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Acute Care Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner — Requirements & Free Practice

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Acute Care Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

PNCB certification earned by passing the acute care pediatric nurse practitioner examination.

Licensing authority: Pediatric Nursing Certification Board · Application information

Initial by examination
Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Acute Care (CPNP-AC) Certification Exam
Applicability
Current route on 2026-10-24, excluding the prospective January 2030 graduation-recency policy. Unpublished route and credential starting dates remain null.
Applicant Qualifications
Current, active, unencumbered RN license from a US state, US territory or Canada; qualifying accredited pediatric acute care or dual primary/acute care nursing master's/doctoral program, or qualifying post-master's pediatric acute care nurse practitioner certificate program; required program transcripts, at least 500 supervised direct patient care hours (600 strongly recommended) and separate graduate courses in advanced physiology/pathophysiology, advanced health assessment and advanced pharmacology. Simulation does not count toward the minimum 500 direct care hours.
Application And Testing
Complete Ethics in Testing and attest completion before applying; submit the application and supporting documentation. After approval schedule and test in the personalized 90-day window; passing the CPNP-AC examination earns the credential subject to final transcript requirements.
Transcript Exception
For approved final transcript exceptions, official passing results are withheld until the final official transcript is received; results are invalidated if it is not received within 24 months of testing.

Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Acute Care (CPNP-AC) Certification Exam

Provider
PSI
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 a 200–800 scaled-score scale
Exam fee
$407, including a $134 nonrefundable registration fee; subject to change.
Examination outline
  • Assessment (34%)
    • Obtain a health history
    • Evaluate patient and caregiver health risks
    • Complete a physical examination and age- and situation-specific screening
    • Identify and order diagnostic studies
  • Diagnosis (24%)
    • Synthesize and analyze assessment findings to formulate differential diagnoses
    • Establish primary diagnoses using all available patient data
  • Management (37%)
    • Therapeutic Interventions
    • Collaboration, Referral, and Care Coordination
    • Education
  • Professional Practice Role (5%)
    • Leadership and Evidence-based Practice
    • Legal and Ethical
Examination sources