AANPCB A-GNP exam-day guide
AANPCB A-GNP · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID with signature
Bring a current driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID. The first and last name on the ID must match your registration exactly. If your legal name has changed, resolve the documentation with AANPCB before test day rather than at the center.
Second form of identification
Some testing vendors require a second ID (e.g., a signed credit card or another photo ID). Confirm the current requirement in the AANPCB candidate handbook or with the testing vendor before you travel.
Appointment confirmation / authorization to test
Have your appointment confirmation number, testing vendor name, and test site address saved to your phone AND printed on paper, since phones are stored during the exam. Verify the date, time, and site in your AANPCB portal the week of the exam.
Driving directions, parking, and a backup route
Do a dry run or map the route in advance. Know where to park, which entrance to use, and how long security check-in takes so you arrive with a cushion.
Arrival plan with buffer time
Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled start; late arrivals may be denied entry and forfeit the appointment fee. Confirm the vendor's exact cut-off time.
Empty pockets - no personal items in the testing room
Phones, smartwatches, fitness trackers, notes, textbooks, food, drinks, and bags are not permitted at the workstation. Most centers provide a small locker; keep valuables at home or in the car.
Layered, comfortable clothing
Testing rooms are often cool and you will sit for roughly three hours. Avoid jewelry and items that set off security screening.
Approved accommodations letter (only if applicable)
If you requested ADA accommodations, bring the approval documentation and confirm the site has your accommodation on file. Arrange this well before test day, not on arrival.
On-screen tools knowledge (calculator, flag, strike-through, review screen)
Personal calculators and scratch paper are generally not allowed; the vendor provides an on-screen calculator and erasable materials on request. Practice with a computer-based question interface beforehand so the tools do not cost you time.
Light meal and water before you enter
Eat a normal, protein-containing meal and hydrate before check-in. Avoid a heavy meal or an unusual caffeine load that could make you jittery or require a restroom break.
Blueprint review sheet you have already studied
Skim your own one-page summary of the AGNP test blueprint domains (assessment/diagnosis, plan/management including pharmacotherapeutics, and professional/health policy content) in the car - not inside the center.
Backup plan for the day
Save the testing vendor's customer-service number and know the reschedule/no-show policy in case of illness or emergency. Confirm the current policy directly with AANPCB or the vendor.
Plan the day
Re-confirm appointment date, time, and site in your AANPCB portal and with the testing vendor; check that your photo ID is unexpired and the name matches your registration. Confirm parking, travel time, and any accommodation approval. Stop learning new content - do timed practice blocks of 50–75 questions under exam conditions, then spend your review time only on the domains where your accuracy is lowest.
Do one final full-length timed practice set early in the day, then review rationales for missed items. Write or re-read a one-page summary of high-yield material: screening recommendations, guideline-directed first-line therapy, drug interactions and monitoring, red-flag presentations, and scope-of-practice/health-policy concepts. Put the study materials away by evening.
Stop heavy studying. Lay out your ID(s), confirmation printout, and clothing. Charge your phone, set two alarms, and confirm your transportation. Eat a normal dinner, limit alcohol and caffeine, and go to bed at your usual time - a full night's sleep outperforms an extra hour of cramming.
Eat breakfast, hydrate moderately, and leave earlier than you think you need to. Arrive at least 30 minutes before your appointment. Keep your pre-exam review to a brief skim in the car; do not open new material at the center. Use the restroom before check-in.
Present your ID, complete the security screening, store all belongings in the locker, and follow the proctor's instructions for logging in. If the on-screen tutorial appears, use it to orient yourself to the navigation, calculator, flag, and review functions before the clock starts.
Pace at roughly one minute per item so you finish with time to review. Answer every question as you go - there is no credit for blanks and no penalty for guessing. Flag items you want to revisit, but only change an answer when you can point to a specific reason; first-instinct answers are usually right. Take a brief stretch or scheduled break if permitted, remembering that the clock generally keeps running.
Follow the vendor's procedure for ending the session and retrieving your belongings. Note the result-reporting method the vendor and AANPCB describe (preliminary result at the center, online score report, or mailed notification - confirm which applies to you). If you did not pass, review the retake and reapplication policy in the AANPCB handbook before rescheduling.
Rules to check
Identification rule: the name on your photo ID must match your registration exactly. Candidates with mismatched names or expired IDs are typically turned away and may forfeit their fee - resolve discrepancies with AANPCB before test day.
Electronic device rule: phones, smartwatches, fitness trackers, earbuds, and any recording device must be powered off and stored outside the testing room. Possession of an unauthorized device at the workstation can void your score; confirm the vendor's exact policy in advance.
Prohibited materials rule: no notes, textbooks, personal calculators, or outside paper. Use only the on-screen tools and the erasable materials the proctor supplies, and return them at the end of the session.
Break rule: breaks are generally available but the exam clock typically continues to run, so plan for a single short break rather than several. Ask the proctor what the specific break and clock policy is for your appointment before you begin.
Scoring rule: the exam is criterion-referenced - you are measured against a fixed passing standard, not against other candidates - and results are reported as pass or fail. A portion of items are unscored field-test questions mixed in with scored items, so a handful of unusual questions does not mean you are doing poorly. Verify the current item counts and time limit in the AANPCB candidate handbook.
Answer-every-question rule: unanswered items are scored as incorrect and there is no penalty for a wrong answer, so never leave a blank. Budget your time to reach the final question with at least a few minutes remaining for a flagged-item review.
Conduct rule: no talking, no leaving the building without proctor approval, and no attempts to copy, share, or reconstruct exam content. Irregular behavior is reported to the certification board and can result in score invalidation or disciplinary action.
Policy-verification rule: testing-vendor procedures, rescheduling and no-show fees, score-report delivery timelines, and retake eligibility change periodically. Treat anything you read outside the official AANPCB handbook or a direct vendor communication as unverified and confirm it with the provider.