Credential type: certification examination · verified on the issuer's site September 19, 2026 issuer page
Retired exam
AACN retired CCRN-K on 2023-11-14. CCRN is the named replacement path.
Prepare for CCRN: CCRN (Adult) Direct Care — Acute/Critical Care Nursing Certification ExamThe CCRN-K examination, previously certified by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, evaluated clinical judgment and professional caring and ethical practice knowledge across multiple testing domains. AACN officially retired this program on 2023-11-14. The CCRN (Adult) Direct Care — Acute/Critical Care Nursing Certification Exam serves as the designated successor replacement path for all candidates seeking certification. This certification maintains a 5-year validity period and requires renewal to ensure ongoing professional standards for all practicing nurses.
Because the CCRN-K examination is no longer active or administered, acute and critical care nurses seeking professional certification must register for the CCRN (Adult) Direct Care — Acute/Critical Care Nursing Certification Exam replacement pathway through the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.
Preparation for the replacement assessment requires a detailed review of clinical judgment and professional caring domains. Candidates should study acute and critical care nursing principles to prepare for the linear computer-based format. Reviewing the core domains ensures that individuals are ready for the 150 questions presented on the exam. Understanding the testing structure and the specific focus areas remains necessary for those pursuing this certification path to ensure they meet the required standards.
This specific evaluation domain accounts for 80.0 percent of the entire test content, focusing on clinical judgment principles. Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in these areas to meet the requirements for professional certification and successfully pass the exam.
This specific evaluation domain accounts for 20.0 percent of the entire test content, covering professional caring behaviors and ethical practice guidelines. Mastery of these concepts is necessary for all nursing candidates seeking certification and professional advancement.
The examination consists of a total of 150 multiple choice questions distributed across the clinical judgment and professional caring and ethical practice domains. These questions are designed to evaluate the knowledge and skills of nursing candidates seeking to demonstrate their expertise in acute and critical care settings.
The established passing score required to pass the examination is set at a value of 87. Candidates must achieve this score or higher to earn their professional certification through the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and maintain their standing within the professional nursing community.
The linear computer-based examination has an official duration of 180 minutes. This timeframe is provided to ensure that all candidates have the opportunity to address the questions presented during the testing session in a professional manner and demonstrate their clinical knowledge effectively.
The applicable AACN member price for the examination is $280. For those who are not members of the organization, the non-member price for taking the examination is $430, as established by the current policy guidelines for all candidates pursuing this specific certification path.
Verified 2026-08-30
This page was built using official AACN exam documentation, verified historical facts regarding the retirement date of 2023-11-14, and the designated successor exam information provided by the certifying body to ensure accuracy for all users.