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American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB, operating as NPCB)

Family Nurse Practitioner Certification (FNP-C / NP-C®)

The clinically focused family NP board exam — assess, diagnose, plan and evaluate patients from newborns to the oldest old.

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Also sitting ANCC? FNP-BC prep (same question bank) →

Questions150 multiple-choice (135 scored, 15 unscored pretest)
Time3 hours — about 72 seconds per question
BlueprintAssess 32% · Diagnose 26.5% · Plan 26.5% · Evaluate 15%, across 8 age groups
WhereAt a Prometric test center (120-day window to test after approval)
Fee$240 AANP members · $315 non-members (online) · retake same fee
Who sits itRNs who completed an accredited FNP master's, DNP or post-graduate program with at least 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours
ResultsPreliminary pass/fail on screen when you finish; scaled score, reported passing mark 500 (200–800 scale)

About the exam

The AANPCB Family Nurse Practitioner exam (often called the AANP exam) certifies new FNPs for entry-level practice in primary care. Pass it and you can use the FNP-C credential — the NP-C® mark — which state boards of nursing accept for APRN licensure. It is known as the more clinical of the two FNP boards: nearly every question is a patient in front of you.

The official blueprint is organized by process, not by body system: Assess 32%, Diagnose 26.5%, Plan 26.5% and Evaluate 15%, built on health assessment, pathophysiology, therapeutics and evidence-informed practice. Every question is also tagged to a stage of life — older adults 30%, middle adults 26%, young adults 22%, adolescents 9% and newborns through school-age children 13%, with prenatal care folded into the adult groups.

AANPCB introduced this blueprint on January 2, 2024, shifting weight toward assessment and away from evaluation and adding a toddler age group. QuizMe organizes the same content by clinical area so you can study it the way you'll see it in clinic; our area weights are estimates built from the official process and age-group blueprint. The same question bank also powers our ANCC FNP-BC prep.

How we track your progress

Every blueprint domain moves through five levels as you study:

  1. Not startedNo questions answered in this domain yet.
  2. Getting startedFirst questions answered — not enough yet to judge.
  3. DevelopingAt least 5 answered and 50% or better on your recent questions.
  4. ProficientAt least 15 answered and 70% or better on your recent questions.
  5. Exam readyAt least 25 answered, 80% or better recently, and holding up on hard questions.

The exam blueprint

AANPCB FNP exam blueprint effective January 2, 2024 (current as of October 2026) — 135 scored items. The official blueprint is by process (Assess 32%, Diagnose 26.5%, Plan 26.5%, Evaluate 15%) and age group (older adults 30% … newborns 2%); our 11 clinical areas and their weights are estimates mapped from it.. Tap a domain to see its topics.

1 Cardiovascular about 12% (est.) of the exam
Hypertension (2025 AHA/ACC guideline)Dyslipidemia and lipid-lowering therapyChest pain, stable CAD and acute coronary syndromesHeart failureAtrial fibrillation, other arrhythmias and anticoagulationMurmurs and valvular heart diseasePeripheral artery disease and abdominal aortic aneurysmVenous thromboembolism and chronic venous diseaseECG interpretation in primary care

50 practice questions in this domain so far

2 Respiratory about 9% (est.) of the exam
Asthma across the lifespanCOPDCommunity-acquired pneumoniaAcute bronchitis and chronic coughInfluenza, COVID-19 and RSVTuberculosis screening and latent TB infectionLung cancer screening and pulmonary nodulesObstructive sleep apneaSpirometry and chest imaging interpretation

38 practice questions in this domain so far

3 Endocrine, metabolic & hematologic about 10% (est.) of the exam
Type 2 diabetes: diagnosis and managementType 1 diabetes and insulin therapyDiabetes complications: kidney, eye, foot and neuropathyPrediabetes, obesity and metabolic syndromeThyroid disorders and thyroid nodulesAdrenal, pituitary and calcium/parathyroid disordersOsteoporosis and bone healthAnemias and common blood disorders

