Booking and feesNCC
Registering for the RNC-NIC and what it costs
Facts read in NCC's 2026 Candidate Guide and 3 other documents listed under Sources
Registration for the RNC-NIC involves two organizations. The application and the fee are handled in your NCC account; after approval, the seat itself is booked with PSI, at one of its centers or as a remotely proctored session from home. Every fee quoted here is from the 2026 guide and catalogs.
Fees, windows and booking rules for the NICU exam
| Item | Fact | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Exam fee | $325, which includes a nonrefundable $50 application fee The same fee applies at a test center and with remote proctoring. | 2026 Candidate Guide [1][2] |
| Retake fee | The full $325 again, with a new application | 2026 Candidate Guide [1][2] |
| Changes and cancellations | Moving your test date, or switching between a test center and remote proctoring, within the original 90-day window is free; a change request costs $125 A change request, allowed once, covers a new eligibility window, a missed testing date or a different exam category; its $125 fee is nonrefundable. Cancel a PSI appointment at least 4 business days ahead. Withdrawing refunds $160 of the $325 fee. | 2026 Candidate Guide [1][2][3] |
| Other fees | $55 hand score; $30 to reprocess an incomplete application or license; $30 returned payment | 2026 Candidate Guide [1][3] |
| Renewal fee | $100; $80, $70 or $60 when 15, 30 or 45 hours of NCC CE are used | 2026 Maintenance Catalog, core certifications [4] |
| Who can sit | A current, active, unencumbered RN license in the US or Canada, plus 24 months and at least 2,000 hours of RN practice in the specialty Both the 24 months and the 2,000 hours must be met, and you must have worked in the specialty at some point in the last 24 months. | NCC: 2026 Registration Catalog, core RNC exams [2] |
| How to book | Apply and pay in your NCC account; once approved, schedule with PSI within the first 30 days of your 90-day window Approval can take up to 2 weeks. You can cancel an application within 6 hours of submitting it. | NCC: 2026 Registration Catalog, core RNC exams [2][3] |
| Window to test | 90 days from approval; schedule within the first 30 days | NCC: 2026 Registration Catalog, core RNC exams [2] |
| Test provider | PSI | Guide to Testing Methods [2][3] |
| Where you test | PSI test centers in the US and Canada, or live remote proctoring at home Book at least 4 business days ahead for a test center and at least 2 for remote proctoring. | NCC: 2026 Registration Catalog, core RNC exams [2][3] |
Each row read on Nov 6, 2026. Format, scoring and retake waits: exam facts.
From application to the NICU exam
- Check that your NICU months and hours both meet the rule (who qualifies); the certifying body checks them, not the test vendor.
- Apply online and pay. A new application can still be canceled shortly after you submit it; after that, withdrawal rules apply.
- Wait for approval. It is not instant, so apply well before the date you have in mind.
- Approval starts your testing period (90 days from approval; schedule within the first 30 days). Book with PSI as soon as you have a date.
- Sit the exam at the center or online, then watch your online account for the result.
Choosing a PSI center or a remote session
PSI runs both the centers and the live remote sessions, at one price. Remote can be booked closer to the date; the minimum lead times are in the Where you test row.
What the credential costs over a full cycle
As of the 2026 guide and catalogs:
- The exam costs $325, which includes a nonrefundable $50 application fee.
- A retake, if needed, costs the full $325 again, with a new application.
- A change to an approved booking follows the rules in the next section.
- Maintenance comes every 3 years and costs $100; $80, $70 or $60 when 15, 30 or 45 hours of NCC CE are used.
CE for the education plan is a separate cost unless you use free sources; CE bought from the certifying body itself lowers the maintenance fee, as the line above shows.
Moving the date or withdrawing
Moving the appointment, switching between a center and remote testing, or changing the exam category each follows the notice and fee rules in the Changes and cancellations row. A full withdrawal refunds less than half of the exam fee; the amount is in the same row.
Fees are published in yearly catalogs. The amounts on this page are the 2026 ones; confirm the current catalog before you pay in a new year.
Other pages for NICU candidates
- RNC-NICWho qualifies for the NICU core credential, what it tests and how it is maintained
- RNC-NIC practice testNICU practice items, three choices each, every answer explained
- RNC-NIC exam factsRNC-NIC length, timing, the Rasch pass standard, score report and retakes
- RNC-NIC study guideThe five NICU content categories, their weights and the common wrong turns in each
Sources
- [1]NCC: 2026 Candidate Guide, Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing (PDF) nccwebsite.org, opened Nov 6, 2026
- [2]NCC: 2026 Registration Catalog, core RNC exams (PDF) nccwebsite.org, opened Nov 6, 2026
- [3]NCC: Guide to Testing Methods (PDF, modified Sept. 9, 2026) nccwebsite.org, opened Nov 6, 2026
- [4]NCC: 2026 Maintenance Catalog, core certifications (PDF) nccwebsite.org, opened Nov 6, 2026
NICU exam booking and fees
What does the RNC-NIC cost, start to finish?
Per the 2026 catalog, the exam fee is $325, which includes a nonrefundable $50 application fee, the same at a center or online. Maintenance is charged every 3 years, and retake or change fees apply only if you need them.
Is remote proctoring offered for the NICU exam?
Yes. PSI runs live remote sessions alongside its centers, at the same price.
What if my NICU unit schedule changes after I book?
Rescheduling inside your window and a formal change request are handled differently; the Changes and cancellations row gives the notice and the fee for each. The new date must still fall inside your window.