There are 2 family nurse practitioner (FNP) certification exams you can choose to take:
- Family Nurse Practitioner-Certified (FNP-C®) exam, awarded by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB), which is related to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP®)
- Family Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified (FNP-BCTM) exam, granted by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
Let's explore how they're scored and what you need to pass to launch your FNP career.
AANP® and ANCC Passing Scores: What You Need to Know
| Scoring Feature | AANP FNP-C Exam | ANCC FNP-BC Exam |
|---|---|---|
| Scoring Method | Scaled (not % correct) | Scaled (not % correct) |
| Score Scale | 200 to 800 | 0 to 500 |
| Passing Scaled Score | 500 | 350 |
| Averages/Percentiles | Not released | Not released |
Both the AANP and ANCC use scaled scoring to determine whether you passed. This means your raw score, your number of questions answered correctly, is weighed and converted onto a scale that balances exam forms of varying difficulty. This ensures a consistent standard is applied to all test-takers. Neither board releases average FNP scores or percentiles.
- The AANP's passing score for the FNP-C exam is 500 on a scale from 200 to 800 points.
- The ANCC's passing score for the FNP-BC exam is 350 on a scale from 0 to 500 points.
FNP Pass Rates by Year: AANP vs. ANCC
| Testing Year | AANP FNP-C Pass Rate | ANCC FNP-BC Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 81% | N/A* |
| 2024 | 83% | 83% |
| 2023 | 73% | 85% |
| 2022 | 74% | 86% |
| 2021 | 84% | 87% |
*2025 ANCC data not yet published at the time of writing.
Historically, AANP and ANCC pass rates for the FNP certification exam have been similar, with the ANCC's FNP-BC exam having a slightly higher pass rate among first-time test-takers. Each board also offers certification exams for related nurse practitioner specialties, as outlined below:
AANP Pass Rates
The AANP's 2025 Certification Statistics include pass rate data for the Family NP Exam (FNP), Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP Exam (AGPCNP), Psychiatric Mental Health NP Exam (PMHNP), and Emergency NP Exam (ENP).
| Exam | Pass Rate | First-Time Exams |
|---|---|---|
| FNP | 81% | 14,891 |
| AGPCNP | 85% | 1,400 |
| PMHNP | 82% | 1,333 |
| ENP | 85% | 270 |
ANCC Pass Rates
The ANCC's 2024 Certification Data Report* outlines pass rate information for the Family Nurse Practitioner Exam (FNP-BC), Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Exam (PMHNP-BC), Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Exam (AGACNP-BC), and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Exam (AGPCNP-BC).
| Exam | Pass Rate | First-Time Exams |
|---|---|---|
| FNP-BC | 83% | 7,751 |
| PMHNP-BC | 83% | 9,633 |
| AGACNP-BC | 83% | 2,784 |
| AGPCNP-BC | 85% | 921 |
*2025 data not yet published at the time of writing.
AANP Score Report and Retakes
You will receive a preliminary pass/no pass report after completing your exam at the testing center. It may take up to 1 week for your score to be processed for final release. You will be mailed an official score report letter within 3 to 6 weeks if you have met all requirements for score release.
A preliminary pass report is not an official notification and does not indicate active NP certification status. You may not use it for employment or licensure.
Your individual score is considered confidential and will not be shared with any person or organization without your written consent. Your score letter authorizes the use of the NP-C credential for a 5-year period.
If you fail your AANP exam, your score report will include your relative performance in the Testing Domains. Review it with the FNP exam blueprint to revise your study strategy. You should also consider preparing with an FNP prep course. To retake the exam, you must complete at least 15 hours of relevant continuing education. You may not test more than 2 times in a calendar year.
ANCC Score Report and Retakes
You will receive a preliminary pass/fail result after completing your exam at the testing center, and you can view it via the Prometric Report Validation Portal after leaving the testing environment. You will be mailed your certificate approximately 4 weeks after passing the exam if you have met all requirements for score release.
The ANCC does not automatically send verification of certification to your state board of nursing or employer. You may request 1 free verification online.
To protect your privacy, test results are not released by phone, fax, or email for any reason. When you receive your certificate in the mail, you will also receive an official letter stating your 5-year certification period.
If you fail your ANCC exam, your score report will include diagnostic information for each tested content area. Review it with the FNP-BC Test Content Outline to revise your study strategy, and consider preparing with an FNP prep course. You may apply to retest after 60 days from your last test, but you may not test more than 3 times in any 12-month period. Ensure you meet all eligibility requirements when applying to retake the exam.
How UWorld Helps Improve Your FNP Score
If you fail the FNP exam through the AANP or ANCC, you will receive a score report with your performance data in specific content areas. This is done to help you improve on your next attempt. The UWorld FNP QBank offers similar diagnostic information to pinpoint your weaknesses before you take the exam. UWorld's practice questions are fully aligned with each board's FNP blueprint, resulting in higher performance and confidence during the exam.
AANP and ANCC Score FAQs
What is the AANP passing score and pass rate for the FNP exam?
What is the ANCC passing score and pass rate for the FNP exam?
Does the AANP or ANCC release percentiles and average scores?
What if I fail my FNP exam?
If you fail your FNP exam, whether through the AANP or ANCC, you will receive a score report with information about your exam performance.
- To retake your AANP exam, you need to complete at least 15 hours of continuing education in relevant nursing topics. You can only test 2 times in a calendar year.
- To retake your ANCC exam, you must reapply to take the exam at least 60 days after your failed attempt. You can only test 3 times in any 12-month period.
How do AANP and ANCC FNP pass rates compare?
Read More About the FNP
Explore an overview of both AANP and ANCC exams, including key differences in structure, content focus, and test format to help guide your certification decision.
FNP Registration, Cost, and Eligibility
Find detailed steps to register, understand eligibility requirements, and review associated fees for both AANP and ANCC certification exams.
Get expert prep strategies, topic breakdowns, and practice tips tailored to the FNP exam so you can study smarter and feel confident on test day.
See what's tested on the AANP Exam Blueprint and ANCC Test Content Outline to understand the topics covered in each Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) certification exam.
