Certification

Why Get Certified?

The CAVRN credential recognizes registered nurses who deliver virtual nursing services in acute-care hospital settings in partnership with a bedside clinical team. Created to reflect the shift toward technology and remote healthcare, this certification validates your expertise as a virtual member of the bedside team and demonstrates your commitment to high-quality care.

Get CAVRN Certified

Why Certify?

  • Maintain an innovative edge in your career.
  • Gain confidence in your professional life.

CAVRN Helps Employers:

  • Foster a culture of excellence.
  • Improve patient care.
  • Enhance employee retention.
  • Attract top talent.

About the CAVRN

Exam Development

After identifying a need for a medical-surgical certification, that was developed by medical-surgical nurses, the CMSRN exam was created and the MSNCB was established. MSNCB maintains a relationship with a test development partner to ensure that the exam is legally defensible and psychometrically sound.

CAVRN exam content is validated through a job task analysis (JTA), conducted at least every five years. A JTA survey is circulated for acute-care virtual nurses to rate the importance and frequency of the tasks they perform, and the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform these tasks competently to provide competent patient care.

Domains of Acute-Care Virtual Nursing Practice (Through Dec. 31, 2026)

Domain Weight on Exam
Quality & Safety 16%
Patient & Family Education 12%
Communication 20%
Teamwork/Inter-Professional Collaboration 17%
Coaching & Mentoring 11%
Leadership 10%
Informatics & Technology 14%

For detailed information on the exam content, refer to the CAVRN Exam Blueprint.

View the CAVRN Exam Blueprint

Domains of Acute-Care Virtual Nursing Practice (Effective Jan. 1, 2027)

Domain Weight on Exam
Quality & Safety 16%
Patient & Caregiver Education 17%
Communication 24%
Teamwork & Inter-Professional Collaboration 14%
Coaching & Mentoring 11%
Leadership Skills 9%
Informatics & Technology 9%

For detailed information on the upcoming exam content changes, refer to the following document.

CAVRN Exam Content Changes Comparison

Exam Details

  • 120 Questions
    • The CAVRN exam has 120 multiple choice questions, and 100 of the questions count toward your score.
    • The remaining 20 are unscored pilot questions to gather statistical data for future exams.
  • 2.5 Hours
    • You have 2.5 hours to complete the exam.
    • We recommend you arrive at the testing center or launch the remote proctored exam application 30 minutes before the start of your exam.
  • 95 Passing Score
    • To pass the CAVRN exam, you must achieve a standard score of 95, which is about 83% correct.
    • Your raw score, the number of correctly answered questions out of 100, is converted to a standard score for fair comparison across exam forms.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the CAVRN exam, applicants must meet both of the following criteria throughout the application process and the entire 90-day testing period:

  • License: Hold a current, unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license in the United States.
  • Practice Hours: You must have completed 1,000 practice hours in a virtual acute-care setting within the past two years.
    • Practice may include clinical nursing, management, or education.

Ready to Get Started?

Start your application and review the Test Takers FAQs to learn about exam processes, scheduling, fees, and more!

Start Application

Important Updates to the CAVRN Certification Exam

To ensure the Certified Acute-Care Virtual Registered Nurse (CAVRN) credential remains current with the evolving virtual nursing practice, MSNCB is introducing an updated exam  content blueprint based on the latest developments in technology-enabled care. This new exam content blueprint will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2027.

What You Need to Know

Applications Submitted by Sept. 30, 2026

Candidates who submit a completed application on or before Sept. 30, 2026, may take the current CAVRN exam.

Applications Submitted between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, 2026

Candidates who apply on or after Oct. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2026, will participate in the CAVRN beta test. For this period, exam fees will be discounted by 50%.

Beta Test Window: Jan. 1–31, 2027

The beta test will be offered exclusively during January 2027. Participants who apply to take the beta test must take the exam during this testing window.

Temporary Testing Pause

Following the beta test, CAVRN testing will be temporarily unavailable while exam data is analyzed and the new exam form is finalized. Additional details and timelines will be announced as they become available.

FAQs

Why is the CAVRN exam being updated?

Acute-care virtual nursing continues to transform healthcare delivery through innovative technology, evolving care models, and new approaches to patient monitoring, assessment, and support. The updated examination reflects current professional practice, technology advancements, and a revised content blueprint to ensure the credential remains relevant and valuable. Updates to the CAVRN exam blueprint are outlined in this downloadable PDF.

Can I still take the current CAVRN exam?

Yes. Candidates who complete their application by Sept. 30, 2026, may take the current examination.

What happens if I apply on or after Oct. 1, 2026?

Candidates who apply beginning Oct. 1, 2026, will participate in the CAVRN beta test.

What happens if I need to retake the exam?

Candidates who fail their first attempt must wait at least 90 days before they can apply for a retake. If you become eligible to apply for a retake beginning Oct. 1, 2026, you will be taking the CAVRN beta test.

When will the beta test be offered?

The beta test will be administered from Jan. 1–31, 2027.

Can I take the beta test before January 2027?

No. The beta test will only be available during the Jan.1–31, 2027, testing window.

What is a beta test?

A beta test is the first administration of an updated certification examination based on the results of a job task analysis. Data collected from beta test participants helps validate exam performance and supports the finalization of the exam form and passing score.

Why should I participate in the beta test?

 

Beta test participants:

  • Receive a 50% discount on the application and examination fee.
  • Gain early access to the updated examination.
  • Contribute to the future development of the CAVRN certification program.
  • Support the continued growth of virtual nursing certification.
Do beta test participants earn the CAVRN credential?

Yes. Candidates who meet eligibility requirements and achieve a passing score will earn the CAVRN credential.

When will I receive my beta test results?

Because beta test results must undergo psychometric analysis before final scoring is established, score reporting will occur after the beta testing process is completed. Participants will receive additional information regarding score release timelines.

What happens if I don’t pass the beta test?

Candidates who don’t pass the beta test will be able to apply for a retake once testing resumes and at least 90 days have passed since the first attempt.

Will there be a period when no CAVRN testing is available?

Yes. Following the January 2027 beta test period, there will be a temporary testing pause while exam data is analyzed and the updated examination is finalized.

When will testing resume?

Additional details regarding the testing pause and future testing dates will be announced as soon as they are available.

Can I combine the beta test discount with another discount?

No. The 50% beta test discount cannot be combined with other promotional or partner discounts.

Where can I learn more?

Refer back to this certification page or contact msncb@msncb.org with any questions.