CHPLN Exam - Certified Hospice and Palliative Licensed Nurse
About the CHPLN Exam
The Certified Hospice and Palliative Licensed Nurse (CHPLN®) credential, awarded by the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC), certifies licensed practical/vocational nurses in hospice and palliative care practice. It validates advanced knowledge and clinical judgment in delivering compassionate, patient‑centered care to individuals and families facing serious illness, including symptom management, comfort care, education, advocacy, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Earning the CHPLN credential demonstrates commitment to high‑quality hospice and palliative nursing and professional excellence in licensed nurse practice.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
Exam Description | A specialty certification exam designed to validate advanced knowledge and competency for experienced hospice and palliative licensed nurses. |
Credentials Earned | Certified Hospice and Palliative Licensed Nurse (CHPLN®). |
Eligibility Requirements | Active RN license; minimum of 500 hours of experience within the last one year or 1,000 hours in the last two years as a hospice and palliative licensed practical/vocational nurse; adherence to professional nursing standards and ethics. |
Completion Time | 3 hours. |
Subjects Covered | Core domains include patient care in end-stage disease process, pain and comfort management, symptom management, treatments and procedures, care of patient, family, and other caregivers, patient and family education and advocacy, and interdisciplinary and collaborative practice issues. |
Number of Questions | 150 multiple-choice questions, including scored and pretest items. |
Exam Format | Computer-based examination consisting of four (A, B, C, D) options. |
Exam Proctoring | Administered at authorized testing centers or through live remote proctoring. |
Recertification Details | Required every four years, with renewal options based on continuing education and professional development activities. |
Pass/Fail Rates | Varies but averages at around 66%. |
Difficulty Level | Moderate to advanced, reflecting the complexity of hospice and palliative nursing practice. |
Study Material | BoardCerts CHPLN Exam Prep. |
BoardCerts CHPLN® Question Bank
BoardCerts delivers a robust question bank designed to support your success on the Certified Hospice and Palliative Licensed Nurse (CHPLN®) exam. Featuring high‑quality practice questions modeled on the format and scope of the actual CHPLN exam and multiple predictor exams, all content is mapped directly to the CHPLN exam blueprint. The content is reviewed by experienced hospice and palliative licensed nurses to ensure clinical accuracy and relevance. Our question bank reflects the depth and demands of the CHPLN certification and includes clear, detailed rationales to reinforce core concepts, enhance critical thinking, and help you approach exam day with confidence. Practice exam modules align with key areas such as patient and family care, symptom management, ethical and psychosocial considerations, and end‑of‑life care to mirror the certification focus.
Content Outline of CHPLN Exam
The Certified Hospice and Palliative Licensed Nurse (CHPLN®) exam evaluates a nurse’s proficiency across six primary domains:
- Patient Care: End-Stage Disease Process (13.3%), assessing disease progression, complications, treatments, and indicators of imminent death;
- Pain and Comfort Management (20%), covering assessment of pain and distressing symptoms, pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions, and evaluation of their effectiveness;
- Symptom Management (28.9%), managing neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, musculoskeletal, skin, psychosocial, and nutritional symptoms; Treatments and Procedures (8.9%), providing care for patients with surgical alterations, tubes, drains, respiratory therapies, subcutaneous medications, urinary devices, and infection control;
- Patient, Family, and Caregiver Support (11.1%), addressing psychosocial, spiritual, and cultural needs, grief support, resource management, and caregiver guidance; Patient and Family Education and Advocacy (9.6%), teaching about symptom management, disease progression, medication and home safety, and advocating for appropriate care; and
- Interdisciplinary and Collaborative Practice Issues (8.1%), coordinating care with the team, applying professional standards and legal regulations, engaging in quality improvement, and pursuing professional development.
For more detailed blueprint outline, please review the CHPLN exam blueprint, which can be found here.
Exam Categories: Percentage Distribution
Eligibility Requirements for CHPLN Exam
Active RN license.
A minimum of 500 hours in the last one year as a hospice and palliative licensed practical/vocational nurse. Or
1000 hours in the last 24 months.
CHPLN Exam Application Process
To apply for the Certified Hospice and Palliative Licensed Nurse - CHPLN exam, follow these steps:
- Online Application: Submit your application through the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC) online application system.
- Application Submission: Complete the application by providing your personal and professional information.
