Nurse practitioner candidates can use this page to find free practice questions by specialty and topic. The certification information here covers the family nurse practitioner exams offered by ANCC and NPCB; it does not describe every NP specialty exam. Explore the linked sets, review worked answers, and compare the verified FNP requirements below. Practice Test Geeks uses AI tools to write its content, including practice material.
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 (ANCC FNP-BC) | 175 questions (150 scored, 25 pretest)[1] | American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) — FNP-BC; AANP Certification Board (NPCB) — FNP certification · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Number of questions (NPCB FNP (FNP-C)) | 150 multiple-choice questions (135 scored, 15 pretest)[2] | aanpcert.org · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Time limit (NPCB FNP (FNP-C)) | 3 hours[2] | aanpcert.org · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Passing score (ANCC FNP-BC) | Pass/fail[3] | American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) — FNP-BC; AANP Certification Board (NPCB) — FNP certification · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Passing score (NPCB FNP (FNP-C)) | Standard-setting cut score, not a percentage[2] | aanpcert.org · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Retake fee (NPCB FNP (FNP-C)) | $315 non-member / $240 member per retake[4] | aanpcert.org · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Retake policy (ANCC FNP-BC) | Wait 60 days; max 3 attempts in 12 months[3] | American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) — FNP-BC; AANP Certification Board (NPCB) — FNP certification · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Retake policy (NPCB FNP (FNP-C)) | Up to 3 attempts per calendar year[2] | aanpcert.org · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Validity (ANCC FNP-BC) | 5 years[1] | American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) — FNP-BC; AANP Certification Board (NPCB) — FNP certification · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Validity (NPCB FNP (FNP-C)) | 5 years[2] | aanpcert.org · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Delivery (ANCC FNP-BC) | Computer-based, scheduled through Prometric[1] | American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) — FNP-BC; AANP Certification Board (NPCB) — FNP certification · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Delivery (NPCB FNP (FNP-C)) | Computer-based at Prometric test centers[5] | aanpcert.org · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Eligibility (ANCC FNP-BC) | Active RN license + FNP master's/PGC/DNP from a CCNE/ACEN/CNEA-accredited program with 500+ faculty-supervised clinical hours[1] | American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) — FNP-BC; AANP Certification Board (NPCB) — FNP certification · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Eligibility (NPCB FNP (FNP-C)) | Accredited graduate FNP program with 500+ supervised clinical hours; active US RN license[2] | aanpcert.org · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Score release (NPCB FNP (FNP-C)) | Preliminary pass/fail immediately; official results after NPCB review[2] | aanpcert.org · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Testing window (ANCC FNP-BC) | Apply year-round; 120-day testing window[1] | American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) — FNP-BC; AANP Certification Board (NPCB) — FNP certification · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Testing window (NPCB FNP (FNP-C)) | 120-day testing window[2] | aanpcert.org · Oct 26, 2026 |
According to American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) — FNP-BC; AANP Certification Board (NPCB) — FNP certification, “The exam allows 3.5 hours to answer 175 questions (150 scored plus 25 pretest questions that are not scored).”[1]
The ANCC FNP-BC and NPCB FNP certification exams are certification routes for family nurse practitioner candidates. Both are computer-based and scheduled through Prometric; NPCB specifies Prometric test centers. ANCC accepts applications year-round. Both provide a 120-day testing window.
ANCC has 175 questions: 150 scored and 25 unscored pretest questions, with 3.5 hours allowed. NPCB has 150 multiple-choice questions: 135 scored and 15 unscored pretest questions, with 3 hours allowed. ANCC reports pass or fail and provides diagnostic content-area information after a failed attempt. NPCB uses a standard-setting cut score, not a percentage, and provides preliminary pass/fail results immediately, with official results following review.
Eligibility differs by board. ANCC requires an active RN license and an FNP master's, postgraduate certificate, or DNP from a CCNE-, ACEN-, or CNEA-accredited program with at least 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours. NPCB requires an active US RN license and an accredited graduate FNP program with at least 500 supervised clinical hours.
Retake rules also differ: ANCC requires a 60-day wait and permits up to 3 attempts in 12 months; NPCB permits up to 3 attempts per calendar year. Consult ANCC's official FNP-BC page and retest policy, or NPCB's official FNP Candidate Handbook, for your chosen route. Both credentials are valid for 5 years.
