Progressive Care Certified Nurse Certification (PCCN)

Current and unencumbered practice license in the US as either a Registered Nurse or an APRN.
Practiced  as an RN or APRN for at least 1,750 clinical practice hours in direct bedside care of acutely or critically ill patients during the previous two years, with 875 of those hours accrued in the most recent year preceding application. Practice must be in a U.S.or Canadian-based facility or in a facility comparable to the U.S. standard of acute/critical care nursing practice .
The candidate can also use hours served as as manager, educator (in-service or academic), APRN or preceptor supervising nursing students or nurses at the bedside for this purpose provided that they must have been actively involved in caring for patients at the bedside.
The name and address of a professional associate (clinical supervisor, RN colleague) for verification of eligibility.

The exam is conducted via computers at more than 170 test centers  across the United States by AMP, AACN's certification corporation, 5 days a week year round.
The exam is also available in a paper- pencil format at specific sites including at  Dantes military test sites for  candidates residing outside the US
Candidate may register for the exam online at  www.certcorp.org or may mail the application to the AACN address. On verification of eligibility, AMP sends confirmatory postcard or email to candidates with instructions for scheduling their test appointment. Candidates can schedule their test within a 90 day window.
The current fee for the exam is $250 for initial certification and $215 for re certification for non member candidates. For AACN member candidates, the fees is $170 & $135 for initial certification and re certification respectively. A score card is provided to candidates at the test center itself immediately after the exam and successful candidates receive their certificate within 6-8 weeks.
Candidates can renew their certification by either continued education or by re-taking the exam.

The exam comprises of 125 multiple choice questions, out of which 100 are evaluated and scored and 25 are used as pre test questions for future exams.
All the exam questions are based on adult population and are aimed at assessing the candidates knowledge in the specialty
The exam is 2.5 hours.

AACN synergy model patient & Synergy model patient care
Patient Care Clinical Judgment - 80%

A. Pulmonary -13%
B. Hematology/Immunology- 5%
C. Cardiovascular -37%
D. Neurology -4%
E. Gastrointestinal-5%
F. Endocrine-4%
G. Renal -6%
H. Multi system -6%

Professional caring and Ethical Practice (across all ages) – 20%
A. Advocacy/Moral Agency (2%)
B. Caring Practices (4%)
C. Collaboration (4%)
D. Systems Thinking (2%)
E. Response to Diversity (2%)
F. Clinical Inquiry (2%)
G. Facilitation of Learning (4%)

Multiple Choice - Increasing your score with multiple choice questions

How to Answer Multiple Choice Tips, strategies and practice questions for any multiple choice test. Practice each strategy. How To Answer Multiple Choice

Test Anxiety - Coping with Test Anxiety

Mental Preparation - Tips and advice on how to prepare mentally for an exam >>>

Not sure where to start? Tips and Advice on how to prepare for a test

Test Taking Secrets - Get organized, study less AND increase your score on any test! Test Preparation Secrets