The median pay for Critical Care Nurses is $97,550 a year ($46.90/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 5.6% through 2035, with about 180,800 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 29-1141
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Last updated October 15, 2026
At a glance
Critical Care Nurse in four numbers
- Median pay
- $97,550a year, or $46.90/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $69KTop 10% $137K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +5.6%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+5.6%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +5.6% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 180,8003,465,400 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20253.5M
- Projected 20353.7M
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 3.5M Projected 2035 3.7M - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Associate's35.7%
- Bachelor's50%
- Master's10.7%
- Post-master’s certificate3.6%
Highest education held by critical care nurses Segment Value Associate's 35.7% Bachelor's 50% Master's 10.7% Post-master’s certificate 3.6%
Also advertised as: Certified Critical Care Nurse, Critical Care Nurse Practitioner, Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN), ICU Critical Care NP (Intensive Care Unit Critical Care Nurse Practitioner), ICU Nurse (Intensive Care Unit Nurse), Intensive Care Unit Registered Nurse (ICU RN).
Pay
How much do critical care nurses make?
Critical Care Nurses earn a median of $97,550 a year ($46.90 an hour, or about $8,130 a month); the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $68,940 and the top 10% more than $137,470 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The best-paying state is California, with a median of $140,270. See Critical care nurse salary in California and every other state. By city, pay is highest around San Jose ($194,960 average): salary in every city.
Every critical care nurse in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$97,550
Middle half earn $80,330 to $112,350
- 10th
- $68,940
- 25th
- $80,330
- 75th
- $112,350
- 90th
- $137,470
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $68,940 |
| 25th | $80,330 |
| Median | $97,550 |
| 75th | $112,350 |
| 90th | $137,470 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $97,550
- Median hourly wage
- $46.90/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $101,420
- People employed
- 3,379,720
Versus all US occupations
At $97,550, Critical Care Nurses earn 91% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $46,570 a year.
Versus healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
Inside the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical group, where the middle occupation pays $102,760, this is 5% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $137,470 or more while the bottom 10% earn $68,940, a gap of 2.0×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 70% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
California pays the most at $140,270, and still leads at $126,689 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay critical care nurses the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1California | $140,270 | $126,689 | 338,940 |
| 2Hawaii | $136,320 | $123,983 | 12,940 |
| 3Oregon | $129,010 | $124,815 | 39,730 |
| 4Washington | $124,200 | $116,061 | 69,260 |
| 5Alaska | $109,480 | $106,957 | 7,510 |
| 6New York | $109,440 | $101,408 | 205,810 |
| 7New Jersey | $106,500 | $97,882 | 92,680 |
| 8Massachusetts | $104,550 | $98,859 | 88,200 |
| 9Nevada | $103,670 | $103,692 | 27,070 |
| 10Connecticut | $102,740 | $99,160 | 40,110 |
Job outlook
Is critical care nurse a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +5.6% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Care Nurses | +5.6% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Critical Care Nurses to change 5.6% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 194,700 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 180,800 openings are projected each year, 5.2% of the 3,465,400 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Demand for healthcare services is projected to increase because of the large number of older people, who typically have more medical problems than younger people. Registered nurses are expected to also be needed to educate and care for patients with chronic conditions, such as diabetes and obesity.
Job growth is expected across most types of healthcare settings, including hospitals and outpatient care centers that provide same-day services, such as chemotherapy, rehabilitation, and surgery. In addition, because many older people prefer to be treated at home, registered nurses will likely continue to be in demand in home healthcare settings.
AI exposure: high
BLS places this occupation in its high relative AI exposure category, above the middle of the pack: a substantial share of the work overlaps with what AI can do.
Getting in
How to become a critical care nurse
No state issues a critical care nurse licence. You are licensed as a registered nurse, and critical care is where you work rather than what you are licensed to do. The credential that exists is CCRN from AACN Certification Corporation, and it is voluntary specialty certification rather than a licence. AACN points out that CCRN is not even an acronym for critical care registered nurse: it is a service mark denoting certification in acute and critical care nursing. Eligibility is built on documented direct-care hours, not on a course.