41 practice questions in this domain so far

4 GI & renal/GU about 10% (est.) of the exam
GERD, dyspepsia and peptic ulcer diseaseAcute abdominal pain (appendicitis, cholecystitis, diverticulitis)Diarrhea, constipation and irritable bowel syndromeInflammatory bowel disease and celiac diseaseLiver disease: viral hepatitis, MASLD and cirrhosisColorectal cancer screening and GI bleedingUrinary tract infection and pyelonephritisChronic kidney disease and acute kidney injuryKidney stones, hematuria and electrolyte disorders

40 practice questions in this domain so far

5 Neurologic & mental health about 10% (est.) of the exam
Headache and migraineStroke and TIASeizure disordersParkinson disease, multiple sclerosis and peripheral neuropathyDizziness, vertigo and syncopeConcussion and head injuryDepression, anxiety and PTSDBipolar disorder, psychosis and suicide risk screeningSubstance use disorders (alcohol, opioids, tobacco)Insomnia and sleep disorders

44 practice questions in this domain so far

6 Musculoskeletal & dermatology about 8% (est.) of the exam
Low back and neck painShoulder and elbow disordersHip and knee disorders and sports injuriesHand, wrist, ankle and foot injuriesOsteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and goutLupus, polymyalgia rheumatica and fibromyalgiaSkin infections and infestationsEczema, psoriasis, acne and common rashesSkin cancer and suspicious lesionsBurns, wounds and bites

33 practice questions in this domain so far

7 HEENT about 8% (est.) of the exam
Red eye, eye trauma and acute vision changesGlaucoma, cataracts and macular degenerationEar pain, otitis media and otitis externaHearing loss and tinnitusSinusitis, rhinitis and allergiesPharyngitis, mononucleosis and upper respiratory infectionsOral health and mouth lesionsNeck masses and lymphadenopathy

33 practice questions in this domain so far

8 Women's, prenatal & men's health about 9% (est.) of the exam
ContraceptionMenstrual disorders and abnormal uterine bleedingMenopause and hormone therapyPrenatal care and pregnancy complicationsPostpartum care and lactationVaginitis and pelvic painSexually transmitted infections, HIV and PrEPBreast and cervical cancer screeningBPH, prostate cancer screening and erectile dysfunctionTesticular and scrotal disorders

38 practice questions in this domain so far

9 Pediatrics & adolescents about 10% (est.) of the exam
Newborn assessment and common newborn problemsGrowth, development and well-child visitsChildhood and adolescent immunizationsCommon childhood infections and rashesPediatric respiratory illness (croup, bronchiolitis, asthma)Pediatric GI, GU and abdominal problemsPediatric orthopedics (DDH, SCFE, scoliosis)ADHD, autism and behavioral concernsAdolescent health: puberty, confidentiality and risk behaviorsChild maltreatment and injury prevention

43 practice questions in this domain so far

10 Older adults about 7% (est.) of the exam
Physiologic changes of aging and atypical presentationsDementia and deliriumFalls, gait problems and frailtyPolypharmacy and the Beers CriteriaUrinary incontinenceFunctional and cognitive assessmentElder mistreatment and caregiver strainAdvance care planning and palliative care

28 practice questions in this domain so far

11 Health promotion, pharmacology & professional issues about 7% (est.) of the exam
USPSTF screening and health promotionAdult immunizationsPharmacology principles: kinetics, interactions and prescribingAntibiotic stewardship and controlled-substance prescribingScope of practice, licensure and prescriptive authorityLegal and ethical issues: consent, confidentiality and HIPAAEvidence-based practice and research appraisalCulturally responsive care and social determinants of healthDocumentation, coding, health IT and responsible use of AIQuality, patient safety and patient education

62 practice questions in this domain so far

What you get when you access this exam

Free with your QuizMe account.

Primary-care scenarios across the lifespan

Every question is tagged to one of 11 clinical areas and its topics — from newborn visits and prenatal care to older adults on ten medications — written to current guidelines.

