The Qualifying Exam measures an applicant's nursing knowledge and is based on what nurses must know and do when they practice nursing in the United States. The foundations of the Qualifying Exam are based on client (patient) needs. The traditional clinical areas of nursing practice -- nursing care of the adult, nursing care of children, maternal/infant nursing, psychiatric/mental health nursing and community health nursing -- are covered. The exam ensures that an applicant has the same level of understanding of nursing with various client groups, in various settings, as recent graduates of U.S. schools of nursing.

Both the CGFNS Qualifying Exam and the NCLEX-RN examination are based on the same framework of client needs because it provides a universal structure for defining nursing actions and competencies across all settings for all clients.

The exam is divided into two parts with a total of 260 questions. Applicants are given two hours and 30 minutes for Part 1, which includes 150 questions. After breaking for lunch, applicants are given one hour and 50 minutes to complete Part 2, consisting of 110 questions.

There are three types of questions on your examination. All of the items in the morning booklet and all but one or two of the items in your afternoon booklet are the usual standard multiple-choice items with only one correct answer.
The second type of question is a standard, multiple-choice question with a picture or a graph, also with only one correct answer.
In the third type of question, one or more of the four options may be correct. You must choose if each option is correct or incorrect. You will mark A if the option is correct, or B if the option is incorrect. You must fill in one circle only for each numbered option.

On the day of the exam, you will simply need to go to the location of your exam at the appointed time. You must take at least one (1) form of official, government-issued photo identification (such as your passport) with you to the exam location. You will not be admitted to the exam without proper identification.
Examples of acceptable identification:

• Passport
• Professional Regulation Commission ID card
• Nursing license (if it contains your photograph)