CPEN® – Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse
About CPEN Exam
The Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN®) exam is administered by the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN®). This certification is designed for registered nurses who specialize in providing emergency care to pediatric patients. Achieving the CPEN credential demonstrates a nurse’s proficiency in handling the unique challenges of pediatric emergencies, including acute illnesses, injuries, and trauma in children from infancy through adolescence. This certification underscores a commitment to delivering high-quality, specialized care in pediatric emergency settings.
To be eligible for the Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN®) exam, candidates must hold a current, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license in the United States, its territories, Canada, or Australia. While there is no mandatory minimum number of practice hours required to sit for the exam, it is recommended that candidates have at least two years of experience in pediatric emergency nursing to ensure adequate hands-on experience in the field before pursuing certification.
CPEN- Eligibility Requirements
CPEN Exam Content & Focus Areas
- The Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN®) exam evaluates a nurse’s proficiency in pediatric emergency care through a structured content outline. The exam consists of 150 scored multiple-choice questions distributed across six primary domains.
- The Triage Process domain includes 20 questions and assesses the nurse’s ability to perform initial evaluations, prioritize care based on acuity, and implement emergency preparedness protocols. The Assessment domain includes 25 questions and focuses on conducting comprehensive pediatric patient assessments.
- The System-Focused Emergencies domain contains 56 questions and covers the management of emergencies related to various body systems. The Special Considerations domain includes 25 questions and addresses care for specific pediatric populations and unique emergency situations.
- In total, the CPEN® exam includes 150 scored questions designed to evaluate comprehensive pediatric emergency nursing knowledge and clinical decision-making skills.
|
Content Category
|
Questions
|
|---|---|
|
Triage Process
|
13.3%
|
|
Assessment
|
16.7%
|
|
System-Focused Emergencies
|
37.3%
|
|
Special Considerations
|
16.7%
|
|
Multi-System Considerations
|
8%
|
|
Professional Issues
|
8%
|
How to Apply for the CPEN Exam?
- Online Application: Begin by visiting the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN) website to access your BCEN Account. If you’re a first-time user, you’ll need to create an account. Returning candidates can sign in using their existing credentials.
- Application Submission: Within your BCEN Account, locate the “My Certifications” section and select “Create New Application” next to the CPEN logo. Complete the application by providing the necessary personal and professional information. Before you can schedule your exam, you’ll need to pay the applicable fee. Payments can be made online using a credit card or ECheck/ACH for immediate processing. Alternatively, you can mail a check along with your printed Confirmation of Form Completion; however, this method may take up to four weeks to process.
- Scheduling the Exam: After your application and payment are processed, you’ll receive an exam eligibility email from BCEN. This email will contain important information about your 90-day testing window and instructions on how to schedule your exam with BCEN’s test delivery provider, PSI. You have the option to take the exam at a PSI testing center or via Live Remote Proctoring (LRP), providing flexibility in how you take the test.
- Preparation: To prepare effectively for the CPEN® exam, BoardCerts offers various resources, including practice exams and review courses. These tools are designed to align closely with the exam content outline and reflect the level of difficulty found on the actual test. Utilizing these resources can help streamline your preparation and ensure you’re well-equipped for exam day.
Benefits of CPEN Certification
We meticulously align our practice questions with the Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN®) exam blueprint to ensure your preparation is both relevant and comprehensive. Our question bank is developed in coordination with this blueprint, utilizing the same authoritative resources that underpin the official exam. This approach guarantees that our practice materials reflect the content and difficulty level you’ll encounter on test day.
- Topics on the Exam: Familiarize yourself with the CPEN® exam blueprint to understand the topics covered. The detailed content outline is available here: Preparation and Resources
- Review Course: Engaging in a structured review course can solidify your understanding of exam content. The BCEN offers review materials, which provide comprehensive insights into pediatric emergency care. For more information, visit the BCEN website.
Question Bank: Utilizing a comprehensive question bank is crucial for effective exam preparation. BoardCerts offers a CPEN® Question Bank that aligns with the exam blueprint and is reviewed by certified pediatric emergency nurses. This resource provides extensive practice questions and includes predictor exams to help gauge your readiness.
CPEN Recertification
The Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN®) certification is valid for four years. To maintain your credential, you must complete the recertification process before your certification expires. The Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN®) offers two primary methods for recertification:
- Recertification by Continuing Education (CE) Attestation:
- Continuing Education Requirements: Accumulate 100 contact hours of nursing continuing education within your current 4-year certification period. Of these, at least 75 contact hours must be clinical content specific to pediatric emergency nursing, while up to 25 hours can be non-clinical content. Additionally, a minimum of 50 contact hours must come from accredited sources.
- Recertification by Examination:
- Process: Apply to retake the CPEN® exam through your BCEN Account. Once your application is approved, schedule and pass the exam within the assigned 90-day testing window. You can choose to take the exam at a PSI testing center or via Live Remote Proctoring (LRP).
Prices
$167 - Question Bank
Comprehensive - CPEN
7 - Day money back guarantee
- 900+ practice questions, designed to simulate the real exam
- 6-month access to question bank
- 7-day trial with a 100% money-back guarantee for any reason
- 4 predictor exams to simulate the real exam
Unlimited access for 6 months for $167
$147 - Question Bank
Essentials Plan - CPEN
7 - Day money back guarantee
- 500+ practice questions, designed to simulate the real exam
- 3-month access to question bank
- 7-day trial with a 100% money-back guarantee for any reason
- Does NOT include the Predictor Exams
Unlimited access for 3 months for $147
Thank you for reaching out!
You can expect a response within 24 hours. We appreciate your patience.
Phone number: (307) 387-1492
Helpful informationMost Frequently Asked Questions
The CPEN® certification validates the expertise of registered nurses in pediatric emergency care, demonstrating their specialized knowledge and commitment to providing high-quality care to pediatric patients in emergency settings.
The CPEN® certification is offered by the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN®).
The CPEN® certification must be renewed every four years.
The candidate handbook for the CPEN® certification can be accessed directly here: BCEN Candidate Handbook
No, the CPEN® exam does not adjust the difficulty of questions based on previous answers; it is a linear exam with a fixed set of questions.
Yes, the CPEN® exam can be taken via Live Remote Proctoring (LRP), allowing candidates the flexibility to complete the exam from a secure location of their choice, such as their home or office, while being monitored in real-time by a professional proctor.
BCEN® offers several specialty certifications, including:
- Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN®)
- Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN®)
- Certified Transport Registered Nurse (CTRN®)
- Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN®)
- Certified Burn Registered Nurse (CBRN®)
Over the past two years, the CPEN® exam has had an average pass rate of approximately 55% to 60%.
The CPEN® exam is offered year-round, allowing candidates to apply and schedule their exam at their convenience within their assigned 90-day testing window.
© 2026 CEN®| Cookie Policy | Refund Policy | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Acceptable Use |