Which NP Review Option Is Best for You in 2027: Courses, Books and Question Banks Compared
No single NP review option suits every candidate; the right one depends on whether you need content review, applied practice or both, and how much time you have. Review courses (Fitzgerald, APEA) teach the content with structure, a review book (Leik) condenses it at the lowest one-time price, and question banks (UWorld, BoardVitals, APEA, NPPace) test it under exam conditions at $25 to $159 per month of access. A practical plan pairs one content source with one question bank, matched to the board and track you are taking.
There is no single best NP review option for every candidate in 2027; the right choice depends on what is missing from your preparation and how much time is left before the exam. Review courses and books close content gaps, while question banks build the applied, timed reasoning that board vignettes test, and a complete plan usually needs both. This guide compares the main options on format, track coverage, price per month of access and guarantees, using only what each company states on its own site, then matches them to five common candidate situations.
The three kinds of NP review
Review courses teach the exam content in a structured sequence, live or recorded. Fitzgerald Health Education Associates and APEA both sell live and on-demand courses for the FNP exam, and both include some practice questions or a readiness exam.
Review books condense the content into a single reference. The Leik FNP Certification Intensive Review from Springer Publishing is the book compared here; Springer also sells online questions and video to go with it.
Question banks test the content with exam-style items, explanations and analytics. UWorld, BoardVitals, APEA and NPPace all sell banks, with different sizes, formats and access lengths.
What each option is
Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald's FNP review page lists a 2-day live in-person course ($579 early bird, $679 regular), a 2-day live online course on Zoom ($529 early bird, $629 regular, with 180 days of access to recordings), and an online on-demand course ($399, 180 days of access) with video lessons and a printed workbook. Each format includes a 150-question readiness exam, and a Family NP QBank with 11 practice exams by body system is listed as an add-on at $179. The page states the course prepares for both the AANP and ANCC FNP exams, and the Fitzgerald Pass Guarantee is described as free course access for a retake and free remediation. Fitzgerald's home page also lists an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care review course.
APEA. APEA's home page lists live review courses for FNP/AGPCNP, in person and online, with a course manual, and a guarantee of a free repeat course for a candidate who does not pass; live course prices are not shown on that page. On-demand exam prep bundles for FNP/AGPCNP combine the recorded review course (video or audio), one Predictor Exam (150 timed questions with results in 16 knowledge areas) and MyQBank access, at $451.95 for 3 months or $485.95 for 6 months. APEA also sells 8 separate question banks of 800 questions each, priced per bank at $115 for 3 months, $175 for 6 months or $225 for 9 months; its Management bank is described as preparing candidates for the FNP and AGPCNP exams.
Leik (Springer Publishing). The FNP Certification Intensive Review, sixth edition, lists a release date of July 28, 2026, and covers the NPCB and ANCC FNP exams. The paperback is $129.99. A Digital Course Review on Springer's ExamPrepConnect platform, with 2,000+ questions and 2 full-length practice exams, is $129.99, and an On-Demand Video module is $149.99. Digital access is described as continuous, subject to Springer's Terms of Use.
UWorld. UWorld's FNP QBank lists 1,100+ FNP questions, custom AANP or ANCC sets by domain and system, timed and tutor modes, explanations for every answer choice with clinical illustrations, flashcards, a mobile app and a 7-day free trial. Plans run from 30 days ($199) to 360 days ($349). AGNP coverage is not stated on their site.
BoardVitals. BoardVitals sells separate AANP FNP (1,500+ questions) and ANCC FNP banks in 1-month, 3-month and 6-month plans. The AANP FNP bank is $159, $209 and $299. A full-length practice exam and a 90-contact-hour CE certificate are add-ons. The 3-month and 6-month plans include a pass guarantee: a free subscription for the length originally purchased, on proof of failure.
NPPace. NPPace is a new question bank for the FNP and AGNP exams from NPCB (AANP) and ANCC, built on the same platform as NCLEXPace, an NCLEX prep site from the same founder, Ala Alrashaeideh. Questions are written as primary-care cases with guideline-based explanations and sources, and the plan includes unlimited timed full-length exams in the AANP (150 questions, 3 hours) and ANCC (175 questions, 3.5 hours) formats, analytics by body system and exam domain, and a personal study plan built from the user's own answers. NPPace is building its bank now and publishes no question count, pass rate or guarantee.
