Ready to earn your CCRN? Get the eligibility hours, exam cost, study tips and a realistic timeline to become a certified critical care nurse.

<p class="">The CCRN is the board certification for critical care nurses. It shows hospitals, patients and your team that you have proven knowledge in caring for the sickest patients. With the right hours and a focused study plan, it is well within your reach.</p>
<p class="">Here is how to earn it, what it costs and how long it takes.</p>
<h2 class="">What Is the CCRN Certification?</h2>
<p class="">The CCRN is awarded by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). There are three versions: Adult, Pediatric and Neonatal. This guide focuses on CCRN (Adult), the most common choice for ICU nurses. The credential renews every three years.</p>
<h2 class="">Why Earn Your CCRN?</h2>
<ul style="margin-left:20px">
  <li class=""><strong class="">Stand out to employers:</strong> Many ICU jobs list the CCRN as preferred.</li>
  <li class=""><strong class="">Build confidence:</strong> Studying deepens your understanding of every body system.</li>
  <li class=""><strong class="">Open new doors:</strong> Many CRNA programs prefer or require the CCRN.</li>
  <li class=""><strong class="">Show your commitment:</strong> It tells your team you take critical care seriously.</li>
</ul>
<h2 class="">Who Is Eligible for the CCRN Exam?</h2>
<p class="">You need a current, unrestricted U.S. RN or APRN license. You also need to meet one of two practice hour options, with direct care of acutely or critically ill adult patients:</p>
<table class="">
  <tbody class="">
    <tr class="">
      <td data-row="1" class="">Option</td>
      <td data-row="1" class="">Total Hours</td>
      <td data-row="1" class="">Time Frame</td>
      <td data-row="1" class="">Hours in Most Recent Year</td>
    </tr>
    <tr class="">
      <td data-row="2" class="">Two-year option</td>
      <td data-row="2" class="">1,750 hours</td>
      <td data-row="2" class="">Previous 2 years</td>
      <td data-row="2" class="">875 hours</td>
    </tr>
    <tr class="">
      <td data-row="3" class="">Five-year option</td>
      <td data-row="3" class="">2,000 hours</td>
      <td data-row="3" class="">Previous 5 years</td>
      <td data-row="3" class="">144 hours</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>
<p class="">Full-time ICU nurses often meet the two-year option in about two years.</p>
<h2 class="">How to Become a CCRN in 7 Steps</h2>
<h3 class="">Step 1: Earn and Keep an Active RN License</h3>
<p class="">Your license must be current and unrestricted. If you work in more than one state, our <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/licensure-guide" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="">Licensure Guide</a> can help you stay on track.</p>
<h3 class="">Step 2: Build Your ICU Hours</h3>
<p class="">Track your direct patient care hours with critically ill adults. Keep a simple record of your units and dates.</p>
<h3 class="">Step 3: Find a Verifier</h3>
<p class="">AACN asks for someone who can confirm your clinical hours, like your manager or a colleague who is a certified nurse. Line this up before you apply.</p>
<h3 class="">Step 4: Decide on AACN Membership</h3>
<p class="">AACN members pay $115 less for the exam. If you plan to test soon, membership can pay for itself.</p>
<h3 class="">Step 5: Apply and Schedule</h3>
<p class="">Apply online through AACN. Once approved, you schedule your exam at a testing center or online with a remote proctor. Ask your employer first, since many hospitals cover certification fees.</p>
<h3 class="">Step 6: Study With a Plan</h3>
<p class="">Most nurses study for two to three months. Start with AACN’s exam handbook and test plan, then add practice questions and a review course. Spend extra time on the body systems you see less often.</p>
<h3 class="">Step 7: Pass the Exam and Keep Your Credential</h3>
<p class="">The CCRN (Adult) exam has 150 multiple-choice questions (125 are scored), with three hours to finish. Once you pass, your certification lasts three years. To renew, you work at least 432 hours in direct care of acutely or critically ill patients (144 of them in the final year) and earn 100 continuing education points, or you retake the exam.</p>
<h2 class="">How Much Does the CCRN Cost?</h2>
<p class=""></p>
<table class="">
  <tbody class="">
    <tr class="">
      <td data-row="1" class="">Cost Item</td>
      <td data-row="1" class="">Amount</td>
    </tr>
    <tr class="">
      <td data-row="2" class="">CCRN exam, AACN member</td>
