CCRN: Critical Care Registered Nurse Certification Exam Practice Test

Candidates must meet one of two pathways: 1) As a Registered Nurse (RN) or Advanced Practice RN (APRN), complete 1,750 hours of direct care of acutely/critically ill adult, pediatric, or neonatal patients within the last two years, with 875 of those hours accrued in the year preceding application. 2) As an APRN, complete 2,000 hours in direct care of acutely/critically ill patients in the last five years, with 144 hours in the year preceding application. Direct care is defined as hands-on, bedside care, not supervisory or administrative duties.

The CCRN exam contains 175 multiple-choice questions, of which 150 are scored and 25 are unscored pretest items. Candidates have 3 hours to complete the test. The exam uses a criterion-referenced passing standard, not a curve. The scaled passing score is 70 out of 100. This scaled score is not a percentage but a conversion that accounts for slight variations in difficulty between different exam forms. Results are provided immediately at the test center upon completion.

The CCRN is specifically designed for nurses providing direct care to acutely and critically ill patients, often in an ICU setting, where the patient is unstable, technologically dependent, and at high risk for life-threatening complications. The PCCN (Progressive Care Certified Nurse) certification, also from AACN, is for nurses caring for acutely ill, intermediate-care, or step-down patients who are stable but with a high risk of becoming unstable. The CCRN assesses a deeper and more advanced level of clinical judgment for higher-acuity, multisystem pathophysiology.

The CCRN credential is valid for three years. Renewal can be achieved through one of two pathways: 1) Renewal by Clinical Practice and Continuing Education (CE): Accumulate 100 renewal points, with a minimum of 24 points from Category A (Continuing Education) and a minimum of 24 points from Category B (Clinical Practice Hours). The remaining points can come from either category. 2) Renewal by Exam: Retake and pass the CCRN examination before the certification expiration date. The AACN provides a detailed Synergy CERPs (Continuing Education Recognition Points) handbook outlining eligible activities.

The CCRN exam content is derived from a detailed blueprint. The majority of the test (80%) focuses on Clinical Judgment across eight body systems: Cardiovascular (19%), Pulmonary (18%), Endocrine (7%), Hematology/Immunology (7%), Neurology (10%), Gastrointestinal (7%), Renal (6%), and Multisystem (6%). The remaining 20% assesses Professional Caring and Ethical Practice, which includes advocacy, moral agency, caring practices, collaboration, systems thinking, response to diversity, clinical inquiry, and facilitation of learning.