Introduction

Failing the CCRN exam can feel discouraging, but it’s far more common than most nurses realize — and it’s absolutely not the end of your certification journey. Every year, thousands of nurses retake the CCRN exam and pass it on their second attempt, third attempt, or even fourth attempt.

AACN (the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses) has clear retake policies designed to give you multiple opportunities to succeed without penalty to your career. The CCRN exam is meant to validate clinical excellence, not prevent you from advancing professionally.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• How many times you can retake the CCRN
• The retake waiting period
• How much retakes cost
• What your score report means
• How to analyze your weak areas
• How to rebuild your study plan after failing
• Why many nurses pass after failing the first time
• Common mistakes to avoid during retakes
• How to know when you're ready to test again

By the end, you will feel empowered, informed, and prepared to move forward again — with clarity and confidence.

👉 Take a breath and move through this at your own pace. Dive into our Complete CCRN Study Guide — created to help you master every major domain of critical care nursing, from hemodynamics and advanced cardiac concepts to respiratory care, neuro, endocrine, renal, multisystem, and professional caring practices. Inside, you’ll find organized lessons, easy-to-understand explanations, test-style examples, and clear rationales that make even the toughest topics feel manageable. You’re putting in the work, you’re strengthening your clinical judgment, and every page you complete brings you closer to the CCRN nurse you’re becoming. Keep going. You’ve got this.

1. How Many Times Can You Retake the CCRN Exam?

AACN allows you to retake the CCRN exam as many times as you need.

✔ There is no lifetime limit.

✔ You can test multiple times per year.

As long as you remain eligible (meet the clinical hour requirements), AACN does not restrict the number of times you can attempt the CCRN.

This policy reflects AACN’s belief that:

• Certification should be accessible
• Competency can be developed over time
• Many excellent ICU nurses may need more than one attempt
• Test anxiety or unfamiliarity can affect performance

There is absolutely no shame in retaking the CCRN — it’s extremely common and often part of the learning journey.

2. How Long Do You Have to Wait Between CCRN Attempts?

You must wait 90 days between exam attempts.

This gives you time to:

• Study effectively
• Address weak areas
• Rebuild confidence
• Practice more questions
• Create a strategic study plan

AACN’s 90-day policy ensures that you are not rushing into another attempt without proper preparation.

3. How Much Does It Cost to Retake the CCRN Exam?

The retake fees are lower than the initial exam fees.

✔ AACN Member Retake Fee: $170

✔ Nonmember Retake Fee: $275

Most nurses choose to become AACN members before retesting because:

• Membership costs less than the nonmember retake fee difference
• Members receive discounts on study materials
• Members get access to free CEU resources

Joining AACN before a retake is financially beneficial.

4. What Happens When You Fail the CCRN Exam?

If you do not pass:

✔ You get an immediate result screen

✔ You receive a detailed printed score report

✔ Your 90-day wait time begins

✔ You remain eligible as long as your ICU hours remain valid

You're not starting over — you’re simply taking the next step.

The key is understanding your score report.

5. Understanding Your CCRN Score Report

Your score report includes:

A. Scaled Score

The passing score is 87.

If your score was:

• 85–86 → You were close
• 80–84 → You’re within reach
• Below 80 → You need more focused foundation review

B. Domain-Level Performance

This is the most valuable part.

Your report will show:

• Strong areas
• Weak areas
• Specific system competencies needing improvement

This becomes your personalized study plan.

6. Common Reasons Nurses Fail the CCRN Exam

Failing the CCRN does not mean you’re a bad nurse. Most nurses struggle because the CCRN tests clinical thinking, not memorization.

Here are the top causes:

✔ 1. Not studying according to the AACN blueprint

Studying random topics leads to wasted time.

✔ 2. Weakness in hemodynamics

This is the most common failure point.

✔ 3. Poor ventilator management knowledge

Ventilator questions are heavily weighted.

✔ 4. Not understanding the Synergy Model

20% of your score is outside “clinical” topics.

