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CCRN-K (Adult)

Maintaining CCRN-K™ specialty certification reflects your dedication to excellence as you positively influence the care delivered to acutely/critically ill adult patients and their families.

Renewal Eligibility Requirements & Fees

CCRN-K (Adult)

Renewal Eligibility Requirements & Fees

  • Renewal by Synergy CERPs

  • Renewal by Exam

The Continuing Education Recognition Points (CERPs) program encompasses a wide spectrum of learning topics and activities such as research activities, preceptorship, committee involvement, leadership responsibilities and volunteer activities. CERP learning topics and activities are listed in the CCRN-K Renewal Handbook.
Eligibility Requirements
  • A current, unencumbered U.S. RN or APRN license is required. An unencumbered license is not currently being subjected to formal discipline by any state board of nursing and has no provisions or conditions that limit the nurse’s practice in any way.
  • Completion of 100 CERPs is required, with 80 CERPs in Category A and 10 each in Categories B and C.
  • Practice hours are required. Practice as an RN or APRN for 432 hours positively influencing the care delivered to acutely/critically ill adult patients during the three-year certification renewal period, with 144 of those hours accrued in the 12-month period prior to the scheduled renewal date is required.
    • Eligible hours are those in which the nurse applies knowledge in a way that influences patients, nurses and/or organizations to have a positive impact on acutely/critically ill adult patients and their families.
    • Hours may be a combination of role practice/non-direct care and direct care. Nurses who exclusively or primarily provide direct care are not eligible.
    • All hours must be completed 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. The majority of hours for renewal eligibility must be focused on critically ill patients.
  • For complete eligibility requirements, refer to the CCRN-K Renewal Handbook.

AACN Members

$120

Nonmembers

$200

Renew
For renewal by exam, you must meet eligibility requirements for renewal and successfully apply for, take and pass the exam before your scheduled renewal date. Refer to the CCRN-K Exam Handbook for the current test plan and to the Certification Exam Policy Handbook for exam scheduling and testing information.
Eligibility Requirements
  • A current, unencumbered U.S. RN or APRN license is required. An unencumbered license is not currently being subjected to formal discipline by any state board of nursing and has no provisions or conditions that limit the nurse’s practice in any way.
  • Take and pass the CCRN-K Adult exam before your scheduled renewal date.
  • Practice hours are required. Practice as an RN or APRN for 432 hours positively influencing the care delivered to acutely/critically ill adult patients during the three-year certification renewal period, with 144 of those hours accrued in the 12-month period prior to the scheduled renewal date is required.
    • Eligible hours are those in which the nurse applies knowledge in a way that influences patients, nurses and/or organizations to have a positive impact on acutely/critically ill adult patients and their families.
    • Hours may be a combination of role practice/non-direct care and direct care. Nurses who exclusively or primarily provide direct care are not eligible. The majority of hours for renewal eligibility must be focused on critically ill patients.
    • All hours must be completed 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.
  • For complete eligibility requirements, refer to the CCRN-K Renewal Handbook.

AACN Members

$170

Nonmembers

$275

Renew

Handbooks

CCRN-K Renewal Handbook

  • • Detailed Renewal Eligibility
  • • Application Instructions
  • • CERP Category Descriptions/CERP Log
  • • Renewal Audit Information

Synergy CERPs Brochure

  • • CERP Requirements
  • • Categories A, B and C Examples
  • • How to Calculate CERPs
  • • Documentation of CERPs

CCRN-K Exam Handbook

  • • Detailed Eligibility Requirements
  • • Test Plan/Testable Nursing Actions
  • • Sample Questions
  • • Products for CCRN-K Exam Preparation

Synergy CERPs Overview

Following is a summary of how CERPs are categorized in the Renewal by Synergy CERPs program. The three categories (A, B and C) cover a range of topics organized by the Synergy Model. A total of 100 CERPs, with a minimum number in each category, is required. Click on a category below to access available continuing education activities.

Category A

Clinical Judgment, Clinical Inquiry

60 CERPs minimum

Category B

Advocacy/Moral Agency, Caring Practices, Diversity, Facilitation of Learning

10 CERPs minimum

Category C

Collaboration, Systems Thinking

10 CERPs minimum

Synergy CERPs Brochure

Explore

Active Renewal Options

At renewal time, eligible CCRN-K certificants may seek an active certification renewal option. Those certificants who no longer meet eligibility requirements may select an alternate option. Only one option may be selected.

CCRN-K (Adult)

Acute/Critical Care Knowledge Professional
  • • For RNs or APRNs influencing care of acutely/critically ill adult patients but not primarily or exclusively providing direct care
  • • Eligibility based on verifiable practice hours and current, unencumbered U.S. RN or APRN license
  • • Nurses in roles such as clinical educator, manager/supervisor, director, academic faculty or nursing administrator may be eligible

CCRN (Adult)

Acute/Critical Care Nursing
  • • For RNs or APRNs providing direct care to acutely/critically ill adult patients
  • • Eligibility based on verifiable clinical practice hours and current, unencumbered U.S. RN or APRN license
  • • Managers, educators, preceptors and APRNs who supervise nurses at the bedside may also be eligible

CCRN-E (Adult)

Tele-ICU Acute/Critical Care Nursing
  • • For RNs or APRNs working with acutely/critically ill adult patients behind a camera from a remote tele-ICU location
  • • Eligibility based on verifiable practice hours and current, unencumbered U.S. RN or APRN license
  • • Managers, educators, preceptors and APRNs who supervise nurses in a remote tele-ICU location may be eligible

Alternate Options

Status change options for certificants who no longer meet renewal eligibility requirements for active certification. Only one option may be selected.

Inactive Status

  • • For nurses who don’t meet eligibility for active renewal but believe they may do so in the near future
  • • Available for up to three years from most recent certification date, during which time eligibility requirements (CERPs and/or practice hours) may be completed to allow reactivation
  • • If unable to renew active certification by the end of your Inactive Status period, you may move to Alumnus status

Alumnus Status

  • • For nurses who no longer work with or influence care of acutely/critically ill adult patients but continue to work in nursing in another capacity
  • • Involves no practice hour or CERP requirements
  • • Renewable every three years

Retired Status

  • • For those retired and no longer working in a position requiring an RN or APRN license
  • • Involves no practice hour or CERP requirements
  • • Renewable every three years

Renew

A current, unencumbered U.S. RN or APRN license, minimum number of practice hours influencing the care delivered to acutely/critically ill adult patients, and CERPs or exam are required.
Renew

Renewal Information

CCRN-K Renewal Handbook
Renewal Practice Decision Tree
CCRN-K Renewal Policy
Audits