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Nursing Professional Development Certification (NPD-BC)
Find the current format, timing, scoring, fees, eligibility, and testing options for NPD-BC, with direct links to official sources.
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Questions150 questions (125 scored + 25 unscored pretest)
Testing time3 hours
ScoringPass/fail; scaled score of 350 or higher (scale maximum 500) required to pass; minimum passing score set using the Modified Angoff Method
Exam feeUSD 395 nonmember / USD 295 ANA member initial certification (includes USD 140 non-refundable administrative fee; renewal USD 350 nonmember / USD 250 ANA member)
Prep options
Study resources for NPD-BC
Independent prep
Courses and study resources
Exam overview
What to know before choosing your prep
- Who runs it
- ANCC
- Category
- Nursing Leadership & Education
- Current version
- 2025 Test Content Outline (effective February 26, 2025)
- Where it applies
- United States — national
- Exam languages
- English
- Score scale
- Scale with a maximum possible score of 500 (passing scaled score 350)
- Testing provider
- Prometric
- Format
- Computer-based at Prometric test centers
- Availability
- Year-round application; test at a Prometric test center during a 120-day window after Authorization to Test
- Results
- Results provided to ANCC within 24-48 hours after testing; pass/fail reported
- Credential validity
- 5 years (credential valid 5 years; renewal required to continue using it)
- Remote testing
- Not available
Exam structure
6 scored content domains (125 scored items): Educational Process Standards 32 (26%); Leadership 34 (27%); Ethical, Legal, and Regulatory Standards 19 (15%); Evidence-based Practice and Research 7 (6%); Technology 19 (15%); Program/Project Management and Process Improvement 14 (11%)
Where rules vary
Exam content reflects U.S. practice; nurses holding a legally recognized equivalent RN license in another country are eligible.
Eligibility
Current, active US RN license (or legally recognized equivalent in another country); bachelor's or higher degree in nursing; equivalent of 2 years full-time practice as a registered nurse; minimum 2,000 hours of clinical practice in nursing professional development within the last 3 years; 30 hours of continuing education in nursing professional development within the last 3 years
Retake policy
Retest permitted after 60 calendar days; no more than 3 attempts in any 12-month period