CHPPN Exam - Certified Hospice and Palliative Pediatric Nurse
About the CHPPN Exam
The Certified Hospice and Palliative Pediatric Nurse (CHPPN®) credential, awarded by the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC), recognizes registered nurses with specialized expertise in hospice and palliative care for children and adolescents. It validates advanced knowledge and clinical judgment in assessing, planning, and delivering compassionate, developmentally appropriate care to pediatric patients and their families facing serious illness, including symptom management and support for quality of life. Earning the CHPPN credential reflects a commitment to excellence and specialized competence in pediatric hospice and palliative nursing practice.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
Exam Description | A specialty certification exam that measures the knowledge and clinical judgment required for registered nurses practicing hospice and palliative care for infants, children, and adolescents. |
Credential Earned | Certified Hospice and Palliative Pediatric Nurse (CHPPN®). |
Eligibility Requirements | Current, unrestricted RN license plus hospice and palliative pediatric nursing practice—500 hours in the last 12 months or 1,000 hours in the last 24 months working in pediatric hospice/palliative care. |
Completion Time | Approximately 3 hours. |
Subjects Covered | Assessment and planning, pain management, pediatric diagnoses and symptom management, family-centered support, education and advocacy, and professional practice. |
Number of Questions | 150 multiple-choice questions, including 135 scored and 15 pretest items. |
Exam Format | Computer-based test with four multiple-choice answer options (A, B, C, D). |
Exam Proctoring | Administered at authorized testing centers or via live remote proctoring. |
Recertification Details | Recertification is required every four years through continuing education and other professional development activities. |
Pass/Fail Rates | Variable by year, with an average of 83%. |
Difficulty Level | Hard, reflecting advanced clinical practice and judgment specific to pediatric hospice and palliative nursing. |
Study Material | BoardCerts CHPPN Exam Prep, which follows the official exam blueprint. |
BoardCerts CHPPN® Question Bank
BoardCerts offers a comprehensive question bank designed to help you prepare with confidence for the Certified Hospice and Palliative Pediatric Nurse (CHPPN®) exam. Featuring high-quality practice questions and four predictor exams, all content is carefully aligned with the official CHPPN® exam blueprint and reviewed by experienced pediatric hospice and palliative care clinicians to ensure accuracy and relevance. Detailed rationales and exam-focused practice strengthen clinical judgment, reinforce core pediatric palliative care concepts, and support readiness for exam day, with emphasis on pediatric assessment and care planning, pain and symptom management, family-centered support, ethical practice, and end-of-life care across the pediatric lifespan.
CHPPN Exam Content Outline
The CHPPN® exam assesses advanced pediatric hospice and palliative nursing competency across five primary domains aligned with the official exam blueprint.
- Patient Care-Assessment and Planning (17.8%) focuses on goals of care, shared decision-making, anticipatory planning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and recognition of disease progression and imminent death.
- Patient Care-Pain Management (17.8%) evaluates developmentally appropriate pain assessment and the use of pharmacologic, non-pharmacologic, and complementary interventions.
- Patient Care-Pediatric Diagnoses and Symptom Management (25.2%) addresses management of complex symptoms across a wide range of pediatric conditions.
- Family-Centered Support, Education, and Advocacy (23%) emphasizes communication, advance care planning, safety, ethical decision-making, grief and bereavement care, and support at the time of death.
- Professional Practice (16.3%) covers regulatory compliance, standards of care, professional boundaries, practitioner self-care, and addressing healthcare disparities.
For more detailed blueprint outline, please review the CHPPN exam blueprint, which can be found here.
Exam Categories: Percentage Distribution
Eligibility Requirements for the CHPPN Exam
A minimum of 500 hours within the past 12 months or 1,000 hours within the past 24 months of practice as a registered nurse providing pediatric hospice and palliative care.
CHPPN Exam Application Process
To apply for the Certified Hospice and Palliative Licensed Nurse (CHPPN®) 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 CHPPN Question Bank, which is aligned with the CHPPN 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.
CHPPN Exam Dates and Costs
The Certified Hospice and Palliative Pediatric Nurse (CHPPN®) exam is available year-round (March, June, September, December) through computer-based testing at testing centers, and also via Live Remote Proctoring (LRP).
For the most up-to-date information on exam scheduling, application deadlines, and fees, visit the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC) site and navigate to the CHPPN webpage.
CHPPN Exam Format
Number of Questions: The CHPPN 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.
CHPPN Exam Pass/Fail Rates
Difficulty Level: The CHPPN® exam is considered moderately to highly challenging, reflecting the advanced clinical knowledge, pediatric-specific expertise, and sound clinical judgment required in hospice and palliative nursing practice. Candidates should be thoroughly familiar with the official CHPPN® exam content outline to prepare effectively.
Passing Score: HPCC does not publicly disclose a fixed passing score for the CHPPN® exam. Results are calculated using a scaled scoring system to ensure fairness and consistency across different exam forms. The minimum scaled score required to pass is 500 scaled score units.
Score Reporting: Candidates receive an immediate pass/fail result on-screen upon completion of the exam. An official score report is provided after testing and includes a performance breakdown by content domain.
Exam Statistics: CHPPN® exam pass rates vary by year, averaging at around 83%. While rates fluctuate, the exam’s rigor highlights the importance of comprehensive, blueprint-aligned preparation using reliable, exam-focused study resources.
CHPPN Exam Proctoring
The Certified Hospice and Palliative Licensed Nurse (CHPPN) 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 CHPPN 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.
CHPPN Exam Preparation and Resources
At BoardCerts, our CHPPN practice questions are fully aligned with the official exam blueprint and based on authoritative hospice and palliative care references.
Exam Topics: Assessment and planning, pain management, pediatric diagnoses and symptom management, family-centered support, education and advocacy, and professional practice. More info can be found here.
Question Bank: The comprehensive CHPPN Question Bank includes detailed rationales and four predictor exams to help you assess readiness, reinforce key concepts, and build confidence for exam day.
CHPPN Certification Renewal
The Certified Hospice and Palliative Pediatric Nurse - CHPPN credential is valid for four years. To maintain your certification, you must complete the recertification process, which includes:
- 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 CHPPN Handbook, which provides comprehensive instructions and requirements to help you navigate credential renewal effectively.
CHPPN Exam Practice Questions
Practicing sample questions is a crucial part of CHPPN exam preparation, helping you become familiar with the exam format, question style, and key content areas. The BoardCerts CHPPN Question Bank offers high-quality, exam-focused sample questions that align with the CHPPN 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 CHPPN exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
