What is the CNOR Passing Score?

You must achieve a scaled score of 620 on a 200 to 800 scale to pass the exam. This number is not a simple percentage of correct answers, but a converted score issued by the Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI) that accounts for test difficulty.

How many questions are scored on the test?

You will answer 200 multiple-choice questions in total, but only 185 are scored. The remaining 15 are unscored pretest items.

What is the difference between a raw score and a scaled score?

Your raw score is the exact number of questions you answer correctly out of 185. The testing board converts this raw number into a scaled score between 200 and 800.

What percentage do I need to pass?

There is no fixed percentage. Because each test form varies slightly in difficulty, the exact number of correct answers needed to reach the 620 passing mark fluctuates. For specific raw score conversion tables, check the Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI) official handbook.

Which test domains have the most questions?

Intraoperative Patient Care & Safety makes up 25% of the test. Infection Prevention & Control follows at 16%, and Pre/Postoperative Assessment & Diagnosis accounts for 15%.

What are the weights for the remaining domains?

Communication & Documentation is 11%, Emergency Situations is 10%, Intraoperative Personnel/Services/Materials is 9%, Plan of Care Development is 8%, and Professional Accountability is 6%.

How much time do I have to complete the test?

You have 3 hours and 45 minutes to finish all 200 questions.

Where do I take the test?

You can test in person at a testing center or via a remote proctor. For specific technical requirements regarding remote testing, consult the Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI) handbook.

What are the eligibility requirements to take the test?

You need a current, unrestricted RN license. You must also have 2 years and 2,400 hours of perioperative nursing experience, with at least 1,200 hours in the intraoperative setting within the past 5 years.

What happens after I pass and need to recertify?

You must recertify every 5 years by re-examination, earning 300 professional-activity points, or completing 125 contact hours (at least 75 must be perioperative). Starting January 1, 2026, per-category point limits are removed.

How can I prepare for the scoring format?

Practice pacing yourself through full-length sessions. We offer a bank of 2217 practice questions to help you build stamina for the testing window.