CEN® – Certified Emergency Nurse )
About CEN Exam
The CEN® exam is administered by the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN®). It is a specialized certification for registered nurses committed to providing expert care in emergency settings. Achieving this credential demonstrates advanced knowledge and skills in managing acute, critical, and life-threatening conditions. The CEN® certification validates a nurse’s proficiency in rapid assessment, stabilization, and treatment of patients across diverse emergencies. It also highlights a dedication to excellence in emergency nursing practice and reinforces a commitment to delivering safe, high-quality, and timely care in fast-paced, high-pressure environments.
To qualify for a CEN® certification exam, candidates must have a current, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license in the U.S., U.S. territories, Canada, or Australia, or an equivalent credential evaluated through CEN’s internal process for international nurses. While not mandatory, two years of experience in emergency nursing is recommended to ensure preparedness for the exam.
CEN – Eligibility Requirements
PMH-BC Exam Content & Focus Areas
The CEN® exam consists of 175 total items, including 150 scored questions and 25 unscored pretest items.
The 150 scored questions cover a broad range of emergency nursing topics organized into 10 key domains:
Cardiovascular Emergencies – 19 questions
Respiratory Emergencies – 18 questions
Neurological Emergencies – 18 questions
Gastrointestinal, Genitourinary, Gynecological & Obstetrical Emergencies – 15 questions
Mental Health Emergencies – 11 questions
Medical Emergencies – 14 questions
Musculoskeletal & Wound Emergencies – 13 questions
Maxillofacial & Ocular Emergencies – 11 questions
Environmental, Toxicology & Communicable Disease Emergencies – 14 questions
Professional Issues – 14 questions
|
Content Category
|
Percentage
|
|---|---|
|
Cardiovascular Emergencies
|
13%
|
|
Respiratory Emergencies
|
12%
|
|
Neurological Emergencies
|
12%
|
|
Gastrointestinal, Genitourinary, Gynecological and Obstetrical Emergencies
|
12%
|
|
Mental Health Emergencies
|
7%
|
|
Medical Emergencies
|
9%
|
|
Musculoskeletal and Wound Emergencies
|
9%
|
|
Maxillofacial and Ocular Emergencies
|
7%
|
|
Environmental and Toxicology Emergencies, and Communicable Diseases
|
9%
|
|
Professional Issues
|
9%
|
How to Apply for the CEN Exam?
Online Application: Visit the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN®) website to access the online application portal at bcen.org.
Application Submission: Complete the application by providing the necessary personal and professional information. After submission, your eligibility will be reviewed by BCEN®.
Scheduling the Exam: Upon approval, you’ll receive instructions on how to schedule your exam at a PSI testing center or choose live remote proctoring, giving you the flexibility to select the option that best fits your schedule.
Preparation: TheCEN® Question Bank is expertly crafted to simplify your exam preparation by aligning precisely with the CEN® exam blueprint and maintaining the same level of rigor as the actual test. Regularly reviewed and updated to reflect changes in the exam blueprint and emergency nursing standards, the question bank ensures you are studying current and relevant content to excel on the exam.
The CEN® certification is valid for four years. To renew certification, candidates can choose between two options: Recertification by CE Attestation or Recertification by Exam. This ensures that certified nurses maintain their expertise and stay current in emergency nursing practice.
- Recertification by CE Attestation: Candidates must complete 100 contact hours of nursing continuing education within their current 4-year certification period. All hours must be completed before submitting the CE attestation application, and no additional hours can be accrued after submission. Eligibility requires a current CEN® certification, an active, unrestricted RN license, and completion of the required contact hours. A minimum of 75 hours must focus on clinical content, with the remaining 25 hours being non-clinical. Furthermore, at least 50 of the 100 contact hours must be obtained from accredited sources.
- Recertification by Exam: To recertify, candidates who do not meet the criteria above must schedule and take the CEN® exam again at a testing center or through live remote proctoring. Candidates must have a current CEN® certification and an active, unrestricted RN license. After receiving the exam eligibility email from BCEN’s test delivery provider, PSI Exams, candidates must schedule their exam within the 90-day testing window.
For the most up-to-date information on CEN® renewal and recertification requirements, visit the official BCEN® recertification page: BCEN Recertification.
CEN Recertification
The CEN® certification is valid for four years. To renew certification, candidates can choose between two options: Recertification by CE Attestation or Recertification by Exam. This ensures that certified nurses maintain their expertise and stay current in emergency nursing practice.
- Recertification by CE Attestation: Candidates must complete 100 contact hours of nursing continuing education within their current 4-year certification period. All hours must be completed before submitting the CE attestation application, and no additional hours can be accrued after submission. Eligibility requires a current CEN® certification, an active, unrestricted RN license, and completion of the required contact hours. A minimum of 75 hours must focus on clinical content, with the remaining 25 hours being non-clinical. Furthermore, at least 50 of the 100 contact hours must be obtained from accredited sources.
- Recertification by Exam: To recertify, candidates who do not meet the criteria above must schedule and take the CEN® exam again at a testing center or through live remote proctoring. Candidates must have a current CEN® certification and an active, unrestricted RN license. After receiving the exam eligibility email from BCEN’s test delivery provider, PSI Exams, candidates must schedule their exam within the 90-day testing window.
For the most up-to-date information on CEN® renewal and recertification requirements, visit the official BCEN® recertification page: BCEN Recertification.
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Helpful informationMost Frequently Asked Questions
The CEN® certification validates the expertise of emergency nurses, ensuring they possess the knowledge and skills required to provide high-quality care in emergency settings.
Yes, the CEN® exam can be taken via live remote proctoring, allowing candidates to complete the exam from home or another secure location..
The CEN® certification is offered by the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN®).
The CEN® exam uses generic names for all medications.
No, the CEN® exam does not adjust its difficulty level based on previous answers.
The official website for the CEN® certification, candidate handbooks, and other resources is BCEN.org.
The CEN® certification must be renewed every four years.
The average pass rate for the CEN® exam typically ranges between 53% and 68%, depending on the year.
The candidate handbook for the CEN® certification can be accessed here.
The CEN® exam is available year-round, allowing candidates to schedule their exam at a convenient time.
To renew the CEN® certification, candidates must earn 100 contact hours of continuing education (CE) within their four-year certification period. CEs must be relevant to emergency nursing and can be earned through various approved providers.
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