About three in four first-time takers pass the AACN exam, and four in five pass ANCC’s.
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80%
ANCC AGACNP-BC, 2025 first-time takers (2,580 tested)
74.23%
AACN ACNPC-AG, 2025 first-time takers (1,199 tested)
In 30 seconds
- 1ANCC reports an AGACNP first-time pass rate of 80% for 2025: 2,056 of 2,580 passed.
- 2AACN reports ACNPC-AG first-time pass rates of 74.23% (2025), 74.90% (2024), 80.20% (2023).
- 3The two rates come from different test takers, so they say little about which exam is easier.
The numbers, as each board publishes them
| Year | Exam | Tested | First-time pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | ANCC AGACNP-BC | 2,580 | 80% |
| 2025 | AACN ACNPC-AG | 1,199 | 74.23% |
| 2024 | AACN ACNPC-AG | 1,052 | 74.90% |
| 2023 | AACN ACNPC-AG | 1,238 | 80.20% |
By the end of 2025, ANCC counted 29,260 AGACNP-BC certified nurse practitioners and AACN counted 6,499 ACNPC-AG certificants.
What the gap does and does not mean
It is tempting to read the lower AACN rate as a harder exam. The data can’t show that. Each rate comes from whoever chose that exam that year, from different programs, with different preparation. And the passing standards are set differently: ANCC reports a scaled score, with 350 needed to pass; AACN sets a cut score of 101 correct out of 150 scored questions.
What the numbers do say: roughly one first-time taker in four or five does not pass. A plan that covers the whole blueprint, with questions worked under time, is what moves you to the right side of that line.
If you don’t pass
- ANCC: retest after 60 calendar days, no more than 3 times in any 12 months. Results are pass or fail; if you fail you get your scaled score and diagnostic feedback.
- AACN: up to 4 attempts in a rolling 12 months; the retest fee is $320, or $215 for members.
A patient arrives at a hospital without a cath lab 2 hours after chest pain began. The ECG shows ST elevation in V1–V4. Transfer for PCI would take about 150 minutes from first contact. The patient has no bleeding risk factors. The best reperfusion plan is:
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What score do you need to pass the ANCC AGACNP-BC exam?
Sources
- ANCC 2025 certification data (first-time takers)
- AACN exam statistics and cut scores, checked November 6, 2026
- ANCC General Testing and Renewal Handbook (scoring)
- ANCC scores and retest policy
- AACN ACNPC-AG Exam Handbook, July 2026
AGACNP-BC is a credential of the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). ACNPC-AG is a credential of AACN Certification Corporation. NurseSavvy is not affiliated with or endorsed by ANCC, AACN or any prep company named here.
Common questions
What is the AG-ACNP pass rate?
ANCC reported 80% of 2,580 first-time AGACNP-BC takers passed in 2025. AACN reported 74.23% of 1,199 first-time ACNPC-AG takers passed in 2025.
What score do you need to pass?
ANCC: a scaled score of 350 (out of 500). AACN: 101 of 150 scored questions correct.
How soon can you retake the AG-ACNP exam?
ANCC: after 60 days, up to 3 times in 12 months. AACN: up to 4 attempts in a rolling 12 months.