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CMC (Adult) — Cardiac Medicine Subspecialty Certification
Find the current format, timing, scoring, fees, eligibility, and testing options for CMC, with direct links to official sources.
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Questions90 multiple-choice items, of which 75 are scored and 15 are unscored (used to gather statistical data on item performance)
Testing time2 hours
ScoringPassing (cut) score: 50 of the 75 scored items must be answered correctly (raw number, not a percentage), effective June 1, 2022; cut scores are set using the modified Angoff method with psychometricians from testing service PSI and may change when exams are updated
Exam feeUSD 150 AACN member / USD 240 nonmember for the computer-based exam; a discounted retest fee is available to candidates who do not pass, until the exam is passed (retest amount not published on HTML)
Prep options
Study resources for CMC
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
- Current CMC Test Plan from the 2020 study of practice, in effect since June 1, 2022 (cut score effective 06/01/2022); revised CMC and CSC exams and test plans from the 2025 practice analysis launch for exams taken on and after Nov. 19, 2026
- 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 from the candidate's own computer
- Results
- Results appear on-screen upon completion of the exam; a detailed score report is emailed within 24–48 hours; certification appears in AACN's online verification system the day after testing
- Credential validity
- CMC certification is valid for a three-year renewal period; renewal by 25 Category A Clinical Judgment CERPs (cardiac medicine topics) plus 432 direct-care hours in adult cardiac patients (144 in the final 12 months), or by renewal exam
- Remote testing
- Available
Exam structure
Single 90-item multiple-choice subspecialty exam on the adult cardiac patient population; because all candidates must already hold a clinical nursing specialty certification, the exam concentrates solely on the Synergy Model component of Clinical Judgment (unlike CCRN/PCCN there is no separate Professional Caring & Ethical Practice section)
Where rules vary
U.S. nursing subspecialty certification: eligibility requires a current, unencumbered U.S. RN or APRN license; eligible clinical practice hours must be completed in a U.S.-based or Canada-based facility or one determined comparable to the U.S. standard; the CMC credential is attached to a nationally accredited clinical nursing specialty certification
Eligibility
Current, unencumbered U.S. RN or APRN license; a current nationally accredited clinical nursing specialty certification (e.g., CCRN, CCRN-E, PCCN, ACNPC, ACNPC-AG, CCNS, ACCNS-AG, CEN, CNOR), to which the CMC credential will be attached; plus direct-care clinical hours with acutely/critically ill adult patients: 1,750 hours in the previous two years (875 in the most recent year; 875 in adult cardiac care) OR 2,000 hours in the previous five years (144 in the most recent year; 1,000 in adult cardiac care); hours in a U.S.- or Canada-based facility or a comparable facility, verifiable by a clinical supervisor or professional colleague
Retake policy
The CMC exam may be taken up to four times in a 12-month period; a discounted retest fee is available to candidates who do not pass and remains available until the exam is passed