Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN®) Exam: What You Need to Know
Earning the designation of Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN®) marks a significant milestone in your nursing career. Nearly 40,000 nurses have passed this challenging exam and earned the right to use this valuable credential. Here’s a comprehensive look at what you need to know about the test.
Exam Format
The Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN®) administers the computer-based CEN exam, which consists of 175 questions delivered at independent testing centers.
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Eligibility: You must hold an unrestricted RN license.
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Recommendation: BCEN suggests at least two years of emergency department experience, though it is not required.
Questions and Timing
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Time limit: 3 hours (including rules review).
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Number of questions: 175
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150 scored items
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25 unscored pretest items
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Passing requirement: Correctly answer 106 of 150 scored items.
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Exam tools: An onscreen timer helps you track time. You may flag questions and return to them later.
Testing Environment
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Exams are scheduled Monday through Friday by appointment.
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Strict security protocols are enforced. Personal belongings (phones, bags, purses, etc.) are not allowed in the testing center.
Exam Content Outline
The exam covers eight major categories of emergency nursing practice:
| Topic | Number of Questions | Examples of Topics |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Cardiovascular Emergencies | 20 | Acute coronary syndrome, heart failure, trauma, shock |
| 2. Respiratory Emergencies | 16 | Aspiration, COPD, pneumothorax, pulmonary embolus |
| 3. Neurological Emergencies | 16 | Stroke, meningitis, Alzheimer’s |
| 4. GI, GU, GYN, and OB Emergencies | 21 | Acute abdomen, pancreatitis, hepatitis |
| 5. Psychosocial & Medical Emergencies | 25 | Abuse, depression, allergic reactions, immunocompromise |
| 6. Maxillofacial, Ocular, Ortho & Wound Emergencies | 21 | Dental trauma, glaucoma, amputations, abrasions |
| 7. Environmental & Toxicology Emergencies, Communicable Diseases | 15 | Burns, overdoses, MRSA |
| 8. Professional Issues | 16 | Ethics, discharge planning, delegation |
Results
You’ll receive your results immediately before leaving the testing center. Scores are based solely on the number of correct answers (raw score) and are not curved.
Preparing for the Exam
Study Resources
Prepare with Certified Emergency Nurse Q&A Practice, which provides:
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300 practice questions with rationales
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Options to review by exam category
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Timed 150-question full-length tests
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Five 30-question mini tests
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A 7-day free trial option
Test-Taking Tips
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Be cautious of absolute words like “always” or “never.”
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Read all answer choices before selecting one.
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Practice strategies for mastering multiple choices questions
Resources
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Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing. (2020). Certified Emergency Nurse Detailed Content Outline. PDF
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Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing. (2020). Exam FAQs. Link
<sub>The Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN®) is the sole owner of the Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN®) certification program. BCEN does not endorse any exam prep resources or have a proprietary relationship with Springer Publishing Company.</sub>
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