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The CNOR from CCI (the Competency & Credentialing Institute) tests the full
scope of perioperative RN practice. Here’s the exact format and how the questions are weighted.
Exam format
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Questions | 200 (185 scored, 15 unscored pretest) |
| Time | 3 hours 45 minutes |
| Format | Multiple choice, single best answer |
| Delivery | Computer-based at a PSI test center, or online via Remote Secure Proctored Exam |
| Scoring | Scaled 200–800; a scaled score of 620 is required to pass |
Content areas & weights
CCI organizes the CNOR around eight perioperative content areas. Patient care and safety dominates:
| Content area | Weight |
|---|---|
| Patient Care and Safety | 25% |
| Infection Prevention & Control of Environment, Instrumentation & Supplies | 16% |
| Pre/Postoperative Patient Assessment & Diagnosis | 15% |
| Communication and Documentation | 11% |
| Emergency Situations | 10% |
| Management of Personnel, Services & Materials | 9% |
| Individualized Plan of Care & Expected Outcomes | 8% |
| Professional Accountability | 6% |
Heads-up: CCI’s 2024 job-task analysis will consolidate the CNOR into six competency
areas beginning in 2027. The eight areas above are current for exams today.
Unlock 2,200+ CNOR practice questions across 11 full-length simulators — $19.99 lifetime →
Frequently asked questions
What is on the CNOR exam?
Eight content areas: Patient Care and Safety (25%), Infection Prevention (16%), Pre/Postoperative Assessment and Diagnosis (15%), Communication and Documentation (11%), Emergency Situations (10%), Management of Personnel and Materials (9%), Plan of Care (8%), and Professional Accountability (6%).
How many questions are on the CNOR?
200 questions — 185 scored and 15 unscored — over 3 hours and 45 minutes.
What score do you need to pass the CNOR?
CNOR scores are scaled from 200 to 800, and a scaled score of 620 is required to pass.
Sources & references
The exam facts on this page are drawn from official certifying-body materials, reviewed 2026-06-18 by the DrCertifications exam-prep team (10+ years in exam preparation and publishing).