NI-BC® – Informatics Nursing-Board Certified
About NI-BC® Exam
The Informatics Nursing-Board Certified (NI-BC®) credential, offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), is designed for registered nurses who specialize in integrating nursing science with information and analytical sciences to manage and communicate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in nursing practice. This certification validates a nurse’s expertise in informatics and their ability to support and improve healthcare outcomes through the effective use of information systems and technology.
Certified informatics nurses play a vital role in analyzing workflows, implementing electronic health records (EHRs), optimizing clinical decision support systems, and ensuring data integrity and security. The NI-BC® designation demonstrates advanced knowledge and competence in the informatics specialty beyond initial RN licensure, positioning certified nurses as leaders in the design and transformation of healthcare technology.
To be eligible for the NI-BC exam, candidates must meet the following criteria:
Licensure: Hold a current, active Registered Nurse (RN) license in a U.S. state or territory, or the legally recognized equivalent in another country.
Experience: Have equivalent of at least two years of full-time RN practice.
Clinical Practice: Complete a minimum of 2,000 hours in informatics nursing within the last three years or a minimum of 1,000 hours in informatics nursing in the last 3 years and a minimum of 12 semester hours of academic credit graduate-level of informatics nursing program, or complete a graduate program in informatics nursing with a minimum of 200 hours of faculty-supervised practicum.
Continuing Education: Obtain 30 hours of continuing education in informatics nursing over the past three years.
These requirements ensure that candidates possess the necessary experience and knowledge to provide high-quality care in the medical-surgical specialty
NI-BC®- Eligibility Requirements
NI-BC® Exam Content & Focus Areas
The NI-BC® exam consists of 150 questions, with 125 scored items across three key content domains. Our BoardCerts NI-BC® Question Bank features over [insert number] expertly written questions, covering every domain and subtopic in depth to ensure you’re fully prepared.
We follow the official ANCC blueprint, which includes the following domains:
- Foundations of Practice (36%)
- Professional Practice
- Methodologies and Theories
- Rules, Regulations, and Requirements
- Interprofessional Collaboration
- System Life Cycle (35%)
- Planning and analysis
- Designing and building
- Training, Testing and Implementation
- Monitoring, Maintaining, Supporting, and Evaluating
- Data Management and Health Information Technology (29%)
- Data Standards
- Data Management
- Data Analysis, Application, and Transformation
- Hardware, Software, and Peripherals
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Content Category
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Questions
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|---|---|
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Foundations of Practice
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36%
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System Design Lifecycle
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35%
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Data Management and Healthcare Technology
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29%
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How to Apply for the NI-BC® Exam?
- Online Application: Begin by accessing the application portal on the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) website.
- Application Submission: Complete the online application by providing all required personal, educational, and professional details. Make sure you meet the eligibility criteria before submitting. The application review process typically takes 1 to 5 weeks, depending on documentation and volume.
- Scheduling the Exam: Once approved, you’ll receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) letter with instructions to schedule your exam through Prometric within a 120-day window.
- Preparation: Use the BoardCerts NI-BC question bank to prepare. These materials align with the official exam blueprint and simulate the format and complexity of the actual exam.
Benefits of NI-BC® Certification
We carefully design our NI-BC practice questions to align with the ANCC Informatics Nursing exam blueprint, ensuring every question reflects the scope, depth, and format of the official test. Our content is built using the same references used in the actual exam, offering a focused and reliable preparation experience.
Topics on Exam: Review the official ANCC Informatics Nursing Test Content Outline, which covers domains such as foundations of practice, system life cycle, data management, and quality and safety. This blueprint can be found here: Preparation and Resources
Review Course: Consider enrolling in a structured review course to strengthen your foundation in Informatics Nursing.
Question Bank: Use the NI-BC Question Bank, evaluated by experienced informatics nurse specialists. Our bank offers rigorous, exam-relevant practice questions, in-depth rationales, and predictor exams that simulate the NI-BC exam format to help you assess your readiness with confidence.
