Certifications › Critical care and flight
Board exam · AACN Certification Corporation
CCRN — CCRN (Adult) — Acute/Critical Care Nursing
CCRN (Adult) is AACN's specialty certification for RNs and APRNs giving direct care to acutely or critically ill adults, in ICUs, cardiac and trauma units or critical care transport. It needs 1,750 or 2,000 qualifying clinical hours, runs on a three-year cycle and renews by CERPs plus practice hours or by exam.
Named in 160 of 29,080 postings on this site as of 11 Nov 2026, mostly Registered Nurse (158), LPN / LVN (1) and Nurse Practitioner (1).
The facts, from the issuer
- What it is
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CCRN (Adult) is for nurses giving direct care to acutely or critically ill adults, wherever they work, including ICU, cardiac care, trauma units and critical care transport/flight.
AACN — CCRN (Adult) Direct Care Eligibility Pathway · checked ·
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“Nurses interested in this certification pathway may work in areas such as intensive care units, cardiac care units, trauma units or critical care transport/flight.”
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The same handbook covers Adult, Pediatric and Neonatal CCRN exams.
AACN — CCRN Exam Handbook, Direct Care Pathway (July 2026) · checked ·
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“CCRN EXAM HANDBOOK Direct Care Eligibility Pathway Acute/Critical Care Certification -- Adult, Pediatric, Neonatal”
- Eligibility
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You need a current, unencumbered US RN or APRN licence.
AACN — CCRN (Adult) Direct Care Eligibility Pathway · checked ·
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“A current, unencumbered U.S. RN or APRN license is required.”
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Two-year option: 1,750 direct-care hours with acutely/critically ill adults in the past two years, 875 of them in the most recent year.
AACN — CCRN (Adult) Direct Care Eligibility Pathway · checked ·
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“Practice as an RN or APRN for 1,750 hours in direct care of acutely/critically ill adult patients during the previous two years”
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Five-year option: 2,000 direct-care hours with acutely/critically ill adults in the past five years, 144 of them in the most recent year.
AACN — CCRN (Adult) certification · checked ·
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“with a minimum of 2,000 hours in direct care of acutely/critically ill adult patients, with 144 of those hours accrued in the most recent year preceding application”
- Length
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The exam is a 3-hour test of 150 multiple-choice items, 125 of them scored.
AACN — CCRN Exam Handbook, Direct Care Pathway (July 2026) · checked ·
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“The CCRN exams are 3-hour tests consisting of 150”
- How long it lasts
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Certification runs three years; renewal requires 432 direct-care hours in that period, 144 in the last 12 months.
AACN — CCRN (Adult) Renewal · checked ·
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“Practice as an RN or APRN for 432 hours in direct care of acutely/critically ill adult patients during the three-year certification renewal period”
- Renewal
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Renewal by CERPs needs 100 CERPs (minimum 60 in Category A, 10 each in B and C) plus 432 direct-care hours in the three-year period.
AACN — CCRN (Adult) Renewal · checked ·
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“Completion of 100 CERPs is required, with a minimum of 60 CERPs in Category A and 10 each in Categories B and C”
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To renew by exam you apply at least 30 days before your renewal date and pass the exam before your expiration date.
AACN — CCRN (Adult) Renewal · checked ·
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“apply at least 30 days prior to your scheduled renewal date, and pass the exam before your expiration date.”
- Cost
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The exam fee is $260 for AACN members and $375 for non-members.
AACN — CCRN (Adult) Direct Care Eligibility Pathway · checked ·
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“For complete eligibility requirements, refer to the CCRN Exam Handbook - Direct Care Pathway. AACN Members $260 Nonmembers $375”
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Renewal by CERPs costs $150 for AACN members and $230 for non-members.
AACN — CCRN (Adult) Renewal · checked ·
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“refer to the CCRN Renewal Handbook - Direct Care Pathway AACN Members $150 Nonmembers $230”
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Renewal by exam costs $185 for AACN members and $290 for non-members.
AACN — CCRN (Adult) Renewal · checked ·
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“refer to the CCRN Renewal Handbook - Direct Care Pathway AACN Members $185 Nonmembers $290”
- Find a class or test site
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AACN exams are taken by computer at a PSI testing center or by live remote proctoring; the testing information page covers scheduling.
AACN — Testing Information · checked ·
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“AACN Certification Corporation offers two computer-based options for taking your certification exam.”
Where to take it
Start with the issuer’s own test-site search:
- Book the exam at a test site: AACN — Testing information and scheduling (aacn.org)
CCRN is an exam taken at test sites, so there are no classes to list here; use the test-site search above.
Distances are straight-line from the ZIP or city centre (U.S. Census 2024 gazetteer), not drive times. Listings come from state approved-program lists, issuer directories and providers' own pages. A listing is not a partnership; confirm dates, price and seats with the provider.
Related
- Career pathway: Travel nurse
- Current Registered Nurse jobs
- Current LPN / LVN jobs
- Current Nurse Practitioner jobs
- PCCN — PCCN (Adult) — Progressive Care Nursing
- CFRN — Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN)
- CTRN — Certified Transport Registered Nurse (CTRN)
- FP-C — Certified Flight Paramedic (FP-C)
- CCP-C — Certified Critical Care Paramedic (CCP-C)
- CCEMT-P — Critical Care Emergency Medical Transport Program (CCEMTP)
Every fact above was read on the issuer’s own page on the date shown, with the exact words quoted. Anything the issuer does not publish is left out, so a missing fee means the issuer leaves pricing to the class provider or did not publish one. Employers decide which cards they accept; check the posting.