PED-BC Study Plan: 8-Week Schedule
Week-by-Week Study Guide for the ANCC Pediatric Nursing Exam
Exam Overview
The PED-BC (Pediatric Nursing Board Certification) exam from ANCC tests entry-level clinical knowledge and skills in pediatric nursing.
Prerequisites
- •Current, active RN license
- •2 years full-time RN practice
- •2,000 hours clinical practice in pediatric nursing (last 3 years)
- •30 hours continuing education in pediatric nursing (last 3 years)
8-Week Study Schedule
Week 1: Foundations of Pediatric Nursing
- •Review growth and development milestones (infancy through adolescence)
- •Study age-appropriate vital signs and assessment findings
- •Review developmental theories (Piaget, Erikson, Kohlberg)
- •Daily study time: 2 hours
Week 2: Pediatric Health Assessment
- •Physical assessment techniques by age group
- •Growth chart interpretation
- •Developmental screening tools (ASQ, M-CHAT)
- •Daily study time: 2 hours
Week 3: Common Pediatric Conditions
- •Respiratory conditions (asthma, bronchiolitis, croup, RSV)
- •Gastrointestinal conditions (dehydration, gastroenteritis, pyloric stenosis)
- •Cardiovascular conditions (congenital heart defects)
- •Daily study time: 2.5 hours
Week 4: Pediatric Pharmacology
- •Medication administration by age/weight
- •Common pediatric medications and safety considerations
- •Pain assessment and management in children
- •Daily study time: 2.5 hours
Week 5: Family-Centered Care
- •Communication with children and families
- •Cultural considerations in pediatric care
- •Family dynamics and support systems
- •Daily study time: 2 hours
Week 6: Emergency and Acute Care
- •Pediatric emergency assessment
- •Trauma and injury management
- •Acute illness recognition and intervention
- •Daily study time: 2.5 hours
Week 7: Chronic Conditions and Special Needs
- •Chronic illness management
- •Children with special healthcare needs
- •Transition to adult care
- •Daily study time: 2 hours
Week 8: Review and Practice Exams
- •Take full-length practice exams
- •Review weak areas identified in practice
- •Focus on test-taking strategies
- •Daily study time: 3 hours
Study Tips
- Use the ANCC test content outline as your primary study guide
- Practice with sample questions from ANCC’s website
- Focus on clinical scenarios — the exam emphasizes application, not memorization
- Review pediatric medication calculations thoroughly
- Study developmental milestones by age group
Recommended Resources
- •ANCC Pediatric Nursing sample test questions
- •Pediatric Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice (ANA)
- •AAP Red Book for infectious disease guidelines
- •Current pediatric nursing textbooks
Related Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours should I study for the PED-BC?
Most candidates study 100-150 hours over 6-10 weeks. Adjust based on your clinical experience.
Is the PED-BC exam changing?
ANCC announced in April 2026 that the PED-BC program is transitioning to renewal only. Active certifications may still be renewed.
What is the passing rate for the PED-BC?
ANCC does not publicly disclose specific pass rates for individual certifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PED-BC exam?
The PED-BC is a standardized exam. For a comprehensive study guide with practice questions and full-length exams, see our PED-BC Study Guide.
How should I prepare for the PED-BC?
Start with a structured study plan, use official exam blueprints, and practice with realistic exam questions. Our PED-BC Study Guide covers the complete exam content with detailed rationales.
Where can I find PED-BC practice questions?
Our PED-BC Study Guide includes full-length practice exams with detailed answer rationales covering every content area on the actual exam.
Related Resources
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Our PED-BC Study Guide covers every content area with practice questions and detailed answer rationales.