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Exam Overview
The Ambulatory Care Nursing certification examination is a computer-based, competency-based test developed and administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the credentialing arm of the American Nurses Association. It measures the entry-level clinical knowledge and skills of registered nurses in the ambulatory care specialty after initial RN licensure.
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Credential earned | AMB-BC™ (Ambulatory Care Nursing–Board Certified) |
| Administered by | American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) |
| Total questions | 150 (125 scored + 25 unscored pretest questions) |
| Testing time | 3 hours |
| Question format | Computer-based; multiple-choice items built on clinical scenarios |
| Scoring | Scaled score; a minimum scaled score of 350 is required to pass |
| Delivery | Prometric testing centers; live remote proctoring where ANCC offers it |
| Credential validity | 5 years; renewal through professional development requirements |
Test Content Outline
ANCC periodically revalidates the exam through a role delineation study. The current Test Content Outline organizes the 125 scored questions into four domains. Pretest questions are spread throughout the exam and are not identified, so answer every item as if it counts.
| Domain | Knowledge | Skills |
|---|---|---|
| I. Assess and Evaluate (51 Q, 41%) | Disease process; medications; preventive care and health promotion; expected outcomes | Treatment evaluation; triage; physical and psychosocial assessment; clinical data interpretation (documentation, chart review, patient-generated health data) |
| II. Plan and Implement (20 Q, 16%) | Care coordination (patient resources, population management) | Clinical tasks; disease-specific interventions |
| III. Professional Role (30 Q, 24%) | Scope and Standards of Practice; fiscal health | Patient, family, and staff advocacy; leadership; safety and security (incident reporting, disaster training, environment of care) |
| IV. Education (24 Q, 19%) | Modes of education delivery; diverse populations; communication barriers | Professional communication (building trust, therapeutic communication, conflict resolution) |
Eligibility Requirements
To sit for the examination, a candidate must meet all of the following at the time of application:
- Hold a current, active RN license in a U.S. state or territory, or the professional, legally recognized equivalent in another country.
- Have practiced the equivalent of 2 years full-time as a registered nurse.
- Have a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice in ambulatory care nursing within the last 3 years.
- Have completed 30 hours of continuing education in ambulatory care nursing within the last 3 years.
Fees
| Applicant | Initial certification | Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| ANA member | $295 | $250 |
| AAACN member | $295 | $295 |
| Non-member | $395 | $350 |
Each fee includes a non-refundable administrative charge. Fees and discounts are set by ANCC and can change, so confirm the amount on the ANCC website when you apply.
Scoring, Results, and Retesting
- Results are reported as a scaled score, which adjusts for small differences in difficulty between exam forms. A scaled score of 350 is required to pass.
- A preliminary pass or fail result is typically provided when the exam ends; the official score report follows from ANCC.
- Candidates who do not pass receive diagnostic feedback by domain and may retest after 60 days, taking the exam no more than three times in any 12-month period. A new application and retest fee are required.
Why the Credential Matters
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