The Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN) exam is for registered nurses with direct clinical experience who meet the American Board of Perianesthesia Certification eligibility requirements. This page brings together free practice sets, worked explanations, and verified exam details to help you organize your preparation. Practice Test Geeks uses AI tools to write its content. The sample questions are our practice material, not real certification exam questions.
The CPAN has 185 questions, takes about 3 hours and costs $424[1][2] (American Board of Perianesthesia Certification, 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 | 185 questions (140 scored)[1] | American Board of Perianesthesia Certification · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Time limit | 3 hours[1] | American Board of Perianesthesia Certification · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Passing score | Scaled score of 450 (scale 200–800)[1] | American Board of Perianesthesia Certification · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Exam fee | $424 regular; $350 ASPAN members[2] | American Board of Perianesthesia Certification · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Retake policy | Re-apply next window; no attempt limit[1] | American Board of Perianesthesia Certification · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Validity | 3 years[3] | American Board of Perianesthesia Certification · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Renewal | 900 practice hours + 70 contact hours; CE fee $315 ($200 ASPAN)[3] | American Board of Perianesthesia Certification · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Delivery | PSI test center or live remote proctoring[4] | American Board of Perianesthesia Certification · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Eligibility | Unrestricted US RN license + 1,200 direct clinical hours in past 2 years[5] | American Board of Perianesthesia Certification · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Testing window | Sep 15 – Nov 15 (fall); Mar 15 – May 15 (spring)[2] | American Board of Perianesthesia Certification · Oct 25, 2026 |
According to American Board of Perianesthesia Certification, “Each CPAN and CAPA certification examination consists of 185 questions with 140 scored multiple-choice questions”[1]
CPAN is the Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse certification offered by the American Board of Perianesthesia Certification (ABPANC). Eligibility requires an unrestricted US RN license and at least 1,200 hours of direct clinical experience obtained within the past 2 years before applying. Consult ABPANC’s Eligibility page to check your experience against its requirements before paying an examination fee.
You can take the exam at a PSI test center or through live remote proctoring. The examination contains 185 questions, including 140 scored multiple-choice questions, and allows up to 3 hours. The passing point is a scaled score of 450 on a scale of 200–800. Do not treat that scaled score as a required raw total of correct answers or use a practice result as an equivalent certification score.
The examination fee is $424 for regular registration or $350 for ASPAN members. Testing windows run Mar 15–May 15 and Sep 15–Nov 15; consult ABPANC’s Schedule and Fees page when planning your application. If you do not pass, you can re-apply for the next window. ABPANC does not limit retake attempts. Its About Exams page is the official reference for exam format, scoring, and retakes.
Prepare for the CPAN - Certified Post Anesthesia 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: A Phase II PACU patient expresses that she does not want her husband notified of her diagnosis. The husband arrives and demands information. What should the nurse do?
Answer: B. Inform him that patient privacy cannot allow disclosure without the patient's consent
Explanation:
B is correct: the patient has expressly asked that her diagnosis not be shared with her husband. The nurse should explain the privacy boundary without revealing the diagnosis. A is wrong because being a spouse does not override the patient's stated wishes; even a general update could disclose information she wants withheld. C is wrong because involving the charge nurse does not replace the nurse's responsibility to respect that boundary. D is wrong because referring him to the surgeon does not resolve the disclosure request. Remember: in this scenario, respect the patient's explicit restriction rather than assuming a family relationship authorizes disclosure.
Question: A PACU patient who received spinal anesthesia complains of inability to move her legs 2 hours post-procedure. Which assessment finding would be most concerning?
Answer: B. Asymmetric motor block with increasing leg pain
Explanation:
B is correct: asymmetric motor block with increasing leg pain is the most concerning pattern presented. It raises concern for a neurological complication and warrants immediate evaluation rather than being assumed to be routine recovery from spinal anesthesia. A is wrong because bilateral weakness without the worsening pain or asymmetry is less concerning than the pattern in B. C is wrong because a symmetric sensory block at T10 does not present the same warning pattern. D is wrong because gradual return of toe sensation suggests the block is resolving. Remember: assess the pattern and progression of findings; elapsed time alone does not explain away an asymmetric, increasingly painful deficit.
Question: A patient in the PACU appears anxious but denies pain when asked. The BEST next step is to:
Answer: B. Explore the patient's concerns using open-ended questions
Explanation:
B is correct: open-ended questions let the patient describe what is troubling them without assuming anxiety means pain. A prompt such as “What is worrying you right now?” can help clarify the concern. A is wrong because accepting the pain report does not mean ignoring the visible anxiety. C is wrong because giving an anxiolytic before exploring the concern skips an opportunity to understand it. D is wrong because the question provides no finding that makes immediate notification the best next action. Remember: respect the patient's report while continuing assessment; a denial of pain does not answer every question about distress.
Begin with ABPANC’s official exam material and eligibility requirements. Use its current outline to decide what needs attention; the topic labels on this page are practice categories, not a verified official blueprint. Confirm your testing window and delivery choice through ABPANC before arranging your preparation around an appointment.
Try the Start Practice Test set, then record the reasoning behind answers you missed or guessed. Separate gaps in knowledge from mistakes in reading the question. For each uncertain answer, identify the finding that should have guided your choice and explain why the alternatives fit less well.
Choose focused practice based on those notes. Use Patient Assessment and Evaluation for assessment decisions, Respiratory and Airway Management for airway topics, or Pain Management for pain-related questions. Check uncertain clinical explanations against your clinical references and official preparation material.
Return to mixed practice after reviewing weak topics. Look for whether you can explain your choices without recalling the answer wording. Before test day, review the official instructions for your chosen delivery method and the 3-hour examination limit.
You need an unrestricted US RN license and at least 1,200 hours of direct clinical experience obtained within the 2 years before applying. Check ABPANC’s Eligibility page before submitting your application, especially if you need to establish whether your clinical experience meets its requirements.
The examination fee is $424 for regular registration or $350 for ASPAN members. The spring testing window runs Mar 15–May 15, and the fall window runs Sep 15–Nov 15. Use ABPANC’s Schedule and Fees page as the official reference when planning your application.
You need a scaled score of 450 on a scale of 200–800. The exam contains 185 questions, with 140 scored multiple-choice questions, and allows up to 3 hours. The passing point is a scaled score, not a stated raw number of correct answers. ABPANC’s About Exams page explains the scoring format.
Yes. You can re-apply for the next testing window, and ABPANC does not limit the number of retake attempts. Testing windows run Mar 15–May 15 and Sep 15–Nov 15. Refer to ABPANC’s About Exams and Schedule and Fees pages when planning another application.
CPAN certification lasts 3 years. The continuing education renewal route requires 900 practice hours and 70 contact hours. Its fee is $315 for regular registration or $200 for ASPAN members. Consult ABPANC’s recertification information and Schedule and Fees page when preparing for renewal.
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