Certified Critical Care Registered Nurse
CCRN Certification Practice Test 2025

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.

1. Download the CCRN Exam Handbook issued by AACN Certification Corporation.
2. Read the handbook to ensure that you meet the minimum examination criteria.
3. Go to www.aacn.org/certification and click “Get Certified” to create an application.
4. Receive an email verifying your successful submission.
5. Receive your Approval to Test (ATT) Email from AACN.
6. Find a testing center at www.goAMP.com and schedule your test.
7. Sit for the test.

Steps to become a critical care nurse:

1. Obtain your degree in Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
2. Complete the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN)
3. Obtain a Master’s degree from an Accredited MSN Program.
4. Be accredited as a Critical Care Nurse by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).
5. Look for jobs and join the workforce.

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.