Exam-critical hints

Reveal the clinical pearl that unlocks the question — the red-flag finding, the first-line drug, the screening interval, the guideline threshold. Every answer comes with the full rationale.

Adaptive testing

Questions steer toward your weakest areas, weighted by how much each counts on the AANPCB exam, and get harder as you get stronger.

Timed practice exams

Blueprint-weighted exams at the real pace — 150 questions in 3 hours — with a live pacing indicator and a full review.

Flashcards, case simulations and guides

Flashcards for drugs, screening intervals and red flags, unfolding clinic cases where the chart updates with every decision, and interactive illustrated guides.

Progress for every clinical area

Each area moves from Not started to Getting started, Developing, Proficient and Exam ready — so you know exactly what to study next.

Test at home or at a center

AANPCB (NPCB) delivers the FNP exam by computer at Prometric test centers. Once your eligibility is approved you have a 120-day window to schedule and sit the exam; AANPCB does not list a remote-proctored option for its NP exams.

At a Prometric test center

  • Arrive about 30 minutes early for check-in.
  • Bring current, unexpired government-issued photo ID with the same name as your application.
  • Phones, bags, watches and notes go in a locker; expect a check-in photo and security screening.
  • Schedule early — popular dates near graduation fill fast.
  • Starting January 2026 you can attempt the FNP exam up to 3 times per calendar year; each retake needs a new application and fee.

Exam-day game plan

How to walk in ready — and how to pace 150 questions in 3 hours (full length, incl. 15 pretest-style items).

Pacing checkpoints

Hit these and you finish with time to revisit your flagged questions. Our timed practice exams run at this same pace.

38questions0:45
75questions1:30
113questions2:15
150questions3:00

The week before

  • Take one full-length timed practice exam 3–5 days out, then rest.
  • Remember who is on the blueprint: older adults are 30% and middle adults 26% — but newborns through adolescents still make up about 22%.
  • Drill first-line drugs, screening ages and intervals, and the red-flag findings that mean refer now.
  • Spend your last sessions on any clinical area still below Proficient.

Exam morning

  • Eat a real breakfast with protein; go easy on caffeine.
  • Arrive at the Prometric center about 30 minutes early with government-issued photo ID that exactly matches the name on your application.
  • Use the restroom right before you start.

During the exam

  • Read the whole stem and find the cue: first, best, most appropriate, initial, most likely.
  • Note the patient's age, sex and pregnancy status first — they change the answer on screening, drugs and differentials.
  • Pick the evidence-based, guideline-concordant answer for a primary-care setting, not what you'd see in the hospital.
  • Assessment questions are the biggest slice: often the best answer is the next history question, exam maneuver or test — not treatment yet.
  • Pick your best answer, flag it and move on. Revisit flags at the end.
  • Answer every question — there's no penalty for guessing.

Keep your head

  • A few nerves sharpen focus. If you freeze, take three slow breaths and reread the stem.
  • You're measured against a fixed passing standard, not other test-takers.
  • Change an answer only when you find a real reason in the stem.

Keeping your FNP-C

  • Certification lasts 5 years.
  • Renew with at least 1,000 practice hours as an FNP plus 100 advanced-practice CE contact hours, including 25 in advanced pharmacology — all within your current 5-year period.
  • Or renew by passing the FNP exam again before your certification expires (no practice hours or CE needed).
  • Renewal fee is $120 for AANP members and $195 for non-members; renewal by exam costs the same as the initial exam.

Official sources and further reading

Ready to start?

450 questions and scenarios across the blueprint — and growing.

Enroll free

NP-C® is a registered certification mark of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB), which operates as NPCB. QuizMe and thinQtank Learning are not affiliated with or endorsed by AANPCB, NPCB, AANP, ANCC or Prometric. Exam details are summarized from NPCB's published handbook, blueprint and fee pages; fees and rules change — always confirm at aanpcert.org before you apply. NPCB doesn't publish a percent-correct passing score; the 500 passing mark on a 200–800 scale is widely reported, and our Exam ready level asks for 80% or better.