Nursing, Nursing Advanced Practice, Exam Prep
So, What’s the CNL® Exam Like?
Jan 22, 2019
With excerpts from Clinical Nurse Leader Certification Review, Third Edition, by Cynthia R. King PhD, MSN, NP, RN, CNL, FAAN, Sally Gerard DNP, RN, CDE, CNL
It pays to be mentally prepared for what’s to come on exam day! Here, we outline what you can expect—from format to timing and everything in between.
The Clinical Nurse Leader certification falls under the Commission on Nurse Certification, or Clinical Nurse Certification, an independent branch of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Nurses who exhibit the required standards and knowledge, along with the eligibility requirements and necessary exam score, can be awarded the CNL® certification. Additionally, the CNC promotes ongoing education through CNL® re-certification requirements.
The Format
Offered only as a computer-based exam, the CNC exam format allows you to take the test in one sitting and get your score as soon as you’re finished. It is one inclusive exam featuring a combination of 140 multiple-choice questions and unfolding case studies.
Helpful Hint: For each section of the unfolding case study, there is only one multiple-choice question with one correct answer; this is also true of the multiple-choice questions, which feature four possible answers among which there is just a single correct one.
The Questions and Time
Of the 140 questions you’ll encounter, only 120 will be counted toward your score; the additional 20 questions are “trial” or “pretest” questions that the exam committee and CNC will use to collect statistics about new questions that may show up as scored questions on future exams.
The exam is based on three major content areas composed of 7 to 23 sub-content areas. These areas, along with the percentage of exam questions devoted to each major content area, can be found in the Examination Content Outline.
Each multiple-choice question and unfolding case study is categorized by a cognitive level that a candidate would likely use to respond:
- Recall—the ability to recall or recognize specific information
- Application—the ability to comprehend, relate, or apply knowledge to new or changing situations
- Analysis—the ability to analyze and synthesize information, determine solutions, and/or evaluate the usefulness of a solution
You will have three hours to complete the exam and no breaks are allotted. It’s likely you won’t need the entire time and you’re able to go back and change your answers at any point during the test. Also, be punctual: Arrive 20 minutes before the test begins and remember that anyone arriving 15 or more minutes late will not be allowed to take the exam.
The Results
The CNL exam is pass/fail. The grading scale extends from 150-500 with a minimum qualifying score of 350.
Once you’ve finished, you’ll get notified instantly whether you passed. If you did, you’ll get an email letting you know (this email will not include your score); if you were unsuccessful, you’ll get your exam score and a diagnostic report to help you when retaking the exam.
If you were successful in passing and want to see your results, you must click on the “View Results” link at the exam site. Results are also communicated by email so be sure to include your most-checked account when completing your exam application. Results include scores in different content areas as well as scores in comparison with the highest possible score in each content area.
The faculty contact for your school will receive aggregate pass/fail reports within 2 weeks, following completion of the testing period (not the exam date).
The Exam Blueprint
The exam blueprint is available from the AACN and was last updated in October 2016 for exams beginning in April of 2017 as follows:
| Domains and Subdomains | Weight (%) |
| Nursing Leadership A. Horizontal Leadership B. Healthcare Advocacy C. Implementation of the CNL® Role D. Lateral Integration of Care Services E. Patient Assessment F. Ethics | 32% |
| Clinical Outcomes Management A. Illness/Disease Management B. Health Promotion and Disease Prevention & Injury Reduction/Prevention Management C. Healthcare Policy | 23% |
| Care Environment Management A. Knowledge Management B. Healthcare Systems/Organizations C. Interprofessional Communication and Collaboration Skills D. Team Coordination E. Quality Improvement and Safety F. Evidence-Based Practice G. Healthcare Finance and Economics H. Healthcare Informatics | 45% |
Resources
Commission on Nurse Certification. (2016, October). Clinical Nurse Leader 2016 Job Analysis Summary & Certification Examination Blueprint. Retrieved September 28, 2018, from http://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/42/CNL/CNL-Exam-Content-Outline-2017.pdf
King, C. R., Gerard, S. O. (2016). Clinical Nurse Leader Certification Review, Second Edition. New York: Springer Publishing.