Format and coverage at a glance
| Option | Type | Tracks stated | Full-length practice | Guarantee stated | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fitzgerald FNP course | Live or on-demand course | FNP; AGPC course listed | 150-question readiness exam; QBank add-on with 11 exams | Free course access for retake, remediation | Fitzgerald FNP page and home page |
| APEA live course | Live course | FNP/AGPCNP | Not stated on home page | Free repeat course | APEA home page |
| APEA on-demand bundle | Recorded course, QBank, predictor | FNP/AGPCNP | 1 Predictor Exam, 150 questions | Not stated for bundles on the page read | APEA home page |
| Leik sixth edition | Book, optional online course | FNP | 2 full-length exams (Digital Course Review) | Mentioned, terms not stated | Springer sixth-edition page |
| UWorld FNP QBank | Question bank | FNP; AGNP not stated | Number not stated on their site | Not stated | UWorld FNP page |
| BoardVitals FNP | Question bank, per board | FNP; AGNP not mentioned | Add-on, 150 (AANP) or 175 (ANCC) questions | 3-month and 6-month plans | BoardVitals pages |
| NPPace | Question bank and exam simulator | FNP and AGNP | Unlimited, AANP and ANCC formats | None | NPPace |
All competitor pages were read on 2026-11-02.
Price per month of access
Courses and books bundle different things, so cost per month is only one lens. It is still the fairest way to compare products sold for different lengths.
| Option | Access | Price | Cost per month | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| APEA QBank, one bank | 3 / 6 / 9 months | $115 / $175 / $225 | $38.33 / $29.17 / $25.00 | APEA Study Questions page |
| APEA on-demand bundle | 3 / 6 months | $451.95 / $485.95 | $150.65 / $80.99 | APEA home page |
| Fitzgerald online on-demand FNP | 180 days | $399 | $66.50 per 30 days | Fitzgerald FNP page |
| UWorld FNP QBank | 90 / 180 days | $269 / $299 | $89.67 / $49.83 per 30 days | UWorld FNP page |
| BoardVitals AANP FNP | 1 / 3 / 6 months | $159 / $209 / $299 | $159.00 / $69.67 / $49.83 | BoardVitals AANP FNP page |
| Leik paperback (sixth edition) | No expiry for print | $129.99 | One-time | Springer sixth-edition page |
| Leik Digital Course Review | Continuous, subject to Terms of Use | $129.99 | One-time | Springer sixth-edition page |
| NPPace | 3 / 6 months, nothing renews | US$300 / US$500 | $100.00 / $83.33 | NPPace |
Two cautions apply. First, an APEA QBank price covers one of 8 banks, so a candidate who wants several banks multiplies the cost. Second, NPPace costs more per month than most banks in this table at equal lengths; its case rests on including both boards, both FNP and AGNP, and unlimited full-length exams in one plan, not on price.
Decision table by candidate type
| Candidate | Main need | Options that fit on their stated features | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| First attempt, 3 or more months to study | Content review, then steady practice and several timed exams | A course (Fitzgerald or APEA) or the Leik book for content, plus one bank: UWorld, BoardVitals, APEA or NPPace | Do not buy a short bank plan too early; time it to the last 2 to 3 months |
| Retaker | Find the weak domains, then rehearse the full exam | A bank with domain analytics and full-length exams: NPPace (unlimited in both formats), BoardVitals with the exam add-on, APEA predictor | Check whether a prior purchase carries a guarantee: BoardVitals, APEA and Fitzgerald describe one |
| Working full time | Short daily sessions, flexible access | A bank that works in short sessions: UWorld (mobile app, custom blocks) or BoardVitals (custom tests by subject); recorded courses (Fitzgerald on-demand, APEA bundle) for commutes | Plan full-length exams on days off; a 3 to 3.5 hour sitting needs a free block |
| Book learner | Structured reading, then applied questions | Leik sixth edition, with a separate bank for timed practice | A book alone gives few timed full-length exams; the Leik course lists 2 |
| Canadian candidate | Confirm which exam applies | Check the provincial regulator before buying any American-exam product | The CNPLE replaced the American exams for Canadian registration on July 1, 2026; Ontario and British Columbia accept AANP and ANCC passes only through December 31, 2026 |
What NPPace does not have yet
- A finished bank. NPPace is building its FNP and AGNP bank now and publishes no question count. UWorld, BoardVitals, APEA and Springer publish counts for theirs.
- A guarantee or pass-rate history. NPPace is new: no pass-rate history yet, and guarantee terms are not published yet.
