How to get med-surg certified: CMSRN application and cost
Facts checked against msncb.orgLast checked Nov 4, 2026
Getting med-surg certified means earning the CMSRN. You confirm your hours, apply and pay in MSNCB's Certification Portal, receive an Authorization to Test, then book a Pearson VUE seat, in a center or by OnVUE at home, within 90 days. The list price is $394, less for AMSN members.
On this page
Six steps to the CMSRN
- Check your eligibility (RN + 2,000 med-surg hours); settings that do not count are listed under who qualifies.
- Gather the paperwork: your license, a three-year work history and a supervisor who can confirm it.
- Apply in the board's Certification Portal and pay.
- Get your Authorization to Test (ATT). Its arrival opens the testing window (90 days).
- Choose where to sit it: at a Pearson VUE site or through OnVUE from home.
- Sit the exam. The verdict shows on screen; the full report appears later in your candidate profile.
Leave slack before your target date; minimum lead time and the audit rate are in the table below.
MSNCB fees and scheduling terms
| Fact | CMSRN | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Exam fee | $394 for non-membersIncludes a non-refundable $90 processing fee.MSNCB CMSRN Certification Handbook, last…, Nov 2026 | MSNCB CMSRN Certification Handbook, last…, Nov 2026 |
| Member and bundle prices | $267 for AMSN members; CertAssure prepaid retake add-on $100 member / $200 non-memberFailSafe (participating employers) gives two attempts in 12 months for the price of one; a CMSRN grant covers the full fee for AMSN members of 1+ year.MSNCB CMSRN Certification Handbook, last…, Nov 2026 | MSNCB CMSRN Certification Handbook, last…, Nov 2026 |
| Other fees | $90 processing fee (in the exam fee); $90 window extensionMSNCB CMSRN Certification Handbook, last…, Nov 2026 | MSNCB CMSRN Certification Handbook, last…, Nov 2026 |
| Retake fee | $315 for non-members, $189 for AMSN membersMSNCB CMSRN Certification Handbook, last…, Nov 2026 | MSNCB CMSRN Certification Handbook, last…, Nov 2026 |
| Renewal fee | $325 by contact hours for non-members ($225 AMSN members); by exam $394 / $267MSNCB CMSRN Recertification Handbook,…, Nov 2026 | MSNCB CMSRN Recertification Handbook,…, Nov 2026 |
| How to book | Apply in MSNCB's Certification Portal with your license, three-year work history and supervisor, pay, receive the Authorization to Test, then book with Pearson VUEBook at least 3 days ahead; 2 weeks is recommended. About 5% of applications are randomly audited.MSNCB CMSRN Certification Handbook, last…, Nov 2026 | MSNCB CMSRN Certification Handbook, last…, Nov 2026 |
| Window to test | 90 days from the Authorization to TestA one-time $90 extension adds 90 days; request it within 10 days after the window expires or after a missed exam.MSNCB CMSRN Certification Handbook, last…, Nov 2026 | MSNCB CMSRN Certification Handbook, last…, Nov 2026 |
| Rescheduling | Test-center appointments until 48 hours before; OnVUE until the exam timeMSNCB CMSRN Certification Handbook, last…, Nov 2026 | MSNCB CMSRN Certification Handbook, last…, Nov 2026 |
| Where you test | Pearson VUE test center, year-round except holidays, or OnVUE online proctoringOlder pages that mention Prometric, PSI or twice-yearly paper testing are out of date.MSNCB CMSRN Certification Handbook, last…, Nov 2026 | MSNCB CMSRN Certification Handbook, last…, Nov 2026 |
| Test provider | Pearson VUE (exam developed with Data Recognition Corporation)MSNCB CMSRN Certification Handbook, last…, Nov 2026 | MSNCB CMSRN Certification Handbook, last…, Nov 2026 |
All facts: msncb.org, checked Nov 4, 2026. US dollars. Prices move; check MSNCB's current fee list before paying.
CMSRN fees in dollars
- Exam: $394 at list price, with the processing fee built in; AMSN members pay $267.
- CertAssure: an add-on that prepays a retake, cheaper for members.
- FailSafe: at participating employers, a second attempt comes without a second exam fee.
- Extension: a one-time paid extension if you cannot test inside the window.
Before paying yourself, ask whether your hospital takes part in FailSafe. AMSN membership pays for itself only if the discount is larger than the dues; check both on the day you apply.
Pearson VUE center or OnVUE
Pearson VUE runs the exam year-round at test centers and online through OnVUE. Pages that still mention Prometric, PSI or paper testing describe an older arrangement.
Changing the appointment: center bookings close earlier than OnVUE ones; the cutoffs are in the table above.
Missing the window
If the window runs out, MSNCB offers a one-time paid extension, requested soon after the window ends or after a missed exam; the fee and cutoff are in the table above. Write down the closing date the day your Authorization to Test arrives.
Rest of the CMSRN guide
- CMSRNWhat the CMSRN is, the 2,000-hour rule, renewal and MEDSURG-BC
- CMSRN practice questionsFree CMSRN questions weighted like the blueprint, every option explained
- CMSRN exam factsFormat, scaled passing score, pass rates by year and retakes
- CMSRN study guideThe five blueprint domains with weights, traps and sample questions
Sources
- [1]MSNCB CMSRN Certification Handbook, last updated July 2026 (PDF) msncb.org. Checked Nov 4, 2026.
- [2]MSNCB: exam processes, scheduling and fees msncb.org. Checked Nov 4, 2026.
- [3]MSNCB CMSRN Recertification Handbook, January 2026 (PDF) msncb.org. Checked Nov 4, 2026.
- [4]MSNCB: CMSRN recertification msncb.org. Checked Nov 4, 2026.
Getting certified: quick answers
Can I get med-surg certified online?
You can sit the exam online through OnVUE. Eligibility still requires med-surg practice hours; there is no course-only route.
How much does the CMSRN cost?
$394 at list price; AMSN members pay $267.
Once MSNCB approves me, what is the deadline to test?
The window is 90 days from the Authorization to Test; booking lead times are in the six steps.