Nursing
BCEN CPENCertified Pediatric Emergency Nurse
The BCEN Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN) is the only specialty certification for emergency nurses caring for children. Jointly developed by BCEN and ENA. The exam was restructured following a 2023 role-delineation study: trauma was folded into System-Focused Emergencies, a new Multi-System Considerations domain was added, and a stand-alone Professional Issues domain was created.
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Exam facts
Everything you need to know about the BCEN CPEN exam.
- Passing score
- 113 / 150 scored items correct (~75%)
- Format & length
- 175 questions (150 scored + 25 pretest) · 3 hours
- Voucher cost
- $380 USD (non-member) · $285 ENA member · $195 military · retest $200
- Prerequisites
- Active, unrestricted RN license; 2 years of pediatric-emergency experience recommended but not required
- Validity
- 4 years (100 CE contact hours for recertification by attestation, or retest)
Exam facts sourced from the official BCEN (Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing) certification page. Last reviewed June 2026.
What’s tested
Key topics on the BCEN CPEN® exam.
The Cert Climb question bank is mapped to every domain on the official BCEN CPEN® exam blueprint, so what you study is what the test asks.
- Triage Process
- System-Focused Emergencies
- Multi-System Considerations (Sepsis, Anaphylaxis, Post-Resuscitation)
- Special Considerations (Neonatal, Maltreatment, Toxicology)
- Professional Issues
- Emergency Preparedness
Who it’s for
Built for the people taking this exam.
RNs working in dedicated pediatric emergency departments, freestanding children's hospitals, and adult EDs that see pediatric volume. Charge nurses and pediatric-trauma resource nurses commonly pursue CPEN as a differentiator beyond ENPC.
Why it matters in 2026
The career signal.
CPEN is the recognized credential for pediatric emergency nursing — children's hospital EDs and Level I pediatric trauma centers list it as required or preferred. It also signals readiness for the pediatric-portion of CEN/TCRN exams. Magnet-accepted for credential recognition.
What you get
Everything you need to actually pass.
Full question bank
500 questions covering every objective on the official BCEN CPEN® 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 BCEN CPEN® 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 BCEN CPEN
What is the BCEN CPEN exam?
The BCEN Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN) is the only specialty certification for emergency nurses caring for children. Jointly developed by BCEN and ENA.
How many questions are on the BCEN CPEN exam, and how long is it?
175 questions (150 scored + 25 pretest) · 3 hours
What is the passing score for the BCEN CPEN exam?
113 / 150 scored items correct (~75%)
How much does the BCEN CPEN exam cost?
$380 USD (non-member) · $285 ENA member · $195 military · retest $200
Are there prerequisites for the BCEN CPEN exam?
Active, unrestricted RN license; 2 years of pediatric-emergency experience recommended but not required
How long is the BCEN CPEN certification valid?
4 years (100 CE contact hours for recertification by attestation, or retest)
How many questions does the BCEN CPEN bank have?
500 questions, organized into 6 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 BCEN CPEN® 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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