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View all 12 AACN PCCN® Subjects
Cardiovascular
89%
8 of 9 Correct
Respiratory
75%
12 of 16 Correct
Endocrine
56%
5 of 9 Correct
Hematology/Immunology/Oncology
55%
6 of 11 Correct
Neurology
38%
3 of 8 Correct
Gastrointestinal
30%
3 of 10 Correct
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Elevate your progressive care nursing career with 
effective prep for the PCCN certification.
effective prep for the PCCN certification.
The AACN PCCN® exam is for nurses who provide direct care to acutely ill adult patients in progressive care settings. The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) offers this certification to recognize your expertise in progressive care nursing, which is essential for roles in step-down units, telemetry units, and other intermediate care areas.
Eligibility requires an active RN or APRN license and specific clinical practice hours: 1) A minimum of 1,750 hours of direct care for acutely ill adult patients within the last two years, with 875 hours in the most recent year, or 2) At least five years of experience, with a minimum of 2,000 hours, including 144 hours accrued in the most recent year.
The majority of the exam (80%) focuses on clinical judgment across a variety of systems, including cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, hematology, immunology, oncology, neurology, gastrointestinal, renal, musculoskeletal, multisystem, and behavioral/psychosocial areas. For example, cardiovascular topics cover acute coronary syndromes, dysrhythmias, heart failure, and structural heart procedures, while respiratory topics address conditions such as ARDS, COPD exacerbation, and respiratory failure. Endocrine content includes managing diabetes and thyroid disorders, while neurology involves conditions like stroke, traumatic brain injury, and seizure disorders. The exam also covers renal topics, such as acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease, as well as multisystem issues, including sepsis, shock states, and wound management. Additionally, 20% of the exam is dedicated to professional caring and ethical practice, encompassing advocacy, collaboration, systems thinking, and clinical inquiry, ensuring that nurses are prepared to provide holistic and ethical care in complex clinical settings.
The exam consists of 125 questions, with 100 scored and 25 used for statistical purposes. The test duration is 2.5 hours. A passing score requires at least 68 correct answers out of the 100 scored questions. The PCCN credential is valid for three years; renewal can be achieved through continuing education or re-examination.
Exam Info & Registration
PCCN Direct Care Exam Handbook - July 2024
PCCN Test Plan
Eligibility requires an active RN or APRN license and specific clinical practice hours: 1) A minimum of 1,750 hours of direct care for acutely ill adult patients within the last two years, with 875 hours in the most recent year, or 2) At least five years of experience, with a minimum of 2,000 hours, including 144 hours accrued in the most recent year.
The majority of the exam (80%) focuses on clinical judgment across a variety of systems, including cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, hematology, immunology, oncology, neurology, gastrointestinal, renal, musculoskeletal, multisystem, and behavioral/psychosocial areas. For example, cardiovascular topics cover acute coronary syndromes, dysrhythmias, heart failure, and structural heart procedures, while respiratory topics address conditions such as ARDS, COPD exacerbation, and respiratory failure. Endocrine content includes managing diabetes and thyroid disorders, while neurology involves conditions like stroke, traumatic brain injury, and seizure disorders. The exam also covers renal topics, such as acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease, as well as multisystem issues, including sepsis, shock states, and wound management. Additionally, 20% of the exam is dedicated to professional caring and ethical practice, encompassing advocacy, collaboration, systems thinking, and clinical inquiry, ensuring that nurses are prepared to provide holistic and ethical care in complex clinical settings.
The exam consists of 125 questions, with 100 scored and 25 used for statistical purposes. The test duration is 2.5 hours. A passing score requires at least 68 correct answers out of the 100 scored questions. The PCCN credential is valid for three years; renewal can be achieved through continuing education or re-examination.
In 2023, 3,477 candidates took the PCCN exam and the reported pass rate was 70%.
Nursing
AACN PCCN® is part of our Nursing Pocket Prep that contains prep content for 28 other Nursing exams.
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other 28 Nursing exams
AACN CCRN® (Adult)
Critical Care Registered Nurse
AACN CCRN® (Neonatal)
Critical Care Registered Nurse (Neonatal)
AACN CCRN® (Pediatric)
Critical Care Registered Nurse (Pediatric)
AANPCB® FNP
Family Nurse Practitioner
AANPCB® PMHNP-C
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
AMCB CNM
Certified Nurse-Midwife
ANCC AGPCNP-BC
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse
ANCC AMB-BC™
Ambulatory Care Nurse
ANCC CV-BC™
Cardiac Vascular Nurse – Board Certified
ANCC PMHNP-BC
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
ANCC MEDSURG-BC™
Medical-Surgical Nurse
ANCC NE-BC®
Nurse Executive
ANCC NPD-BC™
Nursing Professional Development
BCEN CBRN®
Certified Burn Registered Nurse
BCEN CEN®
Certified Emergency Nurse
BCEN CFRN® & CTRN®
Certified Flight & Transport Registered Nurse
BCEN CPEN®
Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse
BCEN TCRN®
Trauma Certified Registered Nurse
CBDCE CDCES
Diabetes Care and Education Specialist
CCI CFPN®
Certified Foundational Perioperative Nurse
CCI CNAMB®
Certified Ambulatory Surgery Nurse
CCI CNOR®
Certified Perioperative Nurse
CCMC CCM®
Certified Case Manager®
MSNCB CMSRN®
Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse
NBCRNA CRNA
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
NLN® CNE
Certified Nurse Educator
PNCB CPN®
Certified Pediatric Nurse
PNCB CPNP-PC®
Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Primary Care
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