Certified Foundational Perioperative Nurse
The Certified Foundational Perioperative Nurse (CFPN®) credential is designed to give perioperative nurses a firm foundation for career-long professional development success. CFPN assesses the knowledge and skills of an early career perioperative nurse with under 23 months of experience from the initial hire date in the OR. Earning this credential provides nurses with a firm foundation for career-long professional development success and provides a fast track to CNOR and CNAMB.
Important Notice
SYSTEM UPDATE: Our testing partner, PSI will no longer support Windows 10 or macOS Ventura for online testing after October 14, 2025. Test takers must update their systems in advance to avoid disruptions during their exam sessions.
Certification Update
CCI’s 2024 Job Task Analysis results have been adopted, streamlining CNOR® and CFPN® exams from seven to six consolidated competency areas launching in 2027. This evidence-based evolution maintains rigorous standards while improving assessment efficiency.
CFPN Certification
Exam Overview
2hr.30min.
To complete the exam
120
Multiple choice questions
COMPUTER-BASED EXAM
Results are pass or no pass
CFPN Certification
Subject Areas
Communication and Documentation
11%
Infection Prevention and Control
16%
Emergency Situations
10%
Professional Accountability
6%
Individualized Plan of Care Development and Expected Outcome Identification
8%
Pre/postoperative Patient Assessment & Diagnosis
15%
Intraoperative Care
34%
CFPN Requirements:
Check Your CFPN Eligibility
CFPN Certification
Application Process
Confirm your eligibility.
Determine when you would like to take the exam. Your testing window will begin the calendar month after your application is approved. Your exam may be taken at an in-person testing center or via remote proctor from the location of your choice.
You may submit your application online at any time by creating a CCI account or logging into your existing account.
Schedule your knowledge-based test by clicking on the “PSI Exam Scheduling” button in your CCI account after your application is submitted. For additional testing center information, please refer to the CFPN Handbook.
Month 1
Apply
Month 2
Month 3
Testing Window
Month 4
CFPN Application Fee
The CFPN certification application fee is $250. CFPN certification puts nurses on a fast track to CNOR and CNAMB with lessened eligibility requirements; however, earning the CFPN is not a requirement to apply for CNOR or CNAMB certifications. CFPN credential holders will also receive a discount on CNOR and CNAMB certification application fees.
CCI offers volume discounts for health systems seeking to certify multiple nurses. Download the CFPN Facility Order Forms to enroll.
Application Fee
$250
CFPN Extension Year
Active CFPNs have the option to extend their credential an additional 12 months while preparing to earn either the CNOR or CNAMB certifications. Apply for CFPN Extension Year by logging into your CCI account and completing the online application.
Price of Extension
$100
Making Certification More Affordable
Great news! You can now use tax-advantaged 529 plans to pay for your CCI certification, renewal fees, and continuing education.
This federal expansion makes professional development more accessible than ever.
Material Questions Are Pulled From:
Guidelines for Perioperative Practice
AORN. (current edition). Guidelines for perioperative practice. AORN.
Berry and Kohn’s Operating Room Technique
Phillips, N., & Hornacky, A. (Eds.). (2021). Berry and Kohn’s operating room technique (14th ed.). Elsevier.
Alexander’s Care of the Patient in Surgery
Rothrock, J. C. (Ed.). (2023). Alexander’s care of the patient in surgery (17th ed.). Elsevier.
Drain’s Perianesthesia Nursing: A Critical Care Approach
Odom-Forren, J. (Ed.). (2024). Drain’s perianesthesia nursing: A critical care approach (8th ed.) Elsevier.
These texts are the primary references for the CFPN exam. Download our CFPN Study Plan for reference material by subject area.
CCI periodically conducts test development activities to capture the current knowledge and skill set required of perioperative nurses upon completion of their orientation. A complete list of test development committees is presented in CFPN® task and knowledge statements.
Get Prepared
CFPN Exam Resources
CFPN Certification Webinars
Learn more about CFPN certification and have your questions answered by CCI staff.
CFPN Exam Study Outline
Develop a personalized study plan with CCI’s free preparation tool.
CFPN Handbook
The complete guide on the CFPN credential.
CFPN Practice Questions
Explore the format and structure of CFPN exam questions.
Get Prepared
CFPN Exam Preparation
Exam Prep Product Disclaimer: As a certification organization, CCI’s role is developing and administering certification examinations. CCI does not require or endorse any specific study guides, review products, or training courses. Candidates may prepare for certification examinations with any educational materials they choose. The purchase of CCI review materials is not a requirement for testing, nor does the use of any review materials (CCI or otherwise) imply successful performance on the certification examinations. No study resources are prerequisites for the certification examinations.
