The National Council Licensure Examination was developed in 1994 by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). Passing the NCLEX is a requirement for nursing school graduates to become state-licensed. There are two NCLEX types, NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN. The NCLEX requirements change depending on what type of nursing school the test taker attended. Candidates that hold a Practical Nursing Diploma can take the NCLEX-PN. Candidates that hold an Associate's or Bachelor's degree in nursing can take the NCLEX-RN. After the candidate graduates from their nursing program, they must apply for licensure or registration with a Nursing Regulatory Body (NRB). Once the candidate has completed these initial steps, they can register to take the NCLEX. The NCLEX is taken on a computer with an on-screen calculator. Most of the NCLEX questions are in a multiple-choice format; however, other formats are included on the exam. Both NCLEX types have between 75 and 145 questions with a time limit of five hours. This five-hour time limit includes the introductory process, the actual test-taking, and any breaks needed by the test taker.
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Create AccountIn order to take the NCLEX, test takers must complete a variety of steps. Can you take the NCLEX without going to nursing school? Unfortunately not, candidates must have attended a state-approved nursing program. A comprehensive list of acceptable nursing programs can be found at your state's Department of Education website. After graduating from a nursing program, the candidate must do two things. They must apply for licensure or registration at a Nursing Regulatory Body (NRB) and, through Pearson VUE, register for and pay for the NCLEX. The Nursing Regulatory Body will check that the candidate fulfills the NRB's eligibility requirements to become a registered RN or LPN. Some NRBs will require that students be over the age of 18, have a good moral character, and meet the minimum education requirements. Once the candidate has fulfilled all the NRB's requirements, the NRB will make the candidate eligible for the NCLEX through Pearson VUE. After all of the NCLEX prerequisites have been completed, the candidate will receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) email and have the ability to schedule their exam.
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Create AccountThe best prior training and a prerequisite for the NCLEX is completing a Practical Nursing Diploma, Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). A Practical Nursing Diploma allows the candidate to take the NCLEX-LPN. In contrast, the Associate Degree in Nursing or Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs allow the candidate to take the NCLEX-RN. A Practical Nursing Diploma typically takes around one year to complete. It includes coursework, lab work, and clinical experiences. An Associate Degree in Nursing typically takes around 18 months to complete. It usually has a more in-depth course load and more extended clinical experience than the Practical Nursing Diploma. A typical Bachelor's in Nursing (BSN) takes around four years to complete. However, there are many accelerated programs for candidates already LPNs or completed a Bachelor's degree in another field. Any of these options can be taken online, as a traditional, face-to-face program, or a hybrid of both. These education pathways typically include coursework on child abuse reporting, infection control coursework, along with lab work and clinical experience. Without following an education path like those described above, candidates cannot take either NCLEX type. After all of this education, the candidate will need to apply to a Nursing Regulatory Body (NRB) and register for the NCLEX. After the NRB grants the candidate eligibility, the candidate can schedule and take the exam.
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If you are currently not qualified for the NCLEX, there are steps you can take to rectify your ineligibility. The most important thing is to make sure you are in a state-approved nursing program. To check your program's status or state RN qualifications, go to your state's Department of Education website. However, your ineligibility for the NCLEX may come from an incomplete education. Make sure you are on track to graduate from your nursing program. If you do not graduate, you will not qualify for the NCLEX. You can join study programs or take official practice tests on the NCSBN website. If finances are an issue, you can check to see if you qualify for government loans or grants through FAFSA. Before applying for the ATT online or on the phone, check to see if your nursing program or employer will help pay for the NCLEX.
A candidate may register to take the NCLEX-LPN or the NCLEX-PN; however, they cannot register for both at the same time. After the candidate has applied to the Nursing Regulatory Body, they need to register and pay for the NCLEX. There is a registration time limit. NCLEX must receive confirmation from the NRB within 365 days of the candidate registering for the exam. If the NCLEX does not receive confirmation from the NRB within those 365 days, the candidate will lose their registration fee. The document needed for NCLEX registration is a valid, government-issued ID. The candidate can go to the NCLEX website to register for the exam and make their payment. If the candidate wants to register over the phone, make sure to have an email address and valid credit, debit, or prepaid card available. The USA-based phone number is 866-496-2539. After creating their username and password, the candidate will select where they are seeking licensure or registration and which test they will take. From there, they will select which nursing program they have graduated from and answer questions including when they graduated, their ethnic group, and which Nursing Regulatory Body they are seeking licensure or registration. The candidate will be prompted to pay for their exam using a valid credit, debit, or prepaid card. The exam can cost $200 USD for candidates seeking licensure or registration in the US or Australia. However, candidates seeking licensure or registration in Canada will be expected to pay $360 CAD (around $280 USD).
