Nursing
ABPANC CAPA®Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse
The ABPANC CAPA (Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse) credential certifies RNs caring for patients across the preoperative, Phase II PACU, and Phase III/extended-observation periods of ambulatory and short-stay anesthesia. Issued by the American Board of Perianesthesia Nursing Certification, it is the sister exam to CPAN — CPAN focuses on Phase I post-anesthesia recovery while CAPA focuses on pre/Phase II/extended-care patients.
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Exam facts
Everything you need to know about the ABPANC CAPA® exam.
- Passing score
- 450 / 800 (scaled)
- Format & length
- 185 questions (140 scored + 45 pretest) · 3 hours
- Voucher cost
- $350 ASPAN members / $424 non-members
- Prerequisites
- Current US RN license + 1,200 hours of direct perianesthesia clinical experience caring for Phase I patients in the last 2 years
- Validity
- 3 years (renew by 70 contact hours of perianesthesia CE + 900 perianesthesia practice hours, or retake the exam through November 15, 2026)
What’s tested
Key topics on the ABPANC CAPA® exam.
The Cert Climb question bank is mapped to every domain on the official ABPANC CAPA® exam blueprint, so what you study is what the test asks.
- Anesthesia (general, regional, local, sedation, MAC/TIVA)
- Physiology & Patient Assessment
- Perianesthesia Care & Patient Education
- Perianesthesia Monitoring & Interventions
- Professional Nursing Practice & Guidelines
Who it’s for
Built for the people taking this exam.
RNs working in ambulatory surgery centers, hospital-based outpatient surgery units, preoperative holding, Phase II PACU, and extended observation. The credential for nurses whose patient flow is pre-op and discharge rather than the immediate vented Phase I recovery.
Why it matters in 2026
The career signal.
With the continuing migration of surgical volume to ambulatory surgery centers, CAPA is the recognized credential in the fastest-growing segment of perianesthesia nursing. ASCs and ambulatory programs reference CAPA in accreditation surveys (AAAHC, The Joint Commission ambulatory standards), and many systems tie it to perianesthesia clinical-ladder steps.
What you get
Everything you need to actually pass.
Full question bank
500 questions covering every objective on the official ABPANC CAPA® exam blueprint, with detailed explanations on every option — right and wrong.
Quiz modes
Timed exam simulation, missed-only review, topic drills, and a daily question of the day. Practice the way you study best.
Flashcards
Spaced-repetition flashcards generated from each topic. Pull them up on a phone in the gap between meetings.
Progress tracking
See per-topic accuracy and answered counts. Find weak areas before they cost you on test day.
Per-category premium
Unlocking ABPANC CAPA® unlocks every other Nursing exam in the Cert Climb catalog — pay once, stack credentials.
No-fluff explanations
Every wrong answer comes with a 2-3 sentence explanation of why it’s wrong, not just “the correct answer is X.” Pattern recognition is the whole game.
Read while you study
ABPANC CAPA® articles & study guides
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about ABPANC CAPA®
How many questions does the ABPANC CAPA® bank have?
500 questions, organized into 5 subject areas mapped to the official exam objectives.
Is the free trial really free?
Yes. 30 questions, no credit card, no email-trap, no “activate by Friday or pay” spam. You either upgrade because the bank’s good, or you don’t.
What does premium cost?
Premium is sold per category and unlocks every Nursing exam in the Cert Climb catalog. Plans are 1-month, 3-month, or 12-month — see the upgrade modal for current pricing.
How current is the ABPANC CAPA® content?
We track exam version updates and refresh the bank within weeks of new objectives. Where the version of an exam matters (e.g. CompTIA SY0-701 vs. SY0-601), question explanations call it out.
Can I cancel my subscription anytime?
Yes. Cancellation is one click from your profile. Your access continues through the end of the period you’ve already paid for.
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