If you need help studying for the Certified Dialysis Nurse (CDN) exam or just want some more information about what the exam is like, you’ve come to the right place.
Click below to access free Certified Dialysis Nurse exam practice questions!
What’s on the CDN Exam?
How to Register
CDN Exam Scores
Retaking the Exam
Online CDN Prep Course
FAQs
CDN Eligibility
Before you can register to take the CDN exam, you’ll need to have your full RN license.
You also need to obtain the following:
- At least 2,000 hours of nephrology nursing experience within the last three years (specifically caring for patients who require or may require dialysis)
- At least 20 contact hours of continuing education in nephrology nursing within the last two years.
If you meet these requirements, you’re set to begin the registration process!
What’s on the CDN Exam?
First, let’s talk about the questions on the exam. There are 150 multiple-choice questions total, but only 125 of the questions will count toward your score. Why is that?
The 25 unscored questions on the CDN exam are called “pilot” questions. These are added to the exam to determine if they’re good enough questions to add to future versions of the test.
The trick is that you won’t have any way of knowing which questions are scored and which ones are pilot questions. They will appear just like the scored questions throughout the test.
The time limit for the exam is 3 hours. There aren’t any scheduled breaks, but you’re free to take restroom breaks as needed.
As you’ll see below, each question on the exam is categorized into both a content area and an objective area. This is because each question is testing you in two different ways: what you know (content) and how you apply it (objective).
Here’s the breakdown of the content and objective areas:
How to Register
Once you’ve ensured that you meet all of the eligibility requirements, you can register for the exam!
Just to give you a heads-up – there’s no way to submit an application online; you’ll need to print out and mail your application.
To get started, you’ll need to download an application form from NNCC’s website. Once you’ve filled out all of the necessary information, you’ll need to attach a copy of your high school diploma (or verification of your GED) and a copy of your driver’s license or other government-issued ID to the application.
The last step is mailing your application and a money order or cashier’s check to C-NET.
The testing fee is $350, but there are several other fees you may incur for a variety of different reasons:
CDN Exam Scores
The CDN test is scored using two methods: the Angoff method and scaled scoring.
Here’s how they work:
A group of subject-matter experts take an educated guess at the percentage of candidates who would correctly answer each question on the test. These estimates are then averaged to set a cut-off score, which test-takers must meet or exceed to pass. This method aims to ensure the pass threshold reflects the level of knowledge or skill that is deemed minimally acceptable for a particular profession or field.
Scaled Scoring
For every question you answer correctly, you get one point added to your raw score. At the end of the test, your final raw score will be converted to a scaled score. You’ll need a score of at least 95 to pass the test, which means you’ll need to answer at least 70% of the questions correctly to pass.
The reason your raw score is converted to a scaled score is because everyone who takes the CDN exam is given a slightly different set of questions. Since everyone has a different arrangement of questions, and because some questions are harder than others, converting your raw score to a scaled score ensures a more even playing field.
CDN Study Guide and Flashcards
Get practice questions, detailed study lessons, and complex subjects broken down into easily understandable concepts.
Online CDN Prep Course
If you want to be fully prepared, Mometrix offers an online CDN prep course. The course is designed to provide you with any and every resource you might want while studying. The CDN course includes:
- Review Lessons Covering Every Topic
- 600+ CDN Practice Questions
- More than 450 Digital Flashcards
- Money-back Guarantee
- Free Mobile Access
- and More!
The CDN prep course is designed to help any learner get everything they need to prepare for their CDN exam. Click below to check it out!
Retaking the Exam
If you didn’t get a passing score on your first try, that’s okay! You can retake the test as many times as you want.
FAQs
How many questions are on the Certified Dialysis Nurse exam?
The exam contains 150 questions.
What is the time limit for the Certified Dialysis Nurse exam?
The exam is timed at 3 hours.
What is the passing score for the Certified Dialysis Nurse exam?
You’ll need to get a final score of at least 95 to pass the exam.
How much does the Certified Dialysis Nurse exam cost?
The testing fee is $350.
