CCI (Competency & Credentialing Institute)
CNOR
Certified Perioperative Nurse
The gold-standard specialty credential for perioperative (operating room) registered nurses, validating competency across the surgical continuum. A widely recognized wage-premium certification for OR roles.
What's on the exam
CNOR Exam Content Outline (current 8-area structure; consolidated 6-area structure launches 2027)
Patient Care and Safety
25%Surgical positioning · Skin prep and draping · Specimen management · Counts (sponge, sharp, instrument) · Medication and solution management · Hemostasis and tissue handling
Infection Prevention and Control
16%Sterilization and disinfection · Sterile technique · Instrument processing · Environmental sanitation · Aseptic practices
Pre/Postoperative Patient Assessment and Diagnosis
15%Preoperative assessment · Identification of patient risks · Nursing diagnoses · Postoperative assessment · Patient and family history
Communication and Documentation
11%Perioperative documentation · Hand-off communication · Surgical safety checklist and time-out · Informed consent verification
Emergency Situations
10%Malignant hyperthermia · Cardiac and respiratory arrest · Hemorrhage · Fire safety in the OR · Anaphylaxis
Management of Personnel, Services, and Materials
9%Staffing and resource management · Supply and equipment management · Workflow coordination · Interdisciplinary collaboration
Individualized Plan of Care Development and Expected Outcome Identification
8%Care planning · Goal and outcome identification · Prioritization · Interdisciplinary collaboration
Professional Accountability
6%Patient safety and advocacy · Standards and recommended practices · Ethical and legal responsibilities · Quality improvement
Frequently asked questions
How much does the CNOR cost?
The CNOR costs $475. Application fee including first attempt; $175 per retake.
How long is the CNOR and how many questions does it have?
200 items (185 scored, 15 unscored) — 3 hours 45 minutes.
What do you need to pass the CNOR?
Scaled score of 620 (scale 200–800).
Can you retake the CNOR?
Within the 12-month eligibility period, with a 30-day minimum wait between attempts.
What is the best way to study for the CNOR?
Study the official blueprint, not random material: the exam is weighted by domain (Patient Care and Safety 25%, Infection Prevention and Control 16%, Pre/Postoperative Patient Assessment and Diagnosis 15%, Communication and Documentation 11%, Emergency Situations 10%, Management of Personnel, Services, and Materials 9%, Individualized Plan of Care Development and Expected Outcome Identification 8%, Professional Accountability 6%). Spaced-repetition flashcards built domain-by-domain against that blueprint are the most time-efficient way to cover everything the exam tests.
Program in development
We're building a blueprint-complete program for this exam. Meanwhile, explore live programs across 11 exam.
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