Advanced NMEA 2000 Installer (AN2K): free practice test
NMEA's advanced credential for installing, setting up and troubleshooting moderately complex NMEA 2000 networks, taught in person with hands-on workstations using certified products from several major brands. You need a current Basic NMEA 2000 certificate, and the credential is issued only with one year of verified field experience. This prep covers the written knowledge part only; the hands-on skills are assessed in class.
Watch the free 4:24 video lesson: the key NMEA Advanced NMEA 2000 (AN2K) concepts →
Premium: 3,000 practice questions, 6 full mock exams, 800 flashcards and 60 comprehensive key notes, topic by topic. See the study path ·
- Lesson 2: Segment limits and when to split a networkConnections, backbone length, drop limits and how bridges and repeaters create new segments.
- Lesson 3: Thick, mid and micro cable choicesCurrent capacity and length per cable grade, and using adapters for drops.
- Lesson 4: Power planning and LEN budgets on larger boatsCentre feeding, voltage drop estimates, isolated supplies and avoiding paralleled power sources.
- Lesson 5: Documenting a multi-helm network designDrawing segments, labelling tees and leaving spare capacity for future devices.
- Lesson 6: The sixty-four bit NAME field by fieldManufacturer code, unique number, function, class, device and system instance explained.
- Lesson 7: Address claim, conflicts and the null addressHow PGN 60928 resolves conflicts and what addresses 254 and 255 mean.
- Lesson 8: Heartbeat, product and configuration information PGNsReading 126993, 126996 and 126998 to identify and check every device.
- Lesson 9: Message priority and the 29-bit identifierHow priority, PGN and source address combine, and why priority matters under load.
- Lesson 10: Device instance: telling identical boxes apartSetting device instance so two GPS or two compasses are selectable.
- Lesson 11: Data instances for engines, batteries and tanksEngine numbering, fluid level per fluid type, battery and temperature instances.
- Lesson 12: System instance and separate networksGrouping devices by system and what happens after a replacement or reset.
- Lesson 13: Firmware updates before configurationWhy update order matters and how to use makers' official files safely.
- Lesson 14: Preferred sources and installer labelsChoosing sources per display, network-wide selection and descriptive installer text.
- Lesson 15: Configuration commands and network backupPGN 126208 changes, stored calibrations and backing up at commissioning.
- Lesson 16: Reading a network analyzer device listNAME, address, model, software and instances shown for every node.
- Lesson 17: Bus load: causes and curesTransmit rates, request floods and bridge filtering to keep traffic manageable.
- Lesson 18: Error frames and CAN fault confinementError active, error passive and bus-off states with real symptoms.
- Lesson 19: Resistance tests on the data pairInterpreting 60, 120, 40 and near-zero ohm readings with power off.
- Lesson 20: Supply, shield and signal voltage checksNine-volt minimum under load, single-point shield ground and recessive and dominant levels.
- Lesson 21: Isolating faults by splitting the backboneA step-by-step method to find the device or section taking the bus down.
- Lesson 22: Engine gateways and NMEA 0183 bridgesJ1939 engine data, 0183 baud rates and sentence lists, translated PGNs.
- Lesson 23: Analog sensors, proprietary networks and duplicate sourcesInterface modules, adapter cables, Ethernet gateways and removing duplicate data.
Keep going after the free lesson. Every topic gets its own lesson, plus the full question bank, timed simulations and study tools.
About the NMEA Advanced NMEA 2000 (AN2K) exam
NMEA's advanced credential for installing, setting up and troubleshooting moderately complex NMEA 2000 networks, taught in person with hands-on workstations using certified products from several major brands. You need a current Basic NMEA 2000 certificate, and the credential is issued only with one year of verified field experience. This prep covers the written knowledge part only; the hands-on skills are assessed in class.
What's on the exam
Each branch is a topic in the official outline. Members see every key fact on the full mind map. Read the free study guide →
How to pass the NMEA Advanced NMEA 2000 (AN2K) exam
- Instancing is the heart of this class. Be able to say which instance (device, data or system) solves a given problem, and the port 0, starboard 1 engine convention.
- Learn what an analyzer shows: source addresses, NAMEs, PGN rates, bus load and error frames. Questions describe a screen and ask what it means.
- Know the CAN fault states: error active, error passive (counter above 127) and bus-off (transmit counter above 255).
