Initial CCRN Certification

Congratulations! You have taken your first step toward becoming a certified nurse. By demonstrating you have mastered certain skills, knowledge and abilities, you can distinguish yourself as a leader at the bedside.

• Exam Content
• Initial Eligibility Requirements
• CCRN Initial Exam Fees

The Certification Exam Policy Handbook will provide you with detailed testing and policy information. The CCRN/PCCN Exam Handbook includes exam-specific information, including the CCRN application/honor statement and the CCRN test plans.

• Certification Exam Policy Handbook
• CCRN/PCCN Exam Handbook

Once you have reviewed all available information and are ready to sit for the CCRN exam, we recommend you submit your application online.

• Apply Online

CCRN Exam Content

• The CCRN exam is a 3-hour test consisting of 150 multiple-choice items.
  • Of the 150 items, 125 are scored and 25 are used to gather statistical data on item performance for future exams.
• The CCRN exam focuses on adult, pediatric and neonatal patient populations.
• Of each exam, 80% focuses on Clinical Judgment and is age-specific for the adult, pediatric or neonatal population.
• The remaining 20% covers Professional Caring and Ethical Practice.
  • These questions may be asked about any age across the life span.

Initial Eligibility Requirements

• Current unencumbered licensure as an RN or APRN in the United States is required.
  • An unencumbered license is not currently being subjected to formal discipline by any board of nursing and has no provisions or conditions that limit the nurse's practice in any way.
  • Candidates and CCRN-certified nurses must notify AACN Certification Corporation within 30 days if any restriction is placed on their RN or APRN license.
  • If randomly selected for audit, you will be asked to provide a copy of your RN or APRN license — please do not submit with your application.
• Practice as an RN or APRN is required for 1,750 hours in direct bedside care of acutely and/or critically ill patients during the previous two years, with 875 of those hours accrued in the most recent year preceding application.
  • Eligible hours are those spent caring for the patient population (adult, pediatric or neonatal) of the exam for which you are applying.
  • Clinical practice hours for the CCRN exam or renewal eligibility must take place in a U.S.-based or Canada-based facility or in a facility 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.
• Nurses serving as manager, educator (in-service or academic), APRN or preceptor may apply their hours spent supervising nursing students or nurses at the bedside.
  • Nurses in these roles must be actively involved in caring for patients at the bedside (e.g., demonstrating how to measure pulmonary artery pressures or supervising a new employee or student nurse performing a procedure).
• The name and address of a professional associate must be given for verification of eligibility.
  • A professional associate is defined as either a clinical supervisor (RN or physician) or RN colleague with whom you work. 
  • If randomly selected for audit, this associate will be asked to verify in writing that you have met the clinical hour eligibility requirements.  
• AACN Certification Corporation may adopt additional eligibility requirements at its sole discretion from time to time.
  • 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 acutely and critically ill patients.

CCRN Initial Exam Fees

Payable in U.S. Funds. Fees are subject to change without notice.