The Retake Rules
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Attempts allowed | Up to 4 exams in a rolling 12-month period |
| Retest fee | $185 (AACN member) / $290 (non-member) |
| Waiting period | You re-apply and schedule a new 90-day testing window |
| Eligibility | Your clinical hours still need to meet requirements at re-application |
First: failing is common and recoverable. Roughly 28% of first-time candidates don't pass — and the discounted retest fee exists precisely because AACN expects and supports second attempts.
Read Your Score Report Like a Chart
Your result letter breaks down performance by content area. Treat it like an assessment: your lowest two or three areas are your diagnosis. Most nurses who fail were strong in cardiovascular and respiratory but lost the exam in endocrine, hematology/immunology, GI, behavioral/psychosocial, or the Professional Caring & Ethical Practice questions.
The Second-Attempt Playbook
- Wait 2–4 weeks before rebooking. Book the retake 6–8 weeks out — enough time to fix weaknesses, not so long that you lose momentum.
- Spend 70% of study time on your two weakest systems. You already proved competence in your strong areas; points hide in the gaps.
- Drill rationales, not just answers. For every practice question you miss, be able to say why the right answer wins and why each distractor fails.
- Do two full 150-question timed simulations. Stamina and pacing failures sink retakes as often as knowledge gaps do.
- Don't skip the Synergy Model. Professional Caring & Ethical Practice is 20% of the exam — the fastest 20% to improve if you neglected it the first time.
Zero Deficit tip: our question bank tracks your accuracy per body system, so your dashboard shows exactly where your retake points are hiding — the same weak-area analysis your score report gave you, but updated daily.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times can you take the CCRN exam?
Up to 4 times in a rolling 12-month period. Each retake requires re-applying and paying the discounted retest fee.
How much does it cost to retake the CCRN?
The retest fee is $185 for AACN members and $290 for non-members — noticeably less than the initial exam fee.
How soon can I retake the CCRN after failing?
You can re-apply right away; you'll receive a new 90-day testing window. Most successful repeaters schedule the retake 6-8 weeks out to fix their weakest content areas first.
Will anyone know I failed the CCRN?
No. Results are confidential — employers only learn what you choose to share, and passing later shows up exactly the same as passing the first time.
Related Guides
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