The Certified Hospice and Palliative Nursing (CHPN) exam is considered moderately challenging, particularly for nurses without substantial hands-on experience in hospice or palliative care settings. Administered by the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC), the CHPN exam tests clinical knowledge across pain management, symptom control, care planning, ethical decision-making, and interdisciplinary collaboration core competencies in end-of-life care.
What makes the CHPN exam difficult isn’t just its breadth, but the depth of scenario-based questions requiring critical thinking rather than rote memorization. Many test-takers report that items often present nuanced patient situations where multiple answers seem plausible, demanding strong clinical judgment. Unlike entry-level nursing exams, the CHPN assumes prior experience candidates must have at least 500 hours of hospice/palliative nursing practice in the past 12 months (or 1,000 hours over the past 24 months).
Pass rates hover around 70–75%, suggesting it’s passable with focused preparation but not easily aced without targeted study. Successful candidates typically use HPCC’s official resources, including the Core Curriculum for Hospice and Palliative Nursing, and take practice exams that mirror the test’s structure. Time management during the 3-hour, 150-question exam is also a common hurdle.
For nurses aiming to validate specialized skills and advance in palliative care, passing the CHPN exam demonstrates both competence and commitment. While it’s more demanding than general nursing certifications, thorough preparation grounded in real-world experience significantly boosts success odds.
Ready to earn your CHPN credential? Start with an official content outline, pair it with scenario-based practice questions, and ensure your clinical hours meet eligibility because in hospice and palliative nursing, experience isn’t just preferred; it’s essential.