Certification Exam Statistics and Cut Scores

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Exam Statistics

This summarized statistical data is for the past three calendar years. Aggregate data itemized for each certification program includes total number of exam candidates tested for the year, first-time pass rate for the year, total number of certificants, renewed certificants, total failed and new certificants.


2021

Exam Candidates Tested First Time Pass Rate Total Certificants Renewed Total Failed New Certificants
CCRN (Adult) 13,907 71.5% 84,189 18,850 4,259 9,681
CCRN (Neonatal) 374 67.7% 1,818 386 169 205
CCRN (Pediatric) 1,277 72.3% 7,589 1,708 366 911
CCRN-E 40 50.0% 419 1,507 20 20
CCRN-K (Adult) 92 78.8% 4,407 25 21 71
CCRN-K (Neonatal) 9 88.9% 82 144 6 3
CCRN-K (Pediatric) 11 45.5% 440 150 1 10
PCCN 3,874 67.0% 21,016 4,623 1,429 2,442
PCCN-K 60 72.2% 983 420 20 40
ACNPC-AG 992 83.1% 2,910 198 176 778
ACCNS-AG 96 89.1% 759 83 8 86
ACCNS-N 12 72.7% 48 5 5 9
ACCNS-P 29 80.0% 116 7 47 21
CMC 945 75.0% 3,286 599 256 689
CSC 984 72.6% 3,235 521 298 686
*CCNS (Adult) n/a n/a 883 21 n/a n/a
*CCNS (Neonatal) n/a n/a 42 0 n/a n/a
*CCNS (Pediatric) n/a n/a 27 1 n/a n/a
*ACNPC n/a n/a 220 42 n/a n/a
*Renewal Only


2020

Exam Candidates Tested First Time Pass Rate Total Certificants Renewed Total Failed New Certificants
CCRN (Adult) 12,381 78.5% 83,052 17,243 3,270 9,111
CCRN (Neonatal) 341 67.2% 1,762 403 132 209
CCRN (Pediatric) 1,107 76.0% 7,331 1,588 310 797
CCRN-E 41 53.1% 460 110 21 20
CCRN-K (Adult) 96 77.8% 4,044 1,280 30 66
CCRN-K (Neonatal) 7 57.0% 76 20 3 10
CCRN-K (Pediatric) 12 80.0% 396 138 2 520
PCCN 3,361 71.6% 21,001 4,052 1,087 2,274
PCCN-K 53 74.4% 834 280 37 37
ACNPC-AG 581 86.0% 2,152 156 113 468
ACCNS-AG 84 83.3% 698 100 19 65
ACCNS-N 6 83.0% 39 5 1 5
ACCNS-P 21 70.6% 97 10 8 13
CMC 707 77.2% 2,913 443 187 520
CSC 709 76.2% 2,889 508 194 515
*CCNS (Adult) n/a n/a 889 214 n/a n/a
*CCNS (Neonatal) n/a n/a 43 5 n/a n/a
*CCNS (Pediatric) n/a n/a 27 4 n/a n/a
*ACNPC n/a n/a 230 46 n/a n/a
*Renewal Only


2019

Exam Candidates Tested First Time Pass Rate Total Certificants Renewed Total Failed New Certificants
CCRN (Adult) 15,935 79.0% 81,800 15,904 4,095 11,840
CCRN (Neonatal) 429 72.6% 1,722 308 145 284
CCRN (Pediatric) 1,532 78.9% 7,080 1,311 372 1,160
CCRN-E 58 60.0% 449 142 26 32
CCRN-K (Adult) 138 83.3% 3,572 1,208 27 111
CCRN-K (Neonatal) 4 100% 61 24 0 4
CCRN-K (Pediatric) 16 64.3% 346 117 6 10
PCCN 5,218 72.0% 20,785 3,661 1,214 3,518
PCCN-K 83 78.6% 686 222 21 62
ACNPC-AG 546 81.4% 1,696 61 141 405
ACCNS-AG 1,229 84.1% 660 105 28 101
ACCNS-N 5 100% 34 5 5 5
ACCNS-P 30 69.6% 86 6 11 19
CMC 778 76.9% 2,646 425 200 578
CSC 798 69.9% 2,715 406 267 531
*CCNS (Adult) n/a n/a 935 239 n/a n/a
*CCNS (Neonatal) n/a n/a 34 21 n/a n/a
*CCNS (Pediatric) n/a n/a 86 11 n/a n/a
*ACNPC n/a n/a 237 37 n/a n/a
*Renewal Only


Exam Cut Scores

The cut score (also known as the passing score) is the number of scored questions that must be answered correctly on an exam to achieve certification. The passing score is not a percentage but a raw number that may change over time as an exam is updated based on results of the most recent study of practice (also known as a job analysis) or when the exam forms are periodically changed and equated for difficulty.

The passing score should not be confused with the "pass rate" (see Exam Statistics above), which is the percentage of candidates testing who are successful at passing an exam.

Passing scores for AACN Certification Corporation exams are determined using a systematic procedure known as the modified Angoff method in collaboration with professional psychometricians from our testing service, PSI. Below are current exam passing scores and their effective dates.


Exam Total # of Items on Exam # of Scored Items on Exam Passing (Cut) Score Score Effective Date
CCRN (Adult) 150 125 83 03/25/2020
CCRN (Pediatric) 150 125 82 03/25/2020
CCRN (Neonatal) 150 125 84 03/25/2020
CCRN-K (Adult) 150 125 83 03/25/2020
CCRN-K (Pediatric) 150 125 82 03/25/2020
CCRN-K (Neonatal) 150 125 84 03/25/2020
CCRN-E 150 125 83 03/25/2020
PCCN 125 100 68 01/31/2019
PCCN-K 125 100 68 01/31/2019
ACCNS-AG 175 150 95 01/15/2018
ACCNS-P 175 150 98 01/15/2018
ACCNS-N 175 150 100 01/15/2018
ACNPC-AG 175 150 101 01/10/2022
CMC 90 75 50 06/01/2022
CSC 90 75 55 01/31/2022