Nursing, Nursing RN, Exam Prep
What’s the Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN) Exam Like?
What’s the Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN) Exam Like?
PCCN certification confirms your knowledge of care for acutely ill adult patients. The credential, which is valid for three years, is granted by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Certification Corporation. Here, we outline what you can expect from the exam.
Exam Qualification
- Do you have an RN or APRN license in good standing?
- Have you practiced as an RN or APRN for at least 1,750 hours in direct care of acutely ill adult patients in the previous two years, with 875 of those hours accrued in the year leading up to the exam application?
OR - Have you practiced as an RN or APRN for five years or more and spent at least 2,000 hours in direct care of acutely ill adult patients, with 144 of those hours accrued in the year leading up to the exam application?
If so, then you qualify for the exam and are well on your way to becoming a PCCN!
How to Apply
You’ll likely take the exam on computer at one of the more than 300 testing sites across the country. Paper and pencil exams are available for groups testing together.
Online Application
To take the computer-based exam, register online at the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses’ (AACN) website here.
- Make sure you have the following items readily available:
Your RN or APRN license number and expiration date - The name, address, phone number, and email address of your clinical supervisor or a colleague (RN or supervisor) who is able to verify your practice eligibility
- A credit card (the exam is $195 for AACN members, or $300 for non-members) Your application will be processed that same day!
Paper Application
A paper application is required for paper-and-pencil exams, those applying with a group, and for those testing outside the U.S.
Follow the steps below to apply to take a paper exam:
- Complete the application and fill out the honor statement found in the PCCN® Exam Handbook
- Include your payment information, either in the form of credit card, check, or money order in the application (the exam is $195 for members, or $300 for non-members)
Processing should take about 2-3 weeks.
The Questions and Time
You’ll need to pass a 2.5-hour pass/fail test of 125 multiple-choice questions; 100 of those questions are scored and the remainder are used to gather data for future exams. The exam will ask questions only about adult patients.
Exam Content Outline
The exam will test you in the following areas. The items are based on the AACN Synergy Model for Patient Care, a conceptual framework that aligns patient needs with nurse competencies. Note the percent of the exam dedicated to each topic.
|
Clinical Judgment Cardiovascular |
80% 27% |
|
Professional Caring and Ethical Practice Advocacy/Moral Agency; Caring Practices; Response to Diversity; Facilitation of Learning; Collaboration; Systems Thinking; Clinical Inquiry |
20% |
The Results
If you take the exam on computer, you’ll receive your results and a score report as soon as you complete the test. If you take the exam on paper, you’ll receive results by mail six to eight weeks after testing.
Start Studying
Click here for study options, resources and more. Check out Progressive Care Nurse (PCCN®) Certification Interactive Q&A Practice, featuring 250 practice questions to help you make the grade!
Resources
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Certification Corporation. PCCN Exam Handbook. July 2020. Retrieved from https://www.aacn.org/~/media/aacn-website/certification/get-certified/handbooks/pccnexamhandbook.pdf
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. Frequently Asked Questions About PCCN Certification. Retrieved from https://www.aacn.org/certification/get-certified/frequently-asked-questions-about-pccn-certification