NI-BC® Recertification
The Informatics Nursing (NI-BC) certification is valid for five years. To maintain your board certification, you must complete the following steps:
- Professional Development Assessment (PDA): At the start of your renewal cycle, complete the ANCC’s PDA to identify targeted areas for continued professional growth within the informatics specialty.
- Continuing Education (CE) Hours: Based on your personalized plan from the PDA, earn 75 contact hours of continuing education. Additional hours may be required depending on your selected renewal categories.
- Professional Development Categories: You will be required to complete at least one of the 8 professional development categories which are: CE hours, Academic Credits, Presentations, EBP, QI Project, Publication or Research, Preceptor Hours, Professional Service, Practice Hours, and Test or Portfolio.
- Renewal Application: Submit your renewal application via the ANCC Certification Portal before your expiration date. Be sure to upload documentation of all completed CE activities and any other requirements specific to your renewal path.
For complete details, visit the ANCC Certification Renewal page.
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Helpful informationPrices
$257 - Question Bank
Comprehensive -
NI-BC®
7 - Day money back guarantee
- 800+ blueprint aligned practice questions (QBank)
- 600+ retention focused flashcards
- Unlimited access for 6 months
- Risk-free trial - Cancel within 7 days for a full refund for any reason
- Detailed analytics highlighting strengths and weaknesses
- 4 timed predictor exams
- Personalized study planner to manage your schedule
- 27.25 Continuing Education (CE) hours with a downloadable certificate
- Pass Guarantee
Unlimited access for 6 months for $257
$187 - Question Bank
Essentials Plan -
NI-BC®
7 - Day money back guarantee
- 800+ blueprint aligned practice questions (QBank)
- 600+ retention focused flashcards
- Unlimited access for 3 months
- Risk-free trial - Cancel within 7 days for a full refund for any reason
- Detailed analytics highlighting strengths and weaknesses
- 4 timed predictor exams
- Personalized study planner to manage your schedule
- Does NOT include 27.25 Continuing Education (CE) hours
- Does NOT include Pass Guarantee
Unlimited access for 3 months for $187
$97 - Question Bank
Starter Plan -
NI-BC®
7 - Day money back guarantee
- 800+ blueprint aligned practice questions (QBank)
- 600+ retention focused flashcards
- Unlimited access for 1 month
- Risk-free trial - Cancel within 7 days for a full refund for any reason
- Does NOT include detailed analytics highlighting strengths and weaknesses
- Does NOT include 4 timed predictor exams
- Does NOT include a personalized study planner to manage your schedule
- Does NOT include 27.25 Continuing Education (CE) hours
- Does NOT include Pass Guarantee
Unlimited access for 1 month for $97
Most Frequently Asked Questions
The NI-BC® certification validates the advanced knowledge and skills of registered nurses who specialize in nursing informatics. It demonstrates proficiency in integrating nursing science, computer science, and information technology to improve healthcare delivery, enhance patient outcomes, and support clinical decision-making.
The Informatics Nursing (NI-BC®) certification is offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association (ANA).
Pass rates vary year to year, pass rate for 2024 was 66% for the NI-BC® exam.
The NI-BC® exam is offered year-round. Once your application is approved, you will receive instructions to schedule your test through Prometric.
No, the NI-BC® exam cannot be taken via Live Remote Proctoring (LRP). Candidates can choose a Prometric Testing Center to take the test at their preferred location.
The NI-BC® certification must be renewed every five years. Renewal requires completion of a Professional Development Assessment (PDA) and submission of required continuing education (CE) and practice/engagement hours.
The official NI-BC® Candidate Handbook is available for download at the ANCC website:
Informatics Nursing Certification (NI-BC™) |
The main exam website is: ANCC . Candidate handbooks for each certification, including NI-BC®, are available and regularly updated on the ANCC certification portal.