Certifications › Specialty nursing board certifications
Board exam · Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI)
CNOR — Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR)
CNOR is the CCI certification for perioperative registered nurses with at least two years and 2,400 hours of perioperative experience. The credential lasts five years and is renewed through professional activity points and practice hours.
Named in 77 of 29,080 postings on this site as of 11 Nov 2026, mostly Registered Nurse (77).
The facts, from the issuer
- What it is
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CNOR assesses the knowledge and skills of perioperative nurses with at least two years of clinical practice.
CCI — Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR) · checked ·
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“CNOR certification assesses the knowledge and skills of a perioperative nurse with a minimum of two years of clinical practice.”
- Eligibility
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You need a current, unrestricted RN licence in the country where you practise.
CCI — Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR) · checked ·
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“A current, unrestricted RN license in the country where currently practicing.”
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You must be working full- or part-time in perioperative clinical practice, education, administration or research.
CCI — CNOR certification · checked ·
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“Currently working full- or part-time in perioperative nursing clinical practice, nursing education, administration, or research.”
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You need at least 2 years and 2,400 hours of perioperative nursing, with at least 1,200 hours intraoperative.
CCI — Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR) · checked ·
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“A minimum of 2 years and 2,400 hours of experience in perioperative nursing, with a minimum of 1,200 hours in the intraoperative setting.”
- Format
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Once approved you have a 12-month eligibility period, but the first attempt must be taken within 90 days; retakes need a 30-day gap.
CCI — Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR) · checked ·
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“The first exam attempt is included with the application fee and must be completed within 90 days of application approval.”
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CNOR exams are delivered by PSI at test centers by appointment, Monday to Saturday, or by remote proctoring.
CCI — CNOR Candidate Handbook · checked ·
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“administers in-person exams by appointment only, Monday through Saturday, in test centers.”
- Length
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The computer-based exam has 200 multiple-choice questions and you get 3 hours 45 minutes.
CCI — Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR) · checked ·
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“3hr. 45min. To complete the exam 200 Multiple choice questions Computer-Based Exam”
- How long it lasts
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The CNOR credential is valid for five years.
CCI — Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR) · checked ·
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“Upon successful completion, you will earn your CNOR ® credential, valid for 5 years.”
- Renewal
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Recertification requires at least 500 hours of perioperative nursing during the certification cycle.
CCI — CNOR Recertification · checked ·
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“Have worked a minimum of 500 hours in perioperative nursing during your certification cycle.”
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Of the 500 hours, 250 must be in education, administration, research or clinical practice that affects intraoperative care.
CCI — CNOR recertification · checked ·
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“Of those 500 hours, 250 hours must be in the area of education, administration, research, or clinical practice that impacts intraoperative patient care.”
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Recertification requires 300 points from eligible professional activities.
CCI — CNOR Recertification · checked ·
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“Engage in eligible professional activities to earn 300 points toward your recertification.”
- Cost
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The application fee is $475 and includes the first attempt; each retake is $175.
CCI — Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR) · checked ·
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“$475 CNOR Application Fee $175 CNOR Exam Retake Fee”
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The recertification fee is $400.
CCI — CNOR Recertification · checked ·
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“$400 Recertification Fee $250 Extension Year $100 Emeritus Status”
Where to take it
Start with the issuer’s own test-site search:
- Book the exam at a test site: PSI — find a test center (home.psiexams.com)
CNOR 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.
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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.