The credential path, step by step
- Become a registered nurse2 to 4 years
BLS records the three usual paths: a bachelor's degree in nursing, an associate degree in nursing, or a diploma from an approved nursing programme. All three lead to the same NCLEX-RN examination, developed and administered by NCSBN, and to the same RN licence.
- Get and keep an unencumbered state RN licence
AACN requires a current unencumbered US RN or APRN licence, meaning one not under formal board discipline and carrying no conditions limiting practice. The Nurse Licensure Compact covers 43 jurisdictions, of which 40 have implemented it, so a multistate licence is genuinely available in nursing in a way it is not in many other health professions.
- Accumulate the direct-care hours, because that is the real gate1 to 2 years of eligible practice
CCRN has no required course and no required programme. There are two hour options: 1,750 hours in the direct care of acutely or critically ill patients during the previous two years, with 875 of them accrued in the most recent year; or a minimum of 2,000 hours during the previous five years with 144 in the most recent year. The majority of practice hours must focus on critically ill patients, and the hours must be verifiable by a clinical supervisor or professional colleague.
- Pass the CCRN examination
150 multiple-choice items over 3 hours, of which 125 are scored and 25 gather statistical data, weighted 80 percent to clinical judgment and 20 percent to professional caring and ethical practice, delivered by PSI. The pass standard is a published raw cut score out of the 125 scored items rather than a percentage: 83 for CCRN Adult and Pediatric and 84 for CCRN Neonatal as of 12 November 2025. In 2025 the first-time pass rate was 72.02 percent for CCRN Adult.
- Pick the right member of the family
CCRN comes in Adult, Pediatric and Neonatal versions for nurses giving direct care. CCRN-K is for knowledge professionals such as educators and managers who influence the care of acutely and critically ill patients without primarily providing it, and it carries different hours: 1,040 in two years with 260 in the most recent year. CCRN-E is the tele-critical care pathway for nurses caring for adult patients by camera from a centralised tele-ICU. PCCN covers progressive care: acutely ill adults in intermediate care, stepdown, telemetry, transitional care and the emergency department. CMC and CSC are subspecialty add-ons in cardiac medicine and cardiac surgery, each requiring an existing ABSNC-accredited certification such as CCRN or PCCN to attach to, and each 90 items over 2 hours.
- Renew every three years
Renewal requires 432 practice hours during the three-year period with 144 accrued in the 12 months before the renewal date, plus either 100 Synergy CERPs or the renewal examination. Applications for renewal by examination are due at least 30 days before expiry, and failing a renewal examination sends you back to initial-examination eligibility with no fallback to the CERP route.
Exams you have to pass
CCRN (Adult, Pediatric and Neonatal)
150 multiple-choice items over 3 hours, 125 scored and 25 unscored, built on the Synergy Model and weighted 80 percent clinical judgment and 20 percent professional caring and ethical practice. Eligibility is 1,750 direct-care hours in two years with 875 in the most recent year, or 2,000 hours in five years with 144 in the most recent year, plus a current unencumbered US RN or APRN licence. Passing is a raw cut score out of 125: 83 for Adult and Pediatric, 84 for Neonatal, effective 12 November 2025. The examination fee is $260 for AACN members and $375 otherwise.
Administered by AACN Certification Corporation, delivered by PSI.
PCCN is the progressive care certification, 150 items with 125 scored and a cut score of 82. CMC (cardiac medicine) and CSC (cardiac surgery, covering adult cardiac surgery patients in the first 48 hours after operation) are subspecialty credentials of 90 items with 75 scored, cut scores 50 and 55, that attach to an existing ABSNC-accredited certification such as CCRN or PCCN rather than standing alone.
Administered by AACN Certification Corporation.
- How long the training takes
There is no programme. Entry to registered nursing takes 2 to 4 years depending on whether you take an associate degree, a diploma or a bachelor's degree, and CCRN eligibility then rests on documented practice hours: 1,750 across two years with 875 in the most recent year, or 2,000 across five years with 144 in the most recent year.
