
Skills
- Teaching strategies using technology
- Virtual education
- Clinical technologies
VI. Program/Project Management and Process Improvement (20 questions)
The questions in this domain are grouped into two subareas:
Knowledge
- Organizational performance indicators, trends, and priorities
- Performance improvement and project management methodologies
Skills
- Interpretation and incorporation of information and data from various sources to inform decision-making
- Development of nursing professional development activities that align with organizational and departmental priorities, performance trends, and initiatives
- Managing projects
- Utilizing consultative processes
B. Program Management
Knowledge
- Program evaluation
- Promotional strategies
- Management of resources
- Team member roles
Skills
- Strategies for sustaining and maximizing outcomes
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Registration
Registering for and scheduling your Nursing Professional Development Certification exam can be done online.
The cost of the examination is $395 for all candidates who are not ANCC members. Active ANCC members will only have to pay $295 to register for the exam.
Once you have registered, you will receive information on how to schedule your examination appointment.
Test Day
On the day of your exam, you should arrive at the testing center 15-30 minutes before the exam is scheduled to begin. This will leave you with extra time to complete the check-in process.
When you arrive, you will be asked to provide two forms of identification, one of which must contain your photo and signature. If your ID is invalid, you will not be permitted to take the examination.
Personal items (cell phone, wallet, keys, accessories, etc.) are not allowed in the testing area, so you will be asked to leave them in a secured locker before the exam begins.
Once the check-in process is complete, you will be led to your testing station and given a short tutorial on the testing system before beginning your exam.
How the Exam is Scored
The scores for the Nursing Professional Development exam are calculated using a criterion-based scoring system. This means that a panel of ANCC subject-matter experts has evaluated the questions and determined a passing score. The passing score is set using the modified-Angoff method, which means that your score is based solely on your performance, without any input from the performance of other test-takers.
Your score is reported on a scale of 1 to 500, and you must get a score of at least 350 to pass the exam.
You will be able to see your preliminary scores as soon as you complete the exam, and your final score report will be made available via your ANCC account.
Retaking the Exam
If you fail the exam, you may retake it after a 60-day waiting period. After the waiting period, you must resubmit an application and the retest fee of $270.
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FAQs
Q
How many questions are on the Nursing Professional Development Certification exam?
A
There are 150 multiple-choice questions on the exam.
Q
How long is the Nursing Professional Development Certification exam?
A
The time limit for the exam is 3 hours.
Q
What is the passing score for the Nursing Professional Development Certification exam?
A
To pass the exam, you must achieve a minimum scaled score of 350.
Q
How much does the Nursing Professional Development Certification exam cost?
A
The examination fee is $295 for ANCC members and $395 for non-members.
