Prepare for the CCRN - Review exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
Applicants must comply with one of the following options for clinical practice CCRN requirements:
Two-year option: Practice as an RN or APRN for 1,750 hours in direct bedside care for acute and/or critically ill patients in the previous 2 years, of which 875 hours were accumulated in the most recent year preceding application.
OR
Five-year option: Practice as an RN or APRN of at least 5 years with a total of 2,000 hours of direct bedside treatment for acute and/or critically ill patients with 144 of such hours in the most recent year before registration.
The name and contact details of the professional associate must be submitted for CCRN certification verification of eligibility for clinical practice hours. If you are chosen for an audit, this associate will have to be verified in writing.
A professional associate is identified as your medical supervisor or co-worker (RN or physician) with whom you work.
The Adult CCRN comprises of 150 multiple-choice questions, of which 125 items are scored. The remaining 25 items, which are randomly scattered throughout the exam, are used to gauge their worth for inclusion in future versions. The test takes three hours to complete the exam. It must be noted that the Clinical Judgment questions involve only adult patients, while the Professional Caring and Ethical Practice items will address to people of all ages. The table below indicates the CCRN test breakdown and their approximate percentage:
| Domains | Percentage |
| Clinical Judgment | 80% |
| Cardiovascular | 18% |
| Pulmonary | 17% |
| Endocrine/Hematology/Gastrointestinal/Renal/Integumentary | 20% |
| Musculoskeletal/Neurology/Behavioral | 13% |
| Multisystem | 14% |
| Professional Caring and Ethical Practice | 20% |
| CCRN Computer-Based Exam | |
| AACN Members | $239 |
| Nonmember | $344 |
| CCRN Retest | |
| AACN Members | $170 |
| Nonmember | $275 |
| CCRN Renewal by Exam | |
| AACN Members | $170 |
| Nonmember | $275 |
Note: All fees are payable in U.S. dollars. Fees may be changed without notice. A fee of $15 will be paid for a returned check.
Computer-based examination discounts are available for groups applying ten or more certification test applications jointly. Employers can pre-purchase examination vouchers at a greater discounted rate. For specifics on Group Discount and Organization Discount programs, visit www.aacn.org/certdiscounts or call 800-899-2226.
1. You could register for an adult CCRN online exam at www.aacn.org/certification by clicking Get Certified.
2. Please have the following items before beginning your online application process:
• RN or APRN license number and expiration date
• Name, address phone, and email address of your medical supervisor or professional colleague (RN or physician) who can check the eligibility of your practice.
• Valid credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express)
3. Use your legal name on the application. The name must match the name on the photo identification you will use for exam entry and printing of certificate.
4. Receive notice of your successful application to take the CCRN exam.
5. Receive approval-to-test (ATT) email. PSI (AACN Testing Service) will send an email and deliver a postcard to viable candidates within 5 to 10 days of the confirmation email, which will include:
• A toll-free number and electronic directions to arrange your test appointment.
• The 90-day timeframe during which you have to plan and take the tests.
• Your exam id number, which is your distinctive AACN CCRN user number, preceded by the letter "C" (e.g., C00123456).
• If you do not receive an email or a postcard from PSI within 2 weeks of obtaining your confirmation email, feel free to contact AACN Customer Care at 800-899-2226.
6. Schedule CCRN exam.
• Promptly schedule your test appointment for a time and date within your 90-day examination period.
• Testing is conducted twice a day, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m., and 1:30 p.m. Saturday appointments are available at most locations.
• To find PSI testing centers in the U.S., visit www.goAMP.com.
7. Sit for the exam.
• Following the completion of computer-based tests, results with a performance breakdown will be provided on-site.
• Successful applicants will be mailed their wall certificate roughly 1 to 2 weeks after the results of the exam have been received.
Paper applications are needed for participants applying with a group for paper and pencil exams, and for tests outside of the United States.
1. Complete your registration process in the CCRN Exam Handbook on pages 37-38 and the Honor Statement on page 39. Make sure that you finish all the required information on the application and include the registration fee in the form of a check, money order, or credit card.
