ANCC Certification Guide

The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) is the largest nursing credentialing organization in the U.S. This guide covers ANCC certifications for nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and specialty nurses.

What is ANCC?

The American Nurses Credentialing Center is a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association (ANA). ANCC offers certification exams for advanced practice nurses and specialty nurses, accredits CE providers, and recognizes healthcare organizations through the Magnet Recognition Program.

ANCC certifications are recognized in all 50 states and are often required for NP/CNS licensure. Many employers require or prefer ANCC-certified nurses.

ANCC By the Numbers

Active certifications 500,000+

Certification programs 30+

Founded 1991

Recognized in All 50 states

Clinically reviewed by License Guide Research Team

Based on 3 official sources • Last verified: September 2026

Report outdated info

Fees, exam mechanics, and renewal rules on this page were checked against the ANCC Certification Renewal Handbook (effective September 10, 2025; Version 2, February 10, 2026), the ANCC Certification General Testing and Renewal Handbook, and ANCC certification pages. Confirm current figures with ANCC before you apply.

APRN Certifications

ANCC offers certification for Nurse Practitioners and Clinical Nurse Specialists. These credentials are required for APRN licensure in most states.

FNP-BC

Family Nurse Practitioner

Primary care for patients across the lifespan

MSN with FNP focus, 500+ clinical hours

AGPCNP-BC

Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP

Primary care for adolescents through older adults

MSN with AG-PCNP focus, 500+ clinical hours

AGACNP-BC

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP

Acute and critical care for adults

MSN with AG-ACNP focus, 500+ clinical hours

PMHNP-BC

Psychiatric-Mental Health NP

Mental health across the lifespan

MSN with PMHNP focus, 500+ clinical hours

PPCNP-BC

Pediatric Primary Care NP

Primary care for infants through young adults

MSN with PNP focus, 500+ clinical hours

AGCNS-BC

Adult-Gerontology CNS

Clinical nurse specialist for adult populations

MSN with CNS focus, clinical hours vary

PMHCNS-BC

Psychiatric-Mental Health CNS

Clinical nurse specialist in mental health

MSN with CNS focus, clinical hours vary

ANCC vs AANPCB: Which Certification?

For family, adult-gerontology primary care, and psychiatric-mental health, you can certify through either ANCC or AANPCB (American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board). Both are accepted by state boards for APRN licensure, and neither ranks above the other. AANPCB's PMHNP certification is recent — NCCA-accredited effective June 11, 2025 — so guidance written before then treats psych as ANCC-only.

For the remaining population foci the choice is made for you. Acute care and pediatric primary care NPs, and clinical nurse specialists, must certify through ANCC — AANPCB does not offer those credentials. AANPCB certifies family, adult-gerontology primary care, psychiatric-mental health, and emergency NPs.

Where both are available, decide on recertification rather than the exam. ANCC asks for 75 contact hours plus one professional development category every five years; AANPCB asks for 100 contact hours plus 1,000 clinical practice hours.

Full ANCC vs AANP comparison

RN Specialty Certifications

ANCC offers specialty certifications for RNs in various practice areas. These demonstrate expertise and may qualify you for higher pay or specialized positions.

Certification	Credential	Eligibility
Medical-Surgical Nursing	CMSRN	RN with 2+ years med-surg experience
Cardiac-Vascular Nursing	CV-BC	RN with 2+ years cardiac experience
Gerontological Nursing	GERO-BC	RN with 2+ years geriatric experience
Pediatric Nursing	CPN	RN with 1,800+ hours pediatric experience
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing	PMH-BC	RN with 2+ years psych experience
Ambulatory Care Nursing	AMB-BC	RN with 2+ years ambulatory experience
Nurse Executive	NE-BC	BSN+ with 2+ years leadership experience
Nurse Executive, Advanced	NEA-BC	MSN+ with 3+ years executive experience
Nursing Case Management	NCM-BC	RN with 2,000+ hours case management
Nursing Informatics	NI-BC	RN with 2+ years informatics experience
Nursing Professional Development	NPD-BC	BSN+ with 2+ years NPD experience
Pain Management Nursing	PMGT-BC	RN with 2+ years pain management

How to Get ANCC Certified

Verify Eligibility

Check the specific requirements for your certification. APRN certs require graduate education; specialty certs require RN experience. Visit ANCC's website for detailed eligibility criteria.

