Nurse Executive

The Nurse Executive board certification exam is developed and administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and delivered at Prometric test centers. Passing it earns the Nurse Executive-Board Certified (NE-BC) credential, which validates entry-level knowledge and skills for nurse leaders who manage the daily operations and outcomes of one or more units or departments. ANCC offers a separate credential for senior executives, the Nurse Executive, Advanced (NEA-BC), with its own exam.

Exam Pattern

The exam contains 150 multiple-choice questions. Of these, 125 are scored and 25 are unscored pretest questions that ANCC is evaluating for future exams. Pretest questions are mixed in with scored questions and look exactly like them, so treat every question as if it counts. You have 3 hours to finish, about 72 seconds per question. The exam is computer- based and taken at a Prometric test center; a brief tutorial at the start shows you how to navigate, flag questions for review, and change answers.

The Four Content Domains

The current test content outline organizes the scored questions into four domains, each with knowledge and skill areas. Health Care Delivery is the largest, followed closely by Human Resource Management.

Domain	Scored Questions	Weight	KnowledgeandSkillAreas
I HumanResourceManagement .	40	32%	Federalemploymentlaws;communication;cultural
			humility;leadershipstyles;performance
			management;engagementandretention;team
			performance
II QualityandSafety .	21	17%	Changemanagement;cultureofsafety;continuous
			process improvement; research and evidence-
			basedpractice
III BusinessManagement .	20	16%	Patientpayormix;financialcompliancelaws;
			financialmanagement;staffingfundamentals
IV HealthCareDelivery .	44	35%	ANACodeofEthics;ANAleadershipstandards;
			regulatoryandcompliancestandards;emergency
			preparedness;socialdeterminantsofhealth;
			person-centered care; care delivery evaluation;
			technology

Scoring and Passing Requirements

Only the 125 scored questions count. Your raw score is converted to a scale with a maximum of 500, and a scaled score of 350 or higher passes. Scaling holds every candidate to the same standard regardless of which exam form they take. Results are reported as pass or fail; candidates who do not pass receive diagnostic information on their performance in each content area to guide further study. There is no penalty for guessing, so answer every question.

With 150 questions in 180 minutes, aim for about 70 seconds per question. Check your progress at the one-hour mark (about 50 questions) and the two-hour mark (about 100 questions), and flag items that need more thought.

Eligibility Requirements

License

A current, active RN license in a U.S. state or territory, or the legally recognized equivalent in another country.

Education

A baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing.

Leadership Experience

At least 2,000 hours in a leadership, management, or administrative role with primary responsibility for the daily operations and outcomes of one or more units or departments within the last 3 years.

Continuing Education

30 hours of continuing education in leadership, management, or administration within the last 3 years.

Exam at a Glance

Credential

Nurse Executive-Board Certified (NE-BC), awarded by ANCC

Delivery

Computer-based at Prometric test centers, scheduled after ANCC issues an Authorization to Test notice

Questions

150 multiple-choice: 125 scored and 25 unscored pretest questions

Time

3 hours

ExamAspect	Details
Content	HumanResourceManagement32%·QualityandSafety17%·BusinessManagement16%·Health
	CareDelivery35%
Scoring	Scaledscore;350orhigher(of500)passes;resultsreportedaspassorfail
Fees	$295forANAmembersand$395fornonmembers eachincludinga$140nonrefundable ,
	administrativefee
Retesting	Retest after 60 days from the last attempt; no more than three attempts in any 12 -month period; a
	retestfeeapplies
Certificationterm	5years;renewbymeetingANCCprofessionaldevelopmentrequirements(renewalfee$250forANA
	members $350fornonmembers) ,

Why the NE-BC Credential Matters