PCCN certification: the exam, cost, requirements and practice questions

What is PCCN certification?

What is a PCCN certification? It is a credential granted by AACN Certification Corporation that validates your knowledge of nursing care of acutely ill adult patients. AACN describes PCCN as a registered service mark that denotes certification in adult progressive care nursing, and the PCCN nursing certification is accepted by the Magnet Recognition Program.

Searches for progressive care certified nurse PCCN usually mean this AACN credential. The difference from CCRN is patient acuity, not unit name: AACN describes progressive care patients as acutely ill and moderately stable with potential to become unstable, and CCRN patients as critically ill and unstable. Typical PCCN settings include progressive care, telemetry, stepdown and intermediate care units.

Source: AACN — Should I Apply for the CCRN or PCCN Certification Exam?. Checked 18 October 2026.

The PCCN exam format

The PCCN exam is a 3-hour test with 150 multiple-choice questions. AACN scores 125 of them; the other 25 collect data for future exams and are not marked, so answer every question as if it counts.

You take the PCCN test at a PSI testing center or by Live Remote Proctoring from a quiet, private room. Results appear on screen at the end, and a detailed score report is emailed within 24 hours.

Source: AACN — PCCN Exam Handbook, Direct Care (July 2026). Checked 18 October 2026.

PCCN test plan

The PCCN test plan that applies to exams taken on and after 6 February 2024 is 80% clinical judgment and 20% professional caring and ethical practice. Within clinical judgment, cardiovascular is the largest area at 20%, followed by multisystem at 15% and respiratory at 14%. Endocrine, hematology/immunology/oncology, neurology, gastrointestinal, renal, musculoskeletal and behavioral/psychosocial make up the rest.

Source: AACN — PCCN Exam Handbook, Direct Care (July 2026). Checked 18 October 2026.

PCCN certification cost

The PCCN certification cost is $260 for AACN members and $375 for nonmembers. A retest costs $185 for members and $290 for nonmembers, and AACN keeps the discounted retest fee available until you pass. Renewal by exam costs the same as a retest; renewal by continuing education costs $150 or $230.

Source: AACN — PCCN Exam Handbook, Direct Care (July 2026). Checked 18 October 2026.

PCCN certification requirements

The PCCN certification requirements are a current, unencumbered U.S. RN or APRN license and verifiable direct-care hours with acutely ill adult patients. The PCCN requirements give you two options:

• Two-year option: 1,750 hours in the previous two years, with 875 in the most recent year before you apply.
• Five-year option: at least 2,000 hours in the previous five years, with 144 in the most recent year before you apply.

Source: AACN — PCCN (Adult), Direct Care Eligibility Pathway. Checked 18 October 2026.

PCCN exam dates and how to schedule

There are no fixed PCCN exam dates or PCCN test dates. AACN offers the exam by computer-based testing year-round, Monday through Saturday, at more than 300 U.S. testing sites, and by Live Remote Proctoring.

To schedule PCCN exam appointments you apply first; AACN’s confirmation email contains the booking link and starts your eligibility window, normally 90 days and currently 180 days. AACN recommends that you be ready to test before you apply.

Source: AACN — Frequently Asked Questions About PCCN Certification. Checked 18 October 2026.

PCCN passing score and pass rate

The PCCN passing score is 82 correct answers out of 125 scored items, effective 31 January 2024. AACN sets it with a modified Angoff process and states that the passing score is a raw number, not a percentage.

The PCCN pass rate for first-time candidates was 70.10% in 2025 (3,321 tested), 68.20% in 2024 and 70.30% in 2023. If you do not pass, you can take the exam up to four times in a 12-month period.

Source: AACN — Certification Exam Statistics and Cut Scores. Checked 18 October 2026.

PCCN renewal requirements

PCCN certification lasts 3 years. The PCCN renewal requirements for renewal by Synergy CERPs are 432 hours in direct care of acutely ill adult patients during the three years, 144 of them in the 12 months before your renewal date, and 100 CERPs with at least 60 in Category A and 10 each in Categories B and C. You can also renew by retaking the exam.

