What to Bring to the CCRN Exam: Test Day Rules and What to Expect
The CCRN (Adult) exam, administered by AACN Certification Corporation through its testing partner PSI, is 150 multiple-choice items, 125 scored and 25 unscored, given in a 3-hour window. As of September 2026, you choose one of two delivery options when you schedule: an in-person PSI Testing Center or Live Remote Proctoring (LRP) from your own computer in a private location. Once your application is approved, AACN’s confirmation email sets your testing eligibility window, normally 90 days, though the current CCRN Exam Handbook (July 2026) lists an extended 180-day window. You can reschedule or cancel your appointment free of charge up to 48 hours before your scheduled time; after that, a missed appointment gets no refund, and extending your eligibility period or canceling your application altogether carries a $100 fee (as of September 2026). Results appear on-screen the moment you finish, and a detailed score report follows by email within 24 to 48 hours. Every applicant also signs an honor statement, covering licensure, practice hours, ethics, and exam confidentiality, before AACN approves the application. What you can bring, and what you must leave behind, differs by delivery option; here is exactly what to expect for each.
Figures current as of September 2026, from AACN’s CCRN Exam Handbook (July 2026) and Certification Exam Policy Handbook (August 2026).
Two Ways to Take the CCRN
When you schedule your appointment through your AACN customer dashboard, you pick between a PSI Testing Center and Live Remote Proctoring (LRP). Both use the same 150-item exam and 3-hour clock; what differs is where you sit and how check-in works. A PSI Testing Center is a staffed, in-person site with a proctor who greets you at check-in. LRP lets you test from your own desk in a quiet, private location, such as a home office, while a live proctor monitors you by webcam for the session. The test plan, item count, and scoring process are identical either way.
What to Bring, and What to Leave at Home
The one thing every candidate needs is a valid, government-issued photo ID with a signature. Everything else you would normally carry, notes, bags, a phone, stays behind, whether you are walking into a testing center or logging in from your kitchen table.
| Item | PSI Testing Center | Live Remote Proctoring |
|---|---|---|
| Government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, state or province ID, U.S. visa, or international travel passport) | Required at check-in; no military or temporary ID accepted | Required at check-in unless pre-verified through the mobile ID upload option; no military or temporary ID accepted |
| Books, notes, or reference materials | Not permitted; leave in your vehicle or at home (see storage note below) | Not permitted in the testing area |
| Phone, tablet, headphones, or other electronics | Not permitted; leave in your vehicle or at home (see storage note below) | Not permitted in the testing area |
| Bags, briefcases, coats, headwear (religious apparel exempted) | Not permitted; leave in your vehicle or at home (see storage note below) | Not applicable; you are testing at your own desk |
| Food, gum, or drinks | Not permitted; you may not eat, drink, or chew gum in the testing center | Not permitted in the testing area, except water (see below) |
| Water (Live Remote Proctoring only) | Not permitted | Permitted, in a clear container |
| Scratch paper | Provided by the testing center on request | Not permitted; a digital notepad is provided on-screen instead |
| A second monitor | Not applicable | Not permitted; the secure lockdown browser blocks dual or extended monitors |
AACN’s Security Standards describe secure storage units at the testing center for items you cannot carry into the testing room, while the Exam Day section of the same handbook instructs candidates to leave such items in their vehicle or at home instead. The handbook does not fully reconcile the two sections, so the safest approach is to bring as little as possible and plan to leave your phone, bag, and valuables at home or in your car rather than count on storage being available. Neither PSI nor AACN takes responsibility for loss or damage to personal items in any case.
Your PSI Testing Center Day, Step by Step
Report to your assigned testing center no later than your scheduled time; some PSI centers sit inside H&R Block offices, so look for check-in signage. You cannot start early, and you will not be admitted if you arrive more than 15 minutes late (Live Remote Proctoring uses a longer, 30-minute cutoff; see below). Before you enter the testing area, the Test Center Administrator empties your pockets, inspects items like glasses or jewelry, and runs a metal-detector wand scan; your photo ID is checked, and a photograph is taken that stays on-screen throughout your session. You log in with your AACN customer number, not a Social Security number, and an untimed practice exam lets you get comfortable with the interface before the 3-hour clock starts. You may request up to two five-minute breaks, though the clock keeps running, and you may not eat, drink, or chew gum in the room. Leaving the testing area without authorization at any point automatically voids your exam. Your pass or fail result appears on-screen the moment you end the session.