✔ 5. Not doing enough practice questions

The CCRN question style is very specific.

✔ 6. Test anxiety and rushing

Many ICU nurses underestimate how exhausting 3 hours can be.

7. How to Build a Powerful CCRN Retake Strategy

A smart retake strategy includes reflection + structure + practice. Here's how to rebuild effectively:

Step 1: Analyze the Score Report Thoroughly

Highlight:

• Lowest scoring domains
• Unexpected weaknesses
• Areas where you guessed
• Topics that felt confusing during the exam

Use this as your roadmap.

Step 2: Focus on the Biggest-Weight Domains First

Because these control your final score:

✔ Cardiovascular (30%)

✔ Multisystem (25%)

✔ Pulmonary (18%)

Mastering these alone can push your score above the passing threshold.

Step 3: Rebuild Your Study Plan Using an 8-Week Cycle

Weeks 1–2

Cardiovascular review + hemodynamics
Daily case scenarios

Weeks 3–4

Pulmonary review + ventilators
Respiratory failure scenarios

Weeks 5–6

Multisystem (shock, sepsis, MODS)
Neuro & endocrine deep dive

Weeks 7–8

Full-length practice tests
 Targeted remediation of weak points

Step 4: Use High-Quality Practice Questions Daily

Aim for:

✔ 30–40 questions per day

✔ 150–200 questions per week

More is not better — quality matters.

Practice must include:

• Hemodynamic interpretation
• Ventilator settings
• Shock differentiation
• Ethical scenarios
• ECG & arrhythmia interpretation

Step 5: Learn From Every Missed Question

For every missed item:

Ask:

• Why was the right answer better?
• What clue did I miss?
• What misunderstanding do I need to fix?

This is where real improvement happens.

Step 6: Simulate Real Exam Conditions

At least two full-length timed practice exams should be done before your next attempt.

This helps with:

• Endurance
• Pacing
• Anxiety control
• Mental stamina
• Decision-making
• Test-day familiarity

8. Should You Retake the CCRN Immediately After 90 Days?

It depends.

Retake ASAP if:

• Your score was close (85–86)
• You only need targeted review
• You remember most content well
• You feel confident and fresh

Wait a bit longer if:

• You scored below 80
• You need stronger foundation knowledge
• ICU experience is still developing
• Test anxiety was severe
• Life/work stress is high

Your next attempt should feel like a confident step forward — not a panic reaction.

9. How Many Nurses Pass the CCRN on a Retake?

AACN does not publish exact retake pass rates, but educators consistently report:

✔ A significant portion of nurses pass on their second attempt

✔ The majority of motivated nurses pass within two attempts

Why?

Because failing once highlights blind spots that become strengths later.

Retakers are often:

• More focused
• More strategic
• Better prepared
• More familiar with the exam format
• Stronger clinically after months of extra review

Failing once often leads to long-term success.

👉 Take a breath and move through this at your own pace. Dive into our Complete CCRN Study Guide — created to help you master every major domain of critical care nursing, from hemodynamics and advanced cardiac concepts to respiratory care, neuro, endocrine, renal, multisystem, and professional caring practices. Inside, you’ll find organized lessons, easy-to-understand explanations, test-style examples, and clear rationales that make even the toughest topics feel manageable. You’re putting in the work, you’re strengthening your clinical judgment, and every page you complete brings you closer to the CCRN nurse you’re becoming. Keep going. You’ve got this.

10. Final Thoughts

Failing the CCRN exam can be disappointing, but it is not final — and it is not uncommon. What matters is what you do next.

You now know:

• You can retake the CCRN as many times as needed
• You must wait 90 days between attempts
• Retake fees are lower
• Your score report is your best study guide
• Most failures are correctable skill gaps
• With the right strategy, you can absolutely pass

Your CCRN journey didn’t end with failure — it simply entered a new phase. You are learning, strengthening your clinical judgment, and preparing yourself for success.

You’re not starting over.
You're starting smarter.

You've got this.