Submit Application

Apply online at nursingworld.org/ancc. You'll provide education transcripts, license verification, and clinical hour documentation. Processing takes 2-4 weeks.

Receive Authorization

Once approved, you'll receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) email with instructions to schedule at a Prometric testing center.

Prepare for the Exam

Study 2-3 months using practice exams and review materials. ANCC provides content outlines for each certification exam.

Popular study resources:

ANCC review books by certification
Fitzgerald NP review courses
Barkley & Associates review
Pocket Prep practice questions

Take the Exam

Computer-based testing at Prometric centers nationwide. You have 120 days from your Authorization to Test notice to schedule. Exams carry 125 to 150 scored items plus 25 unscored pilot items, and results are reported as pass or fail.

Maintain Certification

ANCC certifications are valid for five years. Renewal takes 75 continuing education contact hours — 25 of them pharmacology for NPs and CNSs — plus one of eight professional development categories completed in full. There is no grace period, and a certification lapsed more than two years may require retaking the exam.

Full ANCC renewal requirements

Exam Details

Format Computer-based testing at Prometric
Questions 125-150 scored items plus 25 unscored pilot items
Time 3.5 hours for FNP-BC; varies by exam
Passing score Scale score of 350 out of 500
Results Pass or fail, with diagnostic feedback if you fail
Scheduling window 120 days to schedule after your Authorization to Test
Retest After 60 days; no more than 3 attempts per 12 months

What it costs

ANCC prices each certification separately and discounts by membership. Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-BC) is shown here as a worked example — check your own certification's page for its exact fee.

Membership	FNP-BC application
Non-member	$395
ANA member	$295
AANP member	$340
AANP student member	$290
GAPNA member	$340

ANA membership tip: the member and non-member spread on FNP-BC is $100, so ANA membership can pay for itself on the exam alone. ANCC also discounts for AANP and GAPNA members, and every price above includes a $140 non-refundable administrative fee.

Ready to Get Certified?

Visit the official ANCC website to review eligibility requirements, download content outlines, and submit your application.

Visit ANCC Website

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ANCC certification?

ANCC certification is a national credential issued by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association. It certifies that a nurse has met education and practice requirements and passed an examination in a specific role and population focus. ANCC credentials carry the -BC suffix, as in FNP-BC. It is separate from your state nursing license, which is issued by a state board of nursing.

How much does ANCC certification cost?

Pricing is set per certification and discounted by membership. For Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-BC), the application is $395 for non-members, $295 for ANA members, $340 for AANP or GAPNA members, and $290 for AANP student members. Every price includes a $140 non-refundable administrative fee.

How long is ANCC certification good for?

Five years. An ANCC certification — whether initial or renewed — is valid for five years and must be renewed on or before its expiration date. There is no grace period and ANCC does not backdate a lapsed certification.

Do I need ANCC certification to work as a nurse practitioner?

You need national certification appropriate to your role and population, but not specifically from ANCC. State boards accept certification from ANCC and from other bodies including AANPCB. Which body you choose depends largely on your population focus — acute care and pediatric primary care NPs must certify through ANCC, since AANPCB does not offer those. Family, adult-gerontology primary care, and psychiatric-mental health NPs can use either board.

How long does ANCC take to process an application?

ANCC does not publish a standard processing time. Expedited review is available for an additional non-refundable fee, which shortens initial application processing to five business days and renewal processing to three business days from the date payment is received. Incomplete applications take longer regardless.

What happens if I fail an ANCC exam?

You receive a pass or fail result with diagnostic feedback for each major content area, rated low, medium, or high. You may apply to retest 60 days after your last attempt, and you may not test more than three times in any 12-month period. Retesting means retaking the entire examination and submitting a new application that meets the eligibility requirements in effect at that time.