Did you know? Over 1,300 critical care nurses across Canada have their national Canadian Nurses Association specialty designation! Care to Be the Best!
CACCN supports and encourages Canadian Nurses Association Certification – the nationally recognized credential for registered nurses. Becoming certified in your specialty demonstrates your commitment to nursing excellence and continuing competence. Successful completion of the examination enables critical care nurses to hold the credential of Certified Nurse in Critical Care – Canada (CNCC-C) or Certified Nurse in Critical Care – Pediatrics (CNCCP-C) for a period of 5 years.
Funding Opportunities
- If you wrote the exam or renewed in 2024 – Bursary applications close on March 31, 2025 @ 1600 hrs ET. See the CACCN awards, grants and bursaries page for more information and the online application
- CACCN Certification Bursary! The CACCN provides a total of $2,000 annually for certification bursaries. Bursaries are completed by application and a blind draw of members who meet the overall award criteria and the bursary criteria.
- Other Financial Resources
CACCN Certification Resources – Members Only
- Access the Certification Resources – To access the certification resources, you must be an active/current CACCN Member. Sign into the website, select Members Only in the navigation bar / side, select Certification Study Resources and Certification Webinars or click the above noted links. Not a current member? JOINUS now
- Webinars
- Study Guide
- Certification Study Guide – The guide is prepared using case study style questions. The guide includes questions and answers to enhance your studies for the examination.
Canadian Nurses Association – Important Information and Dates
This information is provided from the CNA’s website for information purposes only
| Examination or Renewal | Application Period | Examination Window |
| 2025 Spring Initial Exam Eligibility, blueprints and more: CNA Website | January 15 to March 31 | May 1 to 15 |
| 2025 Fall Initial Exam Eligibility, blueprints and more: CNA Website | June 16 to September 30 | November 1 to 15 |
| 2025 Renewal by CL Hours CNA Website | January 15 to December 15 | Apply anytime |
Earn Continuing Learning Hours (CL) through CACCN
| Maintain your CACCN Membership: 4 CL hours per year |
| Join a CACCN Committee: 25 CL hours maximum: Committee activity related to your certification nursing specialty/area of nursing practice (i.e. includes serving on the planning committee for a specialty conference or on the executive of the association for your area of nursing practice). |
| Presentations, lectures and posters: – credits for presentations you make to other health professionals on topics related to your area of certification. Prep time is included: Calculate preparation time by doubling the presentation time (e.g., 1 hour presentation plus 2 hours preparation = 3 CL hours) |
| Oral or poster presentation to a provincial or national conference: 10 CL hours maximum for presentation and preparation |
| Volunteering: 15 CL hours maximum – related to your nursing specialty (e.g., with a not-for-profit organization or charity, serving as a board member or delivering presentations to clients and/or consumers.). |
| Over the five-year certification term for completing learning activities related to meeting your jurisdictional regulatory standards.† (see more at specialty certification CNA): 15 CL hours maximum |