FNP-C 2026: The AANPCB Family Nurse Practitioner Credential

What does FNP-C stand for?

The F is for family: FNP-C is AANPCB’s NP-C credential for family nurse practitioners. AANPCB awards it to nurse practitioners who meet its FNP eligibility rules and pass its FNP exam. The other AANPCB credentials are AGNP-C, PMHNP-C and ENP-C.

An FNP certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center uses FNP-BC instead. Both are national FNP certifications.

FNP-C or FNP-BC: how the exams differ →

When you can use FNP-C

AANPCB allows FNP-C during an active certification period. What happens if it lapses is on the renewal page.

AANPCB offers a retired status if you stop practicing for good. With it, you can’t use FNP-C for practice or present yourself as actively certified.

Misusing the mark can lead to disciplinary action, AANPCB’s handbook warns.

Keeping FNP-C: renewal →

How the FNP-C exam’s tasks are split

AANPCB’s FNP exam has 135 scored items, split by what the question asks you to do:

Task	Items	Share
Assess	43	32%
Diagnose	36	26.5%
Plan	36	26.5%
Evaluate	20	15%

Patient ages on the FNP exam

The same 135 items are also split by the patient’s stage of life:

Patient	Items	Share
Newborn	3	2%
Infant	4	3%
Toddler	5	4%
Child	6	4%
Adolescent, with prenatal	12	9%
Young adult, with prenatal	30	22%
Middle adult, with prenatal	35	26%
Older adult	40	30%

AANPCB doesn’t define an age range for any group. It builds the exam on growth and development, because the Consensus Model for advanced practice registered nurse regulation sets no age limits for a population focus.

Official FNP study guides →FNP practice exams from the boards →

Sources: AANPCB · ANCC and 4 more. Checked November 2026.