CPEN
Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN)
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ExploreAbout this exam
The Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN®) credential is a specialty nursing certification from the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN) for registered nurses who care for children in emergency settings. BCEN describes CPEN as the foundational specialty certification for RNs who treat pediatric patients in the emergency department, spanning care from the neonatal period through adolescence. BCEN's certification programs, including CPEN, are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC), and BCEN states its credentials are accepted by the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program.
The exam is intended to be rigorous, testing the clinical judgment pediatric emergencies demand: rapid assessment and intervention for infants, children, and adolescents across cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, musculoskeletal, integumentary, hematologic/oncologic, endocrine/metabolic, and psychosocial/behavioral emergencies, plus the family communication that accompanies a child in crisis.
Preparation is where most candidates spend their energy. BCEN points candidates to its CPEN Exam Preparation page, the CPEN Review Course: Essentials of Pediatric Emergency Nursing (21 CEs, also usable toward recertification), practice exams that mirror the real exam's format and content, sample questions, and exam content outlines. Applications are submitted online through a BCEN account, and BCEN offers both online and in-person exam options.
What you'll study
About CPEN preparation
How much does the CPEN exam cost?
On BCEN's CPEN fee page, the initial exam costs $380 for non-members and $285 for Emergency Nurses Association members. Adding BCEN Test Assurance raises the total to $450, or $355 for ENA members. The discounted retest fee is $200. BCEN also offers a voucher program and scholarships for eligible candidates.
What happens if I do not pass on the first attempt?
BCEN offers a discounted fee for retest applications submitted up to one year after your initial exam date; the posted retest cost is $200. Optionally, you can purchase BCEN Test Assurance with your initial application, which allows initial exam takers a second attempt if the first is unsuccessful.
Is there a discount for military nurses?
Yes. BCEN offers a reduced application fee of $195, or $265 with BCEN Test Assurance, for active-duty service members, reservists, and veterans on all initial, retest, and recertification applications. BCEN also notes its certifications are approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs as an educational benefit, so eligible personnel may seek reimbursement.
How do I apply for the CPEN exam?
The application is available only online through your BCEN account; there is no paper route. BCEN publishes step-by-step instructions for submitting an exam application. If you received a complimentary certificate from the BCEN Voucher Program, enter the voucher number at checkout, where it covers the exam fee.
What content does the CPEN exam cover?
The exam samples pediatric emergency nursing across the body systems: cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, musculoskeletal, integumentary, hematology/oncology, endocrine/metabolic, and psychosocial/behavioral care, for patients from neonatal through adolescence. Start with BCEN's exam content outline and sample questions to see how the blueprint is organized before you build a study plan.
How many questions are on the exam, and how long is it?
BCEN's CPEN and fee pages do not state the item count, time limit, or passing standard, so confirm those details in the Candidate Handbook and exam content outline rather than relying on secondhand figures. What the pages do confirm is that you can compare online and in-person exam options, and that BCEN's official practice exam simulates the real format.
In what order should I study for the CPEN?
Start with the content outline and sample questions to orient yourself. Then take a BCEN practice exam early to find weak systems, review those areas with the CPEN Review Course: Essentials of Pediatric Emergency Nursing, and retest with a timed practice exam to check pacing. The review course also earns 21 CEs usable toward recertification.
What are the most common reasons candidates struggle?
Two recurring pitfalls: studying adult emergency content instead of neonatal-through-adolescent presentations, and delaying a practice exam until late in preparation, when there is no time to fix gaps. A third is letting the retest window close, since the discounted retest fee applies only within one year of the initial exam date.
Does the CPEN credential expire, and how do I renew it?
Yes, recertification is required to keep the credential active. BCEN publishes recertification requirements, qualifying continuing education options, and step-by-step guidance, and recertification can be completed by CE attestation or by exam. Military applicants receive the same reduced $195 recertification fee, or $265 with Test Assurance.