Taking the CCRN by Live Remote Proctoring
LRP requires more advance preparation than a testing center visit, mostly around your workspace and computer. AACN requires a quiet and private location, such as a home office, free from distractions. Both hands must stay on or above your desk, your full face must stay visible to the webcam, and you may not talk, whisper, or cover your mouth. The lockdown browser blocks screen sharing, screen recording, copy and paste, and any dual or extended monitor setup.
PSI’s System Compatibility Check tool confirms your computer meets minimum requirements: a supported operating system, a working webcam and microphone, and broadband internet of at least 750 kbps. A Chrome-based browser is recommended, and you separately download PSI’s secure lockdown browser. PSI also offers an optional Tutorial Test, launchable up to 2.5 hours before your exam on the same Wi-Fi network and computer, with a system check plus five sample questions. On exam day, check in between 15 and 30 minutes before your scheduled time; check-in can take 60 or more minutes and includes a webcam photo of your ID (unless pre-verified at scheduling), a photo of yourself, and a scan of your room. If you log-in more than 30 minutes after your scheduled exam time, you will not be admitted. A live proctor sees and hears you throughout and can message you by chat, though you cannot see or hear the proctor.
The Testing Window, Rescheduling, and Fees That Apply
Schedule your appointment at least 24 hours before your desired date. Once approved, your confirmation email states the eligibility window; per the current CCRN Exam Handbook (July 2026), that window is normally 90 days but is currently extended to 180 days. Reschedule or cancel through your AACN dashboard at no charge up to 48 hours before your scheduled time. Miss that cutoff, or fail to show up, and there is no refund. Need more time than your window allows? Call AACN Customer Care before it expires; a $100 extension fee applies (as of September 2026). Canceling entirely gets you a refund minus a $100 processing fee (as of September 2026), and the full fee schedule is worth reviewing before you apply. Fail to report and you can reapply for the retest fee if your application is under a year old, or a full new application if it is older.
Scoring, Results, and the Honor Statement
Your CCRN result posts on-screen the moment you finish, and a score report follows by email within 24 to 48 hours, broken down by content area so you know where to focus if you retest. AACN sets the passing standard through a criterion-referenced modified Angoff process, not a published passing percentage. Separately, every CCRN applicant signs an honor statement as part of the application, before AACN schedules an appointment. It covers your RN or APRN licensure, the practice hours you are claiming, your agreement to the ANA Code of Ethics, and your commitment to keep exam content confidential. It also documents the retake policy: up to four attempts within a rolling 12-month period, with a new honor statement required after 12 months without a pass.
Want to feel ready before test day? Try our CCRN practice test, or start with a free CCRN practice test to build familiarity with the exam format first.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to bring to the CCRN exam?
A valid, government-issued photo ID with your signature, such as a driver’s license, state or province ID card, U.S. visa, or international travel passport. Military and temporary IDs are not accepted. Books, notes, bags, and electronics are not permitted in the testing room; a PSI Testing Center provides secure storage units for them, or you can leave them in your car or at home.
Can I take the CCRN exam from home?
Yes, through Live Remote Proctoring. You need a private, quiet workspace, a single monitor, and a computer that passes PSI’s System Compatibility Check. A live proctor monitors your session by webcam for the full 3 hours.
How late can I reschedule my CCRN exam without a fee?
Up to 48 hours before your scheduled appointment, free of charge, through your AACN customer dashboard. After that cutoff, a missed or canceled appointment is not refunded.
How long is my CCRN testing window once approved?
Normally 90 days from your confirmation email, though the current CCRN Exam Handbook (July 2026) lists an extended 180-day window. If you cannot test in time, you can request a $100 extension before it expires.
Sources
- aacn.org, CCRN Exam Handbook, Direct Care Eligibility Pathway (July 2026)
- aacn.org, Certification Exam Policy Handbook (August 2026)
- aacn.org, CCRN (Adult), Direct Care Eligibility Pathway
- psiexams.com, What to Expect: The PSI Exam Experience
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For educational and exam preparation purposes only. Not a substitute for formal clinical training.