Family nurse practitioners or FNPs are highly trained professionals who help children and adults maintain their health and prevent diseases. Established in 1965, the profession has evolved dramatically since; today, it offers mental, moral, and emotional fulfillment while being highly sought-after and increasingly lucrative. Over 916 million visits are made annually to nurse practitioners in the United States alone, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects a 35% surge in the profession’s growth by 2024; considering that FNPs can earn $100,000 and upwards annually, this growth isn’t surprising!
However, becoming an NP requires dedication, commitment and, of course, passing the NP Certification Exam (whether AANP or ANCC), which can be quite stressful. Quickly recalling everything you’ve learned throughout the program may seem like a herculean task; moreover, the stress and anxiety from knowing that one final exam stands between you and your career is enough to trigger panic. That’s why resources such as review books and courses are increasingly popular! These tools offer some of the most effective ways to prepare for your certification exam, distilling the vast content you’ve studied into the most commonly tested topics and questions. This allows you to study more efficiently while reducing the stress caused by your syllabus’s sheer scope.
Here’s a list of our top 8 FNP review courses that will make studying for your certification exam much easier and far less stressful!
ExamEdge
ExamEdge allows you to prepare based on your specific exam; the site offers simulation tests in both ANCC and AANP formats, replicating the look, question count, content focus, and navigation of each. Students can utilize practice exams with default time limits that mirror the actual exam’s timing. Additionally, ExamEdge offers the convenience of pausing a test and resuming later from the same spot without losing time, making test-taking flexible; you can pause to research unfamiliar answers. Students can also take untimed practice tests and activate explanation mode, where answers are reviewed immediately after each question. Results from these tests are compiled and summarized for later review (you have permanent access to this page and the explanation-mode answers).
The materials and tests are accessible on any device and rank among the most affordable options available to students.
Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam Review and Advanced Practice Update — Fitzgerald Health Associates
One of the most popular review course options, the Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam Review and Advanced Practice Update has helped over 110,000 NPs prepare for and pass their certification exams! Authored by Margaret Fitzgerald, a leading FNP review instructor, the course targets both the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) exams, with 35.5 contact hours spread over 3 days, a 150-question practice exam, a reference workbook, access to exclusive online resources, and a question bank with final course review questions plus bonus questions. The course is available in 3 formats to accommodate various preferences and convenience levels:
- A live 2.5-day seminar with online content (ideal for those who prefer classroom settings)
- An online/on-demand course (includes 5 webinars and video presentations; it’s also the most affordable option)
- MP3 player (including earbuds, a 3.5 mm car jack cable and a AAA battery) with audio recordings of live presentations — perfect for learning on-the-go.
The course covers both clinical and non-clinical content, including professional issues, clinical guidelines, and evidence-based practice. With the online and MP3 options, users receive 6-month access to course materials and lectures (viewable up to 4 times each), practice tests for each lecture (can be taken twice each), plus additional resources such as a review book, question banks, and continuing education units.
All course material is taught by highly-qualified field professionals, including Margaret Fitzgerald and other practicing certified NPs and clinicians.
Maria LEIK Intensive Nurse Practitioner Review — Maria Codina Leik
Authored and taught by Marina Leik, an ANCC and AANP-certified instructor, this intensive review course boasts a 99% pass rate! The course can be taken online or in-person, with unlimited access to online resources for 4 months following course completion; this means you can retake webinar courses as often as desired. Users receive resources such as question banks, review books, and review courses either online or in-person; the course content is identical for both options, and material is delivered through live, interactive webinars rather than pre-recorded sessions for the online course.
All material in this review course is well-formatted, efficiently organized, and provides comprehensive coverage of key areas. Students also learn test-taking strategies that enhance learning efficiency, such as mnemonic devices, exam tips, clear diagrams, sample exams, and practice questions. One of the course’s best features is a money-back guarantee if you don’t pass the test.
NP Certification Preparation — Advanced Practice Education Associates
The NP Certification Preparation course, provided by national education company APEA, is designed to meet NPs’ needs in both classroom and clinical settings. The company offers a 2-day FNP review course (with 32.5 contact hours) to help students prepare for the AANP and ANCC certification exams, while providing access to their library, various clinical tools, and continuing education opportunities (the course can also count toward FNP CE contact hour requirements as APEA is an accredited provider). Like Maria Leik, APEA also claims a 99% pass rate, with a guarantee that you will pass their live courses on your first attempt (the APEA Live Course Guarantee). If you don’t pass the exam despite attending their live review, they provide a complimentary additional review course.
