NCLEX Exam: What Is It? (Things To Know Before Taking It)

The NCLEX, or National Council Licensure Examination, is the standardized test every state regulatory board uses to decide whether you are ready to be licensed as a nurse. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) administers it, and there are two versions. Which one you take depends on the license you want.

The NCLEX-PN is for practical and vocational nurses (LPNs and LVNs, terms used interchangeably across states), the most entry-level licensed nursing role. The NCLEX-RN is for registered nurses, who carry more education and more responsibility.

Steps to take the NCLEX and get licensed

Complete an accredited nursing program, apply for a license with your state board, register for the NCLEX you want, take and pass it, then complete any additional state requirements to get licensed.

Registration and eligibility

You cannot register for the NCLEX until you meet the education requirements for your license and apply for that license through your state board. For an LPN or LVN, that means an accredited LPN certificate program. For an RN, it usually means at least an accredited associate's degree in nursing, preferably a bachelor's.

When you are ready to apply, download the current NCLEX Candidate Bulletin from NCSBN. It covers test registration, candidate rules, and results, and it is worth keeping before and after your exam. Register through Pearson VUE, the testing organization that administers the NCLEX, online or by phone. You cannot schedule a date until your eligibility is verified.

You will know you are eligible when you receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) by email. The ATT includes a candidate number, the window you are eligible to test in (typically valid for 90 days), and a list of local testing centers. From there you schedule your day and time. Testing runs year-round, almost every day of the week.

If you are still deciding between CNA, LPN, and RN, note that Certified Nursing Assistants do not take the NCLEX. They pass the CNA certification exam required by their state and meet its other requirements.

Preparation

Several organizations offer NCLEX prep. NCSBN, which develops the exam, sells a practice test built to mirror the look and feel of the real thing. There are packets for both the PN and RN levels, and each costs $150. A packet contains two computerized tests of 125 questions each, completed in one sitting, and gives you a score report showing the percentage you answered correctly.

A few things that work:

Take a practice exam. The questions come from previous NCLEX exams, so you learn the question types before test day.

Build a study guide. Use the practice test to see what the exam asks and organize your prep around it.

Know the format. The NCLEX is mostly multiple choice. Drilling that format and walking in with a plan improves your odds.

Study your way. Visual, auditory, solo, group, whatever helps you retain material is the right method.

Study on a schedule. Cramming hurts you here. Steady daily or weekly study keeps you on track.

Manage test anxiety. Sleep well and eat a balanced meal beforehand. During the test, lean on coping tactics like a deep breath or a short pause when stress spikes.

Invest in resources. Online courses, textbooks, and video lectures from providers like Kaplan, Nursing.com, or Hurst can fill gaps.

Topics and subject matter

Both exams cover similar ground. The RN test leans toward managing care and supervising others; the PN test leans toward assisting RNs and working under direction. Each exam covers eight subject areas:

Management of Care / Coordinated Care: advocacy, client rights, confidentiality, continuity of care, ethical practice, informed consent, information technology, legal responsibilities, performance improvement.

Basic Care and Comfort: assistive devices, elimination, mobility and immobility, nutrition and oral hydration, rest and sleep, personal hygiene.

Health Promotion and Maintenance: aging, developmental stages, disease prevention, health screening, high-risk behaviors, lifestyle choices, self-care.

Psychosocial Integrity: abuse and neglect, coping mechanisms, crisis intervention, cultural awareness, family dynamics, grief and loss, mental health, stress management, substance abuse.

Physiological Adaptation: fluid and electrolyte imbalances, illness management, medical emergencies, pathophysiology, unexpected response to therapies.

Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies: adverse effects, blood products, dosage calculations, expected outcomes, medication administration, pharmacological pain management.

Reduction of Risk Potential: changes and abnormalities in vital signs, diagnostic tests, laboratory values, potential for complications, therapeutic procedures.

