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Exam Overview
An Overview of the Exam
Format, Content, Eligibility, and Scoring
The Informatics Nursing Board Certification examination is a competency-based test developed by ANCC. It measures the knowledge and skills an informatics nurse needs to work at the intersection of nursing science, computer science, and information science. Passing the exam and meeting the eligibility requirements earns the NI-BC credential, valid for five years.
150
Multiple-choice items
125
Scored items
3
Hours allowed
3
Content domains
Exam Format at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Credential awarded | Nursing Informatics–Board Certified (NI-BC) |
| Certifying body | American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) |
| Number of items | 150 multiple-choice items: 125 scored and 25 unscored pretest items |
| Pretest items | Mixed in with scored items and not identified; answer every item |
| Item format | Single best answer with four options |
| Time allowed | 3 hours |
| Delivery | Computer-based testing at Prometric test centers |
| Testing window | 120 days from the date the application is approved |
| Results | Pass or fail; candidates who do not pass receive diagnostic feedback by content area |
| Credential period | 5 years, renewable |
Test Content Outline
The current test content outline divides the 125 scored items into three domains. Each domain contains four subdomains, and each subdomain lists the knowledge and skills it tests.
Scored items by domain (125 scored items)
Foundations of Practice — 36%45 items · professional practice, theories, regulations, collaboration
System Design Lifecycle — 35%44 items · planning, design, testing, training, support
Data Management & Healthcare Technology — 29%36 items · standards, data management, analysis, hardware
| Domain | Subdomains | Scored items |
|---|---|---|
| I. Foundations of Practice | A. Professional Practice · B. Methodologies and Theories · C. Rules, Regulations, and Requirements · D. Interprofessional Collaboration | 45 (36%) |
| II. System Design Lifecycle | A. Planning and Analysis · B. Designing and Building · C. Testing, Training, and Implementation · D. Monitoring, Maintaining, Supporting, and Evaluating | 44 (35%) |
| III. Data Management and Healthcare Technology | A. Data Standards · B. Data Management · C. Data Analysis, Application, and Transformation · D. Hardware, Software, and Peripherals | 36 (29%) |
Eligibility Requirements
To sit for the examination, a candidate must meet all of the following requirements:
- Hold a current, active RN license in a U.S. state or territory, or the legally recognized equivalent in another country.
- Hold a bachelor's or higher degree in nursing.
- Have practiced the equivalent of 2 years full time as a registered nurse.
- Have completed 30 hours of continuing education in informatics nursing within the last 3 years.
- Meet one practice-hour option: (1) at least 2,000 hours in informatics nursing within the last 3 years; (2) at least 1,000 hours in informatics nursing within the last 3 years plus at least 12 semester hours of academic credit in informatics courses in a graduate-level informatics nursing program; or (3) completion of a graduate program in informatics nursing that included at least 200 hours of faculty-supervised informatics practicum.
Fees
| Candidate category | Initial certification | Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| American Nurses Association (ANA) member | $295 | $250 |
| American Nursing Informatics Association (ANIA) member | $340 | $295 |
| Nonmember | $395 | $350 |
Confirm Current Details
Each fee includes a nonrefundable administrative fee. Fees, policies, and the test content outline are set by ANCC and can change; confirm them on the ANCC website before you apply.Scoring and Retesting
- Only the 125 scored items count toward the result. There is no penalty for a wrong answer, so answer every item.
- ANCC reports a scaled score; a scaled score of 350 or higher is required to pass.
- An unofficial pass or fail result appears at the test center; official results follow from ANCC.
- A candidate who does not pass may retest 60 days after the last test date, with no more than three attempts in any 12-month period. A retest application and fee are required.
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