AMB-BC - Ambulatory Care Nursing Certification
About AMB-BC Certification
The Ambulatory Care Nursing Certification (AMB-BC) exam is offered through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). It is a specialized certification for registered nurses who provide care in outpatient and community-based settings. Earning this credential validates a nurse’s expertise in key areas of ambulatory care, including patient assessment, chronic disease management, care coordination, and health promotion. This certification not only reflects a high standard of competency in ambulatory care nursing but also highlights a commitment to improving patient outcomes, enhancing access to care, and advancing nursing practice in diverse outpatient settings.
Category | Details |
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Exam Description | A rigorous certification exam for registered nurses specializing in ambulatory care, validating expertise in outpatient and community-based healthcare. |
Credentials Earned | Ambulatory Care Nursing Certification (AMB-BC). |
Eligibility Requirements | Candidates must hold a current, active RN license in a U.S. state or territory or a legally recognized equivalent in another country. A minimum of two years of full-time practice as a registered nurse is required, along with at least 2,000 hours of clinical practice in ambulatory care nursing within the past three years. Additionally, completing 30 hours of continuing education in ambulatory care nursing within the same timeframe is necessary. |
Completion Time | 3 hours to complete exam. |
Subjects Covered in the Exam | The exam covers four main domains: Assess and Evaluate, Plan and Implement, Professional Role, and Education. |
Number of Questions | 150 multiple-choice questions, with 125 scored and 25 unscored pretest questions. |
Exam Format | Multiple-choice, computer-based test. |
Exam Proctoring | Administered at Prometric testing centers. Live Remote Proctoring (LRP) is not available. |
Recertification Details | Required every 5 years; Candidates must hold an active RN license and complete 75 continuing education hours in ambulatory care nursing within the last five years. Additionally, at least one professional development activity is required, such as earning extra CE hours, completing academic coursework, presenting, publishing, conducting research, serving as a preceptor, engaging in professional service, logging 1,000 practice hours, or passing the exam. |
Pass/Fail Rates | Pass rates vary annually, with an average of 77% to 86%. |
Difficulty Level | Hard. |
Study Material | BoardCerts Question Bank provides practice questions that follow the exam blueprint. |
BoardCerts AMB-BC Question Bank
BoardCerts provides a comprehensive question bank designed to help you excel on the Ambulatory Care Nursing Certification (AMB-BC) exam. Each question is carefully reviewed by certified ambulatory care nurses and physicians, ensuring accuracy and relevance. Fully aligned with the AMB-BC exam blueprint, our question bank mirrors the rigor of the exam and includes detailed rationales and explanations to enhance your understanding and preparation.
AMB-BC Exam Content Outline
The Ambulatory Care Nursing Certification (AMB-BC) exam is structured around four main domain categories. The Assess and Evaluate section makes up 40% of the exam and covers patient assessments, triage, and evaluating treatment outcomes. The Plan and Implement section accounts for 18% and focuses on care coordination and performing clinical tasks to meet patient needs. The Professional Role section comprises 22% and addresses advocacy, leadership, and maintaining safety in ambulatory care settings. Lastly, the Education section represents 19% of the exam and emphasizes overcoming communication barriers and supporting diverse populations.
For a more detailed blueprint outline, please refer to the AMB-BC exam blueprint, which can be found here: Preparation and Resources - (AMB-BC).
Exam Categories: Percentage Distribution
AMB-BC Exam Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the AMB-BC exam, candidates must hold a current, active RN license in the United States or its equivalent in another country. Additionally, they must have at least two years of full-time registered nursing experience, 2,000 hours of clinical practice in ambulatory care nursing within the last three years, and 30 hours of continuing education in ambulatory care nursing during the last three years. These requirements ensure that candidates have sufficient experience and expertise in the field before pursuing certification.
AMB-BC Application Process
Online Application:
Application Submission:
Scheduling the Exam:
Preparation:
AMB-BC Exam Dates and Costs
The Ambulatory Care Nursing Certification (AMB-BC) exam is available year-round.
For the most current information on exam dates and fees, please refer to the official ANCC Certification Website.
AMB-BC Exam Format
Number of Questions: The AMB-BC exam includes 150 questions, of which 125 are scored, and 25 are pretest questions. The pretest questions are unscored and do not affect the final score.
Exam Response Options: Multiple-choice format.
Testing Options: Available at Prometric testing centers.
Time Allotted: Candidates have 3 hours to complete the exam.
Passing Score for AMB-BC
Difficulty Level: The AMB-BC certification exam is considered challenging, with annual pass rates with an average of 77% to 86% in the recent years.
Passing Score: The ANCC does not publicly disclose the exact number of correct answers required to pass the exam.
Exam Statistics: For detailed statistics, including annual pass rates and the number of candidates tested, you may check ANCC's official website.
Score Reporting: After completing the exam, you will receive a pass or fail result. If you do not pass, your score report will include diagnostic information for each content area of the test. This information can help you identify areas for improvement before retesting.
AMB-BC Exam Proctoring
The Ambulatory Care Nursing Certification (AMB-BC) exam is administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) in partnership with Prometric. Candidates can take the exam at one of Prometric's testing centers. Currently, Live Remote Proctoring (LRP) is not available for ANCC certification exams, including the AMB-BC.
AMB-BC Preparation and Resources
BoardCerts meticulously follows the AMB-BC exam blueprint to ensure practice questions align with the test content. Each question is developed according to the blueprint and validated using the same authoritative references as the official exam. This approach provides a comprehensive and effective preparation experience, reinforcing the essential knowledge and competencies needed for success.
Topics on Exam: Understand the topics on the AMB-BC exam blueprint, which can be found here: Preparation and Resources.
Review Course: Take a review course, such as the AMB-BC Review Course offered by ANCC, to build a strong foundation in exam content.
Question Bank: A comprehensive resource like the BoardCerts AMB-BC Question Bank is highly recommended, as it aligns closely with the exam blueprint and is reviewed by certified ambulatory care professionals. It provides extensive practice questions and includes four predictor exams to help gauge your readiness, making it an essential tool for exam success.
AMB-BC Certification Renewal
The Ambulatory Care Nursing Certification (AMB-BC) certification is valid for five years. To renew certification, candidates must complete specific requirements designed to demonstrate continued competency in ambulatory care nursing.
Continuing Education: Candidates must complete 75 continuing education (CE) hours in their certification specialty within the 5-year certification period.
Renewal Categories: In addition to the CE hours, candidates must complete at least one of the following eight professional development activities: These categories include academic credits, presentations, quality improvement projects, preceptor hours, practice hours, professional service, publications, or retesting.
Reactivation of Lapsed Certification: If your certification has expired for less than two years, you can reactivate it by completing the required CE hours, fulfilling one renewal category, and paying the reactivation fee. For certifications expired beyond two years, reactivation requires retaking the certification exam and meeting all other requirements.
For the most current information and to explore detailed renewal options, visit the ANCC Certification Renewal Page.
AMB-BC Practice Questions
- Practicing sample questions is a crucial part of AMB-BC exam preparation, helping you become familiar with the exam format, question style, and key content areas. The BoardCerts AMB-BC Question Bank offers high-quality, exam-focused sample questions that align with the AMB-BC exam blueprint, ensuring you are well-prepared and confident on test day.
- 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 AMB-BC exam.