PCCN-K - Progressive Care Knowledge Professional

The Progressive Care Knowledge Professional (PCCN-K) specialty certification from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) recognizes nurses who influence the care of adults within acute units but don’t necessarily provide direct care to patients. These professionals may include clinical educators, managers or supervisors, nursing administrators, directors, or academic faculty.

Exam Format

The PCCN-K exam is a computer-based test with 125 multiple-choice questions. The exam consists of 100 scored questions and 25 unscored questions used to gather statistical data. The PCCN-K (Adult) test plan includes:

• Clinical Judgment: 80%

  • Cardiovascular (27%)

  • Pulmonary (17%)

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

  • Musculoskeletal, multisystem, psychosocial (16%)

• Professional Caring and Ethical Practice (20%)

  • Advocacy/Moral Agency

  • Caring Practices

  • Responses to Diversity

  • Facilitation of Learning

  • Collaboration

  • Systems Thinking

  • Clinical Inquiry

Completion: Candidates have 2.5 hours to complete the PCCN-K (Adult) exam

Cost: $200 for AACN members or $305 for non-members / Retest $140 for AACN members or $220 for non-members

Candidates may take the exam in person at PSI Testing Centers where proctors administer the exam via on-site computers. They may also opt for Live Remote Proctoring (LRP) to take the exam at home or elsewhere using a computer, in an area free from distractions.

Whichever route candidates’ choose, their exam results appear on-screen after completing the exam. A detailed score report arrives via email within 24 hours. Those who pass receive their wall certificate via postal mail approximately 3 to 4 weeks after receiving exam results.

The certification is also available in the online Certification Verification system the day after the exam. Candidates may request a letter verifying their certificate be emailed to them, their employer, or their state board of nursing.

Candidates who are unsuccessful may reapply to the ACCN for a retest. Those who took the exam within their most recent eligibility period may receive a discounted retest fee. Candidates may retake the PCCN-K up to 4 times within a 12-month period. After 12 months, they must sign a new honor statement.

Rescheduling, Cancellations, and Extensions

A candidate may reschedule or cancel their exam up to 48 hours before their scheduled testing date. Refunds or extensions aren’t given for missed appointments. To cancel or reschedule their appointment, candidates must:

• Log into the AACN customer dashboard

• Click Certification to reschedule the exam

• Select “Manage Appointment” under “My Certifications”

• Receive a rescheduling confirmation email from PSI with the new date and time

• Pay a $100 exam extension fee

Eligibility

• Hold a current, valid, unrestricted, and unencumbered RN or APRN license

• Notify AACN Certification Corporation within 30 days of nursing license provisions or conditions

• Acquire at least 1,040 practice hours as an RN or APRN over the last two years

  • 260 hours within the previous 12 months before applying

Hours accrued must:

• Relate directly to applying knowledge to influence nurses, organizations and/or patients to have a positive impact on acutely ill patients and their families

• Occur in a facility providing nursing care to acutely ill adult patients

• Be a combination of direct patient care or role practice but can’t primarily or exclusively be direct patient care

• Be verifiable by the clinical supervisor or professional associate

• Must focus on acutely ill adult patients for most of the practice hours

Application Process

• Apply online or submit a paper application

  • Online applications have same-day processing

  • Paper application may take 2 to 4 weeks to process

  • Candidates applying as part of a group, requesting a paper-and-pencil exam, or testing outside the U.S. must complete a paper application and honor statement located inside the PCCN-K Exam Handbook

• Provide RN or APRN license and expiration date

• Provide name, address, phone number, and email address of the clinical supervisor or professional colleagues verifying practice hours

• Use legal name on application

  • Must match photo identification presented during the exam

• Receive confirmation email with instructions on scheduling the exam and the eligibility period for taking the exam

• Contact AACN Customer Care at 1-800-899-2226 or [email protected] if email doesn’t arrive

• Determine preferred testing method, either PSI Testing Center or Live Remote Proctoring

• Schedule exam clicking the "Schedule Exam" button in the AACN customer dashboard

PCCN-K certification is valid for three years. Certification begins the first day of the month of passing the exam and expires three years later. Renewal notifications are sent 4 months before the scheduled renewal date and applicants may renew online up to 4 months before their renewal date. They may also mail a paper renewal application, which must be postmarked or faxed on or before the renewal date. Certificants who renew online receive their new PCCN-K certificate within 2 to 4 weeks.

