ACHPN® - Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse

Updated on 2025-05-14
Credential earned: ACHPN
Number of exam questions: 175
Exam pass rate: 61% to 63%

About ACHPN Certification

The Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (ACHPN) exam is offered through the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC). It is a specialized certification for advanced practice registered nurses committed to delivering comprehensive care for patients with serious illnesses. This certification validates expertise in hospice and palliative nursing, encompassing the following domains: Assessment and Data Collection, Intervention and Management, Education and Communication, and Professionalism. The ACHPN credential reflects a high standard of proficiency in advanced practice nursing and demonstrates a commitment to improving quality of life, managing complex care needs, and providing holistic support during the end stages of life.

CategoryDetails

Exam Description

A comprehensive certification exam for advanced practice nurses in hospice and palliative care.

Credentials Earned

Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (ACHPN)

Eligibility Requirements

Active APRN license and a minimum of 500 hours in hospice/palliative nursing within the last 12 months or 1,000 hours in the last 24 months.

Completion Time

3.5 hours to complete exam

Subjects Covered in the Exam

4 main categories, including Assessment and Data Collection, Intervention and Management, Education and Communication, Professionalism and Practice.

Number of Questions

175 multiple-choice questions, 150 scored, 25 unscored 'trial' questions.

Exam Format

Multiple-choice, computer-based test

Exam Proctoring

Exam can be taken via Live Remote Proctoring (LRP) or at a PSI testing center.

Recertification Details

Required every 4 years

Pass/Fail Rates

Pass rates vary annually, with pass rates ranging between 61% to 63%.

Difficulty Level

Hard

Study Material

BoardCerts Question Bank and Review Course provides practice questions and material that follows the exam blueprint

BoardCerts ACHPN Question Bank

BoardCerts provides a comprehensive question bank designed to help individuals succeed on the Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (ACHPN) exam. With BoardCerts practice questions and four predictor exams, our content is precisely aligned with the ACHPN exam outline. Each question is thoroughly reviewed by hospice and palliative care physicians and ACHPN certified APRNs to ensure relevance and accuracy. The BoardCerts question bank reflects the exam’s depth and difficulty, with detailed explanations and rationales to strengthen knowledge and enhance test taking skills.

ACHPN Exam Content Outline

The ACHPN exam is divided into four main domains:

  • Assessment and Data Collection (44 questions): Evaluates patient needs through history, physical exams, and advance care planning.
  • Intervention and Management (32 questions): Focuses on therapies, disease management, and hospice emergencies.
  • Education and Communication (36 questions): Covers teaching methods, communication, and addressing grief.
  • Professionalism and Practice (38 questions): Includes ethics, professional boundaries, and quality improvement.

For a more detailed blueprint outline, please review the ACHPN exam blueprint, which can be found here: Preparation and Resources

Exam Categories: Percentage Distribution

ACHPN Exam Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the ACHPN exam, candidates must hold an active, unrestricted APRN license, complete an accredited graduate or postgraduate NP or CNS program, and have at least 500 hours of hospice and palliative nursing practice within the last 12 months or 1,000 hours within the last 24 months.

ACHPN Application Process

Online Application: Visit the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC) website to access the online application portal and begin the ACHPN exam application.

Application Submission: Complete the application by providing the necessary personal and professional information. After submission, eligibility will be reviewed by HPCC.

Scheduling the Exam: Once eligibility is approved, individuals can schedule the exam at a PSI testing center or choose live remote proctoring for added flexibility.

Preparation: The BoardCerts ACHPN Question Bank and Review Course is paired with HospicePalliativeReview.com and the material is tailored to streamline preparation for the ACHPN exam. It aligns closely with the exam blueprint and mirrors the level of difficulty of the actual test. While additional resources and references are provided in the candidate handbook, the question bank and review course consolidates essential materials into a single comprehensive resource.

ACHPN Exam Dates and Costs

The Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (ACHPN) exam is offered quarterly, with testing windows in March, June, September, and December. Application periods open three months prior to each testing window.

The latest information on ACHPN exam dates, application deadlines, and exam costs can be found on the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC) website.

ACHPN Exam Format

Number of Questions: The ACHPN exam consists of 175 multiple-choice questions, of which 150 are scored. The remaining 25 are unscored "trial" questions used for future test development and scattered throughout the exam.

Exam Response Options: Multiple-choice with four response opinions (A, B, C, D).

Testing Options: Available at PSI testing centers or via live remote proctoring for added flexibility.

Time Allotted: 3.5 hours to complete the exam.

