OVERVIEW
CNOR Exam Overview
3hr.45min.
To complete the exam
200
Multiple choice questions
Computer-based EXAM
Results are pass or no pass
Subject Areas
ELIGIBILITY
Check Your CNOR Exam Eligibility
*If you have earned your CFPN®, CST, TS-C, or hold the military equivalent, a minimum of 18 months and 2,400 hours of experience as a perioperative registered nurse is required.
You are required to have an unencumbered and active RN license in your country of practice. Your state board of nursing can advise of your license status.
If you are not currently working in perioperative nursing, talk to your employer or area facilities about operating room employment opportunities.
We recommend keeping a log of your perioperative hours and cases so you can apply once you meet the requirement.
Congratulations! Based on your responses, you are eligible to apply for CNOR certification.
Apply nowAPPLICATION PROCESS
CNOR Exam Application Process
01
02
03
04
Confirm your eligibility.
Determine when you would like to take the exam. Your testing window will begin the calendar month after your application is approved. Your exam may be taken at an in-person testing center or via remote proctor from the location of your choice.
You may submit your application online at any time by creating a CCI account or logging into your existing account.
Schedule your exam by clicking on the "PSI Exam Scheduling" button in your CCI account after your application is submitted. For additional testing center information, please refer to the CNOR Handbook
Month 1
Month 2
Month 3
Month 4
APPLY
TESTING WINDOW
TESTING WINDOW
TESTING WINDOW
Confirm your recertification eligibility.
Complete professional activities during your accrual period
Submit recertification application and fee
Begin next 5-year certification cycle
Certification Fees
CNOR Exam Fee
During the online application process, nurses can elect to register for a single exam take or benefit from the CNOR Take 2 program. The CNOR Take 2 program allows a CNOR-eligible nurse to take the exam twice in a 12-month period if the first attempt is unsuccessful. For more information on the Take 2 program, please see the CNOR Handbook.
CCI offers volume discounts for health systems seeking to certify multiple nurses. Download the CNOR Take 2 Facility Enrollment Forms to enroll.
Price Of
Exam
$445
CNOR TAKE 2 FOR
$495
2 Chances to
pass the exam
$445
CNOR Exam Single Take
$520
CNOR Exam Single Take + CNOR Exam Prep book
$495
CNOR Take 2
$570
CNOR Take 2 + CNOR Exam Prep book
Materials Questions are pulled from:
Guidelines for Perioperative Practice
AORN. (current edition). Guidelines for perioperative practice. AORN.
TEXT BOOK
Berry and Kohn’s Operating Room Technique
Phillips, N., & Hornacky, A. (Eds.). (2021). Berry and Kohn’s operating room technique (14th ed.). Elsevier.
TEXT BOOK
Drain’s Perianesthesia Nursing: A Critical Care Approach
Odom-Forren, J. (Ed.). (2024). Drain’s perianesthesia nursing: A critical care approach (8th ed.) Elsevier.
TEXT BOOK
These texts are the primary references for the CNOR exam. Download our CNOR Study Plan for reference material by subject area.
CCI periodically conducts test development activities to develop and maintain the CNOR® exam consistent with accreditation standards. A complete list of test development committees is presented in CNOR® task and knowledge statements.
GET PREPARED
CNOR Exam Resources
CNOR Certification Webinars
Learn more about exam subject areas and test-taking strategies.
CNOR Exam Study outline
Develop a personalized study plan with CCI’s free preparation tool.
CNOR
Handbook
The complete guide on the CNOR credential.
CNOR Practice Questions
Explore the format and structure of CNOR exam questions.
GET PREPARED
CNOR Exam Preparation
Exam Prep Product Disclaimer: As a certification organization, CCI’s role is developing and administering certification examinations. CCI does not require or endorse any specific study guides, review products, or training courses. Candidates may prepare for certification examinations with any educational materials they choose. The purchase of CCI review materials is not a requirement for testing, nor does the use of any review materials (CCI or otherwise) imply successful performance on the certification examinations. No study resources are prerequisites for the certification examinations.
CNOR On-
Demand
Prep Course
VISIT THE STORE
CNOR Online
Practice
Exam
VISIT THE STORE
Exam Application Process
CNOR Exam Prep Bundle
VISIT THE STORE
CNOR
Pocket Prep
App
GET THE APP
CNOR Exam Prep
VISIT THE STORE