Nursing
AACN CCRN (Pediatric)Critical-Care Registered Nurse (Pediatric)
The AACN CCRN (Pediatric) certifies RNs and APRNs who provide direct care to acutely or critically ill pediatric patients in PICUs, pediatric CVICUs, and pediatric trauma units. Same exam architecture as Adult and Neonatal CCRN — 80% Clinical Judgment / 20% Professional Caring and Ethical Practice built on the AACN Synergy Model — with content scoped to pediatric physiology, developmental considerations, and family-centered care. Issued by the AACN Certification Corporation.
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Exam facts
Everything you need to know about the AACN CCRN (Pediatric) exam.
- Passing score
- 82 / 125 scored items
- Format & length
- 150 questions (125 scored + 25 pretest) · 3 hours
- Voucher cost
- $255 AACN members / $370 non-members
- Prerequisites
- Current US RN or APRN license + 1,750 hours of direct pediatric critical-care practice in the last 2 years (875 in the most recent year), OR 2,000 hours over 5 years (144 in the most recent year)
- Validity
- 3 years (renew by Synergy CERPs + practice hours, or retake the exam)
Exam facts sourced from the official AACN Certification Corporation certification page. Last reviewed June 2026.
What’s tested
Key topics on the AACN CCRN® (Pediatric) exam.
The Cert Climb question bank is mapped to every domain on the official AACN CCRN® (Pediatric) exam blueprint, so what you study is what the test asks.
- Cardiovascular
- Pulmonary
- Endocrine, Hematology, Gastrointestinal & Renal
- Neurological, Musculoskeletal, Integumentary & Psychosocial
- Multisystem
- Professional Caring & Ethical Practice
Who it’s for
Built for the people taking this exam.
PICU, pediatric CVICU, and pediatric trauma RNs who want population-specific recognition rather than the Adult CCRN. Common for nurses at freestanding children's hospitals where the patient mix is exclusively pediatric.
Why it matters in 2026
The career signal.
Pediatric CCRN is the standard ICU credential at children's hospitals, frequently tied to clinical ladders and Magnet staffing targets. The smaller candidate pool (~400/year) means strong, well-organized prep is harder to find than for Adult CCRN — a real edge for serious candidates.
Sample question
What a AACN CCRN (Pediatric) question looks like.
A 10-year-old child presents to clinic with fever, migratory joint pain, and a newly detected cardiac murmur. The parent states the child had a sore throat three weeks ago that was never evaluated or treated. Which preceding infection is MOST LIKELY responsible for this clinical picture?
See the answer & explanation
Correct: D. Untreated group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis
Why: Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) develops as an abnormal immune response following untreated or inadequately treated group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis. It predominantly affects children between 6 and 15 years of age and can involve the heart (carditis), joints (polyarthritis), skin, and central nervous system (Sydenham's chorea). The combination of fever, migratory joint pain, and a new murmur following a recent untreated sore throat is the hallmark presentation of ARF. Mycoplasma pneumoniae causes atypical pneumonia and is not implicated in ARF. Epstein-Barr virus produces pharyngitis and lymphadenopathy but does not trigger ARF. Influenza A causes respiratory illness but has no established connection to post-infectious rheumatic disease.
What you get
Everything you need to actually pass.
Full question bank
399 questions covering every objective on the official AACN CCRN® (Pediatric) exam blueprint, with detailed explanations on every option — right and wrong.
Quiz modes
Timed exam simulation, missed-only review, topic drills, and a daily question of the day. Practice the way you study best.
Flashcards
Spaced-repetition flashcards generated from each topic. Pull them up on a phone in the gap between meetings.
Progress tracking
See per-topic accuracy and answered counts. Find weak areas before they cost you on test day.
Per-category premium
Unlocking AACN CCRN® (Pediatric) unlocks every other Nursing exam in the Cert Climb catalog — pay once, stack credentials.
No-fluff explanations
Every wrong answer comes with a 2-3 sentence explanation of why it’s wrong, not just “the correct answer is X.” Pattern recognition is the whole game.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about AACN CCRN (Pediatric)
What is the AACN CCRN (Pediatric) exam?
The AACN CCRN (Pediatric) certifies RNs and APRNs who provide direct care to acutely or critically ill pediatric patients in PICUs, pediatric CVICUs, and pediatric trauma units. Same exam architecture as Adult and Neonatal CCRN — 80% Clinical Judgment / 20% Professional Caring and Ethical Practice built on the AACN Synergy Model — with content scoped to pediatric physiology, developmental considerations, and family-centered care.
How many questions are on the AACN CCRN (Pediatric) exam, and how long is it?
150 questions (125 scored + 25 pretest) · 3 hours
What is the passing score for the AACN CCRN (Pediatric) exam?
82 / 125 scored items
How much does the AACN CCRN (Pediatric) exam cost?
$255 AACN members / $370 non-members
Are there prerequisites for the AACN CCRN (Pediatric) exam?
Current US RN or APRN license + 1,750 hours of direct pediatric critical-care practice in the last 2 years (875 in the most recent year), OR 2,000 hours over 5 years (144 in the most recent year)
How long is the AACN CCRN (Pediatric) certification valid?
3 years (renew by Synergy CERPs + practice hours, or retake the exam)
How many questions does the AACN CCRN (Pediatric) bank have?
399 questions, organized into 6 subject areas mapped to the official exam objectives.
Is the free trial really free?
Yes. 30 questions, no credit card, no email-trap, no “activate by Friday or pay” spam. You either upgrade because the bank’s good, or you don’t.
What does premium cost?
Premium is sold per category and unlocks every Nursing exam in the Cert Climb catalog. Plans are 1-month, 3-month, or 12-month — see the upgrade modal for current pricing.
How current is the AACN CCRN® (Pediatric) content?
We track exam version updates and refresh the bank within weeks of new objectives. Where the version of an exam matters (e.g. CompTIA SY0-701 vs. SY0-601), question explanations call it out.
Can I cancel my subscription anytime?
Yes. Cancellation is one click from your profile. Your access continues through the end of the period you’ve already paid for.
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