Certified Ambulatory Surgery Nurse
The Certified Ambulatory Surgery Nurse (CNAMB®) certification is designed for perioperative nurses working in the ambulatory surgery setting who are seeking to improve and validate their professional competencies. The CNAMB certification assesses the knowledge and skills of a perioperative nurse with a minimum of two years of clinical practice in the ambulatory surgery setting. Earning the certification is a mark of distinction and recognizes the important role nurses play in delivering safe patient care.
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.
CNAMB Certification
Exam Overview
3hr.45min.
To complete the exam
200
Multiple choice questions
COMPUTER-BASED EXAM
Results are pass or no pass
CNAMB Certification
Subject Areas
Emergency Situations
5%
Instrument Processing and Supply Management
8%
Management of Personnel, Services, and Materials
9%
Professional Accountability
10%
Postoperative/Transfer of Care
10%
Intraoperative Care
20%
Preoperative Patient Assessment & Diagnosis
14%
Preoperative Plan of Care
12%
Communication
12%
CNAMB Requirements:
Check Your CNAMB Eligibility
CNAMB 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 exam 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 CNAMB Handbook.
Month 1
Apply
Month 2
Month 3
Testing Window
Month 4
CNAMB Application Fee
During the online certification application process, nurses have the option to register for a single exam take or benefit from the CNAMB Take 2 program. The CNAMB Take 2 program allows a CNAMB-eligible nurse to take the exam twice in a 12-month period if the first attempt is unsuccessful. For more information on the Take 2 program, please see the CNAMB Handbook.
CCI offers volume discounts for health systems seeking to certify multiple nurses. Download the CNAMB Take 2 Facility Order Forms to enroll.
Application Fee
$400
OR
CNAMB Take 2 for
$450
2 chances to pass the exam
$400
CNAMB Single Take
$450
CNAMB Take 2
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 CNAMB exam. Download our CNAMB Study Plan for reference material by subject area.
CCI periodically conducts test development activities to develop and maintain the CNAMB® exam consistent with accreditation standards. A complete list of test development committees is presented in CNAMB® task and knowledge statements.
Get Prepared
CNAMB Exam Resources
CNAMB Certification Webinars
Learn more about exam subject areas and test-taking strategies.
CNAMB Exam Study Outline
Develop a personalized study plan with CCI’s free preparation tool.
CNAMB Handbook
The complete guide on the CNAMB credential.
CNAMB Practice Questions
Explore the format and structure of CNAMB exam questions.
Get Prepared
CNAMB 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.