2. Use your legal name on the application. The name must match the name on the photo identification you will use for exam entry and printing of certificate.
3. Receive notice of your successful application to take the CCRN exam.
4. Receive approval-to-test (ATT) email. PSI (AACN Testing Service) will send an email and deliver a postcard to viable candidates within 5 to 10 days of the confirmation email, which will include:
• A toll-free number and electronic directions to arrange your test appointment.
• The 90-day timeframe during which you have to plan and take the tests.
• Your exam id number, which is your distinctive AACN user number, preceded by the letter "C" (e.g., C00123456).
• If you do not receive an email or a postcard from PSI within 2 weeks of obtaining your confirmation email, feel free to contact AACN Customer Care at 800-899-2226.
5. Schedule your exam.
• Promptly schedule your test appointment for a time and date within your 90-day examination period.
• Testing is conducted twice a day, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m., and 1:30 p.m. Saturday appointments are available at most locations.
• To find PSI testing centers in the U.S., visit www.goAMP.com.
6. Sit for the exam.
• Paper and pencil test results are delivered by mail 6 to 8 weeks after testing.
• Successful applicants will be mailed their wall certificate roughly 1 to 2 weeks after the results of the exam have been received.
Here are the top CCRN Exam Books/ CCRN Study Books:
• Ace the CCRN: You can Do it! Practice Review Questions.
• Pass CCRN.
• Adult CCRN Exam: With 3 Practice Tests.
• American Association of Critical Care Nurses Review.
• Laura Gasparis CCRN Review.
• Nurse.com Critical Care Review.
Best CCRN Courses/CCRN Classes:
• CCRN Training by Academy.
• Nursing.com CCRN Review Course.
• BoardVitals Critical Care Nursing Board Review Questions.
• CCRN Review Online.
• Kaplan CCRN Review Course.
• Elsevier CCRN Practice Exam.
The Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) is a health-care credential awarded to critical-care nurses. The certification program is overseen by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. The CCRN is an advanced certification offered only to registered nurses and advanced practical nurses.
CCRN meaning is a board accreditation that can be acquired from nurses who take care of patients in critical care and/or acute care settings. It is a trademark and does not stand for “Critical Care Registered Nurse” but rather means that a registered nurse (RN) or advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) has fulfilled the eligibility criteria of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) and has successfully completed the CCRN exam.
Steps to become a critical care nurse:
Working with doctors and experts to examine, treat, and monitor critically ill patients while still providing basic care is what critical care nursing entails.
The CCRN exam is difficult and must not be taken lightly. There are about 14,000 test runners per year, and the pass CCRN rate is only about 79%. The test itself consists of 150 questions, 25 of which are not credited towards the exam scores.
The CCRN certification is a board accreditation issued by AACN Certification Corporation. It validates that a registered nurse has attained the level of nursing knowledge needed for the care of patients in critical care and/or acute care settings. Nurses interested in this accreditation may work in areas such as Cardiac Care Units, Intensive Care Units, Medical/Surgical ICUs, Trauma Units, Combined ICU/CCUs, or Critical Care Transport/Flight.
Download the CCRN Exam Handbook from the AACN Certification Corporation to learn how to become an adult CCRN. Examine the manual to make sure you’re up to date on the testing requirements. Create an application by going to www.certcorp.org and clicking “apply online.”
The CCRN certification is valid for three years and can be renewed every three years by retaking the CCRN exam or satisfying the renewal requirements of the Synergy CERPs (Continuing Education Recognition Points) program during that time.
To pass the CCRN exam, you only need to get 87 questions right.
While you may wish to attempt for the highest possible score, keep in mind that passing the CCRN exam with a “C” is sufficient. The CCRN exam has 150 questions, 125 of which are scored and the other 25 are not. To pass the exam, you only need to get 87 questions right. This equates to approximately 70%, or a “C.”
The test plan (also known as an exam blueprint) may be found in the Exam Handbook and is one of the most important study resources. The test design is divided into content areas, each of which is given a percentage to indicate how the topic area will be weighted on the exam.
