Official FNP exam links and free resources: NPCB and ANCC in one place
Last checked October 18, 2026 · Links reviewed on that date. We are not affiliated with NPCB, AANP, ANCC or ANA.
The two FNP certifying boards publish everything you need to plan. These official FNP exam links cover NPCB’s June 2026 candidate handbook, blueprint and fees, ANCC’s FNP-BC page, its new test content outline effective October 30, 2026, and its retest policy, plus the free material each board offers: NPCB’s domain breakdown and sample questions, and ANCC’s 25 practice questions.
NPCB (formerly AANPCB) links
| What you need | Where |
|---|---|
| Format, eligibility, scheduling, retakes, renewal (June 2026) | FNP Candidate Handbook (PDF) |
| Domains and item counts | NPCB: FNP exam |
| Fees ($315; $240 for AANP members) and certifications | NPCB: Choose your certification |
| Renewal: 1,000 hours and 100 CE, or exam | FNP Renewal Handbook (PDF) |
| Annual statistics | 2025 Annual Report (PDF) |
All pages run by NPCB at aanpcert.org.
ANCC links
| What you need | Where |
|---|---|
| Format, fees ($395; $295 ANA members) and pass rate | ANCC: Family Nurse Practitioner Certification |
| New outline for exams from October 30, 2026 | FNP-BC Test Content Outline (PDF) |
| Retest rules: 60 days, 3 in 12 months | ANCC: scores and retests |
All pages run by ANCC at nursingworld.org.
Free study material
- NPCB’s domain breakdown: Assess 32%, Diagnose 26.5%, Plan 26.5%, Evaluate 15% of 135 scored items, with the age distribution in its handbook.
- NPCB sample questions in its handbook and on its site.
- ANCC’s 25 practice questions, free with its FNP-BC materials.
- ANCC’s test content outline, which names the topics under each domain.
- Your program’s resources: ask whether it provides board review or institutional access to a question bank.
How to use these official FNP exam links
- Choosing a board: compare NPCB’s handbook and ANCC’s FNP-BC page on format, fees and dates.
- Before you study: download your board’s blueprint or outline, and note ANCC’s October 30, 2026 change.
- Before you apply: check NPCB’s early-application windows (6 months for MSN, 12 for DNP) and ANCC’s eligibility.
- After a failed attempt: read NPCB’s three-attempt rule and ANCC’s retest policy.
Common questions about official FNP sources
Where are the official FNP exam rules?
NPCB’s FNP Candidate Handbook (June 2026) at aanpcert.org, and ANCC’s FNP-BC page at nursingworld.org.
Where is the official blueprint?
ANCC publishes a PDF test content outline; NPCB publishes its domain breakdown on its exam page and in its handbook.
Do the boards offer free practice questions?
ANCC offers 25 practice questions, and NPCB includes sample questions with its handbook; neither is a full practice exam.
Where can I find pass rates?
ANCC’s FNP-BC page shows its pass rate (82% in 2025); NPCB publishes statistics on its site and in its annual report.
See also our 2026 exam changes and FNP recertification. We first checked these links on October 12, 2026 and rechecked them on October 18, 2026.