What Is CCRN Certification in Nursing?
The CCRN certification validates a nurse’s knowledge and skills in caring for critically ill patients. Today, more than 100,000 acute and critical care nurses have earned this prestigious certification, which validates your expertise for hospital administrators, hiring managers, peers, and yourself. The benefits of becoming certified carry through to patients as well — CCRN-prepared nurses may help patients experience better outcomes.
You might think CCRN stands for Critical Care Registered Nurse, but the initials don’t correlate to anything specific. The certification is a brand name (like “IntelyCare”) designated by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). This is the foremost organization of ICU nurses, leading innovation and excellence in the specialty. Alongside the CCRN, the association offers additional certifications such as the progressive care unit (PCCN), cardiac medicine (CMC), cardiac surgery (CSC), and others.
Some nurses take as much pride in their CCRN certification as in their nursing license, because it shows a level of dedication that goes above and beyond what it takes to practice. Here’s what you should know about it.
What Is the CCRN Certification?
CCRN is one of the leading designations of excellence for nurses who work in ICUs, critical transport, and other acute care areas. It validates your skills in providing care to patients who require advanced interventions, such as ventilators, vasopressors, ACLS protocols, and more.
Nurses seeking this certification undertake a rigorous exam to evaluate their proficiency in critical thinking, patient assessment, clinical judgment, and the ability to provide comprehensive care to critically ill patients.
The AACN offers three different versions of the CCRN:
- CCRN direct care is designed for RNs and APRNs providing direct care to acute and critically ill patients. If you work as a bedside nurse, APRN, educator, preceptor, or manager, this certification may be a good fit for you. It’s available in adult, pediatric, and neonatal specialties.
- CCRN knowledge professional is designed for RNs and ARPNs who influence care for acute and critically ill patients. If you work as a manager, supervisor, or nursing administrator, this certification may be a good fit for you. It’s available in adult, pediatric, and neonatal specialties.
- CCRN teleICU acute/critical care is designed for RNs and APRNs who work with acute and critically ill patients behind a camera from a remote location. If you work in a tele-ICU as a CNS, educator, or manager, this may be a good fit for you. It’s only available in the adult specialty.
The Benefits of Becoming CCRN Certified
Getting certified not only shows a nurse’s dedication to the highest standards of patient care, it also opens doors to career advancement and professional growth within the critical care nursing field. Certified nurses are listed on the CCRN certification verification page, which is visible to current and prospective employers. The AACN lists these major benefits for certification:
- Upholds standards of excellence in patient care, enhancing patient outcomes
- Validates your clinical knowledge, making you a competitive candidate for hiring managers
- Demonstrates pride in your specialty
- Gets you the recognition you deserve, and could improve your salary depending on where you work
- Advances your career in critical care medicine, opening the door for management, education, or other opportunities
- Positions you as a unit leader and role model in critical care
Find out if your employer will pay the cost of the CCRN exam if you pass. Nursing certification data is required when hospitals apply for magnet status, so getting certified enhances your value as a team member. But not every ICU nurse is eligible for certification.
CCRN Certification Requirements
You’ll need to meet these requirements to be eligible to sit for the CCRN exam:
1. License
You’ll need an official, unencumbered RN or APRN license. You must not have any formal disciplinary action currently on your license.
2. Specialty
The CCRN is designed for experienced nurses working in acute and critical care. Eligible specialty units include:
- Intensive care units (respiratory, surgical, medical/surgical, cardiac/surgical, neuro/neurosurgical, pediatric, neonatal, trauma/surgical)
- Critical care transport
- Critical care units
- Emergency departments
- Nurse anesthesia
- Other units with critical patient acuity
3. Experience
The ANCC requires one of the following clinical experience options:
Two-year option. Must have completed a minimum of 1,750 hours of RN or APRN practice in the care of acute/critically ill patients in the last two years. This practice time must be from a tele-critical care setting, or in a combination of tele-critical care and direct care. A minimum of 875 of these hours must have been accrued in the most recent year preceding application.
Five-year option. Must have completed a minimum of 2,000 hours of RN or APRN practice in the care of acute/critically ill patients in the last 5 years. This practice time must be from a tele-critical care setting or in a combination of tele-critical care and direct care. A minimum of 144 of these hours must have been accrued in the most recent year preceding the application.
CCRN Certification FAQs
How much does the CCRN certificate cost?
If you’re a member of AACN, registering for the exam costs $250. The cost for nonmembers is $365. After initial certification, you’ll need to renew every three years. The renewal cost for AACN members is $150, and $230 for nonmembers.
Is CCRN harder than NCLEX?
Both exams are challenging, and some nurses say that the CCRN exam is just as hard as the NCLEX. The CCRN covers a higher level of specificity, but the pass rates for the CCRN and the pass rates for NCLEX exams are similar. Practicing ICU nurses will still likely need to study to do well on the CCRN exam.
How should I prepare for the CCRN exam?
These are the AACN’s recommendations for preparing for the CCRN:
- View the test plan to know what content will be covered.
- See the exam reference list to get sources for information.
- Take practice tests and questions to assess your level of knowledge.
- Enroll in an exam review course.
- Join a study group and talk with other certified nurses.
- If you need to test again, view your score report to see where you can improve.
Do you need CCRN to work in ICU?
No. Having certification on your critical care nurse resume can make you a more competitive candidate and a more confident nurse, but you can be a great nurse without it.
Do you make more money with a CCRN?
It depends on your employer. The AACN reports that specialty-certified nurses in critical care make an average of $18,000 more per year than their non-certified peers, but this is heavily dependent on your region. Some hospitals offer yearly bonuses to their certified nurses, while others offer a shift differential by the hour.
Can ER nurses sit for CCRN?
Yes, emergency room and emergency department nurses can qualify to take the CCRN exam. The specialty experience requirement is based on patient acuity, so as long as you care for critically ill patients, you can qualify.
Looking for Ways to Advance Your Critical Care Career?
A CCRN certification isn’t the only way to move forward in your specialty. A new job opportunity can help you deepen your skills. Need some help with that? Find out how IntelyCare can deliver personalized nurse job notifications today.