- Continuing education
Required to stay credentialed
CCRN is granted for three years. Renewal requires 432 practice hours in the period with 144 in the final 12 months, plus either the renewal examination or 100 Synergy CERPs distributed by category: at least 60 and at most 80 in Category A (clinical judgment and clinical inquiry), at least 10 and at most 30 in Category B (advocacy and moral agency, caring practices, response to diversity, facilitation of learning), at least 10 and at most 30 in Category C (collaboration, systems thinking), plus 20 in a category of your choice. Records must be kept for at least three years in case of audit. Renewal by CERPs costs $150 for members and $230 otherwise; renewal by examination costs $185 and $290.
Licensing and state variation
Licensed state by state
The licence that varies by state is the registered nurse licence, not a critical care credential: no state board issues one. California's Board of Registered Nursing, for example, recognises only clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthetist, nurse-midwife, nurse practitioner, psychiatric and mental health nurse and public health nurse as advanced categories, and critical care is not among them. O*NET treats critical care nurses as a sub-occupation of registered nurses for the same reason. The Nurse Licensure Compact covers 43 jurisdictions, 41 states plus Guam and the US Virgin Islands, of which 40 have implemented it while Guam, Massachusetts and the US Virgin Islands have enacted it with implementation dates still to be determined.
Who governs the credential
- AACN Certification Corporation
Awards and renews CCRN, CCRN-K, CCRN-E, PCCN and the CMC and CSC subspecialty credentials. Its certifications are ABSNC accredited, which is what makes them countable for ANCC Magnet reporting.
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)
Develops and administers the NCLEX-RN, the examination behind the only licence a critical care nurse actually holds, and operates the Nurse Licensure Compact.
- American Nurses Credentialing Center, Magnet Recognition Program (ANCC)
Runs the Magnet Recognition Program, which since 1 January 2024 counts only certifications accredited by NCCA, ANAB, ABSNC or ICAC. This is the clearest documented reason employers push specialty certification, since Magnet applicants must report and set goals for the share of eligible nurses certified.
Credential detail for critical care nurses is researched by hand from the bodies that issue it, not derived from BLS or O*NET. Sources last checked August 23, 2026. Requirements change: confirm with your own state board before enrolling in anything.
- AACN Certification Corporation: CCRN Exam Handbook, direct care eligibility pathway · checked August 23, 2026
- AACN Certification Corporation: CCRN renewal handbook · checked August 23, 2026
- AACN Certification Corporation: Exam statistics and passing scores · checked August 23, 2026
- AACN Certification Corporation: Get certified · checked August 23, 2026
- AACN: Value of certification resource center · checked August 23, 2026
- ANCC Magnet Recognition Program: Accepted certifications · checked August 23, 2026
- NCSBN: Nurse licensure guidance · checked August 23, 2026
- Nurse Licensure Compact: participating jurisdictions · checked August 23, 2026
- California Board of Registered Nursing: Advanced practice categories · checked August 23, 2026
- O*NET OnLine: Critical Care Nurses (29-1141.03) · checked August 23, 2026
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Registered Nurses · checked August 23, 2026
What the federal data says
Registered nurses usually take one of three education paths: a bachelor’s degree in nursing, an associate’s degree in nursing, or a diploma from an approved nursing program. Registered nurses must be licensed.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as critical care nurses.
- Bachelor's Degree50%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree35.7%
- Master's Degree10.7%
- Post-Master's Certificate3.6%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 50% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 35.7% |
| Master's Degree | 10.7% |
| Post-Master's Certificate | 3.6% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a critical care nurse do?
Provide specialized nursing care for patients in critical or coronary care units.
Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their families.
Day-to-day tasks
- Evaluate patients' vital signs or laboratory data to determine emergency intervention needs.
- Monitor patients for changes in status and indications of conditions such as sepsis or shock and institute appropriate interventions.
- Monitor patients' fluid intake and output to detect emerging problems, such as fluid and electrolyte imbalances.
- Compile and analyze data obtained from monitoring or diagnostic tests.
- Conduct pulmonary assessments to identify abnormal respiratory patterns or breathing sounds that indicate problems.