- Scheduling the Exam: Once your application is approved, you will receive instructions to schedule your exam at an authorized testing center or through live remote proctoring, allowing flexibility in how and where you test.
- Preparation: Use targeted study resources such as the BoardCerts CHPLN Question Bank, which is aligned with the CHPLN exam blueprint and reflects the scope and difficulty of the actual exam. The question bank covers all major exam domains and is regularly updated to remain consistent with current hospice and palliative social work standards.
CHPLN Exam Format
Number of Questions: The CHPLN exam comprises 150 multiple-choice questions, of which 135 are scored, and 15 are unscored pretest questions.
Exam Response Options: Each question offers four response options (A, B, C, D).
Testing Options: The exam is administered at designated testing centers, or via Live Remote Proctoring.
Time Allotted: Candidates have 3 hours to complete the exam.
CHPLN Exam Pass/Fail Rates
Difficulty Level: The CHPLN exam is considered moderately to highly challenging, reflecting the advanced knowledge and clinical judgment required in hospice and palliative social work practice. Candidates should have a strong working familiarity with the CHPLN content outline to prepare effectively.
Passing Score: HPCC does not publicly release a fixed passing score for the CHPLN exam. Scores are determined using a scaled scoring process designed to ensure consistency and fairness across different versions of the exam. The minimum scaled score needed to pass the examinations has been set at 500 scaled score units.
Score Reporting: Candidates receive an on-screen pass or fail result immediately after completing the exam. An official score report is typically provided after testing and includes a breakdown of performance by content domain.
Exam Statistics: The pass rate for the CHPLN exam varies yearly, averaging at around 66%. This underscores the importance of comprehensive, exam-mapped preparation using reliable study resources.
CHPLN Exam Proctoring
The Certified Hospice and Palliative Licensed Nurse (CHPLN) exam is administered by the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC) in partnership with its testing vendor. Candidates have the option to take the exam at an authorized testing center or through live remote proctoring, offering flexibility in how the exam is completed.
Live Remote Proctoring: This option allows candidates to complete the CHPLN exam from a convenient location such as their home or office. During the exam, a trained proctor monitors the candidate in real time using the computer’s webcam and microphone to maintain exam security and integrity. Live remote proctoring provides added convenience for candidates who may have limited access to testing centers or prefer a remote testing environment.
CHPLN Exam Preparation and Resources
At BoardCerts, we follow the CHPLN exam blueprint closely to ensure our practice questions are relevant and aligned with the content you will encounter on the test. Our questions are developed based on authoritative hospice and palliative work references, providing candidates with thorough preparation grounded in reliable, professional resources.
Topics on Exam: The CHPLN exam blueprint assesses key knowledge and skills across domains such as patient care, pain, comfort, and symptoms management, treatment procedures, care of family and other caregivers, education and advocacy, and interdisciplinary and collaborative practice. Understanding these areas is essential for success. You can find more information here.
Review Course: Candidates may benefit from additional review courses offered by professional organizations or hospice and palliative care educational programs to strengthen foundational knowledge in exam content.
Question Bank: A comprehensive resource like the BoardCerts CHPLN Question Bank is highly recommended. This question bank aligns with the CHPLN exam blueprint and is reviewed by experienced hospice and palliative social work professionals to ensure accuracy and relevance. Each question includes detailed rationales, and four predictor exams are provided to help candidates evaluate their readiness and confidence for exam day.
CHPLN Credential Renewal
The Certified Hospice and Palliative Licensed Nurse - CHPLN credential is valid for four years. To maintain your certification, you must complete the recertification process, which includes:
- Re-exam: To renew the Certified Hospice and Palliative Licensed Nurse (CHPLN®) certification, an individual is required to pass the CHPLN® exam again during one of the available testing periods. Or
- Hospice and Palliative Accrual for Recertification: By meeting the necessary practice hour requirements and acquiring the required points from a range of professional development activities.
For detailed guidance on the recertification process, refer to the HPCC CHPLN Handbook, which provides comprehensive instructions and requirements to help you navigate credential renewal effectively.
CHPLN Exam Practice Questions
Practicing sample questions is a crucial part of CHPLN exam preparation, helping you become familiar with the exam format, question style, and key content areas. The BoardCerts CHPLN Question Bank offers high-quality, exam-focused sample questions that align with the CHPLN 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 CHPLN exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