Prepare for the NP - Nurse Practitioner 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 4-year-old presents with a barky cough, inspiratory stridor, and low-grade fever. The most likely diagnosis is:
Answer: B. Croup (laryngotracheobronchitis)
Explanation:
Croup is the best answer because the barky cough, inspiratory stridor, and low-grade fever form the characteristic pattern described in this question. The existing explanation identifies parainfluenza virus as a typical cause. Epiglottitis is not the best match for the characteristic barky cough. Bacterial tracheitis is less consistent with the presentation as written; the stem does not supply additional findings to support that alternative. Foreign body aspiration is also less supported because no sudden choking event is described. Remember: choose the diagnosis that best explains the combined findings, while recognizing that a short practice vignette cannot exclude every alternative in clinical care.
Question: Which of the following situations is most likely to present a challenge for a child seeking medical attention?
Answer: D. Being homeless
Explanation:
Being homeless is the intended answer because housing instability can combine barriers to seeking and continuing care: transportation difficulties, lack of a stable address, medication-storage problems, and competing needs for shelter and food. Lacking an extended family does not establish that a child lacks a caregiver or access to care. Having a single parent likewise does not establish an access problem. Living in a rural area can create access difficulties, but the question points toward the overlapping barriers associated with homelessness. Remember: assess the child's actual circumstances. This answer should not become a rule that ranks every child's needs by family structure or housing status alone.
Question: How should an NP professional approach a novel situation not covered by standard procedures?
Answer: B. Apply foundational principles, assess risks, consult resources, and document the rationale for decisions
Explanation:
Applying foundational principles, assessing risks, consulting resources, and documenting the rationale is the best answer. It describes a deliberate response when a standard procedure does not address the situation. Refusing to proceed does not itself assess whether a safe next step is available, although pausing may be appropriate when uncertainty remains. Following the closest procedure exactly overlooks differences that may make it unsuitable. Improvising without documentation omits both a defensible decision process and a record of the reasoning. Remember: a gap in procedures calls for careful assessment and appropriate consultation; it does not, by itself, justify either automatic refusal or unsupported action.
Start by identifying your certification board and reading its official eligibility guidance, candidate handbook, and exam outline. Use that outline to decide what needs attention. The practice-set titles below are site categories, not a verified mapping to official exam domains.
For FNP preparation, begin with NP Family Nurse Practitioner. After answering, explain why your choice fits the stem and why the alternatives fit less well. Keep a record of uncertain answers as well as errors, then check unresolved clinical points against your course materials and current clinical references.
Choose follow-up practice based on the reasoning that caused difficulty. Use Diagnosis & Clinical Decision-Making for diagnostic choices, Pharmacology & Prescribing for medication topics, and Case Studies & Practical Application to connect decisions within a scenario.
Return to difficult material after reviewing the underlying concept. Before test day, confirm your testing window and scheduling instructions with your board and Prometric. Use practice results to select review topics; they do not establish whether you will meet the certification exam's passing standard.
How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.
ANCC allows 3.5 hours for 175 questions, including 150 scored questions and 25 unscored pretest questions. NPCB allows 3 hours for 150 multiple-choice questions, including 135 scored questions and 15 unscored pretest questions. Both exams are computer-based and use Prometric for delivery.
NPCB uses a passing score established through recognized standard-setting methodology; scores are not reported as a percentage of correct answers. ANCC reports examination results as pass or fail. If you fail ANCC, your score report includes diagnostic information for each content area of the test.
Yes. ANCC permits retesting after 60 calendar days and allows no more than 3 attempts in any 12-month period. NPCB allows up to 3 attempts per calendar year. NPCB lists a retake fee of $240 for members and $315 for non-members.
ANCC requires an active RN license and an FNP master's, postgraduate certificate, or DNP from a CCNE-, ACEN-, or CNEA-accredited program, including at least 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours. NPCB requires an active US RN license and an accredited graduate FNP program with at least 500 faculty-supervised direct patient care clinical hours.
ANCC accepts applications year-round and provides a 120-day testing window, with scheduling through Prometric. NPCB also grants a 120-day window to schedule and finish the examination, delivered at Prometric test centers. Consult the ANCC FNP-BC certification page or NPCB FNP Candidate Handbook for the instructions associated with your certification route.