CNRN

The exam is taken at a computer-based testing facility and consists of 220 multiple-choice items with a total testing time of 4 hours. Twenty of those items are unscored pre-test questions being evaluated for future use, so they do not affect your result. That works out to roughly one minute per item, leaving little slack for review.

ABNN states the credential marks knowledge of neuroscience nursing fundamentals, so the exam is a generalist exam and is not intended to emphasize any particular level of care or developmental level. Candidates from ICU, step-down, general neuroscience, rehabilitation, and outpatient settings sit the same exam, which is why reviewing beyond your daily practice area matters.

The application costs $300 for AANN members and $400 for nonmembers when paying by credit card. Paying by check or money order raises the fee to $325 for members and $425 for nonmembers. Applications must be completed online; if paying by check, select "Pay via Check" and mail payment to ABNN as instructed at checkout.

ABNN reports that over the past 5 years, 62% of certification candidates passed. Recent volume is modest - in 2024, 321 candidates sat the exam and 181 passed. Those figures suggest a genuinely discriminating exam, so plan a structured review rather than relying on workplace experience alone.

ABNN uses a systematic criterion-referenced procedure that combines the judgment of neuroscience nursing experts from around the country with professional psychometricians from PSI. The process establishes the number of correct answers a minimally competent candidate would be expected to provide. The final determination of the passing score is made by the ABNN Board of Trustees.

ABNN's published exam page does not describe a retake or waiting-period policy, so confirm the current rules in the Candidate Handbook or by contacting ABNN directly before assuming a timeline. Note that retaking the exam is also a recognized route to recertification once you already hold the credential.

After registering and receiving eligibility notification by email, schedule through PSI: online at PSI's ABNN scheduling service, by email with your name, PSI ID number, requested dates and preferred site, or by phone at 1-855-340-0087. Your PSI ID begins with NS and appears in your Certification Center. Do not wait until the last day of your exam window.

You recertify by earning CE credits prior to your certification expiration date, or by retaking the CNRN exam. You do not create a new log-in to apply for recertification; call ABNN customer service if you cannot locate your password. Full requirements, including CE categories and deadlines, are in the Recertification Handbook.

Start with the content outline in the current Candidate Handbook, since ABNN rebuilds it from a job analysis every 5 years and the most recent version took effect with the July 2025 window. Then allocate review time proportional to the outline, deliberately covering areas outside your usual patient population, and finish with timed practice under four-hour conditions.

Yes. The Agnes Marshall Walker Foundation awards certification grants both to people sitting for the CNRN exam for the first time and to those renewing their certification. Eligibility requirements, the application process, and deadlines are published on the AMWF website, which ABNN links from its exam page.