Renewal Requirements

• Maintain a current, valid, unrestricted, and unencumbered RN or APRN license

• Must either pass the PCCN-K certification exam and complete required CERPs

• Complete 432 RN or APRN practice hours within the last three years, with 144 of those hours within the 12 months directly preceding the scheduled renewal date

Eligible hours must:

• Primarily focus on acutely ill adult patients

• Apply knowledge that influenced a positive impact on acutely ill patients

• Not primarily be obtained through direct patient care but can include a combination of role practice and direct patient care

• Be completed in a facility for acute/critical care nursing

• Be verifiable by the clinical supervisor in writing

Renewal Options

PCCN-K certification renewal options include renewal by Synergy Continuing Education Recognition Points (CERPs) or by exam. Certification status options include inactive, retired, or alumnus.

Renewal by CERPs

• Meet renewal eligibility requirements for PCCN-K

• Complete 100 CERPs during the three-year certification period, including:

  • 80 CERPs in Category A - Clinical Inquiry, Clinical Judgment

  • 10 CERPs in Category B - Caring Practices, Advocacy & Moral Agency, Facilitation of Learning, Response to Diversity

  • 10 CERPs in Category C - Systems Thinking, Collaboration

Renewal by Exam

• Meet renewal eligibility requirements for PCCN-K

• Pass the PCCN-K exam before the certification renewal date

  • Candidates may not retest early, then attempt to renew by CERPs if they unsuccessfully pass the exam

Renewal by Inactive Status

PCCN-K (Adult)-certified nurses may choose to renew under inactive status if they don’t meet renewal eligibility requirements and don’t want to lose their certification status. Inactive status provides nurses additional time, up to three years, to meet renewal eligibility requirements and accrue 144 practice hours within the most recent year. However, nurses may not use the PCCN-K credential during the inactive status. Nurses can’t use inactive status for two consecutive renewals but can use it multiple times.

Submit a renewal application and pay the required fees.

Cost:

• $140 renewal by exam for AACN members or $220 for non-members

• $150 renewal by CERPs for AACN members or $230 for non-members

• $95 inactive status renewal for for AACN members or $175 for non-members

Alternate Status

The alumnus status is available for nurses who no longer work in acute/critical care but are still in the nursing field and is valid for three years. The Alumnus PCCN-K isn’t eligible to renew an active certification. Certificants must retake the exam as an initial applicant.

A candidate for retired status is eligible when no longer working in a position requiring an RN license and has no plans to return. A retired status renewal is valid for three years.

Renewal by CERPs requires 100 Synergy CERPs continuing education points. One hour of education time equals one point. Therefore qualifying activities that award 1 contact hour, 1 continued education hour, or 1 continuing medical education hour would all count as one CERP. However, one academic credit equals 15 CERPs.

PCCN-Ks should maintain a logbook of completed CERPs for at least three years in the event of an audit. A CERP log is available in the PCCN-K Renewal Handbook.

CERPs may include activities, such as acute and critical care publications, presentations, leadership responsibilities, quality assurance activities, and professional nursing or healthcare organizations and volunteer activities.

• The AACN PCCN-K Exam Handbook provides comprehensive information about the application process, exam information, resources, and sample practice questions to help study for the exam.

• AACN PCCN-K 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.

• The AACN Store offers numerous textbooks, resources, and practice exams for purchase.

• Adult PCCN-K Certification Online Review Course offers 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 PCCN-K exam. The course also qualifies for 15.5 contact hours of continuing education or CERPs Category A.

Candidates must have an RN or APRN license to be eligible for PCCN-Kaccreditation. Other relevant certifications include: 

• The PCCN certification accredits specialty care nurses who provide direct care to acutely/critically ill adult patients.

• The CCRN certification accredits nurses who provide direct care to acutely/critically ill adult (CCRN Adult), pediatric (CCRN Pediatric), or neonatal (CCRN Neonatal) patients.

• CCRN-K certifies nurses influencing the care delivered to acutely/critically ill adults (CCRN-K Adult), pediatrics (CCRN-K Pediatric), or neonatal (CCRN-K Neonatal) patients but doesn’t provide direct patient care. 

• The CCRN-E certification accredits nurses in a teleICU monitoring unit who remotely provide care to acutely/critically ill patients.