Nursing Professional Development Certification (NPD-BC™)
Credential Awarded: NPD-BC™
The ANCC Nursing Professional Development board certification examination is a competency based examination that provides a valid and reliable assessment of the entry-level clinical knowledge and skills of registered nurses in the nursing professional development specialty after initial RN licensure. Once you complete eligibility requirements to take the certification examination and successfully pass the exam, you are awarded the credential: Registered Nurse-Board Certified (NPD-BC™). This credential is valid for 5 years.
The Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC) and the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) accredit this ANCC certification.
FIRST-TIME APPLICANTS: For faster service, please have your documents available in an electronic format to upload during the application process. If your documents are not available upon application, you may upload them at any time by clicking here..
Effective February 26, 2025: The Test Content Outline and Reference List for the Nursing Professional Development certification exam will be updated. Please access the appropriate Test Content Outlines and Reference Lists below. There will be a 9-business day test suspension period to allow for the exams to be updated. You may test before February 17, 2025, or on or after February 26, 2025.
See below for instruction and pricing for new and renewal applications.
Apply
Apply for Certification
Initial Certification Application
You may apply for this computer-based test year round and test during a 120-day window at a time and location convenient to you. The exam allows 3 hours to answer 150 questions (125 scored plus 25 pretest questions that are not scored). For exam prep resources, scroll down to view Study Aids. If you do not pass a certification exam, learn about retesting.
STEP 1: Review Pricing, Eligibility Requirements, and FAQs
Review certification pricing and eligibility requirements below. FAQs provide a deeper dive into topics including online application, document submission, APRN and RN specialty certification requirements, and renewal requirements.
STEP 2: Apply
STEP 3: Submit Education Verification Documents
| Mail/E-Mail these materials: | Mailing address: | Email: |
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All transcripts (Official/Unofficial) |
ANCC Certification 8403 Colesville Road, Suite 500 Silver Spring, MD 20910 |
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Final, Official Transcript. This is needed to become certified.
Key:
- Final, Official transcript = transcript must come directly from school and the degree conferral and date of degree/post-graduate certificate awarded is listed on transcript.
- Official transcript = transcript must come directly from school, either via hard-copy mail or through an electronic transcript submission service
- Unofficial transcript = a photocopy of a transcript, a comprehensive record of your academic progress or a print out of all work completed, to date, including coursework, grades and degree(s) earned (may come from the school or student)
Step 4: Testing
To schedule your exam, visit the Prometric website at https://www.prometric.com/ancc and use your certification number to schedule your exam
