Are you interested in taking the CCRN exam but not sure if you’re eligible? While the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (otherwise known as the AACN) has some great information, believe me when I say that I’ve read through it all and it is not a fun read.
Do you want someone to tell you the quick (and thorough) version of what the CCRN certification requirements are without having to sift through the plethora of resources on the AACN’s website? I got you!
By the end of this post, you’ll learn the two main eligibility requirements that make you eligible to sit for the CCRN exam as well as the steps you need to take to apply for the exam (once you’re eligible).
*If you already know you’ve met all the requirements and are finally ready to take your exam, check out How I Passed My CCRN Exam On The First Attempt.
Requirement 1: An active nursing license
You will need an active, unencumbered nursing license in the United States. This means that you are licensed as an RN (registered nurse) or an APRN (advanced practice registered nurse), and your license is NOT involved in any kind of disciplinary action.
You are required to notify the AACN within 30 days if any disciplinary action or limitation is placed on your nursing license for any reason.
Requirement 2: Clinical practice hours
Per the AACN, you have two options when it comes to clinical hour eligibility: The two-year option OR the five-year option
Practice as an RN or APRN for 1,750 hours in direct care of acutely/critically ill patients during the previous 2 years, with 875 of those hours accrued in the most recent year preceding application.
OR
Practice as an RN or APRN during the previous 5 years with a minimum of 2,000 hours in direct care of acutely/critically ill patients, with 144 of those hours accrued in the most recent year preceding application.
Some important things to note about clinical hours
- These hours must have been completed in the United States or Canada.
- These are DIRECT CARE hours. This means you are the primary bedside nurse OR are in a preceptor role. Managers, educators, preceptors, or advanced practice nurses (for example nurse practitioners or clinical nurse specialists) are all eligible. However, if you are in one of these roles, you do have to be hands-on and actively teaching.
- Orientation hours (including being precepted into your role or shadowing a peer) CANNOT be counted toward clinical hours for CCRN eligibility UNLESS you (and not your preceptor) are the assigned (primary) nurse.
- Patients cared for for the majority of your eligibility timeline (two-five years) must be critically ill patients.
- You MUST be able to provide proof that you have completed these clinical hours. These hours must be verified by a clinical supervisor (for example a manager, nursing peer, or physician colleague). The AACN specifically states
The name and contact information of a professional associate must be given for verification of eligibility related to clinical practice hours. If you are selected for audit, this associate will need to verify in writing that you have met the clinical hour requirements.
You’re eligible for the exam. Yay! Now what?
So you’ve met both of the above requirements and determined that you’re eligible to sit for the exam. Now what?
Step 1: Apply for the exam
There are two ways to apply for the exam: Online OR paper
I would highly recommend applying online.
Please keep in mind that this application includes an application fee. The AACN lists these out as:
Step 2: Wait for your confirmation email
The AACN will then send you an e-mail with next steps. After applying for the exam, you must take it within 90-180 days. For this reason, the AACN strongly recommends that you are already ready to take the exam before applying. Though not a requirement, this does take a little bit of the stress off of you!
This confirmation email includes information on how to schedule your exam as well as a link to schedule.
Step 3: Schedule the exam
Before you are able to schedule an exam, you have to decide how you want to take your test. You have two options: Take your test on a computer OR with a paper and pencil. Again, I highly recommend opting for the electronic version. Read on to find out why.
Step 4: Take the exam
If you take the exam on a computer, your results will immediately appear when you are done with the test. You also get a detailed score breakdown of your best and worst sections e-mailed to you within 24 hours. This is super helpful if you don’t pass and need to retake the exam. Focus on your weaknesses!
If you take the test using a paper and pencil, you don’t get your results until 6-8 weeks after you take the test. Your results arrive by mail. If you happen to not pass (even though I KNOW you will), this is a waste of valuable study time. Not to mention it’s also agonizing to not know if you passed for that long!
Once you pass, you receive your official certificate about 3-4 weeks later. Congrats and great job!!
Other important tips
- Have someone in mind who can verify your practice hours before you apply to take the CCRN exam. Have their name and phone number handy.
- The AACN recommends that you are READY TO TAKE THE EXAM before you actually start the application process.
- When applying to take your exam, make sure you use your LEGAL NAME. You will be asked for a government issued drivers license when you show up to take the exam
- Though you must have a license in the United States, you are actually allowed to take the test out of the country. The AACN’s Certification Exam Policy Handbook gives you more details on this.
- Become an AACN member before you start this process. There are a few reasons for this:
- The CCRN exam is much cheaper as an AACN member ($250.00 vs $365.00).
- There are plenty of resources on the AACN website to help you prepare for the exam.
- Once you pass your exam, the AACN has tons of great, FREE CEUs (trust me, you will need them once you pass. There are tons of CEUs to complete prior to renewal!) They are even split by category, and you are able to log in to your AACN account and see how many more CEUs you need prior to renewal. Being an AACN member is hands-down the easiest way to track your CEUs.
If you’re ready to take your exam but aren’t sure how much time you need, how to study or which resources to use, check out How I Passed My CCRN Exam On The First Attempt. This post includes my absolute favorite resource and the ONLY one I think you really need, the Barrons CCRN Exam Prep Book.
Still have questions? The AACN website has tons of great information on the CCRN exam.
I hope you found this post on the CCRN certification requirements helpful! Good luck taking your exam. You got this!
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