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Certified Pediatric Nurse — Requirements & Free Practice

US · License preparation

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Certified Pediatric Nurse

PNCB certification earned by an RN who passes the CPN examination.

Licensing authority: Pediatric Nursing Certification Board · Application information

Initial by examination
Certified Pediatric Nurse Certification Exam
Applicability
The current CPN resource page links the outline effective October 2022. Exact credential and route inception dates are unpublished in these controlling materials and remain null.
Experience
{"anyOf":["At least 1800 hours of pediatric clinical experience as an RN within the past 24 months.","Only if unable to meet the first option: at least 5 years as an RN in pediatric nursing and 3000 pediatric nursing hours in the last 5 years, including at least 1000 within the past 24 months."]}
Experience Location
Experience must be in U.S. or Canadian facilities; international practice is accepted with an active, current, unencumbered U.S. RN license. Pediatric residency hours count.
Licensure
Current, valid, unrestricted and unencumbered RN license in the U.S., Canada, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands or U.S. Virgin Islands at application.
Pre Application
Complete Free CE: Ethics in Testing: A Personal Responsibility and attest to completion; this preparation module is not a second certification examination.
Testing
Apply to PNCB, receive approval and a personalized 90-day period, schedule with PSI, and pass the CPN examination. Test-center and live remote delivery are alternatives for the same examination, not separate qualifications.

Certified Pediatric Nurse Certification Exam

Format
Multiple-choice questions with one correct answer
Exam questions
Total questions: 175; Scored questions: 150; Unscored questions: 25; The total includes the scored and unscored questions.
Time limit
3 hours
Passing score
400 on the PNCB scaled score range of 200 to 800
Exam fee
Initial self-pay examination: $309, including a $103 nonrefundable registration fee; published fees are subject to change.
Examination outline
  • Health Promotion (23%)
    • Tailor health promotion activities
    • Anticipatory guidance and education across the pediatric age continuum
    • Community resource referrals
  • Assessment (35%)
    • Physical
    • Psychosocial
  • Planning and Management (33%)
    • Acute and Chronic Care for Physical and Behavioral Health Needs
    • Psychosocial and Child/Family-centered Care
    • Palliative and End of Life Care
  • Professional Responsibilities (9%)
    • Advocacy for the child and family in managing care
    • System and governmental policy advocacy
    • Ethical and legal concerns
    • Professional boundaries
    • Support for self and colleagues responding to stressful events
    • Prioritization across patient assignment
    • Interdisciplinary collaboration
Examination sources