1. Can ACLC, PALS, NALS, ENLS count towards my contact hours needed for the certification exam or for recertification? 

Yes, you can count them for general credits.  PALS, NALS, ENLS, TNCC and ACLS count for four (4) general credits each for certification or during a recertification period.

 2. What types of contact hours are accepted for certification or recertification?

 To be accepted, contact hours must be approved by one of the following:

• Any agency, organization, or educational institution accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center Commission on Accreditation (ANCC), the credentialing body of the American Nurses Association
• The state boards of nursing in those states where the state nurse’s association is not accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
• A program awarding Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits
• A program accredited or approved by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT), the Association of Vascular and Interventional Radiographers (AVIR), or the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS)
• A program approved by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)

3. Where can I find contact hours that are Radiology specific?

Contact hours in radiology may be accumulated through any of the categories of continuing education activities listed in the previous question provided the content is applicable to the practice of radiology nursing, for example sedation, vascular system, stroke, contrast, etc. Subject content that is listed on our exam blueprint is considered to be Radiology specific. Note that all credits issued by ARIN, ARIN Chapters, or ASRT are considered “Radiology” no matter the content.

4. How do I find out where the testing centers are located?

The Certified Radiology Nursing exam is administered by the Center for Nursing Education and Testing (C-NET) organization. Please visit https://www.cnetnurse.com/and click on their test sites link to display test sites near you or contact C-NET directly. The computer testing partner for C-NET is PSI.

5. What if I find out at the last minute that I cannot sit for the exam?

If you are unable to sit for the exam, you must notify the RNCB office in writing. The National Office will provide you with the current policy regarding withdrawal from the exam.

6. Do I have to submit evidence required contact hours to take the certification exam?

Documentation of continuing education must be retained by the applicant and submitted upon request. Documentation may include a copy of a contact hour certificate indicating approval of the educational activity, a transcript from an academic institution, or a letter on official letterhead from the provider or sponsor of the continuing education activity. It is the applicant’s responsibility to obtain certificates, transcripts, and other documentation. RNCB reserves the right to verify participation in continuing education activities. Please note that RNCB is required to audit 10% of applications each year; you could be asked to provide documentation any time during your certification period.

7. What kind of test is the certification examination?

The examination is a multiple-choice computer-based test.

8.  How long is the examination?

Three hours are allotted for the examination.

9.  How can I prepare for the exam?

• The first step in preparing for the examination should be a review of the Radiology Nursing Certification Examination Test Specifications (Blueprint) and Activity Statements document which can be found in the resources tab on our website certifiedradiologynurse.org. If you are not familiar with some of the content components, you may decide that an in-depth review of that content is necessary.
• 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 practice-based. Our principle resource is the Core Curriculum.
• Some suggested steps to begin your review include:
• Obtain a resource such as the ARIN Core Curriculum, ARIN CRN Prep Study Guide or Scope and Standards of Practice
• Plan a course of self-study to strengthen your areas of relative weakness
• Contact colleagues whom you know will be taking the examination and plan to study together
• Seek input from various sources, such as faculty members, certified nurses, mentors, and others
• Take a review course available through the Association for Radiologic and Imaging Nursing (ARIN) 
• Review Radiology Nursing practice guidelines and position statements

10.  How soon will I be contacted after submitting my application?

Please allow 24 hours for acknowledgment of receipt of your online application. You will receive an automated response that your application was received. You will receive an email once your application has been approved, typically this is within 10 days. If you have not heard from us within the time frame expected please contact us via the ‘Contact us’ link seen as you scroll down our main website page.

11.  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 exam.

12.  Is it a requirement to be a member of ARIN in order to take the CRN exam?

It is not a requirement to be a member of any organization in order to take the CRN exam, however you do receive a discounted exam fee if you are an ARIN member. ARIN is the National Association for Radiology and Imaging Nurses, and RNCB is the independent credentialing body that grants certification in this nursing specialty. Although ARIN and the RNCB have different governing bodies, they work closely together to support Radiology & Imaging nurses.

13.  Do college credits count towards contact hours needed for Certification or Re-certification?