- Assess patients' pain levels or sedation requirements.
- Collaborate with other health care professionals to develop and revise treatment plans, based on identified needs and assessment data.
- Document patients' medical histories and assessment findings.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Fatal injury rate: 0.4 per 100,000 workers (0.1x the 3.3 average)
BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 2024: 13 deaths that year.
Nurses who work in hospitals and nursing care facilities usually work in shifts to provide round-the-clock coverage. They may work nights, weekends, and holidays. They may be on call, which means that they are on duty and must be available to work on short notice.
Nurses who work in offices, schools, and other places that do not provide 24-hour care are more likely to work regular business hours.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayHandling conflict situations at least monthly.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes carry very serious consequences.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where critical care nurses work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Hospitals; state, local, and private59%
- Ambulatory healthcare services19%
- Nursing and residential care facilities6%
- Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals5%
- Educational services; state, local, and private3%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 59% |
| Ambulatory healthcare services | 19% |
| Nursing and residential care facilities | 6% |
| Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals | 5% |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 3% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Monitoring4.1
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Active Learning3.9
- Writing3.4
- Science3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Monitoring | 4.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 |
| Active Learning | 3.9 |
| Writing | 3.4 |
| Science | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness4.0
- Service Orientation4.0
- Coordination3.9
- Complex Problem Solving3.9
- Judgment and Decision Making3.9
- Operations Monitoring3.4
- Instructing3.3
- Time Management3.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.0 |
| Service Orientation | 4.0 |
| Coordination | 3.9 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.9 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.4 |
| Instructing | 3.3 |
| Time Management | 3.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Document management software · in demand
- Medical software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Cloud-based data access and sharing software
- Human resources software
- Information retrieval or search software
- Internet browser software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
The workforce
Who works as a critical care nurse?
Women make up 87.3% of critical care nurses, against 47.1% of all employed people: a female-dominated occupation.
21.4% are 55 or older, close to the 23.2% across all jobs.
The median worker is 42.3 years old (all workers: 42.1).
- Women
- 87.3%All workers 47.1% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Median age
- 42.3All workers 42.1 · BLS CPS, 2025
- Aged 55+
- 21.4%All workers 23.2% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Employed (CPS)
- 3,528,000BLS CPS, 2025
| Group | Share of critical care nurses | All employed people |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 87.3% | 47.1% |
| White | 70.6% | 75.7% |
| Black or African American | 16.0% | 12.7% |
| Asian | 10.6% | 7.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 10.0% | 20.0% |
| Aged 55 and over | 21.4% | 23.2% |
| Aged 16 to 24 | 5.7% | 12.2% |
Current Population Survey annual averages, 2025 (BLS tables 11 and 11b). Race groups can overlap with Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, so they do not sum to 100%.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a critical care nurse?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Critical Care Nurse |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 4 |
| Investigative | 5 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 6 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around teaching, helping and working directly with other people, combined with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data.
- Social5.6
- Investigative5.0
- Conventional4.2
- Realistic3.9
- Enterprising2.2
- Artistic1.7
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Critical Care Nurse
O*NET related occupations
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
More healthcare practitioners and technical careers
Median annual pay, with critical care nurses highlighted
- Anesthesiologist$391,490
- Physician Assistant$135,880
- Nurse Practitioner$132,300
- Physical Therapist$102,760
- Dental Hygienist$98,100
- Critical Care Nurse$97,550
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer$96,590
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician$80,110
- Surgical Technologist$64,650
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Anesthesiologist | $391,490 |
| Physician Assistant | $135,880 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,100 |
| Critical Care Nurse | $97,550 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $96,590 |
| Radiologic Technologist and Technician | $80,110 |
| Surgical Technologist | $64,650 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Critical Care Nurse appears on
Questions
Critical Care Nurse: frequently asked questions
How much do critical care nurses make?
Critical Care Nurses earn a median of $97,550 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 91% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $46.90/hr. The middle half earn between $80,330 and $112,350. The top 10% earn $137,470 or more.
How much do critical care nurses make an hour?
The median hourly wage for critical care nurses is $46.90 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). On a full-year basis the $97,550 annual median works out to about $8,130 a month before tax.
