Nursing
ANCC MEDSURG-BCMedical-Surgical Nursing Certification
The ANCC Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification (MEDSURG-BC) validates adult acute-care RN practice on med-surg floors. It is one of two competing med-surg credentials in US hospitals — the other is MSNCB's CMSRN, which has a shorter eligibility window and a simpler blueprint. MEDSURG-BC carries the ANCC brand recognized by Magnet criteria.
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Exam facts
Everything you need to know about the ANCC MEDSURG-BC exam.
- Passing score
- 350 / 500 (scaled)
- Format & length
- 150 questions (125 scored + 25 pretest) · 3.5 hours
- Voucher cost
- $395 USD (non-member) · $295 ANA member
- Prerequisites
- Active RN license + 2 years full-time RN experience + 2,000 hours of med-surg practice in the last 3 years + 30 CE hours in med-surg within the last 3 years
- Validity
- 5 years (75 CE hours for renewal)
Exam facts sourced from the official ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Center) certification page. Last reviewed June 2026.
What’s tested
Key topics on the ANCC MEDSURG-BC™ exam.
The Cert Climb question bank is mapped to every domain on the official ANCC MEDSURG-BC™ exam blueprint, so what you study is what the test asks.
- Assessment & Diagnosis
- Planning, Implementation & Evaluation
- Professional Role
Who it’s for
Built for the people taking this exam.
Bedside med-surg RNs, charge nurses, and clinical-ladder candidates on adult inpatient units. Pursued by nurses whose hospital recognizes ANCC specifically for Magnet credentialing points or pays a higher differential for ANCC over CMSRN.
Why it matters in 2026
The career signal.
Med-surg is the largest RN employment setting in US hospitals, and certified med-surg nurses are over-represented on Magnet-accredited units. MEDSURG-BC signals deeper professional commitment than CMSRN to some employers, though both are widely accepted. Required differential pay tiers ($1–2/hr typical) at many academic medical centers.
Sample question
What a ANCC MEDSURG-BC question looks like.
A 42-year-old woman arrives at the emergency department with nausea, rapid breathing, and increased urination. She states she ran out of insulin and antihypertensive medications three days ago. Which condition should the nurse prioritize when evaluating this patient?
See the answer & explanation
Correct: A. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
Why: DKA is the priority concern in an insulin-dependent diabetic who has missed doses. The combination of nausea, polyuria, and tachypnea — likely reflecting metabolic acidosis — distinguishes DKA from HHNS, which typically lacks rapid breathing. The symptom pattern does not fit thyroid storm or hypertensive urgency.
What you get
Everything you need to actually pass.
Full question bank
750 questions covering every objective on the official ANCC MEDSURG-BC™ 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 ANCC MEDSURG-BC™ 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.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about ANCC MEDSURG-BC
What is the ANCC MEDSURG-BC exam?
The ANCC Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification (MEDSURG-BC) validates adult acute-care RN practice on med-surg floors. It is one of two competing med-surg credentials in US hospitals — the other is MSNCB's CMSRN, which has a shorter eligibility window and a simpler blueprint.
How many questions are on the ANCC MEDSURG-BC exam, and how long is it?
150 questions (125 scored + 25 pretest) · 3.5 hours
What is the passing score for the ANCC MEDSURG-BC exam?
350 / 500 (scaled)
How much does the ANCC MEDSURG-BC exam cost?
$395 USD (non-member) · $295 ANA member
Are there prerequisites for the ANCC MEDSURG-BC exam?
Active RN license + 2 years full-time RN experience + 2,000 hours of med-surg practice in the last 3 years + 30 CE hours in med-surg within the last 3 years
How long is the ANCC MEDSURG-BC certification valid?
5 years (75 CE hours for renewal)
How many questions does the ANCC MEDSURG-BC bank have?
750 questions, organized into 3 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 ANCC MEDSURG-BC™ 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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