Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN)
Advanced Nursing / Critical Care Collar: White CollarOverview
Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) is a professional credential in Advanced Nursing / Critical Care. It validates knowledge and practical skills expected for roles aligned with Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN), and signals readiness for entry through mid-level responsibilities.
Last updated: 2025-11-12 04:29:09 UTC
What it covers
- Fundamentals commonly required in Advanced Nursing / Critical Care roles
- Applied skills that map to day-to-day job tasks
- Tools, workflows, and quality/safety best practices
- Provider-defined objectives and exam domains
Quick snapshot
Price$365 exam (AACN member)
Time Commitment150–250 hrs
Recertification IntervalEvery 3 years (100 CERPs)
PrerequisitesRN or APRN with 1,750 hrs direct critical care in past 2 yrs
Difficulty4
Job Demand5
Self Employment4
Remote Roles4
Typical Salary (US): $90k–$130k
Steps to get certified
- Confirm eligibility and prerequisites (if any)
- Review the exam objectives and official candidate handbook
- Study with free resources and complete practice tasks/exams
- Schedule and take the exam (remote or test center, per policy)
- Maintain the credential via recertification/CE (if required)
Free study resources
- Official exam objectives / sample questions (usually free)
- Open courseware and tutorials aligned to the objectives
- Hands-on labs or small projects that mirror real tasks
- Local library access to relevant books and guides
Communities & discussion
- Certification-focused forums and Q&A communities
- Reddit/Discord/Slack groups for this cert’s domain
- Local meetups or online study groups
Example jobs with this cert
- Advanced Nursing Critical Care Technician
- Advanced Nursing Critical Care Specialist
- Advanced Nursing Critical Care Associate
- Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) Support/Assistant
- Junior Advanced Nursing Critical Care Analyst