Source: AACN — PCCN (Adult) Renewal. Checked 18 October 2026.

PCCN exam handbook and study guide

If you are looking for a PCCN study guide PDF free download, the official free PDF from AACN is the PCCN exam handbook; AACN did not list a separate PCCN study guide PDF on the pages checked. The handbook contains the eligibility rules, fees, the full test plan, sample questions to show the style and format of exam items, and the list of references AACN uses to validate questions.

For PCCN books, check any PCCN review book or set of PCCN study books against the February 2024 test plan before you buy. The best PCCN study guide for you is one that follows that plan, includes questions with rationales and covers professional caring and ethical practice, which is 20% of the exam. Plan your PCCN study by test plan weight, starting with cardiovascular.

Source: AACN — PCCN Exam Handbook, Direct Care (July 2026). Checked 18 October 2026.

AACN PCCN review course

For a PCCN review from the exam owner, the AACN PCCN review course is the PCCN Certification Review Course Online. It uses repeatable modules, awards 14.0 CE contact hours or CERP Category A and costs $159 for AACN members or $199 for nonmembers; AACN marks it as nonrefundable.

A PCCN review course, PCCN certification review course or other PCCN classes are optional: they are not part of the eligibility requirements above. AACN’s hours count towards the Category A CERPs you need for renewal, which makes a course useful twice.

Source: AACN — PCCN Certification Review Course Online (individual purchase). Checked 18 October 2026.

Free PCCN practice questions and AACN practice exams

There are two official sources of free PCCN practice questions: the sample questions in the PCCN exam handbook, and AACN’s one-time free trial with seven days of access to 30 practice questions with rationales, timed or untimed.

Beyond the trial, the AACN PCCN practice questions come in a Basic tier (30 days, 150 questions, $35 members / $45 nonmembers) and a Premium tier (180 days, the full PCCN question bank with content-area exams, $75 / $90). If you are searching for a PCCN test bank, these practice exams are what AACN itself offers for question practice.

Source: AACN — Certification Practice Exams. Checked 18 October 2026.

PCCN practice questions

Certsqill’s PCCN practice questions are expert-developed and mapped to AACN’s PCCN test plan, from cardiovascular and multisystem to professional caring and ethical practice. Work through PCCN review questions by area, then take a timed PCCN practice test of 150 questions in 3 hours.

Every one of our PCCN questions comes with an explanation for each answer option, and your results build a readiness score per test plan area, so you can see where you stand before you apply. A 7-day money-back guarantee applies.

PCCN questions people ask

What is the PCCN certification?

AACN’s credential in adult progressive care nursing, validating knowledge of nursing care of acutely ill adult patients. Source: AACN, checked 18 October 2026.

Should I take PCCN or CCRN?

It depends on patient acuity: PCCN is for acutely ill, moderately stable patients; CCRN for critically ill, unstable patients. Source: AACN, checked 18 October 2026.

How much does PCCN certification cost?

$260 for AACN members and $375 for nonmembers; a retest costs $185 or $290. Source: AACN, checked 18 October 2026.

What is the PCCN passing score?

82 correct out of 125 scored items, effective 31 January 2024. Source: AACN Exam Statistics and Cut Scores, checked 18 October 2026.

What is the PCCN pass rate?

70.10% of first-time candidates passed in 2025. Source: AACN Exam Statistics, checked 18 October 2026.

When can I take the PCCN exam?

Year-round, Monday through Saturday, at PSI testing centers or by Live Remote Proctoring, within your eligibility window. Source: AACN, checked 18 October 2026.

Where can I find a free PCCN study guide PDF?

AACN’s PCCN Exam Handbook is a free PDF with the test plan, sample questions and reference list. Source: AACN, checked 18 October 2026.

How long is PCCN certification valid?

3 years. Renew with 432 practice hours and 100 CERPs, or by exam. Source: AACN, checked 18 October 2026.