PNP-AC - Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care

Nurses who have completed specialized graduate education may practice as nurse practitioners (NP). The scope of practice for the NP provides more autonomy than the RN. NPs are working in acute care and specialty settings across the healthcare spectrum.

The Primary Care Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP-AC) certification is offered by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB). The CPNP-AC is relevant for nurse practitioners who have graduated from a master's, doctorate, or post-graduate certification program for NPs in acute care. Acute care NPs work with children from infancy through adolescence, treating acute and complex health concerns that can be life-threatening.

Cost

Exam - $395, includes a non-refundable registration fee $130

Re-examination - $280

Exam extension - $150, available for candidates that are unable to test during their assigned window. Can only be used once per application.

The candidate may apply for the CPNP-AC exam via the PNCB website portal. The CPNP-AC certification exam has 175 multiple-choice questions and may be taken at a testing center or via online proctoring from any computer with the internet.

To be eligible to take the CPNP-AC exam, the following requirements must be met:

• Current, active, unencumbered RN license issued by a US state, US territory, or Canada.

• Graduation from an accredited college or university that offers an ACEN or CCNE accredited nursing master's or doctoral degree with a concentration in pediatric acute care as a nurse practitioner or formal dual primary/acute care program or

• Graduation from a post master's pediatric acute care nurse practitioner certificate program from an accredited college or university.

• A minimum of 500 supervised direct care clinical practice hours in acute care pediatrics.

• Completion of three separate graduate-level courses in:

  • Advanced physiology/pathophysiology, including general principles or concepts across the lifespan.

  • Advanced health assessment, which includes assessment of all human systems and advanced assessment techniques.

  • Advanced pharmacology, which includes pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacotherapeutics.

Transcripts are also required to be submitted with the CPNP-AC application.

The process to recertify the CPNP-AC credential must be fulfilled annually. The period between November 1 and January 31 before the expiration date of their certification is the designated renewal window.

The renewal requirement for the CPNP-AC certification are:

• Current, active, unencumbered RN license issued by a US state, US territory, or Canada.

• Completion of 15 CE hours relevant to CPNP-AC practice. Clinical practice hours may serve as part of these requirements.

The nurse is also required to complete 15 hours of pediatric pharmacology and 4 PNCB modules every 7 years to maintain CPNP-AC certification.

The cost of CPNP-AC renewal is dependent on which version of the CE hours are submitted annually. For those nurses that renew in November, there is a reduced cost. For example, for those nurses that renew in November, the recertification fee of $20 is waived. The nurse will only pay for the PNCB modules ($85 per module) or the submission of the CE hours ($85). 

A maximum of 2 PNCB modules may be used per year towards the 15 CE hours.  

A late fee of $100 is added after January 31 to renew the CPNP-AC.

Renewal Fees

Renewing between November 1-November 31, 2022

• 2 Pediatric Updates - $0

• 1 Pediatric Update + 7.5 hours of accepted activity - $45

• 15 contact hours - $85

• Record Review - $65

December 1 - January 31, 2023

• 2 Pediatric Updates - $20

• 1 Pediatric Update + 7.5 hours of accepted activity - $65

• 15 contact hours - $105

• Record Review - $85

Renewing February 1 - February 28, 2023

• 2 Pediatric Updates - $120

• 1 Pediatric Update + 7.5 hours of accepted activity - $165

• 15 contact hours - $205

• Record Review - $185

The PNCB offers resources for exam candidates, including:

• Candidate Handbook

• Content Outline

• Practice Test (Cost: $50)

• Test-taking Strategies

The PNCB doesn't offer or recommend a specific review course or study guide but does list exam resources on its Resources Page.

The PNCB also offers dual certification in acute and primary care (CPNP-AC/PC) for those NPs working in the primary and acute care setting.

The PNCB also offers the following:

• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care (PNP-PC)

• Pediatric Primary Care Mental Health Specialist (PMHS)

• Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN)