CTRN
Certified Transport Registered Nurse
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ExploreAbout this exam
The Certified Transport Registered Nurse (CTRN®) is a specialty nursing credential awarded by the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN). BCEN describes the CTRN as the foundational nursing specialty certification for RNs working at transport programs and across the emergency spectrum, and as the only certification built specifically for ground transport nursing - a deliberate contrast with the flight-focused CFRN®. The credential is aimed at nurses who move critically ill and injured patients between facilities and who often provide essential critical care ground transport when air transport is not an option, caring for those patients in unpredictable, high-stakes environments where every decision counts. The CTRN certification is valid for four years, and recertification can be completed by examination or by CE attestation. BCEN reports the exam fee as $285 for Air & Surface Transport Nurses Association members and $380 for non-members, and applications are submitted online through a BCEN account. Exam content spans patient assessment and monitoring, airway/ventilation/oxygenation, hemodynamics and shock, trauma and environmental emergencies, medical and neurologic emergencies, transport safety and equipment operations, and professional practice, communication, and documentation; candidates should confirm current domain weighting against BCEN's official content outline. Preparation resources include the content outline and reference list, sample questions, practice exams that mirror the format and content of the real exam, and review courses. This page is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by BCEN.
What you'll study
About CTRN preparation
How much does the CTRN exam cost?
BCEN lists the exam fee as $285 for members of the Air & Surface Transport Nurses Association (ASTNA) and $380 for non-members. BCEN also publishes additional pricing and discount information, including a voucher program that can cover the exam fee if you have received a complimentary certification voucher.
How long is CTRN certification valid, and how do I renew it?
CTRN certification is valid for four years. BCEN states that recertification keeps your CTRN active and your transport skills current, and that you can renew by exam or by CE attestation, with qualifying CE options and step-by-step guidance published on BCEN's recertification pages.
What is the difference between the CTRN and the CFRN?
BCEN frames the CFRN as flight and inter-facility transport care, while the CTRN is built specifically for critical care ground transport. If your practice is primarily rotor-wing or fixed-wing, the CFRN aligns; if you work ground critical care transport, the CTRN is the credential designed for that setting.
What content does the CTRN exam cover?
Expect content across patient assessment and monitoring, airway/ventilation/oxygenation, hemodynamics and shock, trauma and environmental emergencies, medical and neurologic emergencies, transport safety/equipment/operations, and professional practice, communication, and documentation. Always study against BCEN's current published content outline, since domain weighting is set by BCEN and can be revised between exam versions.
How do I apply to take the exam?
The exam application is available only online through your BCEN account. BCEN provides step-by-step instructions for submitting an exam application, and Candidate Experience Specialists are reachable at +1-877-302-BCEN (2236) or by email if you have questions about eligibility, vouchers, or scheduling.
Can I use a voucher to pay for the exam?
Yes. BCEN states that if you received a complimentary certification voucher from its voucher program, it will include a voucher number that you enter during checkout at the end of your certification or recertification application, and it will cover the cost of the exam fee.
What is the best way to prepare?
Start with BCEN's content outline and reference list, then use sample questions to identify weak domains. BCEN states its practice exams mirror the format and content of the actual CTRN exam, and it also offers study guides, games, and CE resources designed for transport nursing. Take a full practice exam timed before scheduling.
How many questions are on the exam and how long do I have?
BCEN's public CTRN pages do not state an item count or time limit; those operational details are governed by the current Candidate Handbook and the exam's administration pages. Confirm the current format there before you build a pacing plan, rather than relying on figures from older study guides.
What if I do not pass on the first attempt?
Retake terms are set by BCEN policy and are not detailed on its public CTRN marketing page. Check the Candidate Handbook and the exam policies pages for the current retake waiting period, application steps, and any additional fee before you reapply or reschedule.
Is the CTRN credential accredited?
Yes. BCEN states that the CEN®, CFRN®, CPEN®, CTRN®, TCRN®, and CBRN® certification programs are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC) and are Magnet-accepted, which matters for employers and for credential verification.