Some people study for a month, while others study for two weeks. Whatever makes you feel at ease and confident is what you should do! I’d also suggest taking the Self-Assessment Exam (SAE). It’s exactly how the exam’s questions will appear, and it’ll give you an excellent idea of how prepared you are!
Nurses can renew their licenses through CERPs or by taking an exam. Nurses renewing their CERPs by category must meet the category standards. The nurse must use the AACN logs to keep track of all of their CERPs. The nurse will be able to see exactly how many CERPs he or she has in this manner. The logs make calculating points and documenting his or her activity a breeze. When a nurse renews their CCRN, the AACN accepts the logs as well as all verification of CERPs (membership cards, copies of CEU awards, copies of certificates).
If the nurse wants to renew by exam, he or she will need to contact and make an appointment. It’s the same exam he or she passed to become qualified. To preserve his or her license, the nurse must pass the CCRN exam by the renewal deadline. If he or she fails, the nurse’s license will not be renewed, and she will have to retake the exam.
A CCRN nurse is a registered nurse who has completed extensive specialty training and is qualified to care for patients in acute and critical care situations. The average annual wage is $88,000, but it varies based on a number of factors.
The CCRN is a three-hour timed exam with 150 questions; 125 of them are assessed, while the remaining 25 are used to collect statistical data for future exams. The exam questions are based on the AACN Synergy Patient Care Model.
The CCRN Exam Handbook includes a paper application as well as full exam information. You can also submit an application online.
To take the CCRN exam, candidates must achieve one of the following clinical requirements: practice as an RN or APRN for 1,750 hours in direct bedside care of acutely and/or critically ill patients in the previous two years, with 875 of those hours accumulated in the year prior to application.
It takes several years of study to become a critical care registered nurse (CCRN). The first step toward becoming a CCRN is to obtain a bachelor’s degree in nursing, sometimes known as a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN), which typically takes four years to accomplish.
The CRRN exam is a three-hour test with 175 questions.
Once you receive the postcard or email, you can arrange an exam appointment online or over the phone. Please contact AACN Customer Care at (800) 899-2226 or certcorp@aacn.org if you have not received your postcard or email within 2-3 weeks of applying for an exam.
Contacting the testing center is the quickest way to verify CCRN certification.
It’s difficult to say how hard the CCRN exam will be. Anecdotal comments differ from person to person, with some nurses reporting that it is significantly more difficult than the NCELX and others reporting that it is equivalent to or even easier.
Barron’s CCRN Exam with Online Test by Patricia Juarez is one of the best CCRN review books available. Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio and Joanne Noone review the critical care examination. Robin Donohoe’s PASS CCRN. Alexander Johnson and Hillary Crumlett’s Critical Care Nursing Certification: Preparation, Review, and Practice Exams.
You can take the CCRN exam online, allowing you to study from the convenience of your own home. You could also be able to find a local center that can assist you in finding a local center if you need it.
Notary public exam candidates often also practice with our comprehensive national notary practice test 2026 covering general notarial law, oaths, and acknowledgments.
Senior typist exam candidates often also prepare with our civil service clerical exam practice test for the data entry, spelling, and administrative reasoning skills both government employment assessments require.
CCI critical care candidates often also prepare with our CMSRN practice test for the advanced clinical nursing and patient monitoring competencies both critical care certifications assess.
City of New York civil service applicants also review Police Officer Practice Test 2026 preparation materials when pursuing public safety career tracks.
If you are preparing for a career in nursing, you may also find these related practice tests helpful:
Prepare for the CNA - Certified Nursing Assistant — the foundational certification for nursing assistants, covering patient care, vital signs, and daily living activities.
Prepare for the NCLEX - National Council Licensure Examination — the national licensure exam for registered nurses, testing clinical judgment and patient safety across all nursing domains.
Prepare for the TEAS - Test of Essential Academic Skills — a standardized admissions test for nursing programs, assessing reading, math, science, and English language skills.
Prepare for the PCCN - Exam — the Progressive Care Certified Nurse exam for nurses in step-down and telemetry units.
Prepare for the CMSRN - Medical-Surgical Nursing — the Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification for nurses specializing in adult health and perioperative care.