AACN (American Association of Critical-Care Nurses) certification exams allow critical-care nurses to become board-certified in a specialty, subspecialty, or advanced practice board. An AACN certification summarizes a nursing care provider's clinical expertise and professional growth.
By obtaining an AACN certification, a nursing care provider demonstrates a wealth of experience and competency in critical care, which offers peace of mind to their patients. This certification also helps to maintain a high standard of critical care and encourages retention of nursing care providers within their institutions.
The first-time passing rates for an AACN certification may vary per specialty and subspecialty. Candidates who do not pass an initial exam certification are entitled to a retake.
The AACN Initial certification exams include the following specialties:
For each of the above exam certifications, initial exam candidates who do not pass the exam certification are eligible for an AACN retake.
Renewing an AACN certification maintains the nursing certification in the desired specialty or subspecialty and takes place over a three-year period. There are two pathways for certification renewal: an AACN retake of the exam certification or the Synergy Continue Education Recognition Points (CERPs) program.
The Synergy CERPs Program consists of various modes of continuous education:
Regardless of the selected pathway for renewal, all candidates must also meet the eligibility requirements for renewal:
The renewal cost varies by each certification but ranges from $75 - $250 for AACN members and $130-$340 for non-members. Renewal candidates have the option to renew their certification either online or by submitting a paper application. It's recommended to start the renewal process up to four months before the certification expiration date.
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Create AccountAccording to the AACN retake policy, if a candidate does not pass the certification exam on the first try, they are eligible for a retake. Later in this article, we will cover how candidates can apply for a retest and how many retake attempts are permitted by the AACN.
To achieve certification, a candidate must meet the determined cut score (passing point score) on the scored questions. The passing point score is decided by the AACN, which reviews exam questions according to the skills and benchmarks associated with a competent and passing exam candidate. It is important for candidates to understand that the pass rate indicates the proportion of individuals who have successfully passed the AACN exam certification, while the passing score is the minimum score required to pass the exam.
Below are the current cut scores (passing scores) for AACN exams:
| Exam | Total # of Items on Exam | # of Scored Items on Exam | Passing (Cut) Score | Score Effective Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCRN (Adult) | 150 | 125 | 83 | 03/25/2020 |
| CCRN (Pediatric) | 150 | 125 | 82 | 03/25/2020 |
| CCRN (Neonatal) | 150 | 125 | 84 | 03/25/2020 |
| CCRN-K (Adult) | 150 | 125 | 83 | 03/25/2020 |
| CCRN-K (Pediatric) | 150 | 125 | 82 | 03/25/2020 |
| CCRN-K (Neonatal) | 150 | 125 | 84 | 03/25/2020 |
| CCRN-E | 150 | 125 | 83 | 03/25/2020 |
| PCCN | 125 | 100 | 68 | 01/31/2019 |
| PCCN-K | 125 | 100 | 68 | 01/31/2019 |
| ACCNS-AG | 175 | 150 | 95 | 01/15/2018 |
| ACCNS-P | 175 | 150 | 98 | 01/15/2018 |
| ACCNS-N | 175 | 150 | 100 | 01/15/2018 |
| ACNPC-AG | 175 | 150 | 101 | 01/10/2022 |
| CMC | 90 | 75 | 50 | 06/01/2022 |
| CSC | 90 | 75 | 55 | 01/31/2022 |
The AACN may adjust the passing score to keep it fair and in line with current standards in the field.
Individuals who fail to clear their preliminary certification test can submit another application to the AACN Certification Corporation. They have the option to register for their AANC retake via the corporation's website. They can also reach out to their customer support over the phone or send a physical application by mail or fax.
The AACN retake policy adheres to the following application process:
The eligibility requirements for an AACN retake are the same as the initial AACN exam certification:
Retesting candidates who have not passed the exam are encouraged to spend additional time preparing for their next retake by identifying their topic areas for improvement.
The AACN retake policy permits a maximum of 4 for the same exam certification retake attempts at a discounted fee within 12 months, otherwise they must submit a new statement of honor application.
The AACN retake policy currently does not state a minimum required waiting period between each exam retake. However, retesting candidates are encouraged to identify their areas of improvement according to their score report and spend additional time preparing for their next exam. Below, we provide more suggestions for preparing for an AACN retake exam.
Computer-based AACN retake exam fees range from $140 to $265 for AACN members and $230 to $375 for nonmembers. Groups who wish to sit a pencil and paper test may be required to pay additional fees. Candidates residing outside the US may also be subject to additional exam fees.
The AACN offers financial assistance in the form of a discounted fee, even for candidates retaking the exam. Under the AACN retake policy, this discounted rate is available until the candidate passes the exam. Discounts are also available for employers who pre-purchase exam vouchers and groups larger than ten exam applications.
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Create AccountUpon computer-based exam completion, candidates will receive their results on screen and a score report will be sent out within 24 hours following exam completion. The score report is divided into each content area and identifies the correct questions answered.
An unsuccessful candidate should review this score report to help identify their strengths and weaknesses for each content area. Candidates are encouraged to develop a study plan centered on needed areas of improvement in their next AACN retake. The AACN site has abundant resources for exam preparation.
Here are some tools to that can help AANC retakers to prepare for their next test day:
The night before the exam, avoid extra studying and reviewing new material; instead, focus on self-care. Candidates should get a good night's sleep and eat a nutritious dinner to physically and mentally prepare for the exam.
The AACN permits four retake attempts for the same exam certification within 12 months. After these 12 months, if a candidate has not passed the exam, they must sign a new statement of honor (application) before their next AACN retake.
As with all AACN exam certifications, a candidate can retake the CCRN 4 times within 12 months. The AACN has no time limit for how soon a candidate can retake an exam. However, retesting candidates are encouraged to use their score reports to identify their weaknesses and spend additional time preparing for their AACN retake using AACN resources.
The passing score of each of these certifications varies from each exam, depending on the total number of testing items, the total number of scored questions, and the specific test's difficulty level. For example, the CCRN (Adult), CCRN-K (Adult), and CCRN-E exams require candidates to achieve a passing score of 83 out of 125 scored questions. In contrast, candidates aiming for PCCN or PCCN-K certification must answer 68 questions correctly out of 125 test questions, of which 100 are scored. If a candidate does not successfully meet a passing score, they are eligible for an AACN retake.