CRRN - Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse

The Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN) credential is offered by the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN). The CRRN credential designates excellence and expert knowledge among nurses who care for patients with disabilities and chronic illnesses while helping them restore and maintain optimum levels of health. This certification serves to show a nurse’s dedication to their patients and staying up to date on best practices and is valued by employers in rehabilitation facilities everywhere.

The CRRN credential shows dedication and expertise for RNs who care for rehabilitation patients in a variety of settings. 

• Inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation facilities

• Skilled nursing facilities

• Sub-acute care units

• Community/home health agencies

• Government/VA facilities

This certification has been established for more than 30 years, and there are currently more than 13,000 nurses who hold the credential.

Costs

• Exam fee: $300 for ARN members and $460 for non-members

• Submitting application after deadline: $100 late fee

In order to be eligible to take the CRRN exam, applicants must first hold a current and unrestricted RN license. Then they must complete one of the following: 

• 2 years of RN experience in a rehabilitation setting within the last 5 years OR

• 1 year of RN experience in a rehabilitation setting and 1 year of advanced study in nursing (MSN or higher) in the last 5 years

Eligible applicants can submit verification of their relevant experience to the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN). Verification must be in the form of contact information from a direct supervisor in a rehabilitation setting and any colleague who can verify your experience. 

There are 2 month-long testing windows each year, one in June and one in December. Applications to test are due about 6 weeks prior to each testing window and must include verification of experience and application fees.

Candidates who are approved will receive an email link to schedule their exam. Study materials, an exam content outline, and practice exams are available on the ARN website, and applicants are strongly encouraged to review them before testing. Candidates will have 3 hours to complete 175 multiple-choice questions. Upon passing the exam, certification is valid for 5 years. 

Test Dates

June 1 - June 30, 2023

• Application deadline: April 15, 2023

• Late Deadline: May 1, 2023. Includes $100 late fee.

December 1 - December 31, 2023

• Application deadline: October 15, 2023

• Late Deadline: November 1, 2023. Includes $100 late fee.

After a period of 5 years from initial certification, all CRRNs must recertify either by retaking and passing the initial CRRN exam or providing proof of 60 relevant continuing education credits accrued during the time frame.

Renewal Fees

• Standard Deadline: $300 for members and $460 for non-members

• Final Deadline: $400 for members and $560 for non-members

The ARN offers resources for exam candidates, including:

• Candidate Handbook, that includes a content outline and samples questions.

• Practice Questions

• Review Module - reviews exam content and topics found on the exam. Cost: $23.95 for members, $35.95 for non-members

• Physical Flashcards Cost: $75 for members, $95 for non-members

• Online Flashcards Cost: $200 for members, $301 for non-members

• The Specialty Practice of Rehabilitation Nursing Cost: $196 for members, $249.95 for non-members

• Bundle - includes flashcards, review module and The Specialty Practice of Rehabilitation Nursing. Cost: $300 for members, $390 for non-members.

Having CRRN nurses on staff can be helpful for accreditation by companies such as CARF and JCAHO and designation by the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program. There is also current, and emerging evidence to support having CRRNs on staff improves patient outcomes significantly; specifically, a 6% increase in CRRNs on a given unit can decrease the average length of client stay by one full day. Nurses with the CRRN designation report feeling more confident in their abilities and experiencing fewer errors or adverse events.