AGACNP-BC - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Cost $290-$395
- Renews every 5 years
COURSE FORMAT
About
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner board certification (AGACNP-BC) validates the knowledge and clinical skills of the AGACNP. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) offers the AGACNP exam, accredited by the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC).
Eligibility
To be eligible to take the AGACNP board certification exam, applicants must have:
An active RN license in any U.S. state or the legal equivalent in another country
A master’s, post-graduate certificate, or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from an AGACNP program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), or the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA)
Completed at least 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours as a part of the AGACNP program
Completed a graduate-level course in advanced pharmacology, advanced health assessment, and advanced physiology/pathophysiology
Completed courses with content in health promotion or maintenance and differential diagnosis/disease management
Cost:
Non-members: $395
American Nurses Association Members: $295
American Association of Nurse Practitioners Members: $340
American Association of Nurse Practitioners Student Members: $290
Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association Members: $340
Course Format
Exam Format
The AGACNP board certification exam includes 150 scored questions and 25 unscored questions. It takes 3.5 hours to complete and features Pass/Fail grading The exam has a maximum possible scaled score of 500 and a minimum passing scaled score of 350. It includes topics from three areas, including core competencies, clinical practice, and professional role.
Test Dates
Prometric test centers offer AGPCNP board certification exams year-round. Examinees may also take the exam at home via Prometric’s Live Remote Proctoring (LRP) service.
Applicants register for the exam after receiving an Authorization to Test (ATT) notice from ANCC. They can register online or by calling Prometric at (800) 998-1942.
Visit Prometric’s website
Click “Schedule” on the left column under “Test Center Certification Exam”
Read the terms and conditions
Confirm over 18 and select “I consent”
Insert ANCC ID Number and first four characters of last name
Click the arrow after the eligibility window appears
Search for a testing center
Select a test date
Exam Day Instructions
Arrive at the testing center 30 minutes before exam time
Bring a government-issued ID and test confirmation number from Prometric
Store personal items in provided lockers
Certification
Application Process
Go to the certification website
Click “Apply Online”
Create an account or log in
Complete education information
List state RN licenses held in all states
Download the “Educational Validation Form”
Attach completed Educational Validation Form and unofficial transcripts, if available
Input debit or credit card information
Following application submission, applicants must also submit several documents to the ANCC, including:
Educational Validation Form (if not already submitted)
Completed by the applicant and the school’s program director
Official transcripts
Submitted directly from the school via mail or an electronic transcript submission service
GAP Analysis Form (if applicable)
All applicants with post-graduate certificates or post-graduate doctoral degrees must submit this form
Must be completed by a faculty member
All documents may be submitted by email to [email protected] or mailed to:
ANCC, Attention: Certification Registration 8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 400 Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
Applicants receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) upon approval. They must schedule and take the exam within 90 days of receiving their ATT.
Renewal
AGACNP board certification is valid for 5 years. AGACNPs can submit an online renewal application up to one year before expiration. To be eligible for renewal, applicants must:
Have an active RN license in any U.S. state or the legal equivalent in another country
Have a current, active AGACNP certification from the ANCC
Complete 75 Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
Complete one of the 8 professional development categories
Pay renewal fee
The professional development component includes the mandatory 75 CE hours PLUS completion of at least one of the following 8 categories:
75 CE hours in addition to the mandatory 75 CE hours
Academic credits: 5 semester credits or 6 quarter credits
One or more presentations totaling 5 hours
One Evidence-Based Practice (EBP), Quality Improvement Project (QI) or one qualifying publication or one Institutional Review Board research project, completed dissertation or thesis, or doctoral project
At least 120 hours as a preceptor for students in an academic program
Two or more consecutive years of volunteer service with an international, national, state, or local healthcare-related organization
1,000 practice hours (not required to renew certification but option to fulfill professional development)
Pass the current AGPCNP-BC exam
AGACNPs must complete the professional development section before completing the online renewal application.
Renewal Fees
Non-member: $375
American Nurses Association Members: $275
American Association of Nurse Practitioners Members: $295
Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association Members: $320
Continuing Education
Part of the renewal process requires 75 Continuing Education Units (CEUs). All CEUs must be directly related to the AGACNP’s certification role and specialty. At least 60 CEUs must be formally approved CE hours, meaning they must meet at least one of the following criteria:
Continuing nursing education (CNE) approved by an accredited provider of CNE
Continuing medical education (CME) approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits
Continuing education hours approved through the Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education
Other healthcare discipline’s CEUs applicable to the AGPCNP’s certification specialty are acceptable. Repeat courses aren’t accepted for renewal. Renewal applicants may also convert academic coursework applicable to their certification specialty to CEUs.
AGACNPs can Track Professional Development on the ANCC website as they complete each activity. Renewal applicants must use their account and complete the CE section of the Professional Development Record to document their CEUs. ANCC doesn’t accept certificates of completion in place of completing Professional Development entries.
Other Resources
The ANCC provides several resources to help prepare for the AGACNP-BC exam, including:
Related Certifications
Other certifications offered by the ANCC include:
Frequently asked questions
How soon can I retake the AGACNP board certification examination if I don’t pass?
You may retest 60 days from the date you last took the AGACNP board certification exam. However, candidates can’t test more than three times in any 12-month period. The retest fee is $270.
Is the AGACNP exam difficult?
Like any certification exam, the AGACNP exam is difficult without proper preparation. In 2021, out of 3,355 examinees, 2,909 passed, or about 87%.
What if I let my AGACNP board certification expire?
If your certification expired within the last 2 years, you can reactivate the certification by following the regular renewal steps. If it expired more than 2 years, you must resubmit an application and retest.
Are work hours required to maintain AGACNP board certification?
No, work hours aren’t required but can be used for renewal.
What’s the difference between AGACNP and AGPCNP?
AGPCNP and AGACNP are both types of gerontology NP specialties. AGPCNP focuses on primary care in which the practitioner develops a long-term relationship with patients, while AGACNP focuses more on acute, critical illnesses and stabilization.
What other certifications does the ANCC offer besides the AGACNP-BC?
The American Nursing Credentialing Center (ANCC) also offers the following:
What organization offers the AGACNP-BC?
The American Nursing Credentialing Center (ANCC) offers the AGACNP-BC.
Can I earn a AGACNP-BC online?
No you can't earn a AGACNP-BC online.