- Electrical questions go beyond the 60-ohm test: shield grounding at one point, supply voltage under load and nominal CAN signal levels.
Save your results and get your Readiness Score
Create a free account after the test: your score by topic, a mistakes bank, the complete study notes for the first topic, flashcards and the ABYC Numbers & Formulas Sheet.
What's in the premium NMEA Advanced NMEA 2000 (AN2K) prep
Premium NMEA Advanced NMEA 2000 (AN2K) prep is studied one topic at a time. Each step starts with that topic's key notes and flashcard deck, then its own question sets of 25, so you master one topic before you move to the next. When every topic is strong, the 6 full mock exams show you're ready.
Your step-by-step study path
- 1Network Design for Complex Installations9 key notes, 115 flashcards, then 450 practice questions in 18 sets of 25Notes free with an account
- 2Addressing and Network Management9 key notes, 115 flashcards, then 425 practice questions in 17 sets of 25Premium
- 3Instancing9 key notes, 115 flashcards, then 425 practice questions in 17 sets of 25Premium
- 4Configuration, Source Selection and Backup9 key notes, 115 flashcards, then 425 practice questions in 17 sets of 25Premium
- 5Diagnostic Tools and Bus Analysis8 key notes, 115 flashcards, then 425 practice questions in 17 sets of 25Premium
- 6Electrical Testing and Fault Isolation8 key notes, 115 flashcards, then 425 practice questions in 17 sets of 25Premium
- 7Gateways and Mixed Networks8 key notes, 110 flashcards, then 425 practice questions in 17 sets of 25Premium
- Final step: 6 full mock exams50 questions each, timed like test day. Pass them, then book your exam.Premium
Read the complete NMEA Advanced NMEA 2000 (AN2K) study notes for “Network Design for Complex Installations”
Our first full set of comprehensive notes, about 12 minutes of reading: Limits that apply per segment · Repeaters and bridges · Cable choice and current · Planning complex vessels, a worked exam example, the traps examiners use and a one-minute recap. Create a free account to read it and see how premium notes work before you decide.
Study tools included
3,000 practice questions
3,000 exam-style questions per exam, organized topic by topic in sets of 25. Every answer explained, with the rule it comes from.
6 full mock exams
6 full-length timed mock exams per exam, with real question counts and time limits, so test day feels like practice day.
Exam Readiness Score
One 0 to 100 number that tells you when you're ready to book. Reach 80 and you're covered by our Pass Guarantee.
800 flashcards + spaced repetition
800 flashcards per exam, in a deck for each topic, that come back right before you'd forget them. Five minutes a day keeps every number fresh.
60 comprehensive key notes
60 key notes per exam, split across its topics and each explained in full: the concepts, worked exam examples, the traps examiners use and a quick recap. Your first set is free with an account.
Mind maps
See the whole exam on one screen: every topic and the facts under it.
Sample questions with answers
These are the questions in the free test above, with answers. Try the test first. You'll learn more by getting some wrong.
1. A large yacht's planned NMEA 2000 design needs 64 physical connections. What is the standard-compliant way to build it?
2. A planned backbone must run 150 m along a commercial vessel. Which cable choice keeps it within the NMEA 2000 limits as a single segment?
3. An analyzer lists a device using source address 254. What does this indicate?
4. After a new device is added, the GPS's source address changes from 15 to 23, yet each display keeps the GPS as its selected position source. Why?
5. On a twin-engine boat, two identical engine gateways both report engine instance 0, so displays show only one engine. What is the correct fix?
6. A sportfisher has two identical NMEA 2000 GPS antennas, and some displays cannot tell them apart. Which setting gives each unit its own identity for source selection?
7. A catamaran has two NMEA 2000 network segments joined by a bridge, each with its own GPS and instruments. Which field identifies the segment a device belongs to?
8. A tank-level gateway is replaced under warranty, and every tank now shows as tank 0 on all displays. What is the fastest correct fix?
9. Configuration software changes a sensor's device instance remotely over the network. Which PGN carries that command?
10. An analyzer shows unusually high bus load, and displays update slowly. Which finding is the most likely cause?
11. An analyzer reports that a device's CAN transmit error counter has passed 255. What state is that device in?
12. With the power tap's shield-to-ground link removed and network power off, you still find continuity between the cable shield and the boat's ground. What does this mean?
