CHPNA Exam - Certified Hospice and Palliative Nursing Assistant
About the CHPNA Exam
The Certified Hospice and Palliative Nursing Assistant (CHPNA®) credential, awarded by the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC), recognizes nursing assistants who provide compassionate care in hospice and palliative settings. It validates essential knowledge and skills in supporting patient comfort, assisting with activities of daily living, observing and reporting changes in condition, and providing psychosocial and end-of-life support. Earning the CHPNA credential demonstrates a commitment to high-quality, patient-centered hospice and palliative care practice.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
Exam Description | A specialty certification exam designed to validate essential knowledge and skills for nursing assistants working in hospice and palliative care settings. |
Credential Earned | Certified Hospice and Palliative Nursing Assistant (CHPNA®). |
Eligibility Requirements | Minimum of 500 hours of experience within the last one year or 1,000 hours in the last two years as a nursing assistant under the supervision of a registered nurse in hospice and palliative care; adherence to professional nursing standards and ethics. |
Completion Time | 2.5 hours. |
Subjects Covered | Activities of daily living, patient comfort and safety, observation and reporting of patient status, psychosocial and spiritual support, communication, professional skills, and end-of-life care. |
Number of Questions | 110 multiple-choice questions, including 100 scored and 10 pretest items. |
Exam Format | Computer-based examination with four multiple-choice options (A, B, C, D). |
Exam Proctoring | Administered at authorized testing centers or through live remote proctoring. |
Recertification Details | Required every four years through continuing education and professional development activities. |
Pass/Fail Rates | Varies by year, averaging around 79%. |
Difficulty Level | Hard, reflecting the hands-on and supportive nature of the CHPNA role. |
Study Material | BoardCerts CHPNA Exam Prep, which follows the exam blueprint. |
BoardCerts CHPNA® Question Bank
BoardCerts provides a focused question bank to support your success on the Certified Hospice and Palliative Nursing Assistant (CHPNA®) exam. With high-quality practice questions and four predictor exams, all content is mapped to the official CHPNA exam blueprint and reviewed by hospice and palliative care professionals for accuracy and relevance. Clear rationales and exam-aligned practice reinforce essential skills, strengthen critical thinking, and help you approach exam day with confidence, with emphasis on activities of daily living, patient comfort and safety, psychosocial support, professional responsibilities, and end-of-life care.
Content Outline of CHPNA Exam
The Certified Hospice and Palliative Nursing Assistant (CHPNA®) exam assesses competency across four primary domains aligned with the role of the nursing assistant in hospice and palliative care.
- Activities of Daily Living (33%) focuses on assisting with hygiene, grooming, mobility, toileting, nutrition, hydration, and the safe use of equipment to promote comfort and independence.
- Patient Status and Environment (30%) evaluates the ability to observe and report changes in physical, mental, functional, and respiratory status; support comfort through non-drug interventions; maintain infection control; and ensure a safe, supportive care environment, including recognition of signs of impending death.
- Psychosocial and Spiritual Care of the Patient and Family/Caregivers (24%) addresses providing emotional, spiritual, and cultural support, assisting with communication, supporting dignity at end of life, and recognizing safety concerns such as abuse or caregiver distress.
- Professional Skills (13%) covers teamwork and communication, ethical practice, documentation, role boundaries, safety awareness, and ongoing professional development within hospice and palliative care settings.
For more detailed blueprint outline, please review the CHPNA exam blueprint, which can be found here.
Exam Categories: Percentage Distribution
CHPNA Eligibility Requirements
A minimum of 500 hours in the last one year as a nursing assistant under the supervision of an RN in hospice and palliative care. Or
1000 hours in the last 24 months.
CHPNA Application Process
To apply for the Certified Hospice and Palliative Nursing Assistant - CHPNA® 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 CHPNA Question Bank, which is aligned with the CHPNA 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
CHPNA Exam Dates and Costs
Candidates can apply for the CHPNA exam at any time since it is available year-round (March, June, September, December). Once eligibility is verified, candidates can schedule the exam via PSI.
For the latest updates on CHPNA exam costs, please check the official website of HPCC.
CHPNA Exam Format
Number of Questions: The CHPNA exam comprises 110 multiple-choice questions, of which 100 are scored, and 10 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 2.5 hours to complete the exam.
CHPNA Pass/Fail Rates
Difficulty Level: The CHPNA 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 CHPNA content outline to prepare effectively.
Passing Score: HPCC does not publicly release a fixed passing score for the CHPNA 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 CHPNA exam varies yearly, averaging at around 79%. This underscores the importance of comprehensive, exam-mapped preparation using reliable study resources.
CHPNA Exam Proctoring
The Certified Hospice and Palliative Nursing Assistant (CHPNA) 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 CHPNA 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.
CHPNA Preparation and Resources
At BoardCerts, our CHPNA practice questions are fully aligned with the official exam blueprint and based on authoritative hospice and palliative care references.
Exam Topics: Activities of daily living, patient comfort and safety, observation and reporting, psychosocial and spiritual support, professional skills, and end-of-life care. You can find more info here.
Question Bank: The comprehensive CHPNA Question Bank includes detailed rationales and four predictor exams to help you assess readiness, reinforce key concepts, and build confidence for exam day.
CHPNA Renewal
The Certified Hospice and Palliative Nursing Assistant - CHPNA 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 Nursing Assistant (CHPNA®) certification, an individual is required to pass the CHPNA® 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 CHPNA Handbook, which provides comprehensive instructions and requirements to help you navigate credential renewal effectively.
CHPNA Exam Practice Questions
Practicing sample questions is a crucial part of CHPNA exam preparation, helping you become familiar with the exam format, question style, and key content areas. The BoardCerts CHPNA Question Bank offers high-quality, exam-focused sample questions that align with the CHPNA 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 CHPNA exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
