Preparing for PCCN certification through AACN Certification Corporation? This page gives candidates free practice sets, worked explanations, and a study approach built around reviewing mistakes. You can choose a topic, examine why an answer fits, and check verified exam details before scheduling. Practice Test Geeks uses AI tools to write its content. These practice questions are our own, not real exam questions.
According to AACN Certification Corporation, “The PCCN exam is a 3-hour test consisting of 150 multiple-choice items. Of the 150 items, 125 are scored and 25 are used to gather statistical data on item performance for future exams.”[1]
The PCCN exam is an assessment for PCCN certification through AACN Certification Corporation. Certification is granted for 3 years. Before applying, consult the official AACN PCCN Exam Handbook for eligibility requirements; the verified information provided here does not establish whether you qualify.
The exam contains 150 multiple-choice items and allows 3 hours. Of those items, 125 are scored and 25 are unscored items used to gather statistical information for future exams. The verified facts do not include a passing score, so this page does not supply a target score or equate a practice result with an exam outcome.
You can take the exam at a PSI test center or through live remote proctoring from your computer in a quiet, private location. The computer-based exam fee is $260 for AACN members and $375 for nonmembers.
Results appear on-screen after the exam, and a detailed score report is emailed within 24 hours. Retest fees are $185 for members and $290 for nonmembers. You may take the same certification exam up to 4 times in a rolling 12-month period. AACN also requires a new honor statement after 12 months. Use the official AACN PCCN Exam Handbook to check the requirements that apply to your application and testing arrangements.
The PCCN has 150 questions and takes about 3 hours[1] (AACN Certification Corporation, verified Oct 25, 2026).
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions | 150 items (125 scored, 25 unscored)[1] | AACN Certification Corporation · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Time limit | 3 hours[1] | AACN Certification Corporation · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Exam fee (AACN member) | $260 (AACN member)[1] | AACN Certification Corporation · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Exam fee (nonmember) | $375 (nonmember)[1] | AACN Certification Corporation · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Retake fee (AACN member) | $185 (member retest)[1] | AACN Certification Corporation · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Retake fee (nonmember) | $290 (nonmember retest)[1] | AACN Certification Corporation · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Retake policy | Up to 4 attempts in a rolling 12 months[1] | AACN Certification Corporation · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Validity | 3 years[1] | AACN Certification Corporation · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Delivery | PSI test center or live remote proctoring[1] | AACN Certification Corporation · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Score release | On-screen result; detailed score report emailed within 24 hours[1] | AACN Certification Corporation · Oct 25, 2026 |
Prepare for the PCCN - Exam exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.
Question: What is the correct sequence for donning personal protective equipment (PPE)?
Answer: A. Gown, mask, goggles, gloves
Explanation:
A is correct: gown, mask, goggles, gloves. For the PPE listed in this question, the gown goes on before facial protection, and gloves go on last. This lets you position the other equipment before covering your hands.
B is wrong because it puts gloves on before the gown and facial protection. C is wrong because it places gloves before goggles and reverses the gown-and-mask order. D starts with the gown but puts gloves on before the mask and goggles.
Rule to remember: distinguish putting PPE on from taking it off. For this donning sequence, cover the body, position facial protection, then put on gloves.
Question: Which of the following is a key differentiating feature between Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) and Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State (HHS)?
Answer: C. The presence of significant ketosis and metabolic acidosis
Explanation:
C is correct: significant ketosis and metabolic acidosis distinguish DKA. The question asks for the feature that best separates the conditions, rather than a finding they can share. In DKA, ketone accumulation contributes to metabolic acidosis.
A is wrong because severe dehydration can occur in both DKA and HHS. B is less useful because hyperglycemia occurs in both; its degree alone does not establish the distinction. D is wrong because altered consciousness can also occur in either condition. HHS generally has enough insulin activity to limit substantial ketone production.
Rule to remember: look for the defining metabolic pattern, rather than choosing a shared sign of illness severity.
Question: The nurse is caring for a patient admitted with Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA). The initial potassium level was 5.8 mEq/L. After several hours of treatment with intravenous fluids and an insulin infusion, the patient's potassium level is now 3.2 mEq/L. What is the nurse's priority action?
Answer: B. Administer intravenous potassium as ordered.
Explanation:
B is the best listed answer: administer intravenous potassium as ordered. During DKA treatment, insulin moves potassium into cells. A falling serum potassium level can therefore reveal a replacement need even when the initial result was high. The change from 5.8 mEq/L to 3.2 mEq/L requires action because low potassium can cause cardiac dysrhythmias.
A leaves the low potassium untreated. C does not replace potassium; simply decreasing insulin is not an adequate response. D would further lower potassium and worsen the problem.
Rule to remember: follow potassium trends during DKA treatment. Give ordered replacement and promptly escalate the low result so insulin management follows the treatment protocol; this answer should not be read as an instruction to continue insulin unchanged.
Start with the official AACN PCCN Exam Handbook. Review eligibility, testing arrangements, and the official content outline before deciding where to spend your study time. The topic labels below describe our practice sets; they are not a verified reproduction of the official blueprint.
Use Start Practice Test to identify questions you cannot explain clearly. Record the topic, the clue you missed, and why your chosen answer did not fit. Include answers you guessed correctly, since a correct guess can hide a gap in understanding.
Choose a related set for focused review. For example, use Endocrine and Renal Issues for the DKA examples, or Nursing Interventions & Procedures for procedural reasoning. Explain your choice before reading the answer, then account for the alternatives.
Check uncertain explanations against your clinical references and official preparation material. Return to missed topics after reviewing the underlying concept, then mix topics again. Before test day, confirm your delivery arrangements and plan for the official 3-hour limit. Treat practice results as a way to direct review, not as a prediction of your exam result.
The PCCN exam allows 3 hours for 150 multiple-choice items. Of these, 125 are scored and 25 are unscored items used to collect statistical information for future exams. The verified information supplied here does not include a passing score.
The computer-based PCCN exam costs $260 for AACN members and $375 for nonmembers. Retest fees are $185 for members and $290 for nonmembers. These are the exam and retest fees listed in the official AACN PCCN Exam Handbook.
Yes. AACN offers live remote proctoring from your computer in a quiet, private location. You can also choose a PSI test center. Consult the official AACN PCCN Exam Handbook when choosing your delivery option and checking the instructions for that testing arrangement.
Your result appears on-screen when you finish the computer-based exam. A detailed score report is then emailed to you within 24 hours. This applies to the computer-based exam described in the AACN handbook, which offers PSI test-center and live remote-proctored delivery.
Yes. You may apply for and take the same certification exam up to 4 times in a rolling 12-month period. Retesting costs $185 for AACN members and $290 for nonmembers. The handbook also states that a new honor statement is required after 12 months.
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