Frequently Asked QuestionsCertification eligibility requirements Initial certification is achieved by qualifying for eligibility to sit for the certification exam and achieving a passing score on the exam. At the time you apply to sit for the exam you must:
What is the schedule for the CRN® exam? Starting in 2020 the exam will be administered in January, April, July and October annually. There are options for institutions or other entities to request the administration of the CRN exam at other times; contact the RNCB office for more information on this. What will the certification exam cover specifically? The examination will cover topics specific to the nursing care of radiology patients, including:
How can I prepare for the exam? The first step in preparing for the examination should be a review of the test blueprint contained in the Guidelines for Certification/Re-certification handbook, download handbook from our website. While each test question is drawn from facts that could be substantiated by books or journals, bear in mind that the examination is intended to be
How many questions on the CRN® exam? There are 150 questions on the CRN® Exam; time allotted for the exam is 3 hours. What is the passing score for the CRN® exam? The score on the Radiology Nursing Certification Examination (CRN examination) is reported as a standard score which summarizes your performance on the entire test. The number of items that you answered correctly, which is your “raw score,” has been converted, or transformed, to a scaled score, which is referred to as a “standard score” in your report. The conversion is similar to converting a weight from pounds to kilograms. The points on the scales differ, although the weight is the same. The scale used for the CRN examination has a mean (average) score of 100, and a standard score of 95 is required to pass the exam. To reach the passing standard score of 95, you must answer about 73% of the questions in the total test correctly.
You will receive the score from you CRN Exam immediately upon finishing the exam. A report will be provided to you by the testing company. In addition, you will receive an official letter, wallet card, a certificate suitable for framing and a CRN pin from the RNCB National Office. This timing will vary depending on the time it takes the testing company to send RNCB the official list of those who passed the exam, and the number who passed. Preparation of the certificates, and mailing of the package could take up to 30 days after completion of the testing month. What will my credential be if I pass the radiology certification exam? You will receive the Certified Radiology Nurse (CRN®) credential if you pass the certification When you need to recertify? You must submit an application for recertification before the expiration date on the initial Applications for recertification received after the expiration date will not be considered. The filing deadline for those selecting the examination option is the same as for individuals taking the examination for the first time. RNCB will notify you in advance of the expiration date of the certification; however, it is your responsibility to maintain your certification by monitoring the dates it is valid and by submitting your application for re-certification by the stipulated deadline. How do I recertify? At the time you apply for recertification, you must:
* Eligibility requirements 2 and 3 may be met if you are engaged in direct patient care or direct clinical management, supervision, education, or direction of other persons to achieve or help achieve patient/client goals for the stated number of hours. NOTE: Two responsible practitioners in the specialty area, one in a supervisor position, must verify that you meet the practice requirements. You may choose to recertify by examination meeting the requirements of initial certification or by obtaining continuing education contact hours. 60 contact hours within a 4-year period are required to meet the contact hour requirement for recertification. A minimum of 30 of the 60 contact hours must be specifically related to radiology nursing. Contact hours in radiology nursing may be accumulated through any of the categories of continuing education activities provided the content is applicable to radiology nursing. |