How Hard Is the PCCN Exam? Pass Rate, Cut Score, and Format (2026)

About 7 in 10 first-time PCCN candidates pass. The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), through AACN Certification Corporation, publishes the number: its statistics page reports a 70.10% first-time pass rate for 2025 across 3,321 candidates tested, up from 68.20% in 2024 (2,991 candidates) and in line with 70.30% in 2023 (3,477 candidates). As of October 2026, the passing standard is a cut score of 82 correct out of 125 scored items, effective January 31, 2024, which works out to roughly 66% of scored items. You get 3 hours for 150 items, or about 72 seconds per item, and 25 of those items are unscored pretest questions you cannot identify. Candidates also arrive experienced: the Direct Care pathway requires 1,750 hours of direct care of acutely ill adult patients in the previous 2 years, or 2,000 hours in the previous 5. By the numbers, about 7 in 10 first-time PCCN candidates pass and roughly 3 in 10 do not.

Figures current as of October 2026, from AACN’s certification exam statistics page, PCCN Exam Handbook (July 2026), and Certification Exam Policy Handbook (September 2026).

What the Published Pass Rates Show

AACN reports the PCCN rate as a first-time pass rate in a table that also lists candidates tested, new certificants, renewals, and total certificants. The three most recent years are below.

The rate has stayed within about two percentage points across the three years, so a single year is not a sign that the exam got easier or harder. The 2024 dip coincides with the year the current test plan (exams on and after February 6, 2024) and the current cut score (effective January 31, 2024) took effect, but the table alone does not show either caused it. For context, AACN’s own statistics page lists a 72.02% first-time pass rate for CCRN (Adult) in 2025, so the PCCN sits in a similar range rather than far below or above it.

The Cut Score Is a Count, Not a Percentage Target

AACN uses a criterion-referenced modified Angoff process. A panel of subject matter experts, the Score Evaluation Committee, reviews each question and rates the basic level of knowledge expected. Under a psychometrician’s guidance, the panel recommends the passing point, and AACN Certification Corporation reviews and approves it. The result is a raw cut score, listed on AACN’s statistics page as 82 of the 125 scored items. AACN’s handbook says every candidate who passes, regardless of score, has demonstrated an acceptable level of knowledge. That framing matters for preparation: you are being measured against a fixed standard, not against other test takers, so a strong cohort does not push you down.

Where the Difficulty Comes From

Experienced candidates, high expectations. Eligibility requires 1,750 direct care hours in 2 years (875 in the most recent year) or 2,000 hours in 5 years (144 in the most recent year). That means the 70.10% rate comes from nurses who already work with acutely ill adults, not from entry-level test takers. Passing is a matter of translating bedside experience into the test plan’s exact priorities.

Breadth. The test plan has 12 domains. Cardiovascular is the largest at 20%, followed by Multisystem at 15% and Respiratory at 14%, so the three heaviest domains account for about half of the exam. The remaining nine domains still produce the other half, and the Professional Caring and Ethical Practice domains together make up 20%. A nurse strong in telemetry but unfamiliar with wound care, nutrition support, or ethics scenarios will find those areas on the exam.

Pacing. At 150 items in 180 minutes, you have about 72 seconds per item. Application items that ask for the best next action reward fast, structured reading, so timed practice matters.

Unscored items. The 25 unscored items are not marked. You cannot skip the hard ones on the theory that they do not count.

Sample Question: Multisystem Domain

What Happens If You Do Not Pass

As of October 2026, AACN allows you to apply for and take the same exam up to 4 times in a rolling 12-month period. After 12 months, a new honor statement is required. Candidates who do not pass are eligible for a discounted retest fee of $185 for AACN members or $290 for nonmembers, compared with $260 and $375 for the first attempt. AACN’s policy handbook does not list a separate waiting period between attempts, but you do need to submit a retest application and schedule a new appointment. Scores show on screen for computer-based exams, and a detailed score report is emailed within 24 hours for live remote proctoring and within 24 to 48 hours for testing center exams, per AACN’s Certification Exam Policy Handbook (September 2026), which gives you data on where to focus before the next attempt.

Not sure how you would score today? Start a free PCCN practice test to see which domains need work, or get full access to PCCN practice questions mapped to the current test plan weights.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the PCCN pass rate?

AACN reports a 70.10% first-time pass rate for 2025, based on 3,321 candidates tested. The rates for 2024 and 2023 were 68.20% and 70.30%, according to AACN’s certification exam statistics page, as of October 2026.

How many questions do you need to get right to pass the PCCN?

AACN lists the cut score at 82 of the 125 scored items, effective January 31, 2024. The exam has 150 items, but 25 are unscored pretest items, so only the 125 scored items count toward the cut score.

Is the PCCN harder than the CCRN?

The published first-time pass rates are close: 70.10% for the PCCN and 72.02% for CCRN (Adult) in 2025, according to AACN. The two exams test different populations and content, so the pass rates are a rough comparison, not a ranking.

How many times can I retake the PCCN exam?

Up to 4 times in a rolling 12-month period, as of October 2026. The retest fee is $185 for AACN members and $290 for nonmembers.

Sources

• aacn.org, Certification Exam Statistics and Cut Scores
• aacn.org, PCCN Exam Handbook, Direct Care Eligibility Pathway (July 2026)
• aacn.org, Certification Exam Policy Handbook (September 2026)
• aacn.org, PCCN (Adult)

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