The Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist (CANS) exam is taken by registered nurses and nurse practitioners who work in aesthetic practice. This page gives you free practice sets by topic, three worked questions with full reasoning, a study plan, and the exam rules that matter, taken from the Plastic Surgical Nursing Certification Board.
The CANS has 150 questions, takes about 3 hours and costs $495[1][2] (Plastic Surgical Nursing Certification Board (PSNCB); applications and testing are administered by C-NET (Center for Nur, verified Oct 22, 2026).
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
According to Plastic Surgical Nursing Certification Board (PSNCB); applications and testing are administered by C-NET (Center for Nur, “The certification examination consists of approximately 150 multiple-choice items written to measure attainment of the above objectives.”[1]
The CANS credential is awarded by the Plastic Surgical Nursing Certification Board (PSNCB). Applications and testing are administered by C-NET. The exam is computer-based. Once your application is approved, the testing partner PSI emails you a link so you can schedule an exam date online.
The exam has about 150 multiple-choice questions, and about 25 of them are unscored pilot questions. You get about 3 hours. A score of about 75% correct is needed to pass, set by a criterion-referenced (Angoff) method. Scores are released about 4–6 weeks after testing.
To apply you need an unrestricted RN or NP license (US, territories or Canada), 1,000 practice hours in the core specialties during the last 2 years, 2+ years of RN experience in those specialties, and a recommendation letter from a physician (or a CANS-certified NP). The fee is $495 for non-members and $325 for ISPAN members, plus a $25 nonrefundable application fee. There are no application deadlines, but allow about 6 weeks for processing.
If you do not pass, you may retake once within 1 year at a reduced fee: $150 for non-members or $100 for ISPAN members. After a failed retake you must reapply and pay the full fee. Certification is valid for 3 years. Fees and rules can change, so check psncb.org before you apply.
The content areas below are copied from the official CANS content outline published by Plastic Surgical Nursing Certification Board (PSNCB); applications and testing are administered by C-NET (Center for Nur, with the share of the exam each area carries. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.
| Official content area | Weight | Practice on this site |
|---|---|---|
| Aesthetic injectables[5] | 55% | CANS Cosmetic Injectables & Techniques This is the largest area at 55%, so practise product selection, technique, complications and the facial anatomy behind safe placement. |
| Clinical Skin Care[5] | 15% | CANS Skincare & Dermatological Treatments Practise skin assessment, matching treatments to skin conditions, and recognising when a patient needs a referral instead of a treatment. |
| Laser, Light, and Energy-based therapies[5] | 30% | CANS Laser, Light & Energy-Based Therapies Practise device selection, patient screening, safety precautions and how to respond to adverse effects. |
Prepare for the CANS - Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.
Question: Which regulatory body in the US oversees the approval of dermal fillers and neurotoxins used in aesthetic practice?
Answer: C. FDA (Food and Drug Administration)
Explanation:
The correct answer is the FDA. It reviews and approves drugs, biologics and medical devices, which includes neurotoxins and dermal fillers, before they can be marketed for a specific use. The DEA regulates controlled substances, which is a different job. OSHA covers workplace safety, such as sharps handling and chemical exposure, not product approval. CMS runs federal health insurance programs and does not approve products for aesthetic use. The rule to remember: ask what the agency is responsible for. Product approval and labeling belongs to the FDA, controlled drugs to the DEA, workplace hazards to OSHA, and insurance payment to CMS.
Question: Which principle is most closely associated with 'do no harm' in aesthetic nursing?
Answer: C. Non-maleficence
Explanation:
Non-maleficence is the principle of avoiding harm, which is what 'do no harm' means. Beneficence is close but different: it is the duty to act for the patient's benefit, so it asks you to do good rather than to avoid harm. Justice is about fairness in how patients are treated and how resources are shared. Fidelity is about keeping promises and staying faithful to your professional commitments. The rule to remember: match the plain-language phrase to the principle. 'Do no harm' is non-maleficence, 'do good' is beneficence, 'be fair' is justice, and 'keep your word' is fidelity.
Question: What is the recommended frequency for reviewing and updating cosmetic injectables & techniques protocols?
Answer: A. Monitoring outcomes through regular data collection and trend analysis
Explanation:
The correct answer is regular data collection and trend analysis. Protocols should be reviewed against real outcomes on an ongoing basis, so you can spot problems early and adjust. Reviewing results only at year-end is too slow, because problems can repeat for months before anyone sees them. Relying on external audits alone leaves you without your own day-to-day feedback. Tracking activity volume without measuring quality tells you how busy the practice is, not whether patients are safe or satisfied. The rule to remember: a sound review process is continuous and based on outcomes, not on volume or on a single check.
Start with the official PSNCB outline and the candidate application so you know the content areas and their weights. Injectables carry the most weight, followed by laser, light and energy-based therapies, then clinical skin care. Give your study time in roughly that proportion.
Work through one practice set at a time. Begin with Cosmetic Injectables & Techniques and Facial Anatomy & Physiology, since anatomy supports almost every injectable decision. Then move to Laser, Light & Energy-Based Therapies and Skincare & Dermatological Treatments.
Add the safety and professional sets as well: Patient Safety, Ethics & Clinical, Pharmacology & Medications and Risk Management.
After each set, write down every question you missed and the reason: a knowledge gap, a misread stem, or a guess. Go back to the official material for the gaps, then retry the set later. Near test day, mix topics together so you practise switching between areas. Our questions are written by us with AI tools and are not real exam questions, so use them to find weak spots, not to predict your score.
The exam has about 150 multiple-choice questions. About 25 of those are unscored pilot questions, and you cannot tell which ones they are. You are given about 3 hours to finish. Treat every question as if it counts.
You need about 75% correct. The cut score is set with a criterion-referenced Angoff method, so it is based on a fixed standard rather than on how other candidates perform. Scores are released about 4–6 weeks after testing.
The exam costs $495 for non-members and $325 for ISPAN members, plus a $25 nonrefundable application fee. ISPAN membership must be current to get the lower rate. Check psncb.org for current fees before you apply.
You need a current, unrestricted RN or NP license in the US, its territories or Canada. You also need 1,000 practice hours in the core specialties during the last 2 years, 2+ years of RN experience in those specialties, and a recommendation letter from a physician or a CANS-certified NP.
You may retake the exam within 1 year at a reduced fee: $150 for non-members or $100 for ISPAN members. If you do not pass the retake, you must submit a new application and pay the full exam fee.
Certification is valid for 3 years. Recertification is available either by examination or by continuing education. Check the PSNCB website for the current recertification requirements.
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