CACP Exam Dates

The CACP exam is offered approximately 2-3 times per month. You do NOT need to select an exam date or exam site before applying. If your application is approved, your approval notification email will contain instructions for scheduling your CACP exam. You must take the exam at an approved exam site at an approved date/time within 12 months of your approval notification. Please review the Candidate Handbook for additional details.

After reviewing the Candidate Handbook in its entirety, click here to complete your online application.

Click here to view currently available exam dates and approved testing sites.

Approved Testing Centers

The CACP exam must be taken at an approved testing center. The majority of the approved testing centers belong to the National College Testing Association. If you are approved to sit for the CACP exam, your approval notifcation email will contain instructions for locating an approved testing center and making an appointment to take your CACP exam.

Click here to view currently available exam dates and approved testing sites.

About the CACP Exam

For complete details about the CACP credentialling process, please download the CACP Candidate Handbook. Some key details about the process are described below.

The Certified Anticoagulation Care Provider Exam covers the 5 domains shown below, weighted according to domain content.

Objectives of Certification

The National Certification Board for Anticoagulation Providers (NCBAP) endorses voluntary certification of anticoagulation providers who meet education and patient-care requirements. The purpose of the certification process is to meet a societal need to protect public health and well being by:

1. Providing an accepted assessment of current knowledge, skills and competencies necessary for individuals providing direct anticoagulation education and therapeutic management.
2. Promoting individual professional growth and development in the practice of anticoagulation therapy.
3. Nationally recognizing and validating anticoagulation providers who fulfill certification requirements.

This certification process is designed and intended for practitioners whose primary role as an anticoagulation provider includes systematic, organized, and on-going patient education and therapeutic management in the inpatient and/or outpatient setting.

Definition of Anticoagulation Provider Responsibilities

A Certified Anticoagulation Care Provider (CACP) is a health care professional who:

• provides documentation of 750 hours of active anticoagulation patient management in the preceding 18 months prior to the application deadline
• demonstrates achievement of advanced knowledge and skills by passing a comprehensive examination
• has experience consistent with the applicant’s scope of practice for the state in which he/she practices

This set of knowledge and skills are routinely drawn upon in the course of education and managing patients receiving antithrombotic therapies. Specific competencies demonstrated by a Certified Anticoagulation Care Provider include:

1. A working knowledge of the normal physiological processes of hemostasis and thrombosis, and the etiology, risk factors and clinical manifestations of pathologic thrombus formation
2. Knowledge of the pharmacological properties of antithrombotic drugs
3. Knowledge, skills and ability necessary to manage and monitor patients receiving antithrombotic therapies. This includes assessment of efficacy and potential toxicity, achievement of therapeutic goals, and evaluation of patient-related variables that affect therapy management.
4. Ability to provide patient education regarding antithrombotic therapy, including: individualized patient assessment, formulation of an educational plan with specific goals and objectives, implementation of an educational plan, and assessment and evaluation of patient knowledge and skills pertaining to anticoagulation therapy

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible to take the certification examination, applicants must meet and provide documentation of professional qualification and professional experience as outlined below.

Professional Qualification: To be eligible, the candidate must hold his/her professional license for a minimum of 2 years prior to the application deadline and must provide a copy of a current United States (or territories) license, registration, or certification as a:

Registered Nurse (RN), Advance Practice Nurse (NP), registered or licensed pharmacist (BS pharmacy or Pharm.D.), licensed physician (MD), or physician assistant (PA)

The list above is exhaustive. An applicant MUST hold at least one of the professional licenses listed above to be eligible to sit for the CACP exam.

Professional Experience: The applicant must provide documentation of a minimum of 750 hours of active anticoagulation patient management in the 18 months immediately preceding the application deadline. Such documentation will be provided as follows:

1. When completing the online application, the applicant must attest to having provided a minimum of 750 hours of active anticoagulation patient management. This experience must have been accrued within the 18 months immediately preceding the application deadline.
2. The applicant must provide a written description of current activities pertaining to anticoagulation therapy management. The written description should be 500 words or fewer and should describe the applicant’s general practice and experience specifically in antithrombotic therapy management. Duration and types of activities should be described, including number of patients, practice setting, management of clinic, the applicant’s roles and responsibilities, and co-workers, etc. Paragraph format should be used; a resume or curriculum vitae will not suffice.
3. The applicant must provide a work email address (i.e. no hotmail, gmail, etc.) for his/her direct supervisor so that information provided by the applicant can be verified.

Some examples of experiences, which will NOT be counted toward the professional experience requirement include:

• Providing continuing education credit awarded to professionals, or receipt of professional continuing education credit
• General medical, nursing, or pharmacy practice
• Conducting/participating in research activities in which the candidate is NOT involved in direct anticoagulation education and patient management
• Dispensing/prescribing antithrombotic medications or related equipment
• Supervising and managing other professionals
• Membership and committee work in professional organizations
• Any work or experience prior to receipt of license, registration or advanced degree
• Hours of anticoagulation care provided during postgraduate training programs (example: pharmacy or medical residents) cannot be counted towards the 750 hours

Certification Status and Use of Certification Mark

Only the National Certification Board confers the Certified Anticoagulation Care Provider (CACP) credential for Anticoagulation Providers.

Certification is a process granting recognition to an individual who has satisfactorily met all eligibility requirements and has passed the examination. After notification of passing the CACP Examination, an individual may use the mark "CACP" following his/her name as long as he/she maintains a current CACP credential.

Recertification

The National Certification Board for Anticoagulation Providers requires all CACPs to recertify by examination every five (5) years. At least 10 weeks prior to his/her credential expiration date and the desired exam date, an applicant for recertification should submit a new application packet according to the current application procedures as described on the NCBAP website. The applicant should note available recertification dates and ensure that he/she applies in time to sit for an examination scheduled on or before the date on which his/her credential expires.

Applicants for recertification are required to meet the same professional qualification and experience eligibility requirements imposed on first-time applicants. See the section entitled "Eligibility Requirements" for additional details.

Preparation for the Examination

The exam content is based primarily on national recommendations and guidelines from nationally-recognized authorities in antithrombotic therapy. Refer to the "Examination Content and Format" section of the CACP Candidate Handbook for a complete breakdown of domains covered on the CACP exam and see Appendix for additional details and references.

The NCBAP does not endorse, financially benefit from, nor participate in the development of any preparatory or review courses or other published materials purporting to be study guides for the CACP Examination.

For additional details and complete application instructions, please download the CACP Candidate Handbook.