- RNCB runs four annual CRN testing windows: January, April, July, and October.
- Applications close roughly one month before each window opens.
- A $45 non-refundable late fee applies for up to 14 days past the deadline.
- Each candidate gets a 30-day scheduling window inside the broader testing period.
2026 Testing Windows Overview
The Certified Radiology Nurse credential, officially the Certification Examination for Radiologic Nursing in Imaging, Interventional, and Therapeutic Environments, is offered four times per year by the Radiologic Nursing Certification Board (RNCB). Unlike some nursing certifications that run continuous testing year-round, the CRN exam is delivered through C-NET (Center for Nursing Education and Testing) at regional testing centers during four defined annual windows: January, April, July, and October.
Each window is not a single testing day - it's a period during which C-NET-affiliated testing centers administer the exam. Once your application is approved, you receive a 30-day scheduling window within that broader testing period to book your actual seat. That means "April window" doesn't mean everyone tests on April 1st; it means you have a defined 30-day stretch somewhere around April to sit for the computer-based test.
Application Deadlines and Late Fees
Applications for each testing window close approximately one month before the window opens. This lead time gives RNCB and C-NET time to process your eligibility documentation - including verification from two responsible practitioners in your specialty, one of whom must hold a supervisory position, confirming your radiology nursing practice hours.
If you miss the standard deadline, RNCB allows a grace period: applications submitted up to 14 days past the deadline are still accepted, but with a $45 non-refundable late fee added on top of your standard application fee. There is no extension beyond that 14-day window - miss it, and you're waiting for the next quarterly cycle.
Key Takeaway
Treat the application deadline as your real "exam date." Submit at least a week early so any missing documentation - like practitioner verification signatures - doesn't accidentally push you into late-fee territory or bump you to the next window entirely.
Fee Structure Tied to Deadlines
The standard application fee is $325 for ARIN (Association for Radiologic and Imaging Nursing) members and $425 for non-members. Note that RNCB, the certifying body, is a separate organization from ARIN, but ARIN membership gets you the discounted rate. For a full breakdown of every fee - application, late, and recertification - see the CRN Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown guide.
How Scheduling Actually Works
Once your application clears eligibility review, you'll receive authorization to schedule within your 30-day window. The exam itself is computer-based, closed book, with no calculators, reference materials, or electronic devices allowed at the testing center. You'll answer a maximum of 150 multiple-choice objective questions within a total testing time of 3 hours.
Because seats at C-NET-affiliated regional testing centers fill on a first-scheduled basis, candidates who wait until the final days of their 30-day window sometimes find limited slot availability, especially in metro areas with fewer testing locations. Booking early in your window - even if your actual test date lands near the end - secures your preferred location and time.
- Confirm your testing center location as soon as scheduling opens
- Choose a test date that leaves buffer time before your 4-year certification cycle deadline (if recertifying by exam)
- Print or save your confirmation and bring required identification
Timing Your Eligibility Requirements
Scheduling your exam date isn't just about picking a convenient month - it's about making sure your eligibility documentation lines up with RNCB's timing rules. Full requirements are detailed in the CRN Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify resource, but the key timing factors are:
- Active RN license: must be current and unencumbered at the time of application
- 2,000 hours of radiology nursing practice within the past 3 years - track this carefully if you've changed roles or reduced hours
- 30 contact hours of continuing education applicable to radiology nursing, completed within 24 months of your exam date, with at least 15 hours being radiology-nursing-specific
- Two practitioner verifications - one from a supervisor - confirming your practice hours
Choosing the Right Testing Window for You
With four windows a year, the question isn't just "when can I test" but "when should I test." A few practical considerations:
| Window | Application Closes (Approx.) | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| January | ~December | Nurses who completed CE hours in fall and want certification before annual review cycles |
| April | ~March | Candidates who used winter months for focused domain review |
| July | ~June | Nurses avoiding conflicts with peak seasonal staffing demands in January |
| October | ~September | Those wanting certification finalized before year-end performance evaluations |
There's no "easiest" window in terms of content - the exam blueprint doesn't change between administrations. But your personal schedule, unit staffing levels, and how much runway you need to hit the CE and practice-hour requirements should drive your choice more than any perceived seasonal advantage.
