CCRN eligibility: which clinical-hours option applies to you
To sit the adult CCRN you need a current, unencumbered US RN or APRN licence plus one of two clinical-practice options: 1,750 hours of direct care of acutely or critically ill adult patients in the previous two years with 875 hours in the most recent year, or 2,000 hours in the previous five years with 144 hours in the most recent year. Hours must be in direct care, regardless of where you practise.
The two options
| Two-year option | Five-year option | |
|---|---|---|
| Total direct-care hours | 1,750 | 2,000 |
| Window | previous 2 years | previous 5 years |
| Hours required in the most recent year | 875 | 144 |
Both require a current, unencumbered US RN or APRN licence, and the hours must be direct care of acutely or critically ill adult patients — the location does not matter, the patient population does.
Which one to pick
The two-year option asks for fewer total hours but concentrates half of them in the last twelve months. If you have recently moved to a role that is not primarily direct care — education, informatics, management, a float pool with mixed acuity — the five-year option's 144-hour recent minimum is usually the realistic route. Run both through the eligibility hours planner with your actual weekly direct-care hours before you apply.
After you apply
AACN emails a confirmation with your eligibility period — normally 90 days, currently a 180-day window — and a scheduling link. Apply when you are ready to test, not when you are ready to start studying.
Enter your exam date and weekly hours; we allocate time by blueprint weight × your weak spots.
Primary references
- CCRN Exam Handbook — Direct Care (July 2026) — AACN Certification Corporation · primary · retrieved 2026-09-22, verified 2026-09-22
- CCRN (Adult) certification — eligibility and fees — AACN Certification Corporation · primary · retrieved 2026-09-22, verified 2026-09-22