A-GNP - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

The Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (A-GNP) certification validates the knowledge and clinical skills of the AGPCNP. The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) offers the A-GNP exam, accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and the American Board of Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC).

Eligibility

To be eligible to take the A-GNP exam, applicants must have: 

• An active RN license in any U.S. state or territory or legal equivalent in Canada

• A master’s, post-graduate certificate, or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from an A-GNP program accredited by a nursing accrediting organization acknowledged by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and/or Department of Education

  • Canadian programs must be acknowledged by the Canadian Council of Registered Nurse Regulators (CCRNR)

• Completed at least 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours as a part of the A-GNP program

• Completed a graduate-level course in advanced pharmacology, advanced health assessment, and advanced physiology/pathophysiology

• Completed the population-specific specialties for Adult-Gerontology Primary Care and the national competencies for the role of a nurse practitioner

Cost:

• Online Application: Members: $240, Non-members: $315

• Paper Application: Members: $290, Non-members: $365

Retake Fees:

• Online: Members $240, Non-members $315

• Paper Application: Members $290, Non-members $365

Exam Format

The A-GNP certification exam includes 135 scored questions and 15 unscored questions. It takes 3 hours to complete and features Pass/Fail grading. The exam has a scaled score range from 200 to 800, with a minimum passing score of 500. The AANPCB provides a preliminary pass or fail immediately following exam completion, but this isn’t an official score and can’t be used to activate NP certification status. The AANPCB mails the official scores. The exam blueprint consists of two domains, objectives and patient age ranges.

Domain 1

• Assess - 37 questions

• Diagnose - 34 questions

• Plan - 34 questions

• Evaluate  - 30 questions

Domain 2

• Adolescent - 3 questions

• Young Adult - 18 questions

• Adult - 38 questions

• Older Adult - 54 questions

• Elderly - 22 questions

Test Dates

Applicants can register to take the exam anytime based on availability at their selected Prometric Testing Center. Applicants must test within 120-days of receiving their Eligibility to Test notice.

Online Application Process

• Go to the AANPCB website

• Sign in or create an account

• Complete the Contact Information section

• Complete the Education & Clinical section

• Number of clinical clock hours set by program, enter degree attained, program completion date, and degree conferral date

• Information for Advanced Practice NP coursework

• Information for clinical practice sites and preceptor details

• Complete the License & Attestation section

• Include active U.S./territorial/Canadian professional nurse license information (RN/NP/APRN)

• Optional

  • Request SBON notification

  • Opt-in/out for program pass/no-pass notification

• Upload official or unofficial transcripts and nursing license to allow application processing

• Proceed to Payment and pay by credit card

• Click Review, then Submit Application

Paper Application Process

• Go to the AANPCB website

• Under Forms, request a paper application by emailing [email protected]

• Complete the contact information section

• Check the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner box and enter certification-related details

• Complete the Attestation and License section (RN/NP/APRN licenses, as applicable)

• Complete the Education & Clinical section

• Number of clinical clock hours set by program

• Information for Advanced Practice NP coursework

• Information for clinical practice sites and preceptor details

• Complete the Payment section (paper submissions may pay by credit card, personal check, or money order)

• Attach required documentation (license copy, transcripts as applicable) and mail completed application to:

AANPCB
Capital Station, LBJ Building
P.O. Box 12926
Austin, TX 78711-2926

For overnight delivery, send to:

AANPCB
2600 Via Fortuna, Ste 240
Austin, TX 78746-7006

Transcripts

Following application submission, official transcripts must be sent by the university/registrar (sealed hard copy or secure electronic) to [email protected]

Status & Scheduling

Applicants can check status by logging into their AANPCB account (My Application/Order Status). After approval, AANPCB emails Eligibility to Test instructions for scheduling with Prometric (120-day window to test).

After You Pass

Candidates who pass receive a completion packet (score report, certification number, wall certificate, wallet card, lapel pin) by mail about 3–4 weeks after release of the passing score.

A-GNP certification is valid for 5 years. A-GNPs can recertify through a combination of 1,000 clinical hours and 100 contact hourss (CE) or by re-taking the A-GNP exam. A-GNPs renewing by retesting should apply around 120 days before their expiration date to allow for application processing, exam scheduling, and potentially retaking the exam.

Online Renewal

• Go to the AANPCB website

• Scroll down and click “Recertify Now”

• Login to account

• Select whether recertifying by exam or clinical hours + CEUs

• Upload a copy of current nursing license

• Enter clinical practice site information and 100 CEs completed within the last 5 years

  • Skip this step if recertifying by exam

• Complete the License and Attestation section

• Read the attestation component and click “Continue”

• Insert payment information

  • Payment by credit card, personal check, or money order accepted

• Click “Continue” and “Submit Application”

Paper Renewal

• Go to the AANPCB website

• From Recertify, click on "Forms"

• Download the appropriate Renewal of Certification application

• Complete contact info

• Check “Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGNP)” and enter certification number

• Complete Attestation & License.

• If renewing by Practice Hours & CE: complete the CE Log and NP Practice Information (practice sites & hours)

• Complete Payment section (paper apps include a $50 processing fee).

• Attach license and CE documentation (as applicable).

Mail to:

AANPCB
Capital Station, LBJ Building
P.O. Box 12926
Austin, TX 78711-2926

For overnight delivery send to:

AANPCB
2600 Via Fortuna, Ste 240
Austin, TX 78746

Renewal Fees:

Clinical Practice Hours + CEUs

• Online Application: Members: $120, Non-members: $195

• Paper Application: Members: $170, Non-members: $245

Re-Examination

• Online Application: Members: $240, Non-members: $315

• Paper Application: Members: $290, Non-members: $365

Applicants are eligible for renewal via clinical hours + CEU after meeting the following requirements:

• Have an active RN license in the United States or Canada

• 1000 clinical hours in the AGNP role and population

• 100 Advance Practice CEUs

  • 25 CEUs must be advanced pharmacology 

  • Specific life support classes, preceptorship, and student clinical supervision can count towards CEUs

For full information refer to the recertification handbook.

• A-GNP Domains and Exam Blueprint

• AANPCB Test Taking Tips

• AANPCB Practice Tests ($50 per test)

• Certification Handbook

• Recertification Handbook

Other certifications offered by the AANPCB include:

• Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C)

• Emergency Nurse Practitioner-Certified (ENP-C)

Other certifications offered by the ANCC include:

• Family Nurse Practitioner Certification (FNP-BC)

• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification (AGACNP-BC)

• Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certification (PMHNP-BC)