Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse (CNRN)

CNRN Eligibility Requirements

1.The candidate must have current licensure as a registered nurse in the United States, Canada or in any of the U.S. Territories that grant licensure utilizing the U.S. State Board Test Pool Exam or National Council for Licensure Exam. Candidates from other countries will be considered if they meet a comparable licensure requirement and can read and understand the English Language.


2.The candidate must be a professional nurse engaged in Neuroscience Nursing clinical practice or as a consultant, researcher, administrator or educator who has completed and can provide documentation of at least two (2) years full-time (4,160 hours) of direct or indirect Neuroscience Nursing practice as a registered nurse in the last five (5) years at the time of application.

• Direct neuroscience nursing practice is defined as involvement in the nursing process in a clinical setting where the nursing actions and judgments are focused on a particular individual, family or group of individuals where there is continuing professional responsibility and accountability for the outcomes of these actions.
• Indirect neuroscience nursing practice is defined as involvement that includes time spent in clinical supervision of students and/or staff, research or consultation.

3.The candidate must complete the CNRN certification application and submit two copies of it with their appropriate fee, all of which must be received by the ABNN Office prior to the application deadline.


4. The ABNN does not discriminate against candidates for certification on the basis of race, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation or disability.



2009 CNRN Exam Candidate Handbook and Application