What makes this course highly appealing is the extensive range of resources available to students, such as:
- Randomly generated (from over 1,000 possible questions) 150-MCQ sample/predictor exams that help assess your learning and explain answers to missed questions.
- Access to over 3,800 practice questions covering pharmacology, assessment and management in the PMyQBank question bank.
- 20-minute segments of live course videos and presentations with evaluations and practice questions included.
- A 280-page manual with every review course that includes online-learning aids and 2 sets of practice questions (100 questions).
- Books and study guides available for purchase.
APEA even has an efficient mobile app that allows you to view session schedules and access various tools and materials for on-the-go learning. Students also have the option to choose audio, video, or MP3 players (equipment provided) if the live course isn’t suitable; the material remains identical to the live version and the chosen multimedia format is provided accordingly.
FNP Mastery
An innovative app/site, FNP Mastery helps you prepare for your exam based on your available prep time. The site offers various exam-preparation tools, such as practice tests, quizzes (you can also create custom quizzes), a question bank, a terminology glossary, mnemonics for easy recall, and full-length simulation exams to assess your strengths and weaknesses. They also provide a performance summary that continuously evaluates and updates your progress, enabling you to take appropriate action.
The website also offers a range of resources, such as exam strategies, study strategies, test breakdowns, and lab-related questions and materials. They even have a supportive help team to resolve queries about the site and its functionality. All site materials have been created by certified field professionals and follow both AANP and ANCC formats, ensuring quality learning and preparation.
FNP Review — Barkley & Associates
With a 99% pass rate and extensive accessible resources, Barkley & Associates provides an FNP review course that can be taken live or online at your convenience. Upon enrolling in the live course, students can access important topic reviews and tools such as exam and study strategies — all compiled into online videos, a course manual, and a prep test (Diagnostic Readiness Test). The home study (online) course includes a course manual, a preparatory DRT of 100 questions for self-assessment, and an audio CD with all live review course lecture recordings. Students also have access to practice exams on the site (100 questions); the rationale behind each answer is explained and improvement areas are identified and discussed in a 45-minute review session following the exam.
Barkley & Associates is also an accredited provider, so the course counts toward 26.25 contact hours of CE.
BoardVitals
BoardVitals doesn’t offer a traditional course; instead, it provides an extensive question bank with over 1,400 questions that explain why each answer is correct or incorrect. The questions follow both ANCC and AANP formats and are presented in separate, respective banks. Students can utilize the timed test option that simulates a real exam, build customized practice tests (based on subjects), and receive a performance summary that analyzes and reports their progress. The site offers a free trial for a limited number of questions, after which you’re charged based on how long you use the question banks.
All of BoardVitals’ material comes from leading field experts, available on-the-go for convenience and ease. Most options offer contact hours that count toward CE and a 100% pass guarantee.
American Nurses Association
The American Nurses Association, one of the country’s foremost nursing institutes, offers nursing preparation tools to students through various courses, such as:
- Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Test-Prep Package-Self-Paced Online Course
- Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Interactive Online Review Course
- Family Nurse Practitioner Certification PracticeIQ
- Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Bundle
These courses offer students various resources such as practice tests, practice exams, and manuals, and can even help fulfill contact hours for CE. Upon completing any of these courses, students will be better equipped to understand current trends and clinical practices, treatment options, patient safety, and pass their certification exams.
Conclusion
Whether you’re an EMT looking to advance your career, or you’re just beginning your medical field journey, completing the NP Certification Exam may be challenging, but these review courses will make the process significantly easier. As you can see, there are many different course types, covering varying content, offering different resources, and priced differently. Therefore, you can select a course that best fits your schedule, budget, and overall convenience.
Remember, simply taking a review course doesn’t guarantee passing the exam, regardless of what course providers claim — your dedication, commitment, perseverance, and hard work are equally important as completing the course. Keep this in mind and you’re sure to ace the exam! Good luck!
