General Information Regarding Certification








Definition of Certification

Certification is a process by which a nongovernmental agency validates, based upon predetermined standards, an individual nurse's qualification and knowledge for practice in a defined functional or clinical area of nursing.

Certification validates your knowledge of nursing of critically ill patients to healthcare administrators, peers, patients and most importantly, to you. It promotes continuing excellence in the critical care nursing profession, helping you achieve and maintain an up-to-date knowledge base of critical care nursing. In addition to providing you with a sense of professional pride and achievement, obtaining certification will reinforce the special knowledge and experience required for critical care nursing.


Use of the CCRN, CCNS and PCCN Credentials


Candidates who meet all the eligibility requirements and pass the CCRN certification examination may use "CCRN" after the licensing credential, those passing the CCNS examination may use "CCNS" after the licensing credential, and those passing the PCCN examination may use "PCCN" after the licensing credential. CCRN, CCNS and PCCN are registered service marks. The credentials are not punctuated with periods. The proper use of CCRN, CCNS or PCCN is as follows: Chris Smith, RN, MSN, CCRN

Use of the CMC and CSC Credentials
Candidates who meet all the eligibility requirements and pass the CMC or CSC subspecialty certification examination may display the CMC or CSC credential only with a nursing specialty certification, attached by a dash, i.e., CCRN-CMC, or CCNS-CSC, or PCCN-CMC. If one were to obtain both subspecialty credentials they could attach credentials to the same nursing specialty certification, such as CCRN-CMC-CSC. CMC and CSC are registered service marks.


NCCA Approval
AACN Certification Corporation specialty exams, CCRN, CCNS and PCCN, as well as the subspecialty exams, CMC and CSC, have all been accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), the accreditation arm of the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA). Created by NOCA in 1987, NCCA's mission is to help ensure the health, welfare and safety of the public through the accreditation of certification programs that assess professional competence.

To receive accreditation, AACN Certification Corporation is required to meet the strict standards set by the NCCA. A peer-review process is used to establish these accreditation standards, evaluate compliance with these standards, recognize organizations that demonstrate compliance and serve as a resource on quality certification.

AACN Certification Corporation seeks to provide credentialing programs that contribute to achieving desired health outcomes for individuals as well as to advance the career of nursing worldwide.

In 1975 the corporation was established by AACN as a separate entity to develop the CCRN certification program. The purpose of the program was to use the certification process as a means of developing, maintaining, and promoting high standards of critical care nursing practice and to protect the healthcare consumer by validating knowledge.

In January 1999, the CCNS exam was added as an advanced practice certification for clinical nurse specialists in acute and critical care.

In October 2005, the PCCN exam was added as a certification for progressive care nurses working in acute care.

In August 2007, the CMC exam, for certified nurses who work with cardiac medicine patients, and the CSC exam, for certified nurses who work with cardiac surgery patients, both received accreditation.

"We are pleased and proud to have earned this accreditation," said AACN Certification Corporation Certification Director, Carol Hartigan, RN. "The NCCA accreditation is something that both employers and consumers can rely on when seeking to validate the credentials of caregivers."

Currently, more than 50,000 nurses are certified through the AACN Certification Corporation.


Computer Based Testing (CBT)

Computer based testing is available year-round at over 170 Applied Measurement Professionals, Inc. (AMP) Assessment Centers nationwide - Click here to visit the AMP Web site and find the AMP Assessment Center nearest you. Candidates may schedule their exams for the location, time and date most convenient for them. Calling or going online to schedule your exam as soon as you receive your approval to test postcard with eligibility dates will give you the best chance of getting the date and time you would like. All locations are open five days a week. You DO NOT need computer experience in order to take the exam; the keyboard commands are fairly simple, and there is a tutorial you can take before beginning your timed exam, in order to become familiar with the testing procedure. If you have any questions after you have begun testing, there will be test-site personnel available to answer them.


Statistical Update

Since the launch of our revised computer-based CCRN exams (adult, pediatric and neonatal) in July 2004, 11,337 nurses have passed, for an overall pass rate of 77%.

Since the PCCN exam was launched in May of 2004, 1,850 have passed, for a pass rate of 57%.

Since the CMC exam was launched in January 2005, 390 have passed for a pass rate of 82%.

Since the CSC exam was launched in January 2005, 533 have passed for a pass rate of 87%.


Eligibility and Clinical Practice Outside the U.S.

Can I meet the certification clinical hour eligibility requirement for practice hours completed outside the United States?

Eligible clinical practice hours for AACN Certification Corporation examinations or certification renewal are those completed in U.S. based facilities or in facilities determined to be comparable to the U.S. standard of acute/critical care nursing practice, as evidenced by ANCC Magnet Status or Joint Commission International accreditation..