CBN Certification FAQ
Who is a Certified Bariatric Nurse (CBN)?
A Certified Bariatric Nurse (CBN) is an RN who also holds a certificate from ASMBS’ Certified Bariatric Nurse program indicating achievement of the specialized skills and knowledge required for the delivery of quality patient care for the morbidly obese and bariatric surgery patients. CBN candidates must hold an RN license (or an international equivalent), have two years of experience in caring for morbidly obese and bariatric surgery patients and pass the CBN examination. When all of these criteria have been met, candidates are free to use the CBN designation after their name. The CBN credential is issued for a term of 4 years, at which time a CBN may re-certify to maintain the certificate.
Who is eligible to become a CBN?
Registered Nurses (RNs or equivalent for international nurses) with a valid license who have worked with morbidly obese and bariatric surgery patients for a minimum of 24 months in the preceding four years are eligible to take the CBN examination.
How do I become a CBN?
To become a Certified Bariatric Nurse, candidates must register for and pass the CBN examination.
When can I take the CBN exam?
The CBN examination is administered during two test windows annually, once in February and again in July. Exam dates are published each year in November.
How do I register to take the CBN exam?
A link to the registration site will be posted on the CBN home page once registration is open.
Where can I take the CBN exam?
The CBN exam is administered at testing sites throughout the United States. To find the testing site nearest you, click here.
Is there a fee for taking the CBN exam?
Please see the fee breakdown in the 2023 CBN Handbook.
What is the CBN exam like?
The exam consists of 175 multiple-choice items. Twenty of the 175 questions are pre-test questions and will not count towards your overall score. These twenty pre-test questions will be placed randomly throughout the examination.
The test presents each question with four response choices. One of these represents the single best response and credit is granted only for selection of this response. Candidates are allowed three hours (180 minutes) to complete this test.
For more information regarding the CBN exam, including the primary categories on which questions are based, please review the candidate handbook. Nurses can obtain a copy of the handbook in PDF format.
What study resources are available to help prepare for the CBN exam?
ASMBS offers a live CBN Review Course presented during the the ASMBS Annual Meeting at each year, along with the Spring Educational Event. Registration for this course is available once registration for the annual conference opens.
An online version of the course is now available online at: http://cbn-review.asmbs.org/
A CBN exam study guide has been published and is free of charge. To download the study guide please click here
Additionally, the CBN Candidate Handbook offers a reference list of resources that may be useful in preparing for the exam.
What happens after I take the CBN exam?
Test results will be mailed to all examinees approximately 4 weeks after the exam window closes.
Those candidates who have passed the CBN examination are free to use the CBN designation after their name. Members of the ASMBS who have passed and would like to have the CBN designation added to their names in the ASMBS directory can e-mail cbn@asmbs.org with this request.
How long will my CBN certification last?
The CBN credential is issued for a term of four years. Re-certification is available to maintain this credential.
I have more questions regarding the CBN exam. Whom do I contact?
Additional information is available in the 2023 CBN Handbook. Answers to the majority of candidate inquiries can be found in this handbook. Inquiries not addressed in the CBN Candidate Handbook and not pertaining to the CBN exam can be submitted to cbn@asmbs.org.
All correspondence and requests for information concerning examination application processing and the administration of the certification examinations should be directed to:
PSI
18000 W 105th Street
Olathe, KS 66061
p. 888-519-9901
f. 913-895-4651
info-amp@goAMP.com
We have had many requests for “statistics” on the CBN examinations – the number who passed and failed, et cetera. Our official policy is not to release any further information at this time for reasons of confidentiality and the accreditation process.