Safety and Infection Control: accident and injury prevention, emergency response plans, ergonomic principles, hazardous materials, home safety, safe use of equipment, security plans.

Format

Both exams are computerized and mostly multiple choice, with some multiple-response, fill-in-the-blank, and drag-and-drop items. Under the current Next Generation format, the NCLEX-RN runs a minimum of 85 questions and a maximum of 150, and the NCLEX-PN a minimum of 85 and a maximum of 205. Both allow up to five hours, including breaks (NCSBN).

Both are computer adaptive tests (CATs). The questions you get respond to how you answered the previous ones. Miss one and the next is slightly easier; get one right and the next is a little harder. With each answer, the computer sharpens its estimate of your ability.

On April 1, 2023, NCSBN released the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) for both RNs and LPNs. It puts more weight on clinical judgment and trends harder, though it stays a CAT. One key change is scoring. The exam previously used dichotomous scoring, where an answer was simply right or wrong. The NGN can award partial credit when warranted.

Scoring and what you need to pass

Your official results come from your state regulatory board roughly six weeks after the exam. The NCLEX is scored in logits, units that measure the gap between your estimated ability and the difficulty of the questions you answer. The passing standard for the NCLEX-RN is 0.00 logits; for the PN it is -0.18.

The exam first applies the 95% Confidence Interval Rule. After you answer the minimum number of questions, the computer checks whether it is at least 95% certain your ability sits above or below the passing standard, and the test continues until it reaches that confidence. If you answer the maximum number of questions, you pass or fail on your final ability estimate regardless of confidence: above the standard passes, at or below fails.

If you run out of time after answering at least the minimum and the computer still cannot decide with 95% certainty, an alternate rule kicks in based on your last 60 ability estimates. If all 60 sit above the passing standard, you pass; drop below even once and you fail. Run out of time before answering the minimum and you fail.

You will not learn your result immediately. In some locations you can buy unofficial results on the Pearson VUE site a few days after the test, but those do not authorize you to practice.

Pass rates

Pass rates vary by year, test type, and candidate. In 2024, first-time U.S.-educated NCLEX-RN takers passed at about 91%, well above repeat takers and internationally educated candidates, who pass at much lower rates (NCSBN, 2024).

What happens if you do not pass

Fail and you receive a Candidate Performance Report breaking down the eight test areas and showing where you landed above, near, or below the passing standard. Use it to target your weak spots before a retake. You have plenty of chances: your state may cap attempts, but NCSBN allows up to eight per year with at least 45 days between tests.

Once you have passed

Your final step is completing licensure with your state, and each state's process differs, so confirm the details with your board. Once licensed as an RN, you can specialize. Many specialties offer certifications, and earning one is a solid way to advance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the NCLEX?

It depends on how many questions you answer and the time allowed. Both the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN give you up to five hours, which includes scheduled and optional breaks. All breaks count against your total time. If the computer can clearly assess your competence after the minimum number of questions, the test ends. If you are not clearly above or below the standard, it continues until a final assessment is possible.

What do you need to pass?

There is no fixed score or question count. You need to hold a base logit score of at least 0.00. Because the NCLEX is a CAT, it determines you have passed once it reaches at least 95% confidence in your competency.

How much does the NCLEX cost?

The base cost for either exam is $200 if you are seeking a U.S. license. You pay Pearson VUE by credit or debit card at registration. Your state board may charge additional registration fees.

How many times can you take the NCLEX?

You can retake the NCLEX 45 days after failing. Depending on your state, there may be added stipulations after too many failures, so check your Board of Nursing if that is a concern.

When did the NCLEX change?

The Next Generation NCLEX launched on April 1, 2023.

How do you find out if you passed?

Examinees in every U.S. state except Alabama, Delaware, and New Hampshire can sign up for NCLEX Quick Results, which sends unofficial results electronically in as little as two business days. Otherwise, official results arrive about six weeks after the exam.