Which exam is right for you?

ABPANC offers two certifications: Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN^®) and the Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse (CAPA^®). Determining which exam is most relevant for you should be based on your patient needs and the amount of time patients spend in the specific phases described by the Perianesthesia Continuum of Care (as defined on pages 6-7 of the ASPAN Perianesthesia Nursing Standards, Practice Recommendations, and Interpretive Statements 2019-2020).

Regardless of the setting in which you practice, if you have the hours required caring for patients in Postanesthesia Phase I, the CPAN exam is most relevant to your practice. If you have the hours required caring for patients in the Preanesthesia Phase, Day of Surgery/Procedure, Postanesthesia Phase II and/or Extended Care, the CAPA exam is most relevant to your practice.

DUAL CERTIFICATION

To be eligible to sit for both the CPAN and CAPA exams, you must meet the licensure and direct care requirements and have:

• at least 1,200 hours of direct clinical experience caring for patients in Postanesthesia Phase I.
  AND
• at least 1,200 hours of direct clinical experience caring for patients in Preanesthesia Phase, Day of Surgery/Procedure, Postanesthesia Phase II and/or Extended Care.

Interactive Walkthrough

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