Canadian Nurse Practitioner Exam Program
Canadian Nurse Practitioner Examination: Family/All Ages - May 2011 to April 2016
Each provincial and territorial nursing regulatory authority is responsible for ensuring that registered nurses who apply for registration as nurse practitioners within their jurisdiction meet an acceptable level of competence before they begin to practise.
The level of competence of nurse practitioners working in a family/all ages environment is measured in part by the Canadian Nurse Practitioner Examination: Family/All Ages (CNPE: F/AA). The CNPE: F/AA is administered by provincial and territorial nursing regulatory authorities who purchase this exam from the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA). CNA owns the exam, and Assessment Strategies Inc. (ASI), a subsidiary of CNA, develops it by collaborating with and seeking input from the regulatory authorities and nurse practitioners from across Canada. Nurse practitioners are the content experts in developing and validating the exam on behalf of the regulatory authorities.
The purpose of the CNPE: F/AA is to protect the public by ensuring that the entry-level nurse practitioner working in a family/all ages context possesses the competencies required to practise safely and effectively.
When is the exam offered?
CNA offers the CNPE: F/AA twice a year.
The exam administration dates for 2012 are:
- May 9, 2012
- October 17, 2012
Authority to take the CNPE: F/AA and become registered as a nurse practitioner is given by your nursing regulatory authority. Please note that the exam may not be offered in your province or territory on both of the dates indicated. Deadlines for applying to take the exam are usually well in advance of the exam date.
What is the exam’s length and format?
The CNPE: F/AA consists of approximately 190 to 220 multiple-choice questions. The exam is offered over a four- hour period.
How are the questions presented?
The multiple-choice questions are presented as either case-based or independent questions. Case-based questions include a set of approximately two to five questions associated with a brief health-care scenario. Independent questions contain all of the information necessary to answer the question.
What is tested on the CNPE: F/AA?
There are 42 competencies that make up the content domain for the exam. Each question on the CNPE: F/AA is linked to one of these competencies (see competencies from the CNPE: F/AA Blueprint).
Purchase the CNPE: F/AA Blueprint for $27.95 plus taxes, shipping and handling.
Is there a prep guide for the CNPE: F/AA?
CNA offers one official learning tool to assist candidates studying for the exam, the Canadian Nurse Practitioner Examination: Family/All Ages Prep Guide Second Edition.
The prep guide is a study guide in print format. Available in both English and French, the guide offers close to 80 multiple-choice questions.
The guide also provides:
- answers and explanations to help you learn;
- a performance profile to identify your strengths and weaknesses; and
- valuable test-taking strategies and study tips .
Purchase the prep guide from the CNA bookstore or by calling 1-800-385-5881. The price is $69.95 plus taxes, shipping and handling.
ERRATUM NOTICE for the CNPE: F/AA Prep Guide, Second Edition
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References
In addition to references you may have used in your education program, we recommend you review current Canadian guidelines on the following health topics to assist you in preparing for the CNPE: F/AA.
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Asthma: Guidelines and Standards, Canadian Thoracic Society
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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Canadian Thoracic Society, CTS Guidelines
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Diabetes: Clinical Practice Guidelines. Canadian Diabetes Association
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Dyslipidemia: Canadian Cardiovascular Society
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Hypertension: Canadian Hypertension Education Program
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Immunization: Immunization and Vaccines, Public Health Agency of Canada
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Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis Canada
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Sexually Transmitted Infections: Sexual Health and Sexually Transmitted Infections, Public Health Agency of Canada
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Women’s Health: Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada
What is the competency framework?
A framework or classification system has been developed to identify and organize the 42 competencies assessed by the CNPE: F/AA. The resulting framework reflects a primary health- care nurse practitioner model. There are four categories in the framework, and each category is exemplified by its individual competencies:
- Professional role, responsibility and accountability: 17 competencies
- Health assessment and diagnosis: 9 competencies
- Therapeutic management: 12 competencies
- Health promotion and prevention of illness and injury: 4 competencies
How is the CNPE: F/AA scored?
Your results on the multiple-choice questions are combined for a total score on the exam. A pass or fail result is determined by comparing your score to the established examination standard (pass mark). If your score is higher than or equal to the standard, you will be assigned a pass result; if your score is lower than the standard, you will be assigned a fail result.
The standard (or pass mark) required to pass the CNPE: F/AA is set in reference to the content and level of difficulty of the questions that appear in that particular version of the exam. The standard-setting procedure used for the exam involves a panel of subject matter experts (the CNPE: F/AA examination committee) representing every jurisdiction that uses the CNPE: F/AA. This panel rates the CNPE: F/AA questions on the basis of the expected performance of entry-level nurse practitioners.
How long will it take to get my results?
Your pass or fail result on the exam will be sent to your provincial or territorial regulatory authority within four to eight weeks of the exam administration. The regulatory authority will then mail your result to you; how long it takes for you to receive your result from the regulatory authority varies, depending on the jurisdiction.
How do I apply to write the exam?
Authority to take the CNPE: F/AA and become registered as a nurse practitioner is given by your nursing regulatory authority. Deadlines for applying to take the exam are usually well in advance of the exam date.
The provincial and territorial nursing regulatory authorities administer the exam and determine who is eligible to write it. Please contact your regulatory authority for an application form .
Updated: Sepember 1, 2011
