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How many questions are on the NP board exams, and how long are they?

The AANP board exams have 150 questions in 3 hours (135 scored). The ANCC exams have 175 questions in 3.5 hours (150 scored).

Checked November 10, 2026

Short answer: The AANP board exams have 150 multiple-choice questions, of which 135 are scored and 15 are pretest questions, and you get 3 hours. The ANCC exams have 175 questions, of which 150 are scored and 25 are pretest questions, and you get 3.5 hours.

These numbers are the same for the family nurse practitioner (FNP) exam and the adult-gerontology primary care exam at each board. The AANP board is the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB), which now operates under the name NPCB. ANCC is the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Both boards test at Prometric centers.

Exam length at each board

Item AANP board (FNP-C, AGNP-C) ANCC (FNP-BC, AGPCNP-BC)
Total questions 150 175
Scored questions 135 150
Pretest questions, not scored 15 25
Exam time 3 hours 3.5 hours

ANCC says the total appointment for most exams is 4 hours. That time includes check-in, instructions and a practice session on the computer. You may leave the room at ANCC, but the board does not add time for a break. The AANP board does not publish its rule on scheduled breaks.

Question formats

The AANP board describes its exam as computer-based with 150 multiple-choice questions. ANCC states that its certification exams are in a multiple-choice format. Neither board's handbook names another question type.

ANCC says you cannot tell pretest questions from scored questions, so answer every question.

FNP blueprints

The AANP board divides the 135 scored FNP questions in two ways. The board does not publish an effective date for this blueprint.

AANP board FNP practice domain Questions Share
Assess 43 32%
Diagnose 36 27%
Plan 36 27%
Evaluate 20 15%

The board's FNP web page shows 26.5% for Diagnose and for Plan, and the handbook shows 27%. The question counts are the same in both places.

By patient age, the same 135 questions are: Newborn 3, Infant 4, Toddler 5, Child 6, Adolescent 12, Young Adult 30, Middle Adult 35 and Older Adult 40.

The ANCC FNP test content outline is effective October 30, 2026.

ANCC FNP-BC domain Questions Share
Assessment 26 17%
Diagnosis 25 17%
Planning 29 19%
Implementation 50 33%
Evaluation 20 13%

ANCC notes that these percentages do not add to exactly 100 because of rounding.

Adult-gerontology primary care blueprints

The AANP board's adult-gerontology (AGNP) blueprint changes on January 1, 2027. The exam stays at 150 questions with 135 scored.

AANP board AGNP practice domain Through December 31, 2026 From January 1, 2027
Assess 37 (28%) 37 (28%)
Diagnose 34 (25%) 37 (27%)
Plan 34 (25%) 37 (27%)
Evaluate 30 (22%) 24 (18%)

The blueprint in force through December 31, 2026 also divides the questions by patient age: Adolescent 3, Young Adult 18, Adult 38, Older Adult 54 and Elderly 22. The handbook gives 38 for Adult. The board's web page shows 28, which does not add up to 135. The 2027 blueprint has one practice domain only and no separate age table. It covers adolescents, young adults, middle adults and older adults.

The ANCC adult-gerontology primary care (AGPCNP-BC) outline has been in effect since September 13, 2023. ANCC has not announced a change to it.

ANCC AGPCNP-BC domain Questions Share
Patient Assessment Process 36 24%
Plan of Care 90 60%
Professional Practice 24 16%

What to do next

  1. Download the current blueprint or test content outline for your exam from the board's own site, using the links in Sources.
  2. If you will take the AANP board AGNP exam, check your test date. An exam on or after January 1, 2027 follows the new blueprint.
  3. Compare the two FNP exams in AANP or ANCC: which FNP exam should you take?.
  4. Read What is the passing score on the NP board exams?.

Common questions

Do pretest questions count toward my score?

No. Pretest questions are not scored at either board. Only the 135 scored questions at the AANP board, or the 150 scored questions at ANCC, count.

Will the exams get longer or shorter in 2027?

Neither board has announced a change in exam length for 2027.

Which ages do the AANP board age groups mean?

The AANP board says age parameters are not defined for any population. It uses growth and development to build its exams.

Prep from our team

NPractitioner has 2,500+ practice questions for the FNP and adult-gerontology primary care board exams, written to American guidelines, with study sheets by topic. All Nursing Exams, NCLEXPace and NPractitioner are run by the same team. See https://www.npractitioner.com.

Sources