What the SCRN costs, over one five-year cycle

The exam costs $400, or $300 for AANN members (paid by card). Paying by check costs more ($425 by check, $325 for members).

The member price applies to members of the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses. Whether joining pays off depends on AANN's annual dues, which we could not confirm on aann.org when we checked; compare the dues with the $300 versus $400 gap, and remember the discount repeats at renewal. The board that sets the exam and the association that sells membership and review material are separate organizations.

Refund rule: A withdrawal that reaches ABNN 7 or more days before the eligibility period ends gets the fee back minus $100; after that, no refund. The board does not extend or postpone a window, so a candidate who cannot test in time either withdraws within that limit or loses the fee. If you are selected for audit and do not complete it, nothing is refunded either (handbook, p. 4).

Renewal fee: $385, or $275 for AANN members, by the early-bird date; $470 or $360 after it (2026 cycle, card). The lower price needs an application by October 1 of the renewal year, so put the date in your calendar a year ahead. The continuing education behind two of the three renewal routes is a separate cost that varies with the provider; employer-paid stroke education and conference sessions often count. Routes and hour requirements: renewal.

The board's exam page points candidates to Agnes Marshall Walker Foundation (AMWF) certification grants for first-time SCRN candidates and for renewals (exam page). Some employers reimburse the fee, and some do so only once you pass; check the policy before paying.