The CEN is the Certified Emergency Nurse credential from the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing, taken by registered nurses who want to certify their emergency nursing knowledge. This page gives you free practice sets grouped by the official content areas, worked explanations for sample questions, and the key exam facts: 150 questions, 180 minutes, a passing score of 99, and fees of $285 for ENA members or $380 for non-members.
According to Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing, “To qualify for the exam, you must hold a current, unencumbered Registered Nurse license”[6]
The CEN is the Certified Emergency Nurse credential awarded by the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN). It shows that a registered nurse has passed an exam on the knowledge used in emergency care.
Eligibility: you need a current, unencumbered RN license from the US, a US territory, Canada or Australia. BCEN also accepts an equivalent foreign license. BCEN decides what counts as equivalent, so check bcen.org/cen/eligibility if your license is from elsewhere.
Format and scoring: the exam has 150 questions and a total seat time of 180 minutes (3 hours). To pass, you need 99 of the 150 questions right. You take it on a computer, either at a PSI testing center or through Live Remote Proctoring. You see a pass or fail result as soon as you finish, and BCEN also emails your results.
Scheduling: once your application is approved, you must schedule and sit for the exam within a 90-day testing window.
Fees and retakes: the fee is $285 for ENA members, $380 for non-members and $195 for military candidates ($265 with BCEN Test Assurance). If you do not pass, you reapply, pay again and wait 90 days between attempts. BCEN offers a discounted retest fee up to 1 year after your initial exam date, and Test Assurance gives you a retest with no further fee. Passing certifies you for 4 years. Fees and policies can change, so confirm them in the current BCEN Candidate Handbook before you apply.
The CEN has 150 questions and takes about 3 hours[1][2] (Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing, verified Oct 25, 2026).
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions | 150 questions[1] | Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Time limit | 180 minutes (3 hours)[2] | Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Passing score | 99 of 150 questions[1] | Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Exam fee (ENA member) | $285 for ENA members[3] | Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Exam fee (Military) | $195 military fee ($265 with BCEN Test Assurance)[4] | Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Exam fee (Non-member) | $380 for non-members[3] | Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Retake fee | Discounted retest fee within 1 year of initial exam; no-fee second attempt with Test Assurance[4] | Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Retake policy | Reapply and pay fees; 90-day wait between attempts[2] | Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Validity | 4 years[2] | Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Delivery | Computer-based at PSI test centers or Live Remote Proctoring[5] | Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Eligibility | Current, unencumbered RN license (US, US territory, Canada or Australia; equivalent foreign license accepted)[6] | Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Score release | Immediately (score report at test center or on screen, plus email)[2] | Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Testing window | 90 days after application approval[7] | Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing · Oct 25, 2026 |
The content areas below are copied from the official CEN content outline published by Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.
| Official content area | Practice on this site |
|---|---|
| Cardiovascular Emergencies[8] | CEN Cardiovascular Emergencies Practise spotting acute coronary syndromes, dysrhythmias, shock states and cardiac arrest priorities, and choosing the first nursing action. |
| Environment and Toxicology Emergencies, and Communicable Diseases[8] | CEN Toxicology and Environmental Emergencies Practise toxidromes, antidotes, heat and cold injuries, bites and stings, and isolation precautions for communicable diseases. |
| Gastrointestinal Emergencies[8] | CEN Gastrointestinal and Genitourinary Eme... Practise recognising GI bleeding, bowel obstruction, acute abdomen and liver or pancreatic emergencies, and deciding which patient is least stable. |
| Genitourinary, Gynecology, and Obstetrical Emergencies[8] | CEN Obstetric and Gynecologic Emergencies Practise ectopic pregnancy, preeclampsia and eclampsia, emergency delivery, postpartum hemorrhage, testicular torsion and urinary emergencies. |
| Head, Eye, Ear, Nose, Throat Emergencies[8] | Mixed practice tests above Review epistaxis, eye injuries and chemical burns, dental and facial trauma, and airway threats from throat infections, using the official outline. |
| Medical Emergencies[8] | CEN Certified Emergency Nurse Use this mixed set for endocrine crises, electrolyte disorders, sepsis, allergic reactions and hematologic emergencies. |
| Mental Health Emergencies[8] | Mixed practice tests above Review suicide risk assessment, agitation and de-escalation, psychosis and withdrawal states, with patient and staff safety coming first. |
| Musculoskeletal and Wound Emergencies[8] | CEN Trauma Emergencies Practise fractures, compartment syndrome, amputations, wound care and neurovascular checks after injury. |
| Neurological Emergencies[8] | CEN Neurological Emergencies Practise stroke recognition, seizures, increased intracranial pressure, head and spinal cord injury, and changes in level of consciousness. |
| Professional Issues[8] | Mixed practice tests above Review triage, consent, patient transfer rules, disaster response, evidence preservation and nursing ethics using the official BCEN material. |
| Respiratory Emergencies[8] | CEN Respiratory Emergencies Practise asthma and COPD exacerbations, pneumothorax, pulmonary embolism, respiratory failure and when to escalate airway support. |
Prepare for the CEN - Certified Emergency Nurse 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: Magnesium toxicity in a preeclamptic patient on magnesium sulfate infusion is first evidenced by loss of which reflex?
