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100+ Free AE-C Practice Questions

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A patient is uncertain when to call the clinician versus go to the emergency department. The educator's BEST teaching is to:

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B
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D
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Key Facts: AE-C Exam

175

Total Questions

NBRC

150

Scored Items

NBRC

3.5 hours

Time Limit

NBRC

$350

New Applicant Fee

NBRC 2026

4

Content Domains

NBRC AE-C DCO

1,000

Hours Alt Pathway

NBRC eligibility

PSI

Testing Provider

NBRC

5 years

Credential Cycle

NBRC CMP

The NBRC AE-C exam contains 175 multiple-choice items (150 scored + 25 pretest) administered over 3.5 hours at PSI testing centers. Content spans four domains: The Asthma Condition (20%), Assessment (~23%), Asthma Management (~47%), and Organizational Issues (10%). Eligibility requires either an active US health-profession license/credential or 1,000 hours of direct asthma-education experience.

Sample AE-C Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your AE-C exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which of the following best describes the underlying pathophysiology of asthma?
A.Permanent fixed airflow obstruction caused by alveolar destruction
B.Chronic airway inflammation with bronchial hyperresponsiveness and reversible airflow obstruction
C.Pleural inflammation with restrictive lung mechanics
D.Pulmonary vascular hypertension with normal airway mechanics
Explanation: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness, bronchial wall edema, mucus hypersecretion, and smooth-muscle bronchoconstriction. Airflow obstruction in asthma is largely reversible, either spontaneously or with treatment, distinguishing it from COPD.
2When teaching a patient about long-term consequences of poorly controlled asthma, which structural change should the educator describe as 'airway remodeling'?
A.Reversible bronchoconstriction that resolves with a SABA
B.Subepithelial fibrosis, smooth-muscle hypertrophy, and goblet-cell hyperplasia leading to fixed airflow limitation
C.Pleural thickening from recurrent infections
D.Alveolar hyperinflation from chronic air trapping
Explanation: Airway remodeling describes long-term structural changes in chronic asthma: subepithelial fibrosis, smooth-muscle hypertrophy and hyperplasia, mucous gland enlargement, and angiogenesis. These changes can produce a degree of fixed airflow limitation that does not fully reverse with bronchodilators.
3A new patient asks why she gets short of breath during an asthma attack but feels fine at other times. Which simple-language explanation best matches the underlying physiology?
A.Your alveoli collapse and reopen with each breath
B.Your airway muscles tighten, the lining swells, and extra mucus forms, narrowing the breathing tubes
C.Your blood vessels in the lungs constrict and limit oxygen delivery
D.Your diaphragm becomes paralyzed during a flare
Explanation: An age- and literacy-appropriate explanation describes the three components of acute asthma: smooth-muscle contraction (bronchoconstriction), airway wall edema, and excess mucus secretion. This narrows the airway lumen and produces the symptoms patients feel.
4Which statement comparing pediatric and adult asthma characteristics is MOST accurate?
A.Cough-variant asthma is more common in young children than in adults
B.Atopic asthma is more common in elderly adults than in children
C.Spirometry is the preferred objective measure for children under 4 years old
D.Adult-onset asthma is almost always allergic and IgE-mediated
Explanation: Cough is a particularly common asthma presentation in young children, who may lack the language to describe wheeze or chest tightness. Pediatric asthma is also more frequently atopic. Adult-onset asthma is often non-allergic and may be associated with comorbidities such as obesity or aspirin sensitivity.
5In NAEPP terminology, the term 'impairment' refers primarily to:
A.The likelihood of future exacerbations or adverse medication effects
B.The frequency and intensity of symptoms and functional limitations the patient is currently experiencing
C.The structural changes seen on chest imaging
D.The patient's adherence to controller therapy
Explanation: NAEPP separates asthma assessment into impairment (current symptom burden, nighttime awakenings, SABA use, activity limitation, and lung function) and risk (future exacerbations, decline in lung function, and treatment side effects). Patients can have low impairment but still high risk, which is why both dimensions are evaluated.
6A wheeze heard on auscultation during an asthma exacerbation is produced primarily by:
A.Pleural friction between visceral and parietal surfaces
B.Air moving turbulently through narrowed lower airways
C.Fluid filling the alveolar spaces
D.Air leaking into the subcutaneous tissue
Explanation: Wheezes are continuous, musical adventitious sounds produced by turbulent airflow through narrowed bronchi. In asthma, narrowing reflects bronchoconstriction, mucosal edema, and mucus plugging. Loss of wheeze with worsening distress (a 'silent chest') is an ominous sign of severe airflow limitation.
7Which statement BEST distinguishes asthma 'severity' from asthma 'control'?
A.Severity is assessed only after treatment is initiated; control is assessed at the first visit
B.Severity reflects intrinsic disease intensity (ideally before controller therapy); control reflects how well current therapy is suppressing symptoms and risk
C.Severity and control are interchangeable terms
D.Severity changes daily with symptoms; control is fixed for life
Explanation: NAEPP distinguishes severity (the intrinsic intensity of the disease, best assessed before long-term controller therapy is started) from control (the degree to which the manifestations of asthma are minimized by treatment). Both are evaluated using impairment and risk domains, but at different points in care.
8A patient says she does not understand the difference between an allergen and an irritant. The BEST teaching point is:
A.Both produce identical IgE-mediated immune responses
B.An allergen triggers an IgE-mediated immune response in sensitized individuals; an irritant directly provokes airway inflammation or bronchoconstriction without prior sensitization
C.Allergens are always outdoor exposures and irritants are always indoor
D.Irritants only matter for people with allergies
Explanation: Allergens (e.g., dust mite, cat dander, pollen, mold, cockroach) cause symptoms only after a person becomes sensitized and IgE antibodies are produced. Irritants (e.g., tobacco smoke, strong odors, air pollution, cold air) directly stimulate airway nerves and inflammatory pathways without requiring prior sensitization.
9Which medication class is MOST likely to provoke asthma symptoms in a sensitive adult and should be reviewed during a medication history?
A.Calcium-channel blockers
B.Non-selective beta-blockers and aspirin/NSAIDs
C.Statins
D.Proton-pump inhibitors
Explanation: Non-selective beta-blockers (including topical ophthalmic timolol) can trigger bronchospasm, and aspirin/NSAIDs may provoke severe reactions in patients with aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD). Both classes should be screened for during the asthma history. Cardioselective beta-blockers may sometimes be tolerated when clinically necessary.
10A 32-year-old hairdresser has new wheeze and cough that improve on weekends and during a recent vacation. The MOST appropriate next step in evaluation is:
A.Reassure her that asthma is not work-related
B.Take a detailed occupational exposure history and consider serial peak-flow monitoring at and away from work
C.Recommend immediate career change before testing
D.Order chest CT to look for pleural plaques
Explanation: Symptoms that worsen at work and improve away from work strongly suggest occupational asthma (e.g., persulfate chemicals in hair products). The standard assessment includes a detailed exposure history and serial peak expiratory flow measurements at and away from work, ideally for at least 2-4 weeks, plus referral for confirmatory testing.

