Preparing for your certification exam

The Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (ACHPN®) exam from the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC) is designed for experienced hospice and palliative advanced practice registered nurses. HPNA offers several educational resources to help you prepare for your upcoming ACHPN® exam.

HPCC is not able to conduct or recommend specific exam preparation materials. The use of HPNA exam preparation materials does not imply successful performance on HPCC certification exams. The use of HPNA exam preparation materials does not give an advantage over candidates who do not choose to use them.

ACHPN® Interactive Certification Review Course

This self-paced interactive ACHPN review course includes four modules with interactive case studies and knowledge checks. Interactions are designed to engage the learner and provide feedback that reinforces underlying content. As a participant, the learner is then invited to problem solve, which demands use of critical thinking skills moving beyond recall of knowledge to analysis, evaluation, and application. This conceptual learning experience enables students to develop a real understanding of the subject matter, which leads to greater levels of confidence and therefore greater levels of engagement. Each module has its own objectives and slide presentation with accompanying audio. APRNs can earn a maximum of 7 NCPD hours and 2 Category 1 Pharm credits upon completion of all four modules. This course is available for 90 days after purchase. Once purchased, you must complete the course within the designated period. You will receive an email with a link to gain access to the course within three business days of purchase.

After purchase, this course is available to you for 90 days.

Modules include: 
• Overview, Test Taking Strategies, and Application 
• Module 1: Assessment & Data Collection 
• Module 2: Intervention and Management 
• Module 3: Education and Communication 
• Module 4: Professionalism and Practice 
 
Cost: $250 for HPNA members; $350 for non-members 

Continuing Education: 7 NCPD hours and 2 Category 1 Pharm credits 

Expires 1/31/2027. 

ACHPN® Lecture Certification Review Course

This Online Lecture Review Course is a self-paced voiceover slide presentation of the ACHPN® Review Course. This course includes six modules, each with their own objectives, slide presentation, and accompanying audio. The modules address sections of the Detailed Content Outline from the Candidate Handbook. This Lecture Review provides a framework to prepare and a process to assess strengths and weaknesses of content prior to sitting for your exam.

After purchase, this course is available to you for 90 days.

Modules:

  • Overview, test taking strategies, and exam structure
  • Nursing process
  • Scientific knowledge
  • Professionalism
  • Education and communication
  • System issues

Cost: $165 for HPNA members; $265 for non-members

Continuing Education: 7 NCPD hours; 3 Category 1 Pharm credits

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ACHPN® Live Virtual Certification Review Course

Prepare for your ACHPN® exam with a live, virtual, instructor-led review course. This review course provides a framework to prepare and a process to assess strengths and weaknesses of content prior to sitting for your exam. Facilitated by nationally recognized subject matter experts, these one-day, intensive courses address sections of the Detailed Content Outline from the Candidate Handbook.

2024 course dates

Cost: $375 for HPNA members; $500 for non-members (includes 1-yr HPNA membership)

Continuing Education: 8.75 NCPD hours and 4 Category 1 Pharm credits

ACHPN® Practice Exam

This 50-question practice exam is a study tool for you to see sample ACHPN® test questions, receive rationale for correct and incorrect answers, and review results online.

Cost: $35 for HPNA members; $45 for non-members

After purchase, this course is available to you for 90 days.

Not eligible for continuing education credit.

This is a virtual activity, available through HPNA University.

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Core Curriculum for the Hospice and Palliative APRN

Core Curriculum for the Hospice and Palliative APRN, Third Edition, 2020
ISBN-13: 978-1-934654-00-2

The Core Curriculum is an essential tool for APRNs as it offers information in all aspects of advanced hospice and palliative nursing.

To best prepare for the ACHPN® exam, this publication is organized by the five domains of the Detailed Content Outline for the ACHPN® exam. These domains are:

  • Nursing process in caring for adult patients and families to include assessment, diagnostics and planning, interventions, and evaluation
  • Scientific knowledge (biomedical, clinical, and psychosocial-behavioral), including disease progress, diagnostic tests and procedures, prognosis and responses to illness, loss, grief, and bereavement
  • Education and communication with patients, families, and healthcare communities
  • Professionalism, including ethics, scope/standards/guidelines, self-care, collegial support, leadership, and self-development
  • Systems issues, including resources, utilization and continuum of care, and quality improvement

The Core Curriculum also includes a section on common validated assessment tools, common palliative medications, and resources for studying for the ACHPN® exam.

Cost: $187 for HPNA members; $230 for non-members

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