CHESTLearning & EventsCHEST Critical Care APP Certification Exam

CHEST Critical Care APP Certification Exam

Validate your clinical competence, and earn the CCAPP credential

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Transform your knowledge and experience into impact

As an advanced practice provider (APP), you are a vital part of the critical care team. The CHEST Critical Care APP (CCAPP) Certification Exam assesses your clinical critical care knowledge and competence. Successfully earning the CCAPP credential can offer:

  • Enhanced credibility and recognition
  • Increased personal fulfillment and professional growth
  • A competitive edge in the job market
  • Satisfaction from your contribution to improved health care quality

Questions? Contact certification@chestnet.org

CCAPP exam details

Timing and fees

The CCAPP exam will be offered online twice in 2026. You can apply for either the spring or the fall exam period.

Spring exam period: April 21 to May 8, 2026 (application deadline April 14)
Fall exam period: October 27 to November 13, 2026 (application deadline October 23)

Before you can register to take the exam, you’ll need to fill out an application. CHEST staff will then review your application within 10 business days to ensure you meet the eligibility requirements. If you are approved, you’ll receive an email with a link to complete your exam registration.

Application fee: $25
Exam registration fee: $325

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CERTIFICATION HANDBOOK | This handbook outlines the eligibility requirements of the CCAPP certification program, including application instructions, exam rules, and program policies. VIEW HANDBOOK »

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible to take the certification exam, you must:

  • Be an adult acute care-certified* nurse practitioner (NP) or physician associate/assistant (PA) actively practicing in critical care in the United States
  • Have accrued a minimum of 2,000 hours in critical care practice in the last three years, which may include NP/PA postgraduate time spent in a critical care orientation and/or fellowship program
  • Have attestation from a supervisor or medical director confirming experience (using this form)

*ACNPC-BC (AACN) or AGACNP-BC (ANCC)

Exam specifications

CHEST used a rigorous and data-driven approach aligning with professional certification standards to determine the 11 topic areas on the exam. Exam questions are focused on foundational areas for practicing critical care that are meaningful across these different ICU environments.

VIEW FULL SPECIFICATIONS »

VIEW CERTIFICATION REFERENCES »

Cardiovascular system: 17%

 

Diagnostics and procedures: 5%

 

Gastrointestinal system: 7%

 

Hematologic and oncologic disorders: 5%

 

Infectious disease: 7%

 

Neurologic system: 8%

 

Patient-centered care, health equity, and ethics: 7%

 

Pharmacology and toxicology: 8%

 

Pulmonary system: 17%

 

Renal, endocrine, and metabolic systems: 12%

 

Special considerations: surgical, trauma, and obstetrics: 7%

 

Celebrating our CCAPP certificants

CHEST is thrilled to recognize the APPs who have received the CCAPP certification. Join us in celebrating their achievements.

VIEW LIST OF CCAPPS

Education to support your career journey

A group of smiling attendees
LIVE COURSE

Critical Care Review for APPs: CCAPP Exam Prep

Attend in person or virtually to review core critical care topics, including cardiac emergencies, pulmonary system, gastrointestinal system, and more.
Essential Critical Care Concepts for APPs
EXPERT LECTURES

Essential Critical Care Concepts for APPs

Watch more than 23 hours of lectures on topics such as respiratory failure and mechanical support, cardiovascular critical care, and hematologic and oncologic critical care.
CHEST SEEK Critical Care Flashcards
DIGITAL FLASHCARDS

Critical Care Flashcards for APPs

Test and validate your knowledge of core critical care concepts with this set of 100+ digital flashcards.

MORE APP RESOURCES | Explore educational materials, research articles, and more curated specifically for APPs. VISIT THE HUB »

APP CERTIFICATION FACULTY

The CHEST Critical Care APP Certification Exam was developed, evaluated, and approved by subject matter experts—including NPs, PAs, physician consultants, and psychometricians—to ensure that it provides a fair and reliable estimate of proficiency.

Critical Care APP Steering Committee
Leeah Sloan, MS, PA-C, CCAPP, FCCP (Co-Chair)
Arzu Adîgüzel, EdD, ACNP-BC, CCRN-CMC, CNEcl, CCAPP (Co-Chair)
Jack D. Buckley, MD, MPH, FCCP
Neil Freedman, MD, FCCP
Hayley Gershengorn, MD, FCCP


Timothy J. Kinsey, DMSc, PA-C, CCAPP, FCCP
Kristina Kordesch, MSN, AG-ACNP, CCAPP
Danielle McCamey, DNP, MS, BSN, RN, ACNP, CCAPP, FCCP
Todd Rice, MD, FCCP
Allison Wynes, DNP, ACNP, CCAPP, FCCP

Critical Care APP Certification Development
Olga Amusina, DNP, ACNP, CCAPP
Muneer Bhatt, PA-C, CCAPP
Ryan Bierle, DMSc, PA-C, CCAPP
Kirstin Brainard, DNP, AGACNP-BC, FNP-BC, CCAPP
Karin Clifton, MSN, ACNP-BC, CCAPP
Vincent DeRienzo, MSPA, PA-C, CCAPP
Carolyn Dickens, PhD, MBA, APRN-FPA, FAANP, FAAN, CCAPP
Anna Duchnowska, DNP, AGACNP-BC, CCAPP
Monica Esquivel, MSN, ACNP, CCAPP
Daniel J. Ford, MSN, APRN-BC, CCAPP
Kalina Gorczyca, DNP, ACNP, APRN-BC, CCAPP
Kelli Holland, MSN, APRN, ACNPC-AG, CCAPP
Dawn Jeannerat, MSN, ACNP, CCAPP
April Kapu, DNP, ACNP-BC, APRN, CCAPP
Meghan Kirkland, MPAS, PA-C, CCAPP
Janna Landsperger, MSN, APRN-BC, CCAPP, FCCP
Christine Lawlor, MSN, APRN-BC, CCAPP


Danny Lizano, MSHS, PA-C, CCAPP
Theresa Lombardo, DNP, APRN, CCAPP
Susan McMillen, MSN, RN, CNP, ACNP-BC, CCAPP
Jacob Miller, DNP, MBA, ACNP, ENP-C, CNS, NRP, FAEN, FAEMS, CCAPP
Hannah Pop, DNP, AGACNP-BC, CCAPP
Thomas Pedigo, MSc, PA-C, CCAPP
Todd Ray, DNP, ARNP-C, ACNP, CCAPP
Rose Mary Rodrigues, MSN, MBA, AGACNP-BC, BSN, RN, CCRN, SCR, CCAPP
Jeffrey Schultz, MSN, APRN-BC, CCAPP
Christopher Seligman, MSN, ACNP, CCAPP
Jessica Shelnutt, MMSc-PA, PA-C, CCAPP
Michelle Urquhart, MSN, AGACNP-BC, FNP, CCAPP
Rhea Votipka, MSN, ACCNS, AG-ACNP, CCAPP, FCCP
Lauren Wiley, MSPAS, PA-C, CCAPP
Steven Wiseman, MSN, CCRN, CCAPP
Lilly Zenor, MPAS, PA-C, CCAPP