13. At the farthest tee, NET-S to NET-C reads 12.6 V at rest but 8.7 V while the windlass runs. Network power comes from the house battery near the windlass feed. What is the problem?
14. On an oscilloscope, a healthy NMEA 2000 network shows NET-H and NET-L both near 2.5 V when idle (recessive). During a dominant bit, what differential voltage between NET-H and NET-L is expected?
15. Twin diesels have a J1939 engine network, and the owner wants engine data on the NMEA 2000 displays. What is the correct installation?
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- One ABYC exam of your choice: any of the 10 certifications, from Marine Electrical to USCG Regulations
- 3,000 practice questions + 6 full mock exams per exam
- 800 flashcards + 60 key notes per exam, by topic, plus mind maps
- Spaced repetition + mistakes bank
- Readiness Score & detailed reports
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- One ABYC exam of your choice: any of the 10 certifications, from Marine Electrical to USCG Regulations
- 3,000 practice questions + 6 full mock exams per exam
- 800 flashcards + 60 key notes per exam, by topic, plus mind maps
- Spaced repetition + mistakes bank
- Readiness Score & detailed reports
- Video lessons as they release
- Content updates during your access
- 5 bonuses: numbers and formulas sheet, standards map, study planner and more
- Pass Guarantee: complete the prep, pass or 100% back
Renews once a year until you cancel. We email you before each renewal. Cancel any time from your account; you keep access until the end of the year you've paid for.
NMEA Advanced NMEA 2000 (AN2K) exam FAQ
How many questions are on the NMEA Advanced NMEA 2000 (AN2K) exam?
Not stated on the AN2K page. NMEA's online-training page says certification goes to class attendees who pass a 50-question exam; confirm with NMEA, with a time limit of taken at the end of the training day. nmea does not publish a time limit for the initial exam; the renewal test is 50 questions with a 1-hour limit. Format: written test plus a hands-on class in which you build, configure, back up and diagnose networks with the tools shown in class (no outside test equipment allowed). this prep covers only the written knowledge part. nmea does not state whether the test is open book; confirm with nmea.
What is the passing score for NMEA Advanced NMEA 2000 (AN2K)?
80% or higher. One free proctored retake within 90 days; after that, re-attend the class at a 50% discount.
How much does the NMEA Advanced NMEA 2000 (AN2K) exam cost?
US$750 NMEA member, US$1,500 non-member, for the class and test. Renewal every 3 years: US$100. ABYC charges members less than nonmembers, so confirm current fees with ABYC before you book.
Which languages is the NMEA Advanced NMEA 2000 (AN2K) exam offered in?
English.
Where do I take the NMEA Advanced NMEA 2000 (AN2K) exam?
NMEA instructors, in person only: a presentation, then hands-on work at networked workstations, then the test (see NMEA's training schedule).
Is this NMEA Advanced NMEA 2000 (AN2K) practice test free?
Yes. The 15-question practice test on this page is free, with an explanation for every answer and no signup. A free account also unlocks the complete study notes for the first topic. The full NMEA Advanced NMEA 2000 (AN2K) prep is Premium at $147 a month for this exam.
What's in the premium NMEA Advanced NMEA 2000 (AN2K) prep?
3,000 practice questions organized topic by topic (Network Design for Complex Installations: 450; Addressing and Network Management: 425; Instancing: 425; Configuration, Source Selection and Backup: 425; Diagnostic Tools and Bus Analysis: 425; Electrical Testing and Fault Isolation: 425; Gateways and Mixed Networks: 425), 6 full-length timed mock exams of 50 questions, 800 flashcards and 60 comprehensive key notes split across all 7 topics, plus a mistakes bank and the Readiness Score.
Related practice tests
Certified Marine Electronics Technician (CMET)
NMEA's highest certification for marine electronics technicians.
National Marine Electronics Technician (NMET)
The NMET exam is identical to the CMET exam: the same experience-based questions on installing, troubleshooting and repairing marine electronics, drawn from one pool.
Basic Marine Electronics Installer (BMEI)
NMEA's entry-level installer certificate, showing a working knowledge of the NMEA 0400 Installation Standard.
Exam details are summarized from the official candidate information available in November 2026. ABYC changes formats and fees, so confirm with National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) before you book. ABYCExamPrep is not affiliated with the American Boat & Yacht Council.