Frequently Asked Questions about CCNS Certification

Who is eligible to sit for the CCNS certification exam?
The CCNS exam is for those who have completed an educational program as an acute and/or critical care clinical nurse specialist (CNS). The CCNS credential may be used by nurses in some states to help qualify them for advanced practice nursing licensure.
Do I need to be a member of AACN to sit for the CCNS exam?
No. Although members receive a discount on exam fees, membership in AACN is not a requirement.
Do I need a master's degree to sit for the CCNS exam?
Yes. A candidate must document completion from a graduate advanced practice education program that meets the following requirements:
  1. The education program is offered by an accredited college or university that offers a masters degree or higher in nursing with a concentration as an acute/critical care clinical nurse specialist.
  2. Both direct and indirect clinical supervision must be congruent with current AACN and nursing accreditation guidelines.
  3. The curriculum includes, but is not limited to:
    • biological, behavioral, medical and nursing sciences relevant to practice as CNS, including pathophysiology, pharmacology and physical assessment;
    • legal, ethical and professional responsibilities of the CNS; and
    • supervised clinical practice relevant to the specialty of acute/critical care.
  4. The curriculum meets the following criteria:
    • curriculum is consistent with competencies of acute/critical care CNS practice
    • instructional track/major has a minimum of 500 supervised clinical hours overall
    • the supervised clinical experience is directly related to the knowledge and all role components of the acute/critical care CNS.
  5. All individuals, without exception, seeking CCNS certification must complete the 500 hour clinical requirement within their master's program (effective January 1, 2007).
Once I determine that I have met the eligibility requirements, how do I apply to sit for the CCNS Exam?
Referring to the Certification Exam Handbook, you will need to submit the following in one envelope: completed 3-page CCNS exam application; photocopy of your RN license; originals (need not be sealed) of all graduate level educational transcripts; Educational Eligibility Verification Form completed and signed by the Program Director of your graduate program, and the CCNS exam fee payable per check or credit card.
How long does it take to process a CCNS exam application and for me to be approved to sit for the exam?
It generally takes 8-10 weeks to process a CCNS exam application. While it may take as little as 4 weeks, processing may be delayed when the application is incomplete, when supporting documentation is missing, when eligibility must be confirmed directly with the school, and/or during academic breaks or holiday periods.
If my CNS program didn't have the courses now required for CCNS eligibility, do I need to enroll for those courses prior to renewing my CCNS?
If you are currently certified, but did not have 500 supervised clinical practice hours in all roles of the CNS within the master's program, and/or did not have pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health assessment at the time you originally took and passed the CCNS exam, you will not be required to obtain these courses in order to renew your CCNS certification with the AACN Certification Corporation. As long as you maintain your certification and do not allow it to lapse, you will not be required to obtain additional educational qualifications. If your certification as a CCNS were to lapse, and you would desire to regain your certification by exam, you would be required to meet the examination requirements in place at the time you take the exam; in other words, the new examination requirements.

However, the Board of Nursing in the state in which you are employed may require you to obtain additional educational requirements to gain advanced practice licensure or designation in that jurisdiction or to maintain CNS status. These educational requirements may be greater than, or in addition to, those required to qualify for the CCNS examination.
How many questions make up the CCNS exam?
The CCNS exam consists of 175 multiple-choice questions. On each exam, 78% of the items address content where the age of the patient spans the developmental spectrum. The remaining 22% of each exam addresses care of acutely/critically ill adult, neonatal or pediatric patients.
What is the CCNS exam fee?
Fees are $245 for AACN members or $345 for nonmembers. If joining AACN at the time of CCNS application, the fee is $323 ($245 CCNS exam fee + $78 AACN annual member fee).
How do I obtain an application for the CCNS exam?
An application for the CCNS exam may be found in the CCNS Exam Handbook.
How do I prepare for the CCNS exam?
The CCNS Exam Handbook contains a list of recommended references used by the Item Writers who helped develop the CCNS exam. We also suggest reviewing the complete test plan and sample questions included in the CCNS Exam Handbook, which is available for free on this Web site or by e-mail.
What is the application process?
After AACN Certification Corporation receives your application and verifies eligibility, which can take up to 10 weeks, an approval-to-test postcard and e-mail will be sent to you from our testing service, Applied Measurement Professionals, Inc. (AMP). You may then schedule your exam by calling a toll-free number or going online to make your testing appointment. You are given a 90-day window during which you may schedule and sit for the exam. The CCNS exam is administered by computer at AMP testing centers nationwide. Testing is offered Monday through Friday twice daily at 9:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
What do I need to know about the Synergy Model?
Professional Caring and Ethical Practice questions are incorporated into most CCNS exam questions. The CCNS exam tests the psychosocial knowledge underlying the Synergy Model: knowledge of and sensitivity to diversity in patients and families; ethics involved in critical care nursing; collaborating with other healthcare professionals to achieve the best outcomes possible for patients and families; knowledge of teaching techniques and psychology in order to prepare patients and their families for discharge, etc. For more information about the Synergy Model click here.
How many CCNSs are there?
There are currently approximately 600 certified CCNSs.
How often may one sit for the CCNS exam?
Candidates have a maximum of four opportunities in a 12-month period to successfully pass the CCNS exam.
If I do not pass the CCNS exam on the first attempt, what can I do?
Referring to your CCNS exam score report, you will want to focus your studies on the topic areas in which you have room for improvement.
Which states recognize the CCNS credential?
As of February 1, 2008 the following Boards of Nursing have either approved the CCNS exam, or have listed AACN Certification Corporation as an approved certification body: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Some State Boards of Nursing accept the CCNS examination but do not use a formal approval process. These states include Arizona, New Mexico and Virginia. All nurses intending to use the CCNS to obtain AP licensure in their state should check with their State Board of Nursing for specific licensing requirements before sitting for the exam, including those practicing in the states listed above.
What is required to renew the CCNS credential?
  • Unencumbered RN or Advanced Practice (APRN) licensure in the U.S.
  • Active involvement in the care of acutely or critically ill patients as a clinical nurse specialist for a minimum of 2,000 hours over the last four years, with a minimum of 400 hours in the 12 months preceding renewal
  • Retaking and passing the CCNS exam or Renewal by CE
  • The Renewal by CE option includes:
    • 60 hours of Category A CE
    • at least 15 of the 60 must fall under the Acute and Critical Care Educational Program area
    • optional CE Activities for Category A include professional publication and editorial activities related to acute and critical care
Can I meet the CCNS Renewal 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 or Canada-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.
What is the fee for CCNS renewal?
Fees for Renewal by CE are $180 for members or $260 for nonmembers. Fees for Renewal by Exam are $200 for AACN members or $305 for nonmembers. If joining AACN at the time of application for the CCNS exam, the fee is $258 for Renewal by CE or $305 for Renewal by Exam (exam fee plus annual membership fee).