Apply and Register for the NP/PA-CCKE

This is a comprehensive assessment of clinical cardiovascular knowledge, designed for more experienced NP or PA clinicians. It is not intended for those who are newly out of training.

Eligibility Requirements

• Practicing NPs/PAs in the United States
• Minimum of 2,000 hours in cardiovascular medicine in the last 3 years, with a portion of that time spent in direct cardiovascular patient care
• Professional Associate Recommendations to confirm experience

NP/PA fellows and residents who are completing a post-graduate training program are encouraged to apply for the CCKE!

• To be eligible, you must have completed a fellowship or residency program before the date of the next CCKE exam
• If you meet this requirement and would like to apply, please submit documentation verifying the completion of your post-graduate training program, along with your formal CV and all other required application materials.

View a print-friendly list of eligibility requirements.

Application Instructions

Submit the application fee and complete the online application before the deadline.

• Submit $30 nonrefundable registration fee.
• Review and acknowledge legal agreement
• Complete online application. You will also need to submit:
• Your current NP or PA license with a date of expiration
• Information about your cardiovascular medicine experience
• A professional association recommendation
• CCKE Professional Associate Recommendation Fillable PDF
• CCKE Professional Associate Recommendation Print PDF

No application will be reviewed without complete information and an application fee payment.

Step 1: Ready to Apply?

• Application fee (nonrefundable): $30
• Please allow at least four weeks for your application to be reviewed.

Once your application has been reviewed, you will receive an email notification regarding your approval status.

Step 2: Once Approved, Register for the CCKE

Group Registration

Hospitals and practices that register three or more approved applicants from the same institution at the same time and complete the exam will receive the following benefits:

• The $30 application fee will be waived for applicants registered at the same time.
• The hospital/practice will be recognized on ACC.org for its commitment to providing the highest quality of care.
• ACC will issue a personalized certificate for display, acknowledging the hospital's or practice's dedication to delivering high-quality cardiovascular care.

Hospitals and practices that register five or more approved applicants as a group and complete the exam will receive an aggregate report that shows how the team scored on each area of the exam (see an example report).

For additional information regarding group applications and registration, please fill out the forms below and submit them to Brenda Hindle at bhindle@acc.org.

• Group Registration Form
• CCKE-NP-PA Institutional Agreement
• CCKE-NP-PA Group Consent Form
• Professional Associate Recommendation
• Example Aggregate Score Report

Special Testing Accommodations & Accessibility Considerations

The American College of Cardiology provides reasonable accommodations to examinees with documented needs for special accommodation. Examinees wishing to request accommodation should submit a completed request form and supporting documentation at least 60 days prior to the exam date. Submit requests to ccke-nppa@acc.org.