      <td data-row="2" class="">$260</td>
    </tr>
    <tr class="">
      <td data-row="3" class="">CCRN exam, nonmember</td>
      <td data-row="3" class="">$375</td>
    </tr>
    <tr class="">
      <td data-row="4" class="">Study materials</td>
      <td data-row="4" class="">Varies, from free resources to paid review courses</td>
    </tr>
    <tr class="">
      <td data-row="5" class="">Retake or renewal</td>
      <td data-row="5" class="">See AACN’s current fee schedule</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>
<p class=""><strong class="">Tip:</strong> Ask your manager about reimbursement. Cross Country travel nurses also get unlimited free CE credits, which can help you earn points toward renewal.</p>
<h2 class="">How Long Does It Take to Become a CCRN?</h2>
<p class="">From the start of nursing school, most nurses earn the CCRN in about four to six years:</p>
<ol style="margin-left:20px">
  <li class=""><strong class="">Nursing school:</strong> About two years for an ADN or four years for a BSN</li>
  <li class=""><strong class="">ICU experience:</strong> About two years to reach 1,750 hours</li>
  <li class=""><strong class="">Study time:</strong> Two to three months</li>
  <li class=""><strong class="">Renewal:</strong> Every three years</li>
</ol>
<h2 class="">What Is on the CCRN Exam?</h2>
<p class="">Most of the exam covers clinical judgment across body systems you see in the ICU, including:</p>
<ul style="margin-left:20px">
  <li class="">Heart and blood vessels</li>
  <li class="">Lungs and breathing</li>
  <li class="">Brain and nervous system</li>
  <li class="">Kidneys and fluids</li>
  <li class="">Stomach and digestion</li>
  <li class="">Hormones and blood disorders</li>
  <li class="">Infections and multisystem problems like sepsis</li>
</ul>
<p class=""><br class="" /></p>
<p class="">A smaller part covers professional practice, like patient advocacy, teamwork and ethics. Always check AACN’s current test plan, since topics and weights are updated over time.</p>
<h2 class="">CCRN Study Tips From the Bedside</h2>
<ul style="margin-left:20px">
  <li class=""><strong class="">Study in short bursts:</strong> 20 to 30 minutes on your days off adds up fast</li>
  <li class=""><strong class="">Link patients to topics:</strong> Connect each patient you care for to an exam area</li>
  <li class=""><strong class="">Practice questions daily:</strong> Learn why wrong answers are wrong</li>
  <li class=""><strong class="">Find a study buddy:</strong> Quiz each other on break or in a group chat</li>
  <li class=""><strong class="">Book your date early:</strong> A deadline keeps you on track</li>
</ul>
<h2 class="">Frequently Asked Questions About the CCRN</h2>
<h3 class="">Is the CCRN exam hard?</h3>
<p class="">It is challenging, but very passable with ICU experience and steady prep. Practice questions are the best way to see if you are ready.</p>
<h3 class="">Do step-down hours count toward the CCRN?</h3>
<p class="">Hours must be in direct care of acutely or critically ill patients. Check AACN’s rules to see whether your unit’s hours qualify.</p>
<h3 class="">Does the CCRN increase pay?</h3>
<p class="">Some hospitals offer a certification bonus or pay differential. Even where pay does not change, the CCRN can help you qualify for more competitive roles.</p>
<h3 class="">Do I need the CCRN to apply to CRNA school?</h3>
<p class="">Not always, but many programs prefer or require it.</p>
<h2 class="">Put Your CCRN to Work</h2>
<p class="">Your certification makes you a strong candidate for ICU roles nationwide. Explore <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/travel" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="">travel ICU nursing jobs</a>, find <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/local" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="">local and per diem shifts</a>, or learn <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/how-travel-nurses-identify-high-quality-assignments" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="">how to spot high-quality assignments</a> before you sign. When you are ready, <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/apply-now" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="">apply with Cross Country</a>.</p>
<p class=""><br class="" /></p>


CCRN Certification: Steps, Cost and Timeline

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How to Become a Certified ICU RN (CCRN): Steps, Cost and Timeline

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