What Happens If You Fail the CCRN? Retakes and Next Steps
If you do not pass the CCRN (Adult) exam, AACN Certification Corporation lets you apply for a retest at a discounted fee, $185 for members and $290 for nonmembers as of September 2026, and you can attempt the same exam up to 4 times within a rolling 12-month period. Your results appear on-screen the moment you finish, and a detailed score report follows by email within 24 hours, showing how many questions you answered correctly in each content area so you can see exactly where to focus. There is no mandatory waiting period between attempts built into AACN’s policy; once your retest application is processed, you can schedule your next appointment. If more than 12 months pass without a successful attempt, AACN requires you to sign a new honor statement before testing again. None of this guarantees a pass on your next try, but the mechanics are straightforward and the path back to the exam is short.
Figures current as of September 2026, from AACN’s Certification Exam Policy Handbook and CCRN Exam Handbook.
Understanding Your Score Report
Not passing is disappointing, but the score report AACN sends you is genuinely useful for planning what comes next. CCRN scoring works on a passing point, also called a cut score, established through a criterion-referenced process known as the modified Angoff method. A panel of subject matter experts rates the expected difficulty of every exam item, and a psychometrician uses those ratings to set the score a candidate needs to demonstrate an acceptable level of knowledge. That passing point is not a percentage; it is a raw number that can shift slightly between exam forms as the item pool is updated, which is why AACN does not publish a single fixed “you need X% to pass” figure.
What the report does show, in addition to your overall pass or fail result, is the number of questions you answered correctly within each content area of the test plan, Cardiovascular, Respiratory, the combined Endocrine/Hematology/Immunology/GI/Renal/Integumentary domain, Musculoskeletal/Neurological/Behavioral and Psychosocial, Multisystem, and Professional Caring and Ethical Practice. That domain-by-domain breakdown is the single most useful thing on the report: it tells you which parts of the current test plan need more review before you sit again, rather than leaving you to guess. Keep in mind you can score well in some content areas and still miss the overall cut score, since the exam is measuring your knowledge across all domains, not any one of them in isolation.
How to Apply for a Retest
Once you have your score report, applying again is a shorter process than your original application. AACN offers three ways to apply for a retest: online at aacn.org through the Get Certified section, by mailing or faxing a paper application with the “retest” option selected, or by calling AACN Customer Care at 800-899-2226. The retest fee, $185 for members and $290 for nonmembers, is lower than the initial $260/$375 exam fee, and after your application is processed you will receive the same kind of confirmation email and scheduling link you got the first time, letting you book your next appointment at a PSI testing center or through live remote proctoring.
| Step | What Happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Results | On-screen pass/fail immediately; detailed score report emailed within 24 hours |
| 2. Review | Check the content-area breakdown to find your weakest domains |
| 3. Apply for retest | Online, by mail/fax with “retest” selected, or by phone; discounted fee applies |
| 4. Schedule | Book a new PSI testing center or live remote proctoring appointment |
| 5. Attempt limit | Up to 4 attempts total within a rolling 12-month period |
The 4-Attempt, 12-Month Rule
AACN allows a candidate to apply for and take the same certification exam up to 4 times within a rolling 12-month period. The limit is a rolling 12 month lookback, so it is worth tracking your own testing dates rather than assuming a fresh slate every calendar year. If 12 months pass since your original application without a successful attempt, AACN requires you to sign a new honor statement before you can test again; this is a procedural requirement, not a content or eligibility change, but it does mean an extra step if you have taken a long break between attempts. Candidates who do not pass within their allowed attempts, or who let their eligibility period lapse entirely, need to meet current CCRN eligibility requirements and submit a fresh application before trying again; check the current AACN fee table when you reapply, since which fee applies depends on your application category.
What to Do Differently Before You Retest
The mechanics of retesting are simple; the harder part is closing the gap the score report identified. Start with the content areas where your report shows the most missed questions, and study them against the current Adult CCRN test plan rather than an older breakdown, since AACN’s test plans are periodically revised based on national practice studies. Build in practice under timed, exam-format conditions so the 3-hour window and question style feel familiar rather than an added source of stress on test day. It is also worth reviewing the Professional Caring and Ethical Practice section specifically; it is easy to underweight this section in a clinically focused review plan, and it carries real weight on the exam. There is no way to guarantee a passing score on any future attempt, but a focused review built around your actual score report gives you a clearer target than studying everything equally.
Ready to work through the domains your last score report flagged? Try our CCRN practice test, or start with a free CCRN practice test to get a feel for the current test plan before you schedule your next attempt.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times can you retake the CCRN exam?
Up to 4 times within a rolling 12-month period, as of September 2026. After 12 months without a successful attempt, AACN requires a new honor statement before you can test again.
How much does it cost to retake the CCRN exam?
$185 for AACN members and $290 for nonmembers, a discount off the initial $260/$375 exam fee. The same discounted rate applies to renewal by exam.
How long do you have to wait before retaking the CCRN exam?
AACN’s published policy does not set a mandatory waiting period between attempts. Once your retest application is processed, you can schedule your next appointment, subject to the 4-attempt, 12-month limit.
What does the CCRN score report show?
Your overall pass or fail result against AACN’s criterion-referenced passing point, plus the number of questions you answered correctly in each content area of the current test plan, so you can identify which domains need more review.
Sources
- aacn.org, Certification Exam Policy Handbook (Exam Results, Retake Policy, Duplicate Score Reports)
- aacn.org, CCRN Exam Handbook, Direct Care Eligibility Pathway (Passing Point/Cut Score, Application Fees)
- aacn.org, CCRN (Adult), Direct Care Eligibility Pathway
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For educational and exam preparation purposes only. Not a substitute for formal clinical training.