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CMSRN eligibility explorer

Check medical-surgical certification requirements against current MSNCB license and hour rules. This is not an official eligibility decision.

MSNCB · Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse · Inputs stay in your browser

Who CMSRN is for

Med-surg specialty certification for RNs

Use this if you practice medical-surgical nursing as a clinician, manager, or educator and want to compare your hours with the published 2,000-hour window.

MSNCB CMSRN pathway

Check your CMSRN eligibility

Compare RN licensure and medical-surgical hours in the past three years with selected MSNCB criteria. Two years of specialty practice is recommended, not required.

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Published requirements

Answer for your current situation. Do not include projected experience unless the question explicitly allows it.

Readiness overview

Your requirement checklist will appear here

Complete every field to compare your scenario with the issuer's selected published criteria. Inputs stay in your browser.

Employer-specific, not a national estimate

Calculate a confirmed certification premium

MSNCB does not publish a guaranteed CMSRN pay increase. Use only a differential your employer confirmed.

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Potential annual value

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Based only on the employer values you entered

Looking for medical-surgical RN jobs?

After you check CMSRN hours, browse med-surg openings that list specialty certification.

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Published requirements

CMSRN eligibility snapshot

  • License

    Current, unencumbered RN license in the United States, its territories, or Canada. International applicants have a separate verification path.

  • Hours

    2,000 medical-surgical practice hours in the past three years. Two years of specialty RN practice is recommended.

  • Exam & fees

    150 items (125 scored) over 3 hours. Initial exam $267 AMSN member / $394 standard.

  • Renewal

    Credential is active for 5 years. Confirm current recertification options in the MSNCB handbook.

Primary sources

Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board

MSNCB CMSRN Certification Handbook (August 2025 posting). Verified August 12, 2026. Next review November 12, 2026.

CMSRN certificationCMSRN handbook

Common questions

CMSRN FAQ

What is CMSRN certification?

CMSRN is the Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse credential from the Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board. It is a specialty certification, not a license.

What are the CMSRN eligibility requirements?

MSNCB requires a current, unencumbered RN license in the United States, its territories, or Canada, plus 2,000 hours of medical-surgical nursing practice in the past three years. Practice may be clinical, management, or education. Two years of medical-surgical RN practice is recommended, not required.

How much does the CMSRN exam cost?

The August 2025 MSNCB handbook lists $267 for AMSN members and $394 standard for the initial exam. First-time retake fees are $189 member / $315 standard. Fees can change.

How many questions are on the CMSRN exam?

The exam has 150 multiple-choice questions, including 125 scored and 25 unscored items, with three hours to complete it.

How often is CMSRN renewed?

The credential is active for five years. Recertification rules are published by MSNCB and should be confirmed in the current handbook.

Does this explorer determine official CMSRN eligibility?

No. It compares your entries with selected published MSNCB criteria. MSNCB makes final eligibility decisions and may audit applications.

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