Steps to Earning Your AG-ACNP or ACNPC-AG® Certification
(With excerpts from Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Q&A Review, by Dawn Carpenter, DNP, ACNP-BC)
If you’re ready to move forward in your nursing career, here are the essential steps for earning your Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP) or Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certified in Adult-Gerontology (ACNPC-AG®) certification.
Step 1: Make Sure You Qualify
To sit for the ACNPC-AG exam, you’ll need:
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A current, unencumbered U.S. RN or APRN license.
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Completion of a graduate-level advanced practice education program that meets these requirements:
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Accredited by CCNE or ACEN and confers a master’s degree or higher with a concentration in adult-gerontology ACNP.
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Meets National Task Force Criteria for Evaluation of Nurse Practitioner Programs (NTFC).
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Includes both direct and indirect clinical supervision aligned with AACN and accreditation guidelines.
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Provides didactic coursework in:
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Advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and physical assessment.
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Legal, ethical, and professional responsibilities of the ACNP.
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Supervised clinical practice in acute care.
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Contains at least 500 supervised clinical hours, all focused on direct care of acutely ill adult-gerontology patients within the U.S.
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Submission of an Educational Eligibility Form (completed by your program director) and official graduate transcripts.
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Completion of any required additional coursework (if making up credits, these must be done in a post-graduate certificate or DNP program).
👉 View the ACNPC-AG Exam Handbook for detailed eligibility requirements.
Step 2: Choose Your Credentialing Organization
There are two nationally recognized organizations that offer the AG-ACNP certification exam:
American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
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Uses the acronym AG-ACNP.
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Exam aligns with the APRN Consensus Model.
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Accredited by ABSNC and NCCA.
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More info: www.nursecredentialing.org
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
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Uses the acronym ACNPC-AG®.
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Offers a free year of AACN e-membership in your final year of an AG-ACNP program, which includes exam discounts and access to journals and conferences.
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Exam aligns with APRN Consensus Model and NCSBN APRN Certification Program Criteria.
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More info: www.aacn.org
💡 Note: Both certifications are accepted by all 50 state boards of nursing and recognized by employers nationwide.
Step 3: Apply for the Exam
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ANCC exams are delivered at Prometric testing centers.
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AACN exams are delivered at PSI/AMP testing centers.
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Applications are available year-round on each organization’s website, along with detailed exam handbooks.
Step 4: Prepare for Success
Give yourself at least 2–3 months to study for the exam. Most candidates use a combination of:
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Review courses.
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Practice quizzes.
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Comprehensive study guides such as Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Q&A Review.
👉 Explore our recommended AG-ACNP exam preparation resources.
Resources
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Carpenter, D. (2018). Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Q&A Review. New York: Springer Publishing.
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AACN Certification Corporation. (n.d.). ACNPC-AG® Exam Handbook. Link
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American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. (n.d.). Link
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American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). (n.d.). Link
Related Resource
👉 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP Certification Overview
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