- Content teaching. NPPace is a question bank with timed exams, analytics and a study plan, not a video course or a book.
- Short or low-cost plans. Its shortest plan is 3 months at US$300. UWorld and BoardVitals sell 1-month or 30-day plans, and a single APEA bank costs less per month.
How to decide
- Name the board and track first. AANP or ANCC, FNP or AGNP. Several products here describe FNP only, and BoardVitals sells a separate bank for each board.
- Diagnose the gap. Take a timed set of mixed questions from a free trial (UWorld and BoardVitals offer one). Low scores with unfamiliar content point to a course or book; low scores on familiar content point to a bank.
- Count the weeks. Match access length to the study period, so a plan does not expire before exam day or run months past it.
- Decide how many full-length exams you want. Options range from one included predictor to unlimited exams.
- Read the guarantee terms, not the headline. The guarantees described here are extensions or repeat courses, not refunds, and each has its own conditions.
Key points
- Courses (Fitzgerald, APEA) and books (Leik) teach content; banks (UWorld, BoardVitals, APEA, NPPace) test it, and a plan can use one of each.
- Bank prices per month of access range from $25.00 (one APEA bank for 9 months) to $159.00 (BoardVitals 1-month plan); NPPace is $83.33 to $100.00.
- AGNP or AGPCNP coverage is stated by APEA, Fitzgerald and NPPace; it is not stated on UWorld's or BoardVitals' FNP pages.
- Guarantees described on company sites are extensions or repeat courses, not refunds; NPPace has not published guarantee terms yet.
- Canadian candidates should confirm the exam with their regulator, since the CNPLE replaced the American exams for Canadian registration on July 1, 2026.
- Choose by board, track, content gap and weeks remaining; any one of these options can be the best fit for a particular candidate.
Related NPPace guides
- NPPace vs BoardVitals NP: Question Banks Compared on Format, Price and Guarantees
- NPPace vs Leik: A Question Bank vs the Review Book, and Why Many Candidates Use Both
- NPPace vs UWorld NP: Price for the Same Study Time, Exam Formats and Explanations Compared
- How Many Practice Questions Do You Need Before the NP Exam?
Frequently asked questions
Common follow-up questions on Compare NP Review Options.
Do I need a review course and a question bank?
Not always. A candidate who finished a strong program and scores well on practice questions may only need a bank; a candidate with content gaps or a long time since coursework may need a course or book first.
Which options cover the AGNP or AGPCNP exam?
On the pages read on 2026-11-02, APEA lists FNP/AGPCNP live courses and bundles, Fitzgerald lists an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care review course, and NPPace covers FNP and AGNP. UWorld's and BoardVitals' FNP pages do not mention AGNP, and the Leik AGNP edition was not verified for this article.
Which options include a pass guarantee?
BoardVitals (3-month and 6-month plans), APEA (free repeat of the live course) and Fitzgerald (free course access for a retake and remediation) describe guarantees on their sites; Springer's Leik pages mention one without stating terms. UWorld's FNP page states none, and NPPace offers none.
What should Canadian NP candidates use in 2027?
The CNPLE became the exam for NP registration in Canada on July 1, 2026, and Ontario and British Columbia accept AANP and ANCC passes only through December 31, 2026. None of the pages read for this article state CNPLE preparation, so confirm the exam with your provincial regulator first.
Sources and references
- UWorld Nursing. UWorld FNP Practice Question Bank. https://nursing.uworld.com/fnp/ (read 2026-11-02)
- BoardVitals. AANP FNP Exam Practice Questions. https://www.boardvitals.com/AANP-family-nurse-practitioner-question-bank (read 2026-11-02)
- BoardVitals. Pass Guarantee. https://www.boardvitals.com/board-pass-rates (read 2026-11-02)
- Springer Publishing. FNP Certification Intensive Review (Digital Access: ExamPrepConnect), Sixth Edition. https://www.springerpub.com/fnp-certification-intensive-review-digital-access-upgradable-bundle.html (read 2026-11-02)
- Fitzgerald Health Education Associates. Family NP Certification Exam Review and home page. https://www.fhea.com/np-certification-exam-review/family/ and https://fhea.com/ (read 2026-11-02)
- APEA. Home page: live review courses, exam prep bundles, predictor exams. https://www.apea.com/ (read 2026-11-02)
- APEA. Study Questions (QBank). https://apea.com/study-questions/ (read 2026-11-02)
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