To pass the CCRN (Adult) exam you need to answer 83 of the 125 scored questions correctly. That works out to about 66%, but the cut is set as a number of questions, not as a percentage or a scaled score. This page explains where that number comes from, how the unscored questions work, what your score report shows and how often candidates pass.

This page is independent practice information, not official AACN material. The cut score can change, so check AACN’s exam statistics page before you test.

The passing score at a glance

Item	Details
Passing score	83 of 125 scored questions
As a percentage	About 66.4%
Total questions	150: 125 scored and 25 unscored
Effective date	November 12, 2025, with the current Adult test plan
Per-area minimums	None; only your total counts
Result	Pass or fail on screen when you finish

How AACN sets the cut score

AACN uses a modified Angoff method with its testing vendor’s psychometricians. A panel of practicing critical care nurses reviews each question and estimates how a minimally competent candidate would do on it. Those judgments are combined into the number of correct answers a candidate needs to pass.

AACN notes that the passing score may change over time, for example when a new test plan starts or exam forms are re-equated. The Adult cut was also 83 of 125 under the 2020 test plan, and it stayed at 83 when the new plan began on November 12, 2025. You may see other numbers on older pages; AACN’s own statistics page is the one to trust.

The 25 unscored questions

Every exam includes 25 pretest questions that AACN is trying out for future exams. They look exactly like the scored ones and are mixed in, so you can’t tell which they are. They don’t count toward your 83. Treat every question as if it counts.

What your score report shows

You see pass or fail on screen as soon as you finish. A detailed score report follows by email, which AACN says arrives within 24 to 48 hours. It shows how many questions you answered correctly in each content area.

There is no minimum score for each area. AACN points out that you could do very well in some areas and still not pass, because only the total matters. If you don’t pass, the area breakdown is the best guide to what to study next.

How many people pass

Year	First-time pass rate, CCRN (Adult)
2025	72.02% (17,151 tested)
2024	72.74%
2023	81.20%
2022	81.36%
2021	71.5%
2020	78.5%

Roughly a quarter of first-time candidates did not pass in 2024 and 2025. For comparison, the 2025 first-time pass rate was 70.10% for the PCCN, 68.72% for the CCRN (Pediatric) and 60.29% for the CCRN (Neonatal).

What 83 of 125 means for your practice

• Aim above the line. If you are scoring right around 83 of 125 on practice exams, you have no margin for a hard form or a tired afternoon. Aim to be comfortably above it before test day.
• Answer everything. There is no penalty for guessing, so a blank answer is a guaranteed miss.
• Don’t write off an area. A fifth of the exam is Professional Caring and Ethical Practice; giving away most of those 25 questions makes 83 very hard to reach.
• Use the time. Three hours for 150 questions is about 72 seconds a question, with time left to review flagged items.

Our full practice exams use the same 125 scored questions and the same 83 to pass, and each area practice exam marks a pass at about two thirds. Start from the home page.

If you don’t pass

You can take the same exam up to 4 times in a rolling 12-month period, with no required wait between attempts. Each retake is a new application at the retest fee: \(185 for AACN members and \)290 for nonmembers.

For the format, fees, eligibility and a study plan, see the CCRN exam guide. To start practicing by area, try the cardiovascular questions or the professional caring and ethics questions.