NCSN Online Study Group – Week 6: Wrap Up
Spring 2026 Exam Information
Thinking of testing this Spring? Be sure to review the key dates:
- Spring Testing Window: March 1 – April 5, 2026
- Application Window: CLOSED
Visit www.nbcsn.org to begin your application and download the Candidate Handbook.
Not ready to test yet? NBCSN has testing windows three times per year!
- Summer Testing Window: July 9 - August 16, 2026
- Registration Window: April 6 - June 9, 2026
- Fall Testing Window: October 22 - November 22, 2026
- Registration Window: August 17 - September 22, 2026
Exam applications will not be visible/available until the application window opens.
Updated Exam Content Outline – Summer 2025 and Beyond
As a result of the 2023 Job Task Analysis (JTA), the NBCSN streamlined and reorganized the Exam Content Outline (ECO) beginning with the Summer 2025 exam. The exam still covers the same essential content-just better organized into four updated domains:
New Exam Content Domains & Number of Questions
|
New Domain
|
# of Questions
|
|
Health Appraisal & Nursing Practice
|
52
|
|
Health Promotion/Disease Prevention
|
41
|
|
School Health Practice Considerations
|
32
|
|
Professional Responsibility
|
50
|
Suggested References
- Selekman & Cogan (2020). School Nursing Certification Review Book.
- Selekman & Knox (2025). School Nursing Certification Review Book.
- Selekman, Shannon, & Yonkaitis (Eds.). School Nursing: A Comprehensive Text (3rd ed.).
- Shannon & Yonkaitis (Eds.). School Nursing: A Comprehensive Text (4th ed.).
Practice Exams:
Practice exams can be purchased directly from the NBCSN website. These are an excellent resource to help you build confidence and become familiar with the question format and timing.
Test-Day Strategies
You have spent the past several weeks preparing, reviewing, and applying your school nursing knowledge. Now it is time to trust your preparation and approach test day with confidence.
Before the Exam
- Get adequate rest the night before the exam.
- Arrive early and bring the required materials, including photo identification and your confirmation email.
- Avoid last-minute cramming; instead, review high-yield topics or key concepts calmly.
During the Exam
- Read each question carefully, paying attention to keywords such as first, best, or most appropriate.
- Trust your professional experience and clinical judgment—your nursing background is one of your strongest assets.
- Monitor your pacing and flag any questions you are unsure about to revisit later.
- If you begin to feel anxious, take slow, deep breaths to regain focus and composure.
After the Exam
- Acknowledge the effort you have invested in this process. Regardless of the outcome, you have strengthened your professional knowledge and advanced your readiness for national certification.
Final Thoughts
These past weeks have gone quickly, and your commitment has been evident throughout. Success on the NCSN exam is built on experience, preparation, and sound test-taking strategy—all of which you have demonstrated.
You are ready. Take a deep breath, trust your preparation, and show what you know. I am confident in your abilities and proud of the dedication you have shown throughout this course.
Best wishes to each of you as you take the next step in your professional journey toward becoming a Nationally Certified School Nurse (NCSN).
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Sarah T. Portle M.Ed., BSN RN, NCSN
Lead Nurse - Arizona State University Preparatory Academy
PhD Student - Arizona State University, Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation
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