Develop Your Clinical Study Plan for the AG-ACNP Exam

/ Exam Prep / By / August 29, 2025
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Develop a Clinical Study Plan for AG-ACNP

The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP) exams are comprehensive, and it can feel overwhelming just deciding where to begin. But every successful exam journey starts with a clear plan. The first step is to develop a clinical study plan for AG-ACNP.

Start by reviewing the clinical content outlined in the official exam blueprints. For the ANCC exam, clinical practice makes up 46% and APRN Core Competencies account for 16%. For the AACN exam, clinical judgment comprises a significant 79% of the exam. Both exams assess your knowledge in an integrated way, so it’s critical to review every system thoroughly.

Use the blueprint as a guide. In each category, rate your comfort level with the content:

  • 1 = Very challenging (top priority)

  • 2 = Somewhat challenging (middle priority)

  • 3 = Confident, but still need to review

Questions to Ask Yourself While Rating

  • How did you perform on academic exams for each system?

  • How much clinical experience or exposure do you have in that area?

  • How long has it been since you last studied or worked with that content?

After rating, revisit the test blueprint. Adjust your priorities as needed based on the level of detail required and, for the AACN exam, the percentage weight assigned to each system. (Note: the ANCC blueprint does not provide system-level percentages.)

ANCC vs. AACN Content Areas

ANCC (Categories) AACN (Categories with % of Exam)
Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, Throat Cardiovascular (17%)
Respiratory Pulmonary (11%)
Cardiovascular Multisystem (10%)
Gastrointestinal Neurology (7%)
Genitourinary Renal/Genitourinary (6%)
Musculoskeletal Endocrine (5%)
Neurological (including psychiatric) Gastrointestinal (5%)
Endocrine Hematology/Immunology/Oncology (5%)
Hematopoietic Musculoskeletal (4%)
Immune Psychosocial/Behavioral/Cognitive Health (4%)
Integumentary Factors Influencing Health Status (3%)
— Integumentary (2%)

Organize Your Priorities

Transpose your ratings into three tiers for clarity:

  • Priority 1 (Very Challenging — Top Priority): __________

  • Priority 2 (Somewhat Challenging — Middle Priority): __________

  • Priority 3 (Confident but Still Need to Review): __________

Don’t Forget Non-Clinical Topics

Non-clinical areas are also part of the exam. Use the same rating process for professional, ethical, and core competencies to ensure a well-rounded study plan.

Once your priorities are clear, create a study schedule. Block out realistic times in your calendar, prioritize high-need areas first, and adjust based on how much time remains before your exam date.

Next Steps

For a detailed guide on building your study strategy—including hints, tricks, and hundreds of practice questions—check out Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Q&A Review by Dawn Carpenter. It’s designed to help you sharpen your knowledge, build confidence, and succeed on exam day.

Resources

  • AACN Certification Corporation. (n.d.). ACNPC-AG Exam Handbook. Retrieved from: aacn.org

  • American Nurses Credentialing Center. (n.d.). Test Content Outline. Retrieved from: nursingworld.org

  • Carpenter, D. (2018). Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Q&A Review (1st ed.). New York, NY: Springer Publishing.

👉 See also: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP Certification Overview

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