Share

CCRN Renewal Options and Eligibility Requirements

The Continuing Education Recognition Point (CERP) program encompasses a wide spectrum of continuing education activities performed by nurses caring for acutely and critically ill patients. It also addresses the need for formal and informal educational experiences for acute and critical care nurses.

Acceptable topics and activities along with guidance on how to calculate CERPs can be found in the Renewal by Synergy CERPs Brochure.

Eligibility Requirements for Renewal

  • Current unencumbered licensure as an RN or APRN in the United States is required. An unencumbered license has not been subjected to formal discipline during the 3-year certification period by any state board of nursing and has no provisions or conditions that limit the nurse's practice in any way.
    • It is the responsibility of candidates and certificants to notify AACN Certification Corporation when any restriction is placed on their RN or APRN license.
       
  • Have passed the CCRN certification exam for the appropriate age group (adult, pediatric or neonatal) of practice.
     
  • Practice as an RN or APRN is required for 432 hours in direct bedside care of acutely and/or critically ill patients during the 3-year certification renewal period, with 144 of those hours accrued in the last year of the certification renewal period.
    • All hours must be in care of the same patient population in which certification is held (adult, pediatric or neonatal).
    • Clinical practice hours for certification renewal must take place in a U.S.-based or Canada-based facility or in a facility determined to be comparable by verifiable evidence to the U.S. standard of acute and critical care nursing practice, as evidenced by ANCC Magnet Status or Joint Commission International accreditation.
       
  • AACN Certification Corporation may adopt additional eligibility requirements at its sole discretion. Any such requirements will be designed to establish, for the purposes of CCRN certification, the adequacy of a candidate's knowledge and experience in caring for the acutely and/or critically ill. View the CCRN renewal policy.
     
  • See the CCRN/PCCN Renewal Handbook for more detailed eligibility information.

Option 1 — Renewal by Synergy CERPs

  • Meet the eligibility requirements for certification renewal.
     
  • Renewal by Synergy CERPs is obtained by accumulating a total of 100 CERPs with a minimum of 60 CERPs in Category A and a minimum of 10 CERPs each in Categories B & C - plus 20 in the category of your choice.
     
  • All CERPs must be accrued during the 3-year certification renewal period.

Option 2 — Renewal by Exam

  • Meet the eligibility requirements for certification renewal and successfully complete the exam.
     
  • The CCRN/PCCN Exam Handbook provides exam policies and an application.

Do Not Apply for More Than One Option

  • It is not permissible to take the CCRN exam early and then attempt to renew by CERPs if you fail.
Your Feedback