Healthcare certification exams, compared row by row
- Covered
- 4 exams in 3 fields
- Awarded by
- HPCC, IC&RC, and BRPT
- Last read
This directory lists the healthcare certification exams covered on Pass on Day One: two HPCC nursing exams, the IC&RC exam behind board titles such as CADC and CAC, and the BRPT exam for sleep technologists. Each field gets its own table first, because the questions candidates ask differ by field. After that come four comparisons that cut across fields: scoring, pass rates, retakes and the outline each exam follows.
On this page 8 sections
Hospice and palliative nursing: CHPN and ACHPN
| Fact | CHPN. Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse · HPCC Practice test Exam info | ACHPN. Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse · HPCC Practice test Exam info |
|---|---|---|
| Who can sit | RN + 500 h in 12 months or 1,000 h in 24 [1][2] | APRN + NP/CNS program + 500 h in 12 months or 1,000 h in 24 [3][4] |
| Questions | 150 [2] | 175 [3] |
| Exam time | 3 h [2] | 3.5 h [3] |
| Member price | $305 [1][2] | $355 [3][4] |
| Exam fee | ≈ $445. Credential page price; the December 2025 handbook lists $455 (read Nov 11, 2026). [1][2] | $515 [3][4] |
| Testing dates | Mar · Jun · Sep · Dec [1][2] | Mar · Jun · Sep · Dec [3][4] |
Both HPCC exams share testing windows, PSI delivery and an identical cut score. What separates them is the license you hold and the outline: the advanced exam is longer, 175 questions against 150, and its largest section, Assessment and Data Collection, has 44 items. The hospice and palliative nursing page explains which one fits your role.
Facts in this part come from [26]
Addiction counseling: the IC&RC ADC
| Fact | IC&RC ADC. Alcohol and Drug Counselor · IC&RC Practice test Exam info |
|---|---|
| Credential | Board title, IC&RC ADC level [5][6] |
| Questions | 150 [7] |
| Exam time | 3 h [7] |
| Exam fee | ≈ $175–$225. Confirm on your board's own fee page (read Nov 11, 2026). [8][9][10][11] |
| Where you test | Test center or online (board allows) [5] |
| Renewal cycle | 2 years [5][12] |
One exam, many titles. IC&RC sets the questions and the scoring, while your board sets the fee, the renewal cycle and the name on your certificate, and also decides whether you may test from home. The addiction counseling page maps titles such as CADC and LADC to the boards we checked.
Sleep technology: the RPSGT
| Fact | RPSGT. Registered Polysomnographic Technologist · BRPT Practice test Exam info |
|---|---|
| Who can sit | BLS + 1 of 5 pathways [13][14][15] |
| Clinical hours required | 960 h [13][14] |
| Questions | 175 [14][16] |
| Exam time | 3 h [14] |
| Exam fee | $550 [14][17] |
| Where you test | Test center only [14][17] |
The sleep exam is the only one here with no online option: every sitting is at a Pearson VUE center. Its fee is also the highest of the four. The sleep technology page sets the registry credential beside the entry-level CPSGT and credentials from other organizations.
How each exam is scored
| Exam | Passing score | How it is scored | Score report | Results | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHPN. Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse · HPCC Practice test Exam info | 500 (scale 200–800) | Scaled, equated forms | Pass/fail + scaled score + domain % | On screen; report within 24 h | [2] |
| ACHPN. Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse · HPCC Practice test Exam info | 500 (scale 200–800) | Scaled, equated forms | Pass/fail + scaled score + domain % | On screen; report within 24 h | [3] |
| IC&RC ADC. Alcohol and Drug Counselor · IC&RC Practice test Exam info | 500 (scale 200–800) | Scaled, modified Angoff | Pass/fail (+ domain % if you fail) | On screen, then 2–3 weeks | [5][18] |
| RPSGT. Registered Polysomnographic Technologist · BRPT Practice test Exam info | 350 (scale 200–500) | Scaled, equated forms | Pass/fail + domain levels | Immediately | [14] |
None of these cut scores is a percentage. Every body reports results on its own scale and equates its forms, which means the raw count needed to reach the cut may move a little between versions of the exam.
Pass rates the boards publish
| Exam | Pass rate | Credential holders | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHPN. Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse · HPCC Practice test Exam info | 69.3% (2025) | 7,283 | [19] |
| ACHPN. Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse · HPCC Practice test Exam info | 70.4% (2025) | 2,628 | [19] |
| RPSGT. Registered Polysomnographic Technologist · BRPT Practice test Exam info | 40.1% (2025) | 16,728 | [20] |
HPCC reports first-time candidates, while BRPT reports all candidates, so the two rates do not measure quite the same thing. No pass rate for the IC&RC ADC exam appears in the IC&RC documents we read, which is why it has no row here.
