How Much Does the CCRN Exam Cost? AACN Fees Explained (2026)
The CCRN (Adult) exam costs $260 for AACN members and $375 for nonmembers on the first attempt, as of September 2026. If you do not pass, the retest fee drops to $185 for members and $290 for nonmembers, the same discounted rate that applies to Renewal by Exam. AACN Certification Corporation charges these fees directly; there is no separate “application” fee on top of the exam fee. Because AACN individual membership costs $78 per year, joining before you apply saves $115 on the initial exam fee alone, more than the cost of membership itself, and keeps saving you money on every retest or renewal by exam for as long as you stay a member. Certification itself lasts 3 years from the first day of the month you pass, so a candidate mapping out the full cost of becoming and staying CCRN certified needs to budget for the exam fee now and a renewal decision roughly every 3 years.
Figures current as of September 2026, from AACN’s own Exam Handbook and Certification Exam Policy Handbook. AACN states fees are subject to change without notice.
Initial Exam Fees: Member vs Nonmember
AACN Certification Corporation sets one national fee schedule for the CCRN (Adult) exam, so the fee is the same no matter which of the three eligibility pathways, Direct Care, Knowledge Professional, or Tele-critical Care, you apply through. As of September 2026, the computer-based exam costs $260 for AACN members and $375 for nonmembers. Fees are payable in U.S. funds by credit card, check, or money order, and AACN charges a $15 fee for a returned check. Membership in the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is not a requirement to sit for the CCRN exam; it is simply the discount tier AACN uses on its fee schedule.
Group and organization discounts also exist. Computer-based testing discounts are available when 10 or more candidates submit their applications together, and employers can pre-purchase exam vouchers at a further discounted rate through AACN’s Organization Discount Program.
Why the Retest Fee Is Lower
If you do not pass on your first attempt, AACN charges a discounted retest fee rather than the full initial exam fee: $185 for members and $290 for nonmembers, as of September 2026. That is a $75 to $85 savings over the initial application fee, and it applies each time you retest within your eligibility window. You can apply for a retest online through your AACN dashboard, by mailing or faxing a paper application with the “retest” option selected, or by calling AACN Customer Care. The same discounted rate, $185 for members and $290 for nonmembers, also applies to Renewal by Exam, so it is worth remembering even after you are already certified.
Does Joining AACN Pay for Itself?
AACN individual (Active) membership costs $78 per year, as of September 2026. Run the numbers on a single initial application and membership pays for itself before you even sit for the exam: a member pays $260 versus $375 for a nonmember, a $115 difference against a $78 annual due, a net savings of $37 in year one from the exam fee alone. Every subsequent retest or renewal by exam adds another $105 in member savings ($290 minus $185), so a candidate who retests even once, or who later renews by exam instead of by CERPs, comes out ahead by a wide margin. Membership also carries other benefits, continuing education access and clinical resources among them, that are outside the scope of a pure cost comparison, but on exam fees alone, joining before you apply is the better financial move for most candidates.
| Fee | AACN Member | Nonmember | Member Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial exam (Computer-Based) | $260 | $375 | $115 |
| Retest | $185 | $290 | $105 |
| Renewal by Exam | $185 | $290 | $105 |
| Annual membership dues | $78 | N/A | |
Renewal Costs: Planning for the 3-Year Cycle
CCRN certification is granted for a 3-year period that begins on the first day of the month you pass the exam. For example, a candidate who passes on February 15, 2026 is certified from February 1, 2026 through January 31, 2029. AACN gives you two ways to renew, and the cost depends on which one you choose. Renewal by Synergy CERPs requires completing 100 Continuing Education Recognition Points during the 3-year certification period, with a minimum of 60 in Category A and 10 each in Categories B and C, and carries a renewal application fee of $150 for members and $230 for nonmembers per AACN’s CCRN Renewal Handbook, on top of whatever your CE activities themselves cost. Renewal by Exam means retaking the CCRN exam before your certification expires, at $185 for members and $290 for nonmembers, the same as the retest rate. AACN also offers an Inactive Status option at $95 for members and $175 for nonmembers. Renewal by Exam must be completed before your scheduled renewal date and is not available in the last month of your renewal period, and you cannot attempt the exam, fail, and then fall back on CERPs instead. You also have up to 90 days beyond your certification expiration date to renew, though CERPs and practice hours cannot be earned during that grace period; they must have been completed during the 3-year certification window itself.
Other Fees Worth Knowing
A few smaller fees round out the full cost picture. Rescheduling your exam appointment is free up to 48 hours before your scheduled date; missing that window with no extension request forfeits the appointment, with no refund. If you need more time within your eligibility period, AACN charges a $100 extension fee. Canceling your application entirely through AACN Customer Care results in a refund minus a $100 processing fee. Duplicate score reports cost $25 per copy if you need an extra one mailed. None of these apply to every candidate, but they are worth budgeting for if your schedule is uncertain.
Ready to put your study time where it counts most before exam day? Try our CCRN practice test, or start with a free CCRN practice test to see how you handle the current domain weights before you pay for your exam application.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the CCRN exam cost for AACN members?
$260 for the initial computer-based exam, as of September 2026. Nonmembers pay $375. If you need to retest, the fee drops to $185 for members and $290 for nonmembers.
Is AACN membership required to take the CCRN exam?
No. Membership in the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is not an eligibility requirement for CCRN certification. It only affects which fee tier you pay on the exam, retest, and renewal by exam.
How much is the CCRN retest fee?
$185 for AACN members and $290 for nonmembers, as of September 2026, a discount off the initial $260/$375 exam fee. The same discounted rate applies if you choose to renew your certification by exam instead of by CERPs.
How much does CCRN renewal cost?
It depends on the path you choose. Renewal by Synergy CERPs (100 points over your 3-year certification period) costs $150 for AACN members and $230 for nonmembers, per the CCRN Renewal Handbook, plus the cost of the CE activities themselves. Renewal by Exam costs $185 for members and $290 for nonmembers, the same as the retest fee.
Sources
- aacn.org, CCRN Exam Handbook, Direct Care Eligibility Pathway (Application Fees, Certification Renewal)
- aacn.org, Certification Exam Policy Handbook (Exam Application Fees, Retake Policy, Certification Renewal)
- aacn.org, CCRN (Adult), Direct Care Eligibility Pathway
- aacn.org, CCRN (Adult) Certification Renewal (Renewal Handbook and fee table)
- aacn.org, AACN Membership
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For educational and exam preparation purposes only. Not a substitute for formal clinical training.