AACN-CMC Exam Information and Guideline
Cardiac Medicine Subspecialty Certification - 2025
Below are complete topics detail with latest syllabus and course outline, that will help you good knowledge about exam objectives and topics that you have to prepare. These contents are covered in questions and answers pool of exam.
Exam Code: AACN-CMC
Exam Name: Cardiac Medicine Subspecialty Certification
Number of Questions: 90
Exam Type: Multiple-choice
Exam questions: 75 scored and 15 unscored
Passing Marks: 50 (out of 75 scored questions)
Time Allotted: 2 hours
I. CARDIOVASCULAR CONDITIONS (23%)
- Cardiac Conditions
- Acute coronary syndrome (e.g., STEMI, NSTEMI, unstable angina)
- Cardiac tamponade
- Cardiomyopathies
- Dysrhythmias
- Heart failure
- Hypertensive urgency or emergency
- Inflammatory and infectious conditions
- Pericardial effusion
- Pulmonary edema
- Syncope
- Valvular disorders
- Vascular Conditions
- Acute arterial occlusion
- Acute venous thrombosis
- Aortic aneurysm or dissection
- Hyperlipidemia
- Post-intervention vascular complication
II. NON-CARDIOVASCULAR CONDITIONS (23%)
- Respiratory
- Acute pulmonary embolus
- Acute respiratory failure (e.g., ARDS, ALI)
- Pleural space abnormalities (e.g., pneumothorax)
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Sleep apnea
- Endocrine
- Adrenal disorders
- Diabetes mellitus
- Metabolic syndrome
- Thyroid disorders
- Hematology
- Coagulopathies
- Anemia
- Neurology
- Cerebrovascular accidents (stroke)
- Renal
- Acute kidney injury
- Chronic kidney disease
- Electrolyte imbalances
- Multisystem
- Multisystem organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS)
- Shock states
- Non-cardiac chest pain
- Behavioral and Psychosocial
- Substance use and withdrawal
III. THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS (39%)
- Cardiac Procedures
- Right heart catheterization
- Left heart catheterization
- Percutaneous coronary interventions
- Pericardiocentesis
- Intra-aortic balloon pumps
- Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs)
- Percutaneous structural heart interventions
- Vascular Interventions
- Peripheral angiography and interventions
- Carotid angiography and interventions
- Endovascular grafts
- Catheter-directed thrombolysis
- Cardiovascular Pharmacology
- Antidysrhythmics
- Anticoagulants
- Diuretics
- Inotropes
- Platelet inhibitors
- Thrombolytics
- Vasoactive agents
- Electrophysiologic Interventions
- Temporary pacemakers
- Permanent pacemakers
- Cardiac resynchronization therapy
- Implantable cardioverter defibrillator
- External wearable defibrillator
- Ablation
- Cardioversion
- Defibrillation
- Respiratory
- Non-invasive ventilation
- Mechanical ventilation
- Renal
- Renal replacement therapy (e.g., hemodialysis, CRRT, SCUF)
- Multisystem
- Targeted temperature management
- Palliative and end-of-life care
IV. MONITORING AND DIAGNOSTICS (16%)
- Cardiovascular
- Hemodynamic monitoring
- Echocardiography
- Electrocardiography (ECG)
- Laboratory testing
- Stress testing
- Remote cardiovascular monitoring (e.g., dysrhythmia monitoring, pulmonary artery sensor)
- Respiratory
- Arterial blood gases (ABG)
- Mixed venous gases
- Pulse oximetry
- End-tidal capnography (EtCO2)
- Radiography