Building a Prep Timeline Around Your Window
Once you know your target window, reverse-engineer your study plan from the application deadline, not the test date. Because the exam draws from five weighted domains, and RNCB also layers in modality-based weighting, your study sequence should prioritize the highest-yield material first.
Domain 1: Assess Patient and Plan Care (25%)
Covers pre-procedure assessment, history-taking, risk stratification, and care planning specific to imaging and interventional settings.
- Contrast allergy and renal function screening protocols
- Pre-procedure sedation risk assessment
Domain 2: Administer, Monitor, and Evaluate Therapeutic Interventions (25%)
Focuses on moderate sedation administration, contrast media management, and monitoring during and after interventional and diagnostic procedures.
- Conscious sedation monitoring parameters
- Post-procedure recovery evaluation
Domain 4: Provide a Safe Environment/Manage Emergency Situations (25%)
Emphasizes radiation safety, emergency response in imaging suites, and crisis management during interventional cases.
- Contrast reaction protocols and emergency drug administration
- Radiation safety principles for staff and patients
Because Interventional Radiology alone carries a 35% modality weight - the single heaviest of any modality category - candidates should devote proportionally more review time to interventional procedures, sedation, and complication management than to any other clinical area. CT and MRI follow at 20% each, with Diagnostic Imaging/Fluoroscopy/Breast Health, Ultrasound/Vascular Ultrasound, and Nuclear Medicine/PET/Radiation Therapy each weighted at 15%.
Domain 2 & Interventional Modality Focus
- Review sedation, contrast administration, and monitoring protocols
- Study interventional radiology procedures in depth given the 35% modality weight
Domain 1 & Domain 4
- Practice assessment and care-planning scenarios
- Drill emergency response and radiation safety questions
Domain 3 & Domain 5
- Cover patient/family education and supportive environment content
- Review QA/CQI and professional practice topics
Full Review and Timed Practice
- Take full-length timed practice sessions mimicking the 3-hour, 150-question format
- Revisit weaker modality areas identified in earlier review
For a domain-by-domain breakdown with more granular content lists, see the CRN Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 5 Content Areas. If you want a structured week-by-week plan tied directly to passing on your first attempt, the CRN Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt goes deeper into resource selection and question drilling. And if you're still gauging overall difficulty before committing to a window, the How Hard Is the CRN Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 article breaks down what makes this exam challenging relative to other nursing certifications.
Day-of Test Center Logistics
On exam day, arrive at your C-NET-affiliated regional testing center with valid identification and any confirmation paperwork required. Remember: this is a closed-book exam. No reference materials, calculators, or electronic devices are permitted in the testing room. The full 3-hour session covers up to 150 multiple-choice questions, so pacing matters - roughly 70-75 seconds per question if you use the entire allotted time, though most candidates won't need every question to take that long.
Key Takeaway
Practice full-length, timed question sets before your actual date so the 3-hour format itself doesn't become an unexpected source of fatigue on test day.
Once you pass, your CRN credential is valid for 4 years. Maintenance requires either re-examination or accumulating 60 contact hours within the 4-year cycle (minimum 30 radiology-nursing-specific), plus maintaining an active RN license, 2,000 hours of radiology nursing practice within the past 4 years, and current practice averaging 8 hours per week. Recertification fees mirror initial application fees at $325 for members and $425 for non-members.
Understanding what a passing performance actually requires can help you decide how much runway to build before your chosen window - the CRN Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass article covers exactly what's expected on exam day, and the CRN Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows piece offers additional context on outcomes.
If you're weighing whether the time investment around these testing windows is worthwhile relative to career impact, the Is the CRN Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and CRN Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis articles are useful companion reads. Many candidates preparing for a specific window also use our full-length CRN practice tests to simulate the actual 150-question, 3-hour format before committing to a scheduling slot.
Frequently Asked Questions
RNCB offers the CRN exam four times annually - January, April, July, and October - through C-NET-affiliated regional testing centers.
You can still apply up to 14 days after the deadline by paying a $45 non-refundable late fee. Beyond that grace period, you'll need to apply for the next quarterly window.
Approved candidates receive a 30-day window during the testing period to schedule and sit for the exam at a C-NET-affiliated testing center.
Yes. Certification is valid for 4 years from your pass date, so the window you test in directly sets your recertification deadline for either re-examination or the 60-contact-hour maintenance path.
No. The CRN exam is closed book with no reference materials, calculators, or electronic devices permitted at any point during the 3-hour testing session.