Nursing
AACN PCCN®Progressive Care Certified Nurse
The AACN PCCN certifies RNs caring for acutely ill adult patients in progressive care, step-down, telemetry, intermediate care, and direct-observation units — patients who are moderately stable but at risk for life-threatening complications. Issued by the AACN Certification Corporation, the exam is built on the AACN Synergy Model and weighted 80% Clinical Judgment / 20% Professional Caring and Ethical Practice. The current test plan was released February 6, 2024.
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Exam facts
Everything you need to know about the AACN PCCN® exam.
- Passing score
- Criterion-referenced cut score on 100 scored items (set by AACN psychometricians)
- Format & length
- 125 questions (100 scored + 25 pretest) · 2.5 hours
- Voucher cost
- $200 AACN members / $305 non-members
- Prerequisites
- Current US RN or APRN license + 1,750 hours of direct care of acutely ill adult patients in the last 2 years (875 in the most recent year), OR 2,000 hours over 5 years
- Validity
- 3 years (renew by Synergy CERPs + practice hours, or retake the exam)
What’s tested
Key topics on the AACN PCCN® exam.
The Cert Climb question bank is mapped to every domain on the official AACN PCCN® exam blueprint, so what you study is what the test asks.
- Cardiovascular
- Pulmonary
- Endocrine
- Hematology & Immunology
- Gastrointestinal
- Renal
- Integumentary
- Musculoskeletal
- Neurological
- Behavioral & Psychosocial
- Multisystem
- Professional Caring & Ethical Practice
Who it’s for
Built for the people taking this exam.
Step-down, telemetry, intermediate-care, and direct-observation RNs whose patients are too sick for med-surg but not vented in the ICU. The right credential when CCRN's ICU-hours threshold doesn't fit your unit.
Why it matters in 2026
The career signal.
PCCN is the recognized progressive-care credential and is increasingly tied to clinical-ladder steps in hospitals that staff dedicated step-down units. It carries the AACN brand without requiring true ICU hours, making it the practical choice for the largest acute-care nursing population in the US.
What you get
Everything you need to actually pass.
Full question bank
650 questions covering every objective on the official AACN PCCN® 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 PCCN® 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.
Read while you study
AACN PCCN® articles & study guides
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about AACN PCCN®
How many questions does the AACN PCCN® bank have?
650 questions, organized into 12 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 PCCN® 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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