Sitting the exam again
| Exam | Wait before a retake | Retake limit | Retake fee | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHPN. Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse · HPCC Practice test Exam info | Next window | Unlimited | $135 (reTEST) | [2][21] |
| ACHPN. Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse · HPCC Practice test Exam info | Next window | Unlimited | $135 (reTEST) | [3][21] |
| IC&RC ADC. Alcohol and Drug Counselor · IC&RC Practice test Exam info | 90 days | Remediation after 4 fails | Board fee. Confirm on your board's own fee page (read Nov 11, 2026). | [5][22] |
| RPSGT. Registered Polysomnographic Technologist · BRPT Practice test Exam info | None | Unlimited | $550 | [14][17][23] |
Which outline each exam follows
| Exam | Content outline in force | Upcoming change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHPN. Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse · HPCC Practice test Exam info | 2021 job analysis outline | 2027 outline posted. Checked on the credential page (read Nov 11, 2026). | [1][2][24][25] |
| ACHPN. Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse · HPCC Practice test Exam info | 2021 job analysis outline | 2027 outline posted. Checked on the credential page (read Nov 11, 2026). | [3][4][26][27] |
| IC&RC ADC. Alcohol and Drug Counselor · IC&RC Practice test Exam info | 2022 guide (exam since Mar 1, 2023) | None announced. IC&RC posts exam updates with its candidate guides (read Nov 11, 2026). | [7][28][29] |
| RPSGT. Registered Polysomnographic Technologist · BRPT Practice test Exam info | 2023 blueprint | None announced. BRPT announces new exam forms in its handbook and news (read Nov 11, 2026). | [14][16] |
Two of the four outlines already have a successor posted, without a start date; each hospice study guide sets the current and posted section sizes side by side. The counselor and sleep exams have no change announced.
Sources
- [1]HPCC: CHPN (Registered Nurse) credential page advancingexpertcare.org, consulted Nov 11, 2026
- [2]HPCC: CHPN Computer Based Examination Candidate Handbook, December 2025 (PDF) advancingexpertcare.org, consulted Nov 11, 2026
- [3]HPCC: ACHPN Computer Based Examination Candidate Handbook, December 2025 (PDF) advancingexpertcare.org, consulted Nov 11, 2026
- [4]HPCC: ACHPN (Advanced Practice RN) credential page advancingexpertcare.org, consulted Nov 11, 2026
- [5]IC&RC: General Candidate Guide, updated April 1, 2025 (PDF) internationalcredentialing.org, consulted Nov 11, 2026
- [6]IC&RC: Member boards internationalcredentialing.org, consulted Nov 11, 2026
- [7]IC&RC: Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) Candidate Guide, effective November 2022 (PDF) internationalcredentialing.org, consulted Nov 11, 2026
- [8]Florida Certification Board: Fees flcertificationboard.org, consulted Nov 11, 2026
- [9]Maine IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) exam form form.jotform.com, consulted Nov 11, 2026
- [10]MCBAP (Michigan): Payments mcbap.com, consulted Nov 11, 2026
- [11]Illinois Certification Board: Schedule of fees, effective July 1, 2025 (PDF) iaodapca.org, consulted Nov 11, 2026
- [12]IC&RC: Credentials and minimum standards internationalcredentialing.org, consulted Nov 11, 2026
- [13]BRPT: RPSGT eligibility brpt.org, consulted Nov 11, 2026
- [14]BRPT: RPSGT Candidate Handbook (web page) brpt.org, consulted Nov 11, 2026
- [15]BRPT: Healthcare credentials accepted for RPSGT pathway 2 brpt.org, consulted Nov 11, 2026
- [16]BRPT: RPSGT exam blueprint brpt.org, consulted Nov 11, 2026
- [17]BRPT: RPSGT FAQs brpt.org, consulted Nov 11, 2026
- [18]IC&RC: Scores and verification internationalcredentialing.org, consulted Nov 11, 2026
- [19]HPCC: Exam statistics (2025 exam results) advancingexpertcare.org, consulted Nov 11, 2026
- [20]BRPT: RPSGT credential page (holders and pass statistics) brpt.org, consulted Nov 11, 2026
- [21]HPCC: reTEST Assured program advancingexpertcare.org, consulted Nov 11, 2026
- [22]IC&RC: Retakes, disclosure, grievance and appeals internationalcredentialing.org, consulted Nov 11, 2026
- [23]BRPT: RPSGT application process brpt.org, consulted Nov 11, 2026
- [24]HPCC: CHPN Detailed Content Outline, current exam (PDF) advancingexpertcare.org, consulted Nov 11, 2026
- [25]HPCC: 2027 CHPN Exam Content Outline (PDF, posted 2026) advancingexpertcare.org, consulted Nov 11, 2026
- [26]HPCC: ACHPN Detailed Content Outline, current exam (PDF) advancingexpertcare.org, consulted Nov 11, 2026
- [27]HPCC: 2027 ACHPN Exam Content Outline (PDF, posted 2026) advancingexpertcare.org, consulted Nov 11, 2026
- [28]IC&RC notice of the updated ADC and PS exams (March 1, 2023), posted by the New Hampshire OPLC (PDF, archived copy) web.archive.org, consulted Nov 11, 2026
- [29]IC&RC: Exam prep and study materials internationalcredentialing.org, consulted Nov 11, 2026