What is the starting salary for a critical care nurse?
BLS does not publish a starting salary. The nearest measure is the low end of the pay range: the lowest-paid 10% of critical care nurses earn less than $68,940 a year and the bottom quarter less than $80,330 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). New workers often start near that end, but where a particular job starts depends on the employer, the state and the credentials you bring, so read these as the bottom of the range rather than a guaranteed entry wage.
Do critical care nurses make $100k?
Some do. $100,000 sits between the median ($97,550) and the 75th percentile ($112,350), so roughly a quarter to a half of critical care nurses earn more than that (BLS OEWS, May 2025). In 14 states the median itself is above $100,000: California ($140,270), Hawaii ($136,320), Oregon ($129,010), Washington ($124,200), and 10 more.
Which states pay critical care nurses the most?
The highest state medians for Critical Care Nurses are California ($140,270), Hawaii ($136,320), Oregon ($129,010) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What kind of critical care nurse earns the most?
BLS does not split critical care nurses' pay by specialty or employer, but its range shows how far the top end runs: the highest-paid 10% earn more than $137,470, against a median of $97,550 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Location moves pay the most in the published data: the best-paying states are California ($140,270), Hawaii ($136,320), Oregon ($129,010).
Do you need a degree to become a critical care nurse?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Critical Care Nurses, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as considerable preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 50.0% hold bachelor's degree.
Is critical care nurse a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5.6% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 180,800 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a critical care nurse do?
Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their families. A core O*NET task: evaluate patients' vital signs or laboratory data to determine emergency intervention needs. Employers most often ask for Document management software, Medical software, Office suite software.
Do critical care nurses work 40 hours a week?
Yes, for most. In O*NET's survey of people in the job, 32% of critical care nurses usually work more than 40 hours a week, 57% work exactly 40 and 11% work fewer. 79% say their schedule is regular and 21% irregular. Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, Work Context.
What personality type suits a critical care nurse?
O*NET scores Critical Care Nurses highest on the Social, Investigative and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes teaching, helping and working directly with other people with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISFJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.
How long does it take to become a critical care nurse?
There is no programme. Entry to registered nursing takes 2 to 4 years depending on whether you take an associate degree, a diploma or a bachelor's degree, and CCRN eligibility then rests on documented practice hours: 1,750 across two years with 875 in the most recent year, or 2,000 across five years with 144 in the most recent year.
Do you need a license to work as a critical care nurse?
Yes, and it is issued by the state you work in, not nationally. The licence that varies by state is the registered nurse licence, not a critical care credential: no state board issues one. California's Board of Registered Nursing, for example, recognises only clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthetist, nurse-midwife, nurse practitioner, psychiatric and mental health nurse and public health nurse as advanced categories, and critical care is not among them. O*NET treats critical care nurses as a sub-occupation of registered nurses for the same reason. The Nurse Licensure Compact covers 43 jurisdictions, 41 states plus Guam and the US Virgin Islands, of which 40 have implemented it while Guam, Massachusetts and the US Virgin Islands have enacted it with implementation dates still to be determined.
What exams do you have to pass to become a critical care nurse?
The CCRN (Adult, Pediatric and Neonatal) and the PCCN, CMC and CSC. 150 multiple-choice items over 3 hours, 125 scored and 25 unscored, built on the Synergy Model and weighted 80 percent clinical judgment and 20 percent professional caring and ethical practice. Eligibility is 1,750 direct-care hours in two years with 875 in the most recent year, or 2,000 hours in five years with 144 in the most recent year, plus a current unencumbered US RN or APRN licence. Passing is a raw cut score out of 125: 83 for Adult and Pediatric, 84 for Neonatal, effective 12 November 2025. The examination fee is $260 for AACN members and $375 otherwise.
What percentage of critical care nurses are women?
Women make up 87.3% of critical care nurses, against 47.1% of all employed people: a female-dominated occupation. 21.4% are 55 or older, close to the 23.2% across all jobs. The median worker is 42.3 years old (all workers: 42.1). Source: BLS Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages.