PCCN® (Adult) — Requirements & Free Practice

US · License preparation

200 free questions · Answer explanations · No signup required

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

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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

Eligibility Pathway: Direct Care
License: Current, unencumbered U.S. RN or APRN license
Practice Hours: {"anyOf":["Practice as an RN or APRN for 1,750 hours in direct care of acutely ill adult patients during the previous 2 years, including 875 of those hours in the most recent year preceding application.","Practice as an RN or APRN for at least 2,000 hours in direct care of acutely ill adult patients during the previous 5 years, including 144 of those hours in the most recent year preceding application."],"facility":"Clinical practice hours must be completed in a U.S.-based or Canada-based facility, or a facility determined comparable to the U.S. standard of progressive care nursing practice as evidenced by Magnet designation or Joint Commission International accreditation.","orientationHours":"Orientation hours spent shadowing or working with another nurse who has the patient assignment do not count. Orientation hours may count when the candidate is the assigned nurse providing direct care to acutely ill adult patients."}

Provider: AACN Certification Corporation
Format: Multiple-choice
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

Clinical Judgment (80%)
- Cardiovascular
- Respiratory
- Endocrine
- Hematology/Immunology/Oncology
- Neurology
- Gastrointestinal
- Renal
- Musculoskeletal
- Multisystem
- Behavioral / Psychosocial
Professional Caring and Ethical Practice (20%)
- Advocacy/Caring Practices/Response to Diversity/Facilitation of Learning
- Collaboration/Systems Thinking/Clinical Inquiry

Examination sources