AACN-CMC Exam Information and Outline
Cardiac Medicine Subspecialty Certification (CMC)
AACN-CMC Exam Syllabus & Study Guide
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official AACN-CMC exam objectives. This course outline serves as your roadmap.
The information below reflects the 2026 syllabus defined by
AACN.
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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