How Much Does the CCRN Exam Cost? Member, Nonmember, Retest, and Discounts

CCRN (Adult) exam fees for AACN members and nonmembers

AACN Certification Corporation's July 2026 handbook lists these CCRN fees, payable in U.S. funds. As checked on October 18, 2026:

AACN says fees are subject to change without notice, so confirm the amount on the day you apply. The Knowledge Professional and Tele-critical Care handbooks print the same fees. For comparison, the March 2025 handbook listed $255 and $370 for the exam and $180 and $285 for a retest, so each of these fees is $5 higher today. You do not have to be an AACN member to take the exam.

Does AACN membership pay for itself on the CCRN exam?

On the exam application, AACN does the arithmetic for you: the $260 member fee plus a $78 one-year membership comes to $37 less than the $375 nonmember fee. The same form offers 2-year ($148) and 3-year ($200) memberships, and AACN's membership page lists active membership at $78 a year.

The saving grows if you need a retest while your membership is still active. Passy arithmetic, as checked on October 18, 2026:

So joining right before a retest still costs $27 less than the nonmember retest fee. Renewal is another place membership shows up: renewal by CERPs costs $150 for members and $230 for nonmembers, an $80 difference. Renewal comes three years after you pass, though, so a one-year membership bought for the exam will not usually cover it.

A CCRN cost worksheet

Beyond the exam fee, the charges AACN lists are mostly tied to deadlines and paperwork. Use this worksheet to see what each step can cost, as checked on October 18, 2026:

AACN's scheduling page lists no fee for changing an appointment up to 48 hours before it. The real risk is the missed appointment, which brings no refund or extension. The application and scheduling guide explains the 24- and 48-hour lines.

CCRN group and employer voucher discounts

AACN runs two discount programs for CCRN, PCCN, CMC and CSC exams. As checked on October 18, 2026:

AACN's own summary puts the group saving at $25 per exam for members and $30 for nonmembers, and the voucher saving at $50 and $165. Group applicants use a paper application, which the handbook says is required for anyone applying with a group. AACN says each voucher recipient also gets individual access to the review course for that exam (CMC and CSC excluded), and that vouchers can be used on any combination of eligible exams, including retakes. If your hospital buys vouchers, your unit educator or manager is usually the person to ask.

AACN's own CCRN practice products

AACN sells practice exams for CCRN alongside the exam. As checked on October 18, 2026, they range from a free one-time 7-day trial with 30 questions to a Basic plan ($35 member, $45 nonmember, 30 days, 150 questions) and a Premium plan ($75 member, $90 nonmember, 180 days). They are optional. AACN Certification Corporation says it does not approve, endorse or require the use of any specific exam preparation product.

CCRN costs after you pass

The CCRN credential lasts three years. Renewal by Synergy CERPs costs $150 for members and $230 for nonmembers, renewal by exam $185 or $290, and Inactive status $95 or $175, as checked on October 18, 2026. AACN’s CCRN renewal handbook explains each option, and the CCRN retake guide covers what happens, and what it costs, if the first attempt falls short.