About the AE-C Exam

The AE-C is a multidisciplinary certification for clinicians and educators who teach asthma self-management. NBRC acquired the exam from NAECB and now administers it. AE-Cs work in clinics, hospitals, schools, public health programs, and pharmacies, helping individuals and families control asthma through education on triggers, medications, devices, and written action plans.

Questions

175 scored questions

Time Limit

3.5 hours

Passing Score

Determined by NBRC standard-setting

Exam Fee

$350 ($250 reapplicant) (NBRC)

AE-C Exam Content Outline

30 items (20%)

The Asthma Condition

Pathophysiology of inflammation, hyperresponsiveness, mucus, and remodeling; allergens, irritants, occupational exposures, tobacco smoke, medications, and comorbidities (GERD, OSA, obesity, rhinitis, vocal cord dysfunction)

34 items (~23%)

Assessment of an Individual with Asthma and Family

History, high-risk symptoms, physical signs, objective measures (spirometry, peak flow validity, pulse oximetry, FeNO, allergy testing, methacholine challenge), and a multidimensional educational needs assessment

71 items (~47%)

Asthma Management

Medications and delivery devices (MDI, DPI, soft-mist, nebulizer, valved holding chamber), behavioral and environmental modifications, individualized self-management education plans, written asthma action plans, and periodic reevaluation

15 items (10%)

Organizational Issues

Program needs assessment, program development, implementation (HIPAA/FERPA/OSHA, infection control), program evaluation, and professional partnerships with schools, work sites, payers, and community groups

How to Pass the AE-C Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Determined by NBRC standard-setting
  • Exam length: 175 questions
  • Time limit: 3.5 hours
  • Exam fee: $350 ($250 reapplicant)

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

AE-C Study Tips from Top Performers

1Memorize NAEPP severity classification (intermittent, mild/moderate/severe persistent) and the impairment vs risk framework
2Know GINA 2024 Track 1 (preferred ICS-formoterol reliever) versus Track 2 (SABA reliever with separate ICS)
3Practice teach-back inhaler technique for MDI, DPI, soft-mist inhaler, nebulizer, and valved holding chamber including pediatric mask use
4Memorize peak flow zones: green 80-100% personal best, yellow 50-80%, red below 50% with emergency criteria
5Match biologics to phenotype: omalizumab (IgE), mepolizumab/benralizumab (eosinophils), dupilumab (IL-4/13, FeNO), tezepelumab (TSLP)
6Review every element of a written asthma action plan: daily controllers, rescue, triggers, zones, and emergency contacts

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NBRC AE-C exam format?

The AE-C exam consists of 175 multiple-choice questions (150 scored and 25 pretest) administered over a 3.5-hour time limit. The exam is computer-based and offered at PSI testing centers nationwide.

What are the AE-C exam domains?

The AE-C exam has four content domains: I) The Asthma Condition (30 items, 20%), II) Assessment of an Individual with Asthma and Family (34 items, ~23%), III) Asthma Management (71 items, ~47%), and IV) Organizational Issues (15 items, 10%).

How much does the AE-C exam cost?

The AE-C exam fee is $350 for new applicants and $250 for reapplicants, paid to the NBRC when submitting your application. AARC may offer a one-time member discount.

Who is eligible to take the AE-C exam?

Two pathways exist. Pathway 1: hold a current, active, unrestricted US license or credential as a physician, PA, nurse, respiratory therapist, pulmonary function technologist, pharmacist, social worker, health educator, physical or occupational therapist, emergency responder, or speech-language pathologist. Pathway 2: document at least 1,000 hours of direct patient asthma education, counseling, or coordinating services.

How should I study for the AE-C exam?

Spend the most time on Asthma Management (~47%), then Assessment (~23%), The Asthma Condition (20%), and Organizational Issues (10%). Master the NAEPP 2007 EPR-3 with the 2020 Focused Updates, GINA 2024 stepwise treatment, biologics indications, inhaler technique for every device, peak flow zones, and the elements of a written asthma action plan.

Did NAECB still administer the AE-C exam?

No. The National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) acquired the AE-C examination from the National Asthma Educator Certification Board (NAECB) and now administers it through PSI. The credential and Detailed Content Outline (effective September 2018) carried forward.