Steps to prepare for the VA-BC™ exam
Candidates should prepare thoroughly prior to taking the VA-BC™ examination. While we cannot produce or recommend any comprehensive study guides for the VA-BC™ exam due to our accreditation by the NCCA, we do provide everything possible to help you walk into the testing center prepared to succeed.
- Download and fully review the Candidate Handbook. You are responsible for knowing all the information contained in it.
- Review the Test Content Outline (Test Blueprint) to familiarize yourself with the content areas that will be on the test. Pay attention to how each content area is weighted, as the weight corresponds with the percentage of scored items on that topic. Identify which areas are your strengths and weaknesses and focus your studies on your weaker areas.
- Review the Exam References that are used to create many of the items on the exam
- Take the Practice Questions to practice answering questions in a computer-based format and become familiar with the type of questions you can expect to find on the actual VA-BC™ exam.
- Review the Certification Toolkit to get a full overview of your certification process, including a checklist to ensure you’re on track, study information, and FAQs.
NCCA accreditation is a stamp of approval on the quality of a certification program, governed by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). These quality standards require a firewall between certification staff and education staff to ensure that the exam remains objective and valid.
For this reason, VACC cannot provide comprehensive study materials, like a study guide, or recommend any review courses from external organizations. Thank you for your understanding!
Review courses
As said above, VACC does not endorse or sponsor any review courses for the VA-BC™ exam. VACC is not responsible for misinformation provided by review courses or study materials, nor does it endorse any study guides.
When evaluating a potential course, remember the quality of the course may be related to the ability and expertise of the individuals who conduct it.
Be cautious about courses or resources that claim or imply direct knowledge of specific VACC examination content. VACC does not release test items, except for sample items published on the VACC website. Additionally, the subject matter experts who develop VACC tests are not permitted to conduct review courses while working on test development, or for two years after.
Study tips for the VA-BC™
Walk through the study materials VACC offers and how to use them with VACC staff and former President Dr. J. Hudson Garrett Jr., PhD, MSN, MPH, FNP-BC, CSRN, PLNC, CDONA, FACDONA, VA-BC™.