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Open free CCRN (Adult) prep resources ↗Exam facts & prep options
CCRN (Adult) — Direct Care Eligibility Pathway
The CCRN (Adult) exam is the adult-population acute/critical care nursing certification exam of AACN Certification Corporation, taken via the Direct Care Eligibility Pathway by RNs or APRNs who provide direct care to acutely/critically ill adult patients. It is a 3-hour, 150-item (125 scored) multiple-choice computer-based exam delivered at PSI Testing Centers or by live remote proctoring; 80% of the exam covers Clinical Judgment and 20% covers Professional Caring & Ethical Practice under the Adult CCRN Test Plan effective November 12, 2025.
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Questions150 multiple-choice items, of which 125 are scored and 25 are unscored (used to gather statistical data for future exams)
Testing time3 hours
ScoringPass/fail measured against a criterion-referenced passing point/cut score set by a modified Angoff standard-setting process; no numeric passing score is published (each candidate's performance is measured against a predetermined standard, not against other candidates)
Exam feeUSD 260 AACN member / USD 375 nonmember for the computer-based exam (payable in U.S. funds); retest USD 185 member / USD 290 nonmember; renewal by exam USD 185 member / USD 290 nonmember
Prep options
Study resources for CCRN (Adult)
Independent prep
Courses and study resources
Exam overview
What to know before choosing your prep
- Who runs it
- AACN Cert Corp
- Category
- Specialty Nursing Certification
- Current version
- CCRN Exam Handbook – Direct Care, July 2026 edition; Adult CCRN Test Plan applies to exams taken on and after November 12, 2025 (revised test plans resulting from the 2024 study of nursing practice)
- Where it applies
- United States — national
- Exam languages
- English
- Testing provider
- PSI (PSI Testing Centers and PSI live remote proctoring)
- Format
- Computer-based multiple-choice exam, taken at a PSI Testing Center or via Live Remote Proctoring; paper-and-pencil administration is coordinated with AACN and PSI in some cases (e.g., testing outside the U.S.)
- Availability
- Year-round; after applying, candidates receive an eligibility period in which to test — normally a 90-day window, currently a 180-day window
- Results
- Results show on-screen upon completion and a detailed score report is emailed within 24 hours; wall certificate mailed approximately 4–6 weeks after testing
- Credential validity
- CCRN certification is granted for a 3-year period (renewal by CERPs/practice hours or by renewal exam; up to a 90-day grace period beyond expiration)
- Remote testing
- Available
Exam structure
Single 3-hour multiple-choice exam. Adult CCRN Test Plan: 80% Clinical Judgment — Cardiovascular 13%, Respiratory 12%, Endocrine/Hematology-Immunology/GI/Renal-GU/Integumentary 21%, Musculoskeletal/Neurological/Behavioral-Psychosocial 18%, Multisystem 16% — and 20% Professional Caring & Ethical Practice
Where rules vary
U.S. nursing specialty certification: eligibility requires a current, unencumbered U.S. RN or APRN license ("Includes District of Columbia and U.S. territories"); eligible clinical hours must be completed in a U.S.-based or Canada-based facility or one determined comparable to the U.S. standard; candidates testing outside the U.S. are coordinated case-by-case by AACN and PSI
Eligibility
Current, unencumbered U.S. RN or APRN license plus direct-care clinical hours: 1,750 hours caring for acutely/critically ill adult patients in the previous 2 years (875 in the most recent year), OR 2,000 hours in the previous 5 years (144 in the most recent year); hours must be in a U.S.- or Canada-based facility or a comparable facility, focused on critically ill patients, and verifiable
Retake policy
The same certification exam may be taken up to four times in a rolling 12-month period; after 12 months a new honor statement is required (retest fee USD 185 member / USD 290 nonmember)