CCRN (Adult) — Requirements & Free Practice

US · License preparation

200 free questions · Answer explanations · No signup required

Choose what to practice

Start with an exam below. Your examination requirements depend on your application pathway. View licensing requirements

Loading selected examination banks…

Licenses, application pathways and examination requirements

Each license and applicant pathway has its own requirements and exemptions. Choosing practice questions does not determine your eligibility.

Initial by examination

Applicant: RN or APRN providing direct care to acutely or critically ill adult patients
Facility: Clinical practice hours must be earned in a U.S.-based or Canada-based facility, or a facility AACN determines comparable to the U.S. standard of acute or critical care nursing practice as evidenced by Magnet designation or Joint Commission International accreditation.
Hours: Either 1,750 hours of direct care of acutely or critically ill adult patients during the previous two years, including 875 hours in the most recent year before application, or 2,000 hours of such direct care during the previous five years, including 144 hours in the most recent year before application. A majority of all eligible practice hours and, separately, a majority of eligible practice hours within the year before application must focus on critically ill patients; practice hours must be verifiable.
License: Current, unencumbered U.S. RN or APRN license
Orientation Hours: Hours spent shadowing or working with another nurse who has the patient assignment do not count; orientation hours count when the applicant is the assigned nurse providing direct care to acutely or critically ill patients.

Provider: AACN Certification Corporation
Format: Multiple-choice examination
Exam questions: Total questions: 150; Scored questions: 125; Unscored questions: 25; The total includes the scored and unscored questions.
Time limit: 3 hours

Examination outline

Examination sources