CFPN - Certified Foundational Perioperative Nurse

The Certified Foundational Perioperative Nurse (CFPN) certification validates that a registered nurse has met the required standards for practice during their early perioperative career period. CFPN certification is a benchmark of perioperative nursing competence and the starting point in the professional growth journey of new perioperative nurses. It’s unique because it allows nurses to validate their basic knowledge in perioperative nursing practice and provides additional, progressive elements to help them grow. The Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI) administers the CFPN certification exam.

Eligibility

Candidates must meet all the following requirements to be eligible for the CFPN exam:

• Hold a current, unrestricted RN license

• Earn a Certificate of Completion from a Perioperative Nursing Orientation program with classroom and clinical components

• Submit application within 23 months of initial hire date in the operating room

• Currently working as a perioperative nurse

Completion Time: Candidates have 2.5 hours to complete the CFPN exam.

Cost: $195

Exam Format

Applicants must pass a knowledge-based exam with 120 multiple-choice questions, including 100 score questions and 20 unscored and unidentifiable pre-test questions distributed throughout the exam. Once CCI approves their exam application, candidates have a 90-day window in which to take their CFPN exam. The exam is graded pass/fail. 

CFPN certification exam content areas include:

• Pre/postoperative Patient Assessment and Diagnosis (15%)

• Plan of Care Development and Expected Outcome Identification (8%) 

• Intraoperative Care:

  • Patient care and safety (25%) 

  • Management of Personnel, Services and Materials (9%) 

• Communication and Documentation (11%)

• Infection Prevention and Control of Environment, Instrumentation and Supplies (16%) 

• Emergency Situations (10%) 

• Professional Accountabilities (6%)

Test Dates

Applicants may apply for the Certified Foundational Perioperative Nurse certification exam year-round. However, they may only test once during any 90-day testing window. Candidates can take the Knowledge-Based Test 24 hours daily as long as appointments are available. CFPN certification candidates must pass the knowledge-based exam before they can begin the next step in the certification process.

Application Process

Create a CCI account or log into an existing account. The following information is required to complete the online application:

• Personal contact information, including address, email, home and workplace phone numbers

• RN License Information, including RN license number and expiration date, state(s) licenses to practice

• Perioperative work history including the date they began working in the OR, current job, and area of practice.

• Contact information for the employer, including facility name, address, and phone number and supervisor’s name, address, phone number, and email address

• Detailed perioperative orientation course syllabus and certificate of completion

• Payment information

Besides passing the certification exam, CFPN candidates must complete three other components during the certification process. These additional steps include:

• Complete a self-assessment of competency through the Perceived Perioperative Competence Scale – Revised (PPCS-R)

  • Ungraded self-assessment of 40 items regarding perioperative specific competence

  • Assessed in CCI account

• Complete the PSI 16PF Sixth Edition survey instrument

  • Measures skills, personality traits, and leadership potential

• Complete a reflective learning exercise

  • Create a professional development plan to guide the next 2 years of their careers and earn their next credential

  • Graded on a pass/fail basis

Within a week of finishing all four certification components, candidates receive their CFPN certification in their CCI account.

The CFPN credential doesn’t have a recertification option.  RNs can no longer use the CFPN title once their credential expires. After completing 2,400 hours of perioperative experience and holding an active CFPN credential, nurses become eligible to apply for CNOR or CNAMB at a faster pace.

CCI doesn’t require any specific preparation books or courses. The CFPN Candidate Handbooks contains sample questions on page 39 and CCI supplies a CFPN Study Plan. Candidates may also purchase a CFPN On-Demand Prep Course for $149.

The following are recommended references for the CFPN certification examination:

• Guidelines for Perioperative Practice. Denver, CO: AORN, Inc; current edition.

• Odom-Forren, J. Drain’s Perianesthesia Nursing: A Critical Care Approach. 7th ed. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2018. 

• Phillips N. and Hornacky A. Berry and Kohn’s Operating Room Technique. 14th ed. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2021.

• Rothrock JC, ed. Alexander’s Care of the Patient in Surgery. 16th ed. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2019

The CCI also offers the following certifications:

• Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR)

• Clinical Nurse Specialist Perioperative Certification (CNS-CP)

• Certified Surgical Services Manager (CSSM)

• Certified Ambulatory Surgery Nurse (CNAMB)

• Nursing Professional Development Advanced – Board Certified (NPDA-BC)