CCRN (Adult) - Certification in Acute/Critical Care Nursing (Adult)

Certification in Acute/Critical Care Adult Nursing (CCRN Adult) validates the knowledge and skills of registered nurses providing care to acutely ill adult patients. The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) offers the CCRN (Adult) exam, accredited by the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC).

Eligibility

To be eligible to take the CCRN (Adult) exam, applicants must have:

• An active RN or APRN license in any U.S. state

• Met one of the following clinical hour requirements:

  • Completed 1,750 hours as an RN or APRN in the direct care of acute or critically ill adult patients in the last 2 years (with 875 hours completed in the year preceding application)

  • Worked as an RN or APRN for at least 5 years with at least 2,000 hours in the direct care of acute or critically ill adult patients (with 144 hours completed in the year preceding application)

Clinical hours must be verifiable by a supervisor or colleague (RN or physician).

Cost

• Non-member: $365

• American Association of Critical-Care Nurses member: $250

Exam Format

The CCRN (Adult) exam includes 150 scored questions and 25 unscored questions. It takes 3 hours to complete and examinees must correctly answer a minimum of 83 questions to pass. Exam topics:

• Clinical Judgment: 80%

  • Cardiovascular (17%)

  • Respiratory (15%)

  • Endocrine, hematology, gastrointestinal, renal, integumentary (20%)

  • Musculoskeletal, neurological, psychosocial (14%)

  • Multisystem (14%)

• Professional Caring and Ethical Practice (20%)

  • Advocacy/Moral Agency

  • Caring Practices

  • Responses to Diversity

  • Facilitation of Learning

  • Collaboration

  • Systems Thinking

  • Clinical Inquiry

Test Dates

Applicants can register to take the in-person exam anytime based on availability at their selected PSI Testing Center. Examinees may also take the exam at home via PSI’s Live Remote Proctoring (LRP) service.

Online Application

• Go to the certification website 

• Click “Apply”

• Create an account or log in

• Click “Apply” under CCRN (Adult) Initial Exam

• Complete membership information

• Insert demographic information

• Insert primary and secondary clinical specialty 

• Enter RN license information

• Enter Colleague/Supervisor Verification Information

• Click “Agree” under the Honor Statement

• Add optional review courses or practice questions

• Click “Go to Cart and Checkout”

• Review information and click “Checkout”

• Input debit or credit card information

Online applicants receive same-day processing and an email from AACN with scheduling information. Applicants must test within 180 days of receiving the confirmation email.

Paper Application

• Print pages 34-36 of the CCRN Handbook

• Insert registration information

• Complete membership information

• Check the box next to “CCRN Adult”

• Include debit or credit card information

  • If paying by check or money order, make payable to “AACN Certification Corporation” and attach with the application

• Insert demographic information

• Include current RN license information and Colleague/Supervisor Verification Information on the Honor Statement

• Sign and date the Honor Statement

• Submit completed application, honor statement, and check or money order (if applicable) to:

  • Mail: AACN Certification Corporation
    27071 Aliso Creek Road
    Aliso Viejo, CA 92656-3399

  • Fax: 949-362-2020 (if paying electronically)

Paper applications take 2-4 weeks for processing. Applicants receive an email from AACN with scheduling information. Applicants must test within 180 days of receiving the confirmation email.

CCRN (Adult) is valid for 3 years. Renewal applicants can renew by retaking the exam or completing continuing education requirements, called Synergy Continuing Education Recognition Points (CERPs). Applicants can submit an online renewal application up to 4 months before expiration.

Online Renewal

• Go to the AACN Dashboard

• Log in to AACN Account

• Verify and update account information

• Verify email address

Paper Renewal

• Print pages 24-26 of the CCRN Renewal Handbook

• Insert registration information

• Check whether renewing by Synergy CERPs or Exam

• Include debit or credit card information

  • If paying by check or money order, make payable to “AACN Certification Corporation” and attach with the application

• Insert demographic information

• Complete the appropriate Honor Statement for CERPs or Exam

• Include current RN license information and Colleague/Supervisor Verification Information

• Sign and date the Honor Statement

• Submit completed application, honor statement, and check or money order (if applicable) to:

  • Mail: AACN Certification Corporation
    27071 Aliso Creek Road
    Aliso Viejo, CA 92656-3399

  • Fax: 949-362-2020 (if paying electronically)

Paper applications take 2-3 weeks for processing. Renewal applications must be postmarked by the certification renewal date.

Renewal Fees

Renewal by Exam

• Non-member: $280

• American Association of Critical-Care Nurses member: $175

Renewal by Synergy CERPs

• Non-member: $230

• American Association of Critical-Care Nurses member: $150

To be eligible for renewal, applicants must:

• Have an active RN license in any U.S. state 

• Hold a current, active CCRN (Adult) certification from the AACN

• Have completed a minimum of 12 hours per month (or 432 hours over 3 years) as an RN or APRN in the direct care of acute or critically ill pediatric patients (with 144 hours completed in the year preceding renewal) 

• Complete 100 CERPs

• Pay renewal fee

Part of the renewal process requires 100 Synergy Continuing Education Recognition Points (CERPs). Renewal applicants must complete a minimum of 60 CERPs in category A, and 10 CERPs in both categories B and C. The remaining 20 CERPs can be in a category of the applicants choosing.

• Category A - Clinical Judgment, Clinical Inquiry

• Category B - Advocacy & Moral Agency, Caring Practices, Response to Diversity,

• Facilitation of Learning

• Category C - Collaboration, Systems Thinking

For full information, refer to the CCRN Renewal Handbook.

The AACN provides several resources to help prepare for the CCRN (Adult) exam, including:

• CCRN Exam Handbook with free test plans, bibliographies, and sample questions

• AACN Shop with preparation courses, study packs, books, and practice exams for purchase

• Exam Policy Handbook

• AACN CCRN-K (Adult) Certification Practice Exam Subscriptions:

  • Basic subscriptions provide a 30-day access to 150 multiple-choice questions and answers. Cost: $25 for AACN members or $30 for non-members

  • Premium subscriptions include 180-day access to 100s of multiple-choice questions and answers. Cost: $65 for AACN members or $75 for non-members

  • Free trial subscriptions offer 7-day access to 30 practice questions and answers.

• Adult CCRN-K Certification Online Review Course for in-depth exam preparation and certification review by national experts. Cost: $159 for AACN members or $199 for non-members, with a 50% discount if purchased while applying for the CCRN-K exam. The course also qualifies for 15.5 contact hours of continuing education or CERPs Category A.

Other certifications related to the care of adult patients include:

• Adult Acute/Critical Care Knowledge Professional (CCRN-K) (Adult)

• Adult TeleICU Acute/Critical Care Nursing (CCRN-E) (Adult)

• Acute Care NP (ACNPC-AG) (Adult-Gero)

• CNS Wellness through Acute Care Adult (ACCNS-AG) (Adult-Gero)

• Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist - Board Certified (ACNS-BC)

• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (certified by ANCC) (AGPCNP-BC)

• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP-BC)

• Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AGCNS-BC)

• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (certified by AANPCB) (A-GNP)