Answer: B. Patellar (knee-jerk) reflex
Explanation:
Correct: B, patellar (knee-jerk) reflex. Deep tendon reflexes fade before the more dangerous effects of magnesium, such as respiratory depression and cardiac changes. That is why nurses check them routinely during a magnesium sulfate infusion.
Why the others are wrong: corneal, gag and pupillary reflexes are brainstem reflexes. They disappear only with much deeper central nervous system depression, so losing them is a late finding, not an early warning.
Rule to remember: during magnesium sulfate therapy, monitor deep tendon reflexes, respiratory rate and urine output. If the patellar reflex is weak or absent, stop the infusion, tell the provider and keep calcium gluconate ready as the antidote.
Question: Which assessment finding in a burn patient indicates the need for immediate endotracheal intubation?
Answer: B. Singed nasal hairs with hoarse voice and stridor
Explanation:
Correct: B, singed nasal hairs with hoarse voice and stridor. These signs point to inhalation injury with airway swelling that has already started. The swelling gets worse over the following hours, especially during fluid resuscitation, and a late intubation can become very difficult, so the airway is secured early.
Why the others are wrong: a 30% TBSA burn on the extremities needs fluid resuscitation but does not threaten the airway on its own. A carbon monoxide level of 15% calls for high-flow oxygen, not automatic intubation. A full-thickness hand burn needs specialist wound care, not airway control.
Rule to remember: when deciding on intubation, signs of airway involvement (stridor, hoarseness, facial or oral burns, soot in the airway) outrank burn size.
Question: A patient has a zone II penetrating neck injury with active bleeding. Which is the priority intervention?
Answer: C. Direct pressure and airway management
Explanation:
Correct: C, direct pressure and airway management. Active bleeding from a zone II wound can kill within minutes, both through blood loss and through a growing hematoma that compresses the airway. Direct pressure controls the bleeding and early airway management prevents obstruction, so both come before any test or procedure.
Why the others are wrong: CT angiography suits stable patients, and an actively bleeding patient should not leave the bay for a scan. Surgical exploration may be needed to repair the injury, but the patient has to reach the operating room with bleeding controlled and the airway secured. Angiography with embolization is a planned procedure for stable patients.
Rule to remember: in penetrating neck trauma, airway and hemorrhage control come first. Do not probe the wound, and order imaging only once the patient is stable.
Start with the official BCEN content outline and Candidate Handbook so you know the content areas and the test-day rules. Then take the CEN Certified Emergency Nurse and CEN Certified Emergency Nurse MCQ sets untimed to find your weak spots.
In the last weeks, take mixed sets in timed blocks to practise pacing for 150 questions in 180 minutes. Book your seat early in your 90-day testing window so you have room to reschedule, and remember that a retest means a 90-day wait.
How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.
The CEN exam has 150 questions, and the total seat time is 180 minutes (3 hours). The passing score is 99 of 150 questions. That leaves a little over a minute per question, so timed practice with mixed sets helps you get used to the pace before test day.
The CEN exam fee is $285 for Emergency Nurses Association members and $380 for non-members. Military candidates pay a reduced fee of $195, or $265 with BCEN Test Assurance. Fees can change, so confirm the current amounts on the BCEN cost page before you apply.
You need a current, unencumbered Registered Nurse license from the US, a US territory, Canada or Australia. BCEN also accepts an equivalent foreign license. If your license comes from another country, check the eligibility page on bcen.org to confirm your license qualifies before you apply.
Yes. BCEN delivers the CEN by computer at PSI testing centers and through Live Remote Proctoring, so you can choose either option. Whichever you pick, you must schedule and sit for the exam within your 90-day testing window after your application is approved.
You reapply, pay the fee again and wait 90 days between exam attempts. BCEN offers a discounted retest fee for retest applications up to 1 year after your initial exam date. If you bought BCEN Test Assurance, your retest has no further fee.
You get your results immediately. At a test center you receive a score report, and with Live Remote Proctoring a pass or fail result appears on screen when you finish. BCEN also emails your results. If you pass, you are certified for 4 years.