By The ICU Notebook — Updated 2026 · 7-minute read
| Step | What Happens | Typical Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Verify eligibility | Confirm you have 1,750 hours of direct critical care RN experience within the past 2 years, including 875 hours in the most recent year | Before applying |
| 2. Create AACN account | Register at aacn.org; your account stores credentials and testing history | 10 minutes |
| 3. Submit application and pay fee | Application fee approximately $235–$245 for AACN members; $310–$325 non-member (verify current pricing at aacn.org) | Application processing: 1–3 business days |
| 4. Receive Authorization to Test (ATT) | AACN emails your ATT letter with your eligibility window (typically 90 days) and candidate ID | 2–5 business days after approval |
| 5. Schedule with Pearson VUE | Log in at pearsonvue.com/aacn or call Pearson VUE directly; choose test center or online remote proctoring | As soon as you have your ATT |
| 6. Take the exam | 3-hour exam window; 150 questions (125 scored); arrive 30 minutes early at test center | Your chosen date |
| 7. Receive preliminary result | Pass/fail displayed on screen immediately at test center; score report available in Pearson VUE account | Same day |
AACN and Pearson VUE offer the CCRN via two formats: in-person at a Pearson VUE testing center, or online at home via OnVUE remote proctoring software. Each has genuine advantages and specific failure modes worth understanding before you choose.
| Factor | Pearson VUE Test Center | OnVUE Remote (at-home) |
|---|---|---|
| Environment control | Controlled; no external distractions; standardized | Requires quiet, private space; family or housemates can cause violations |
| Technical issues | Rare; center staff handle equipment | More common; internet drop, webcam failure, background detection errors |
| Scheduling flexibility | Limited to center availability and hours | More flexible; some weekend/evening availability |
| Check-in process | Arrive 30 min early; ID check, biometrics, personal item storage | 15 min online check-in; room scan, ID verification via webcam |
| Discomfort / noise | Other test-takers in same room; typing sounds; climate-controlled but shared | Your own space; can be more comfortable for introverted test-takers |
| Re-test if disrupted | Test center can be rescheduled if equipment fails; center staff intervene | If flagged mid-exam for environment violation, exam may be terminated |
The practical answer: schedule the exam on the same day you receive your ATT letter, even if the test date you choose is 6–8 weeks out. Pearson VUE scheduling fills in popular time slots (Saturday mornings, early weekday slots before hospital shifts) at major testing centers. If you wait two weeks after receiving your ATT to schedule, you may find that the convenient slots near your home are gone and you're commuting further or testing at inconvenient times.
Your Authorization to Test has an expiration date — typically 90 days from issuance. If you don't schedule and sit for the exam within that window, your ATT expires and you must pay a reactivation fee ($75–$100) to receive a new one. Your application itself doesn't expire (your eligibility window is typically 3 years from application approval), but failing to use your ATT wastes the scheduling fee. If life circumstances mean you genuinely cannot test in the 90-day window, contact Pearson VUE before the ATT expires — extensions are sometimes available with documentation.
Pearson VUE allows free rescheduling up to 24 hours before the exam appointment. Within 24 hours, a rescheduling fee applies (typically $35–$50). No-shows without cancellation forfeit the exam fee entirely. If you need to reschedule, do it early — the last-minute psychology of "I don't feel ready" is rarely a reliable signal that you need more time. Most candidates who reschedule based on nerves perform similarly on their rescheduled date as they would have on the original date.
Arrive at the Pearson VUE test center 30 minutes before your scheduled exam time. Bring two forms of ID, one of which must be government-issued with your photo and signature (driver's license or passport). Your name on both IDs must match your AACN account exactly — nickname mismatches ("Bob" vs. "Robert") cause check-in delays and sometimes exam denials. You cannot bring any personal items into the testing room: no phone, no watch, no food or drink. The center provides a locker. You will receive a whiteboard or scratch paper for calculations. The exam is 150 questions with a 3-hour time limit; most candidates finish in 2–2.5 hours.
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