Introduction
You’re on the path to practice as an Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP), and you’ve
accomplished so much already. The next challenge you’ll conquer is the board certification. Adult-Gerontology Acute
Care certification (AGACNP-BC) is an attestation to an NP’s preparation for clinical practice. It ensures that
professionals are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to manage acute and complex health conditions in
adult and elderly populations. As you prepare for your exam, knowing where or even how to begin can feel so
overwhelming. Take a deep breath! In this post, we’ll delve into the types of certifications available to you as well
as the organizations who issue them, the process of certification renewal, and the types of resources available to
ensure you face exam day with your best foot forward.
Table of Contents
ANCC Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP Certification
AACN Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification
Other Relevant Certifications and Their Requirements
Certification Eligibility, Maintenance, and Renewal
Exam Preparation Resources
Practice Tests
Review Courses
Flashcards
Salary and Career Opportunities
Conclusion
Types of ACNP Certifications
ANCC: The AGACNP Certification
The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) is a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association (ANA) and focuses
primarily on credentialing and certification for nurses and nurse practitioners across various specialties, including
adult-gerontology acute care (AGAC). Their exam is known for its comprehensive approach to assessing a nurse
practitioner’s knowledge and skills. The ANCC
exam consists of 175 questions, 150 of which are scored, and the time
limit is 3.5 hours. The 15 unscored questions are pretest questions that do not count toward the final score, but are
used to evaluate their appropriateness for future exams. The questions are multiple-choice, but there is also a
section with alternative question types such as drag-to-match, multiple select (also known as SATA questions or
Select All That Apply), and “hot spot” (image-based) questions. ANCC’s website reports an 85% pass rate–we know
you’ll be one of them!
AACN: The ACNPC-AG Certification
The American Association of Critical Care Nurses, in their own words, are the “national voice for academic nursing.”
They establish quality standards for nursing education and aid nursing programs in implementing these standards. AACN
also plays a role in nursing advocacy, promoting nursing education as well as research. Among AACN’s certifications
is the acute care nurse practitioner adult-gerontology (ACNPC-AG) certification. Much like AANP’s certification, the
ACNPC-AG attests to a nurse practitioner’s ability to treat episodic illness, exacerbation of chronic illness, or
terminal illness in young adults, older adults, and frail elderly persons. The AACN exam consists of 175 multiple
choice questions, 150 of which are scored. Like ANCC’s unscored questions, the remaining 25 provide statistical
insight for use on future exams. The time limit is 3.5 hours. AACN reports that the majority–80%--of their exam
focuses on clinical judgment related to nursing care, and the remainder tests non-clinical judgment knowledge.
Other Relevant Certifications
AANP, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, also offers a board certification exam for acute care nurse
practitioners who want to focus on adult populations. The AANP
AGACNP-BC exam consists entirely of multiple choice
questions. There are 150 questions, 135 of which are scored. The time limit for the AANP exam is 3 hours.
Certification Eligibility, Maintenance, and Renewal
Requirements and process for earning, maintaining, and renewing certification vary depending on the certifying body.
We’ve outlined these criteria below, but you can always find more details on each organization’s website.
ACNP Requirements
To be eligible to take the ACNP exam, you must have a current active RN license, and have completed graduate-level
coursework related to adult-gerontology nursing. Among other topics, your coursework must include advanced
pharmacology, advanced pathophysiology, and advanced physical assessment. Additionally, you should have completed
coursework related to the legal, ethical, and professional responsibilities of the acute care nurse practitioner. A
minimum of 500 supervised clinical practice hours related to your specialty should have been completed as well. ACNP
certification is valid for 5 years, and you must renew your certification before the certification’s expiration date.
In most cases, ACNP will notify you (usually via email) that your certification is going to expire, but not always.
