Nursing, Nursing RN, Exam Prep
Adult CCRN® Certification Requirements
Jan 25, 2019
So, how do you become an adult CCRN®? Get moving toward the next chapter in your career by taking the following steps to meet the CCRN Certification Requirements.
Make Sure You Qualify for Your Exam!
If you said yes to the above, you’re off to a great start!
Apply for the Exam!
Online Application
To take the computer-based Adult CCRN® exam, register online at the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses’ (AACN) website here.
Make sure you have the following items readily available:
Your application will be processed that same day!
Paper Application
A paper application is required for paper-and-pencil exams, those applying with a group, and for those testing outside the U.S.
Complete the application and fill out the honor statement found in the CCRN® Exam Handbook.
Make sure you include your payment information, either in the form of credit card, check, or money order.
Processing should take around 2-3 weeks.
Schedule Your Exam!
After the AACN has approved your application, they’ll send a confirmation email and postcard; upon confirmation, you’ll have a 90-day window to take the exam.
Schedule your exam at one of the 300+ PSI/AMP testing centers, which you can do here.
To get started on your path to becoming certified, take the next step with 14 days of FREE access to our Adult CCRN® Certification Review. We can help you pass.
Footnote
*Nurse educators and managers may apply hours they spent supervising nurses and nursing students.
Resources
AACN Certification Corporation. (n.d.). CCRN Exam Handbook (Adult • Pediatric • Neonatal): Acute/Critical Care Nursing Certification. Retrieved from https://www.aacn.org/~/media/aacn-website/certification/get-certified/handbooks/ccrnexamhandbook.pdf
American Association of Critical Care Nurses. (n.d.). CCRN (Adult). Retrieved from https://www.aacn.org/certification/get-certified/
Menzies Kent, K. (2014). Adult CCRN Certification Review. New York: Springer Publishing.
PSI/AMP. (n.d.). Home. Retrieved from http://www.goamp.com/
Make Sure You Qualify for Your Exam!
- Do you have a current U.S. RN or APRN license?
- Do you have 1,750 hours of direct bedside care of acutely/critically ill patients during the past two years? Have 875 of those hours been obtained in the year leading up to your application for the exam?
OR
Have you been practicing for five or more years with at least 2,000 hours of direct bedside care of acutely/critically ill patients? Were 144 of those hours obtained in the year leading up to your application for the exam*?
OR
Have you been a practicing RN for five years with at least 2,000 hours of direct bedside care of acutely/critically ill patients, with 144 of those hours obtained in the year leading up to your application for the exam?*
If you said yes to the above, you’re off to a great start!
Apply for the Exam!
Online Application
To take the computer-based Adult CCRN® exam, register online at the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses’ (AACN) website here.
Make sure you have the following items readily available:
- Your RN or APRN license number and expiration date
- The name, address, phone number, and email address of your clinical supervisor or a colleague (RN or supervisor) who can verify your practice eligibility
- Credit card (the exam is $235 for AACN members, or $340 for non-members)
Your application will be processed that same day!
Paper Application
A paper application is required for paper-and-pencil exams, those applying with a group, and for those testing outside the U.S.
Complete the application and fill out the honor statement found in the CCRN® Exam Handbook.
Make sure you include your payment information, either in the form of credit card, check, or money order.
Processing should take around 2-3 weeks.
Schedule Your Exam!
After the AACN has approved your application, they’ll send a confirmation email and postcard; upon confirmation, you’ll have a 90-day window to take the exam.
Schedule your exam at one of the 300+ PSI/AMP testing centers, which you can do here.
To get started on your path to becoming certified, take the next step with 14 days of FREE access to our Adult CCRN® Certification Review. We can help you pass.
Footnote
*Nurse educators and managers may apply hours they spent supervising nurses and nursing students.
Resources
AACN Certification Corporation. (n.d.). CCRN Exam Handbook (Adult • Pediatric • Neonatal): Acute/Critical Care Nursing Certification. Retrieved from https://www.aacn.org/~/media/aacn-website/certification/get-certified/handbooks/ccrnexamhandbook.pdf
American Association of Critical Care Nurses. (n.d.). CCRN (Adult). Retrieved from https://www.aacn.org/certification/get-certified/
Menzies Kent, K. (2014). Adult CCRN Certification Review. New York: Springer Publishing.
PSI/AMP. (n.d.). Home. Retrieved from http://www.goamp.com/