Register January 1 – April 30 to the take the CPAN® and/or CAPA® Exams March 15 – May 15

Next Recertification Window: January 1 – April 30, 2026

Excellence. Knowledge. Patient Advocacy.

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Which Exam is Right for You?

Find your path to certification here. It will help you determine whether CPAN® or CAPA® certification is the right one for you.

Start Here

Step 1

Gather Information

Read the Certification Candidate Handbook thoroughly. Review eligibility requirements. Choose a registration window, noting dates and deadlines.

Step 2

Study

Take advantage of study resources from ABPANC® many of which are FREE. Try the Practice Tests and Question of the Week. Review current resources. Connect with a Coach.

Step 3

Test Registration

Locate your testing site ahead of time. Create an account on Learning Builder and register for the appropriate test online. Sign up for Test Assured! Obtain a receipt and authorization. Pass with flying colors!

Step 4

Congratulations

Move forward in your career with certification proving your current knowledge and skills are up to date. Track your CEs on Learning Builder. Come back to recertify when needed.

CPAN® and CAPA® Certification

The American Board of Perianesthesia Nursing Certification, Inc. (ABPANC®) is responsible for developing, sponsoring and managing the Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN®) and the Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse (CAPA®) nursing certification programs. These national professional certification programs are designed for registered nurses caring for patients who have experienced sedation, analgesia and anesthesia in a hospital or ambulatory care facility.
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Certification Recertification Resources

The Benefits of CPAN® and CAPA® Certification

Join an elite group of board-certified perianesthesia nursing colleagues

Become CPAN® or CAPA® certified to:

  • Improve patient care and safety
  • Enhance employer confidence
  • Validate professional experience
  • Commit to lifelong learning
  • Strengthen credibility
  • Increase earning potential

News & Events

Question of the Week

A healthy, young female is admitted to the PACU after a tubal ligation. The patient received a general anesthetic that included nitrous oxide, sevoflurane, vecuronium, and succinylcholine. The patient still requires mechanical ventilation 30 minutes after the procedure has ended. ABGs drawn before transfer to the PACU were normal, axillary T = 36.1 C (97.0 F), laboratory studies reveal elevated serum potassium and low serum albumin. The perianesthesia nurse is aware that this could indicate a:

  1. decrease in the possibility of a phase II (dual) block.
  2. deficiency in pseudocholinesterase levels.
  3. deficiency in renal metabolism.
  4. decrease in central nervous system response.
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