Passing Score for ACHPN

Difficulty Level: The ACHPN exam is considered a challenging test with a pass rate ranging between 61% to 63%. It covers a wide range of complex topics requiring advanced knowledge. The BoardCerts ACHPN Question Bank and review course is designed to align closely with the exam blueprint, with questions reviewed by board certified hospice and palliative physicians and ACHPN-certified APRNs to help individuals confidently tackle this demanding test.

Passing Score: A scaled score of 500 on a scale of 200 to 800 is required to pass the ACHPN exam. A scaled score standardizes a candidate’s performance, accounting for variations in difficulty across different test versions. Rather than reporting the raw number of correct answers, scores are adjusted to ensure fair comparisons between test administrations. Achieving a scaled score of 500 demonstrates that the test taker meets the minimum standard established by the certifying organization.

Exam Statistics: Detailed statistics are available on the HPCC Exam Statistics webpage. Pass rates vary slightly from year to year, with recent pass rates ranging between 61% to 63%.

Score Reporting: If testing at a PSI testing center, candidates receive an on-screen pass/fail result immediately after completing the exam, with a detailed score report emailed within 24 hours. Individuals testing through live remote proctoring will receive a score report within 24 hours via email.

ACHPN Exam Proctoring

The Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (ACHPN) exam is conducted by the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC) in collaboration with PSI Services. Candidates can choose between taking the exam remotely or at a PSI testing center, available at multiple locations across the United States.

Live Remote Proctoring: This flexible option allows candidates to take the ACHPN exam from a private and secure location, such as their home or office. Using a computer with a webcam and microphone, candidates are supervised in real-time by a professional proctor to ensure the integrity of the testing process.

ACHPN Preparation and Resources

At BoardCerts, we designed the ACHPN Question Bank and Review Course to align closely with the exam blueprint, ensuring that the practice questions are highly relevant and reflect the content on the test. The questions are developed using the same foundational references that validate the official exam questions, offering you a preparation experience grounded in authoritative resources and advanced clinical practice.

  • Topics on Exam: Familiarize yourself with the topics outlined in the ACHPN exam blueprint, which can be accessed here: Preparation and Resources.
  • Review Course: Consider taking a review course, such as the ACHPN Review Course offered through BoardCerts and HospicePalliativeReview.com, to build a solid understanding of the exam's core content.
  • Question Bank: A well-structured resource like the BoardCerts ACHPN Question Bank and review course is a valuable tool. It mirrors the exam blueprint, providing extensive practice questions reviewed by ACHPN-certified APRNs and hospice and palliative care physicians. Additionally, it includes four predictor exams to help assess readiness for the actual test.

ACHPN Certification Renewal

The Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (ACHPN) certification is valid for four years. Individuals must submit the ACHPN Hospice and Palliative Accrual for Recertification (HPAR) application before the certification expiration date to ensure timely renewal. To maintain the certification, the Hospice and Palliative Accrual for Recertification (HPAR) process includes:

Practice Hours: 500 hours in the most recent 12 months or 1,000 hours in the most recent 24 months. Fulfill required practice hours in hospice and palliative advanced nursing roles such as direct patient care, virtual or teleconference care, academic teaching, research, administrative duties, consulting, case management, program development, or policymaking.

Professional Development: The HPAR component requires candidates to earn 100 points, which can be accumulated across multiple categories of professional development activities. While some categories have maximum allowable points, there is no limit on points earned through continuing education and each contact hour of continuing education equals one HPAR point. CE hours can be earned by completing the BoardCerts ACHPN Question Bank and review course, providing a convenient way to fulfill this requirement while reinforcing knowledge.

Situational Judgment Exercise (SJE): This is an online, open-book exercise that uses case-based scenarios to assess advanced clinical reasoning and critical decision-making skills. Completion of the SJE is a required part of the ACHPN renewal process.

For the most up-to-date information on ACHPN renewal and the HPAR process, visit the official HPCC page: HPCC Recertification.

ACHPN Practice Questions

Practicing sample questions is a crucial part of ACHPN exam preparation, helping to become familiar with the exam format, question style, and key content areas. The BoardCerts ACHPN Question Bank offers high-quality, exam-focused sample questions that align with the ACHPN exam blueprint.

Access Sample Questions: Find sample questions from the BoardCerts Question Bank here. These questions are crafted to reflect the level of application and difficulty found on the ACHPN exam.

Frequently Asked Questions

7 day trial with 100% money back guarantee
Our 7-day free trial offers a 100% money-back guarantee for any reason
badge