Exam guide
PCCN Exam Guide
Format, test plan, eligibility and an 8-week study plan for AACN's progressive care exam
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The exam at a glance
| Feature | PCCN (Adult) |
|---|---|
| Items | 150 (125 scored, 25 unscored pretest) |
| Time | 3 hours (about 72 seconds per item) |
| Format | 4-option multiple choice; fixed length, not adaptive; answers can be changed |
| To pass | 82 of 125 scored items correct (since 1/31/2024) |
| Pass rate | 70.1% first-time in 2025 |
| Cost | $260 AACN member, $375 nonmember |
| Retest | $185 member, $290 nonmember; up to 4 tries in a rolling 12 months |
| Where | PSI testing center or live remote proctoring |
| Results | On screen; emailed report by content area |
What is on it
Test plan for exams on or after February 6, 2024. Adult patients only.
| Content area | Share |
|---|---|
| Clinical Judgment (total) | 80% |
| Cardiovascular | 20% |
| Respiratory | 14% |
| Endocrine | 6% |
| Hematology/Immunology/Oncology | 3% |
| Neurology | 7% |
| Gastrointestinal | 7% |
| Renal | 4% |
| Musculoskeletal | 2% |
| Multisystem | 15% |
| Behavioral/Psychosocial | 3% |
| Professional Caring and Ethical Practice (total) | 20% |
| Advocacy, Caring, Diversity, Learning | 11% |
| Collaboration, Systems Thinking, Inquiry | 9% |
Who can take it
- Current, unencumbered U.S. RN or APRN license
- Two-year option: 1,750 hours caring for acutely ill adults, 875 in the most recent year
- Five-year option: 2,000 hours, 144 in the most recent year
- Hours in a U.S.- or Canada-based facility, or one with Magnet or JCI status
- Orientation counts only when you hold the patient assignment
- Knowledge Professional pathway (educators, managers): 1,040 hours in 2 years, 260 in the most recent year; same exam
Acuity, not unit name, decides: stepdown, telemetry, intermediate care and ED nurses may qualify. Testing window after approval: normally 90 days, currently 180.
How to study: 8 weeks
- Day 1: Set your exam date in Settings and take a baseline Mock Exam. Then clear Daily Review daily, plus a weekly Professional Caring set.
- Weeks 1 to 2: Cardiovascular. One-Pagers: Rhythm Gallery, ACLS Algorithms in Brief, Hemodynamic Normals, Shock Types at a Glance.
- Week 3: Respiratory. One-Pagers: ABG Interpretation in 6 Steps, Capnography, Ventilator Modes and Settings.
- Weeks 4 to 5: Endocrine, Heme, Neuro, GI, Renal. One-Pager: Electrolyte Imbalances.
- Week 6: Musculoskeletal, Multisystem, Behavioral. One-Pagers: Sepsis and Septic Shock Bundle; Vasopressors and Inotropes; Sedation, Pain and Delirium Scales.
- Week 7: Second Mock Exam, then Weakest Subject and Missed Questions.
- Week 8: Last Mock Exam early, then only Daily Review and Trouble Questions.
Test-day tips
- Current government photo ID with signature, matching your AACN record; no military or temporary IDs
- Testing center: more than 15 minutes late means no admission; scratch paper on request
- Remote: run PSI's Tutorial Test on the same computer and Wi-Fi; check in 15 to 30 minutes early (it can take 60+ minutes); on-screen notepad, no scratch paper
- Bookmark hard items and return; answer every item, as guessing is not penalized
- Up to two 5-minute breaks; the clock keeps running
- Leaving the testing area without permission voids the exam; phones, notes or copying items mean dismissal, no refund
Official resources
- PCCN Exam Handbook, Direct Care (July 2026): test plan and sample items
- Certification Exam Policy Handbook (September 2026): exam-day rules
- Exam Statistics and Cut Scores page
- AACN Practice Exam: free 30-question trial; 150 questions for $35 member, $45 nonmember
From AACN's item-validation bibliography (newer editions may exist):
- Hartjes, Core Curriculum for Progressive and Critical Care Nursing, 8th ed. (2022)
- Burns and Delgado, AACN Essentials of Progressive Care Nursing, 5th ed. (2023)
- Johnson, AACN Procedure Manual for Progressive and Critical Care, 8th ed. (2023)
- Urden, Stacy and Lough, Critical Care Nursing: Diagnosis and Management, 9th ed. (2021); 10th ed. (2025) now out
- AHA 2020 Guidelines Update for CPR and ECC (full 2025 Guidelines out October 2025; items may lag)
PCCN® is a registered service mark of AACN Certification Corporation. ICU Basics is not affiliated with or endorsed by AACN or AACN Certification Corporation.
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Sources
- AACN Certification Corporation. PCCN Exam Handbook: Direct Care Eligibility Pathway. July 2026. Link
- AACN Certification Corporation. PCCN Exam Handbook: Knowledge Professional Eligibility Pathway. July 2026. Link
- AACN Certification Corporation. Certification Exam Policy Handbook. September 2026. Link
- AACN. Certification Exam Statistics and Cut Scores. Link
- AACN. PCCN (Adult): Direct Care Eligibility Pathway. Link
- AACN. Frequently Asked Questions About PCCN Certification. Link
- AACN. Should I Apply for the CCRN or PCCN Certification Exam? Link
- AACN. Certification Practice Exams. Link
- AACN Certification Corporation. PCCN Exam Bibliography: References Used for Item Validation. February 6, 2024. Link
- AACN Newsroom. Revised PCCN Certification Exam Launches Feb. 6, 2024. Link
- American Heart Association Newsroom. Updated CPR guidelines tackle choking response, opioid-related emergencies and a revised chain of survival. October 22, 2025. Link
- Elsevier. Urden LD, Stacy KM, Lough ME, Sanchez K. Critical Care Nursing: Diagnosis and Management. 10th ed. 2025 (ISBN 978-0-443-11581-3). Link