What the Obstetric Nurse Test is and how it works

According to National Certification Corporation, “Of the 175 items, 150 are scored and 25 are used to gather statistical data on item performance for future exams.”^[1]

NCC’s Inpatient Obstetric Nursing exam is a certification exam for RNs with specialty experience. Eligibility includes an active RN licence and 24 months of specialty experience as a U.S. or Canadian RN, comprising at least 2,000 hours. Check NCC’s official Inpatient Obstetric Nursing exam page for its eligibility requirements before applying.

The exam is available at a computer test center or through live remote proctoring. It lasts 3 hours and contains 175 multiple-choice items. Of these, 150 are scored; the remaining 25 gather statistical data for future exams. Scoring is criterion-referenced, and NCC’s candidate guide states that there is no set percentage passing level. A practice-set percentage therefore should not be treated as an official passing threshold.

The fee is $325 per attempt, including a $50 non-refundable application submission cost and a $275 testing fee. There are no application deadlines. After approval, eligible candidates enter the next available 90-day window to schedule and take the exam.

Official pass/fail results appear in your NCC account, followed 24 hours later by the score report. Certification is valid for 3 years. Maintenance every 3 years requires continuing education and an unencumbered licence. Consult NCC’s official exam page and Inpatient Obstetric Nursing Candidate Guide when planning your application and maintenance.

Obstetric Nurse Test Exam at a Glance

What changed for Obstetric Nurse Test in 2026

• Oct 25, 2026: Delivery changed to Test center or live remote proctoring (previously Test center or live remote proctoring (PSI)).^[1]

Worked examples: how to reason through Obstetric Nurse Test questions

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.

Example 1

Question: Fifteen minutes after the placement of an epidural, a laboring client's blood pressure drops from 125/80 mmHg to 90/50 mmHg. The fetal heart rate tracing shows a prolonged deceleration. Which of the following interventions should the nurse perform FIRST?

1. Administer oxygen at 10 L/min via non-rebreather mask.
2. Increase the rate of the maintenance IV fluids.
3. Place the patient in a left lateral position and administer an IV fluid bolus.
4. Prepare for an emergency cesarean section.

Answer: C. Place the patient in a left lateral position and administer an IV fluid bolus.

Explanation:

C is the best answer because it addresses the maternal hypotension associated with the fetal deceleration. After epidural placement, sympathetic blockade can reduce maternal blood pressure and uteroplacental perfusion. Left lateral positioning reduces uterine compression of the vena cava, while an IV fluid bolus supports circulating volume.

A does not directly correct the low maternal blood pressure. B offers fluids but lacks the positioning change and prompt bolus described in C. D moves to operative delivery before attempting the corrective intervention offered here.

Remember: connect the fetal tracing change to the maternal event. In this scenario, promptly addressing maternal hypotension is the priority while assessing the response and escalating care as needed.

Example 2

Question: A postpartum client experiencing a massive hemorrhage develops disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Which of the following laboratory findings would the nurse anticipate?

1. Increased platelet count and increased fibrinogen
2. Prolonged prothrombin time (PT) and decreased D-dimer
3. Decreased platelet count and increased fibrin degradation products (FDPs)
4. Increased hematocrit and normal activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)

Answer: C. Decreased platelet count and increased fibrin degradation products (FDPs)

Explanation:

C is correct: DIC consumes platelets and clotting factors as widespread clotting occurs. Breakdown of those clots produces increased fibrin degradation products, so decreased platelets together with increased FDPs fit the process.

A reverses the expected pattern: platelets and fibrinogen are consumed rather than increased. B includes an expected prolonged PT, but decreased D-dimer is inconsistent with increased clot breakdown. D does not fit the anticipated pattern: increased hematocrit is not an expected marker of massive hemorrhage, and aPTT can become prolonged as clotting factors are depleted.

Remember: DIC combines consumption of clotting components with breakdown of formed clots. Check that every finding in an answer choice supports that pattern.

Example 3

Question: Which food should pregnant women avoid to reduce the risk of listeriosis?

1. Cooked chicken
2. Pasteurized milk
3. Deli meats and hot dogs
4. Well-cooked eggs

Answer: C. Deli meats and hot dogs

Explanation:

C is the intended answer, with a preparation distinction: deli meats and hot dogs can carry Listeria and should be avoided unless heated until steaming before consumption during pregnancy. The option would be clearer if it specified unheated deli meats and hot dogs; it does not mean these foods must be avoided regardless of preparation.

A and D describe cooked foods rather than the unheated ready-to-eat meats targeted by this question. B specifies pasteurized milk, which distinguishes it from unpasteurized milk associated with Listeria risk.

Remember: food-safety questions depend on preparation as well as food type. Look for words such as pasteurized, cooked, and heated before choosing an answer.

How to use these practice tests

Start with NCC’s official Inpatient Obstetric Nursing Candidate Guide. Use its current outline to define your review scope; the topic labels on this page are practice-set labels, not a verified official blueprint.

Try the general inpatient obstetric nursing questions to identify uncertain reasoning. Before reading an explanation, state why you chose your answer and why you rejected the alternatives. Record the concept behind each mistake rather than copying the answer letter.

Choose focused practice from those notes. Use intrapartum fetal monitoring for tracing-related decisions, postpartum complications for maternal recovery problems, or obstetric pharmacology for medication review. Check uncertain clinical explanations against your clinical references and applicable protocols.

Return to missed concepts after reviewing the supporting material, then try a different general set to see whether you can explain the reasoning in a new scenario. Before test day, confirm your delivery arrangements and scheduling window through NCC. Treat practice results as feedback for study; NCC has no set percentage passing level.

Sources & last verified

1. National Certification Corporation — number of questions, time limit, exam fee, delivery (official source). “Of the 175 items, 150 are scored and 25 are used to gather statistical data on item performance for future exams.” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 19, 2026.
2. National Certification Corporation — passing score, validity, renewal (official source). “There is no set percentage passing level.” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 19, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.