PCCN Certification

PCCN (Adult)

PCCN^® is a specialty certification for nurses who provide direct care to acutely ill adult patients regardless of their physical location. Nurses interested in this certification may work in areas such as intermediate care, direct observation, stepdown, telemetry, transitional care or emergency departments.

Initial Eligibility Requirements & Fees

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 nurses practice in any way.

Candidates must complete one of the following clinical practice hour requirement options:

Two-Year Option

Practice as an RN or APRN for 1,750 hours in direct care of acutely ill adult patients during the previous two years, with 875 of those hours accrued in the most recent year preceding application

Five-Year Option

Practice as an RN or APRN for at least five years with a minimum of 2,000 hours in direct care of acutely ill adult patients, with 144 of those hours accrued in the most recent year preceding application

Eligible Clinical Practice 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 progressive care nursing practice.
Are those spent actively providing direct care to acutely ill adult patients or supervising nurses or nursing students at the bedside of acutely ill adult patients, if working as a manager, educator, preceptor or APRN.
Are verifiable by your clinical supervisor or professional colleague (RN or physician). Contact information must be provided for verification of eligibility related to clinical hours, to be used if you are selected for audit.
For complete eligibility requirements, refer to the PCCN Exam Handbook.

AACN Members

$185

Nonmembers

$285

Apply

PCCN (Adult)

Initial Eligibility Requirements & Fees

Handbooks

How to Prepare

Apply

Renew