There is no need to perform an NCLEX state change. The NCLEX is a universally required exam. However, there can be problems when a nurse wants to work or move to a different state. The Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) is an agreement between 39 states that allows nurses to almost seamlessly move between any participating state or compact state. If a nurse maintains their legal residency in the compact state they received their license from, the nurse can work in any other compact state without making changes to their nursing license. However, if they make any changes to their legal residency state, they need to make changes to their nursing license. The nurse needs to immediately apply for a license endorsement in the compact state that now holds their legal residence. However, if a nurse is moving from a non-compact state to a compact state, they will need to apply for a multistate license. Upon receiving their multistate license, the single-state license from the non-compact state is not affected. It is recommended to apply early for the license endorsement as it can take more than 30 days.
There are ways candidates can be disqualified from the NCLEX. Candidates are not allowed any assistance on this test. This does include receiving or giving assistance in any form. There are some NCLEX prohibited items including cell phones, dictionaries, calculators, or cheat sheets. There are strict NCLEX rules regarding what type of identification can be used. If the candidate cannot provide one of the accepted forms of identification, they will not be allowed to take the test. Another way to be disqualified from NCLEX is by taking the test under a different name or for someone else. Tampering with any NCLEX equipment or creating other disturbances are grounds for dismissal as well. It is advised by NCSBN to listen and follow all guidelines set forth by the administrators of the NCLEX.
The pass rate for all candidates taking the NCLEX-RN is 71.99%. The pass rate for all candidates taking the NCLEX-PN is 67.64%. However, the NCSBN provides data that shows the pass rate for US-educated and internationally educated candidates along with first-time test takers and repeat test-takers. Candidates who are taking the NCLEX-RN for the first time and are US-educated have a pass rate of 83.75%. If the candidate is US-educated but is a repeat or second-time test taker, there is a pass rate for NCLEX-RN is 46.38%. Internationally educated candidates have a first-time pass rate for NCLEX-RN of 47.07%. Internationally educated, repeat takers have a pass rate for NCLEX-RN of 28.03%. The NCLEX-PN has a first-time pass rate of 80.01% for US-educated candidates and 52.85% for internationally educated candidates. The second time pass rate for NCLEX-PN is 34.37% for US-educated candidates and 17.96% for internationally educated candidates. The NCLEX Pass Rate Statistics table is linked in the source section.
A candidate can take the NCLEX up to eight times in one calendar year. The candidate must allow for 45 test-free days in between each attempt of the NCLEX. However, the candidate may want to check their NRB's NCLEX policy. Some NRBs have their own NCLEX attempt limit. If the candidate has failed the NCLEX, their NRB will contact the candidate and send them a Candidate Performance Report (CPR). The CPR is an overview of the candidate's results that includes strengths, weaknesses, and how many questions were on the test. It is given to help guide the candidate's preparation for the second attempt of the NCLEX.
There are three things to consider when it comes to how much the NCLEX costs: the average cost to prepare and be qualified to take the exam, the cost of the exam, and the cost of study or preparation materials. Because nursing school has so many different education options, the price to become qualified to take the NCLEX varies. An LPN/LVN program can cost as little as $5,000 while a BSN can cost as much as $200,000 depending on the caliber of the school. The cost of a candidate's NCLEX qualification will depend on whether they desire a Practical Nursing diploma, ADN, or BSN. However, the cost of the NCLEX stays around $200 for all candidates. On top of the NCLEX fee, the RN license can cost $75-$200 depending on the NRB. The cost of materials for NCLEX can vary depending on the person. The NCLEX has a free NCLEX-PN and NCLEX-RN Test Plan. However, the candidate's nursing school may have provided NCLEX prep materials at various costs.
Sharon Keegan, LPN is a professional nurse with 5 years of experience in hospitals and clinical settings. She has passed the NCLEX and works part-time as an NCLEX tutor. Sharon completed her LPN at Tennessee College of Applied Technology. She also holds a Master's degree in English as a Second Language from Cornerstone University.
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NCLEX requirements dictate that the candidate must complete their nursing program before they can take the NCLEX. However, they do not need to have prior working experience to take the NCLEX. The NRB approved nursing program will provide all of the experience the candidate needs to meet the NCLEX requirements.
No, the candidate cannot take the NCLEX before they graduate. The NCLEX-PN and NCLEX-RN eligibility requirements state that the candidate must complete their nursing program before they can take the NCLEX.
The minimum passing score requirement for the NCLEX-RN exam is 0.00 logits. The minimum NCLEX-PN passing score is -0.18 logits.
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