NP Exam Decisions
The choices before you study: AANP (NPCB) or ANCC, how the exams are built and scored, how to register and get licensed, how to plan your weeks, and how NPPace compares with other NP review options.
24 free study guides across 4 topics
← All NPPace guidesNP Exam Guide →
How the AANP (NPCB) and ANCC certification exams work: blueprints, question counts, scoring, pass marks, retakes and which exam fits how you think.
Failed the NP Exam? Retake Rules for AANP and ANCC and a 6-Week Recovery PlanAfter failing the FNP or AGPCNP exam: NPCB and ANCC retake rules for 2026 (attempts, waits, fees, CE), how to read the s
How NP Certification Exams Are Scored: Scaled Scores, Pass Marks and What They MeanHow AANP (NPCB) and ANCC score NP exams: criterion-referenced pass marks, ANCC's 350 of 500 scale, unscored pretest item
AGPCNP Exam Blueprint Explained: Domains, Question Counts and FocusAGPCNP blueprints for 2026 and 2027: NPCB's AGNP domain and age weights, the new January 2027 blueprint, and ANCC's 24/6
FNP Exam Blueprint Explained: What the AANP and ANCC Actually TestThe 2026 FNP blueprints compared: NPCB's 135 scored items by domain and age group, ANCC's five domains from October 30,
AANP vs ANCC: Which NP Certification Exam Should You Take?AANP (NPCB) vs ANCC NP exams compared: question counts, time, 2026 fees, blueprint style, retake rules and credentials f
Study Strategy →
How many questions, which weeks, how to read a primary-care vignette and what to do in the last seven days: study methods that match how the NP exams ask.
The Last Week Before Your NP Exam: A Day-by-Day ChecklistDay-by-day plan for the last seven days before the AANPCB or ANCC exam: taper questions, protect sleep, confirm ID and a
How to Read a Primary-Care Vignette Like a Provider: The 5-Step MethodFive steps for NP board vignettes: name the domain, anchor the patient, sort the data, apply the threshold, test the opt
Why NP Exam Questions Feel Different From the NCLEX, and How to AdjustNP board questions test provider decisions: differential, workup, prescription, follow-up. The four shifts from NCLEX re
The 8-Week NP Board Study Plan (FNP and AGNP)A week-by-week plan for the AANPCB or ANCC FNP and AGNP exams: blueprint-driven content blocks, spaced question practice
How Many Practice Questions Do You Need Before the NP Exam?Neither AANPCB nor ANCC publishes a question target. Here is how to build your own from the exam blueprint, retrieval-pr
Registration & Licensure →
Applying to NPCB and ANCC, authorization to test, exam day, and after the pass: the state APRN license, prescriptive authority and the DEA number, state by state.
NP Exam Day: Identification Rules, What to Bring and What Happens at the CenterNP exam day at Prometric in 2026: ID rules for NPCB and ANCC, name-match rule, arrival time, security screening, lockers
NP Exam Authorization to Test: Scheduling, Rescheduling and Testing WindowsNP exam Authorization to Test at NPCB and ANCC in 2026: 120-day windows, scheduling with Prometric, reschedule fees, ext
How to Register as a Nurse Practitioner in Ontario (2026 Guide)Ontario NP registration with CNO in 2026: the single NP class, the CNPLE exam, last dates AANP and ANCC results count, $
How to Get Licensed as a Nurse Practitioner in Texas (2026 Guide)Texas APRN licensure for new NP graduates: the $100 or $150 Board of Nursing fee, prescriptive authority agreement, Sche
How to Get Licensed as a Nurse Practitioner in New York (2026 Guide)New York NP certification for new graduates: the $143 RN license, $85 NP certificate, written practice agreement until 3
How to Get Licensed as a Nurse Practitioner in Florida (2026 Guide)Florida APRN licensure for new NP graduates: the $110 fee, physician protocol, autonomous practice after 3,000 hours, 7-
How to Get Licensed as a Nurse Practitioner in California (2026 Guide)California NP certification for new graduates: $500 NP and $400 furnishing fees, standardized procedures, AB 890's 103 a
How to Apply for the NPCB (AANP) NP Certification Exam: Step by StepNPCB (AANP) FNP and AGNP exam application for 2026, step by step: when to apply, documents, $240 to $315 fees, 120-day w
How to Apply for the ANCC NP Certification Exam: Step by StepApplying for the ANCC FNP-BC or AGPCNP-BC exam in 2026: eligibility, documents, $290 to $395 fees, the 5-year rule, 120-
After You Pass: NP State License, Prescriptive Authority and Your DEA NumberAfter the NP exam in 2026: free certification verification, APRN licensure, state prescriptive authority and DEA Form 22
Compare NP Review Options →
NPPace compared with other NP board review options: price for the same study time, question counts, timed exams, explanations and analytics, from each company's own pages.
NPPace vs UWorld NP: Price for the Same Study Time, Exam Formats and Explanations ComparedNPPace vs UWorld FNP QBank: price per month at 30 to 360 days, AANP and ANCC exam formats, explanations, AGNP coverage a
NPPace vs Leik: A Question Bank vs the Review Book, and Why Many Candidates Use BothLeik's FNP Certification Intensive Review (6th edition) vs NPPace: book and online questions vs a timed exam bank, price
NPPace vs BoardVitals NP: Question Banks Compared on Format, Price and GuaranteesNPPace vs BoardVitals FNP banks: AANP and ANCC question counts, 1 to 6 month prices per month, pass guarantee terms, ful
Which NP Review Option Is Best for You in 2027: Courses, Books and Question Banks ComparedNP board prep for 2027 compared: Fitzgerald and APEA courses, Leik book, UWorld, BoardVitals, APEA and NPPace banks, mon