ACNP certification can be renewed in one of three ways:
- Completion of 1000 practice hours and 150 continuing education (CE) points
- Completion of 1000 practice hours, 25 pharmacology CE, and re-taking the exam
- 150 CE points and re-taking the exam
ANCC Requirements
To renew with ANCC, you must hold a current and active RN license in the US or the legally recognized equivalent in
another country. At least 1 of the following 8 categories must be completed: continuing education, academic credits,
presentations, projects/publication/research, preceptor hours, professional service, practice hours, and
reexamination. Finally, 75 mandatory continuing education hours are required. Regardless of which of the 8 above
categories below you choose to complete, ANCC requires all candidates to complete 75 contact hours directly related
to the certification field, and 25 of these must be in pharmacology.
AANP Recertification
One option for renewing your AANP certification is through completion of practice hours and continuing education
(CE). A minimum of 1000 practice hours as a nurse practitioner in the population focus of your certification must be
completed within your 5-year certification period. These must fall into one of the following categories: direct
patient care, administration, education, and/or research.
To recertify via the continuing education (CE) route, 100 hours of advanced practice nursing CE applicable to the relevant population focus must be completed. This includes a minimum of 25 advanced practice pharmacology credits. The following are accepted by AANP:
- Academic Coursework credit for graduate or postgraduate courses may be accepted by AANP if the coursework is related to advanced practice nursing knowledge and skills.
- Preceptor Hours AANP accepts a maximum of 120 clinical preceptor hours in exchange for 25 non-pharmacology CE credits.
Certification renewal by re-examination is also available to Adult-Gerontology, Family, and Emergency NPs certified by AANP. The exam must be passed before your current certification expires, and can be initiated up to 12 months before the expiration date.
Exam Preparation Resources
There are so many different ways to study for the AGACNP exam. Below is a review of a few examples, including what
each offers and what the benefits may be. Whichever you choose, it’s essential to make sure the program of your
choice covers the key topics and concepts that will be on your exam.
Practice Tests
Practice tests and questions are an invaluable tool for testing your knowledge and level of preparedness. Ideally,
they mimic the type of questions you’re likely to encounter on the exam, and can be a great way to really hone your
understanding of specific technical concepts. Similarly, practice tests are about as close to the real thing as you
can get. To perfectly simulate what test day will be like, they may include both scored and unscored questions. By
taking timed exams, you can get a feel for how long to spend on each question, and identify areas that may need a
little more attention.
Review Courses
Exam reviews come in many shapes and sizes. Some include live webinars or Q&A sessions, while others may offer
recorded lectures. Many offer access to question banks of varying sizes. Others may even offer contact hours of
continuing education, which can be valuable when it comes to meeting future job or recertification requirements.
Flashcards
Some review programs offer flashcards, an age-old resource for quizzing yourself. Free sets may also be available on
websites like Quizlet or Brainscape, but it’s important to consider that these cards are often created by other
students and may not be as reliable as flashcards published by review companies.
Salary and Career Opportunities
ACNPs can be found in a variety of settings, from emergency departments and urgent care clinics to specialty clinics
such as dermatology, nephrology, or orthopedics. Some ACNPs may choose careers in more long-term facilities like
nursing homes or assisted living facilities. Like most medical professions, nurse practitioners’ salaries depend on
how much experience and training they have, geographic location, and what specialty they are in. In 2023, the Bureau
of Labor Statistics reported a mean annual salary of $129,608 for acute care NPs. Below is a table of what this looks
like in terms of hourly pay in various cities across the US.
| City | Reported Average Hourly Pay |
|---|---|
| Atlanta | $54 |
| Chicago | $58 |
| Dallas | $56 |
| Denver | $58 |
| Los Angeles | $61 |
| Nashville | $55 |
| New York | $62 |
| Seattle | $64 |
| St. Louis | $55 |
| Washington, DC | $64 |
*From GlassDoor.com
Conclusion
Regardless of which certification you choose, pursuing an advanced practice nursing certification undoubtedly opens
doors to rewarding career opportunities in acute care settings. While each certification pathway has its unique
requirements and exam preparation resources, the commitment to ongoing education and maintenance of certification
will ensure proficiency and competency in delivering high-quality patient care. With competitive salaries and a
growing demand for specialized healthcare professionals, you’re sure to find a fulfilling and prosperous career in
the dynamic field of acute care nursing.