Overview
The NCLEX-RN is the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses. It is written by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) and used by nursing regulatory bodies in the United States, Canada and Australia as part of deciding whether a candidate may be licensed or registered as an entry-level registered nurse. Pearson delivers it at its professional test centers.
The exam is computer adaptive: each question is chosen from your earlier answers, so it stays close to your ability level. The same NCLEX-RN is used for U.S. and Canadian entry to practice. A separate NCLEX-PN exists for practical nurses and is not covered here.
The exam is the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN), which includes case studies designed to measure clinical judgment. The current RN test plan applies from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029.
Who can apply
Eligibility is set by each nursing regulatory body (NRB), not by NCSBN, and NCSBN does not keep a list of the requirements. You apply for licensure or registration with the NRB in the state, province or territory where you want to practise, then register separately with Pearson. Requirements differ between jurisdictions, so check with your NRB first.
You may take the exam at any Pearson test center, whichever jurisdiction you are applying to. Test centers outside the U.S. and Canada are available in a number of countries, including Australia, India, the Philippines and the United Kingdom.
Exam pattern
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Format | Computer adaptive test at a Pearson Professional Center |
| Number of questions | Minimum 85, maximum 150 |
| Time limit | Five hours, including breaks |
| Unscored items | 15 pretest items on every exam, which you cannot tell apart from scored ones |
| Case studies | Three case studies of six items each in the minimum-length exam (18 items) |
| Skipping and review | You must answer each question to move on, and cannot go back |
Each case study covers the six steps of the NCSBN Clinical Judgment Measurement Model: recognising cues, analysing cues, prioritising hypotheses, generating solutions, taking action and evaluating outcomes. NCSBN states there is no fixed share of item formats, because items are chosen adaptively. An on-screen calculator and an erasable note board are provided.
Syllabus
Content follows the Client Needs framework in the 2026 RN test plan. The test plan gives each category a range of the questions.
| Client Needs category | Share of items |
|---|---|
| Management of Care | 15-21% |
| Safety and Infection Prevention and Control | 10-16% |
| Health Promotion and Maintenance | 6-12% |
| Psychosocial Integrity | 6-12% |
| Basic Care and Comfort | 6-12% |
| Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies | 13-19% |
| Reduction of Risk Potential | 9-15% |
| Physiological Adaptation | 11-17% |
The first two categories sit under Safe and Effective Care Environment, and the last four under Physiological Integrity. Every exam follows these percentages and covers all areas, rather than focusing on one specialty. NCSBN does not publish a list of drugs to learn, and items mostly use generic drug names. Most questions are written at the application level or higher.
Marking and results
The computer ends the exam under one of three rules.
95% confidence rule: the exam stops once the computer is 95% sure that your ability is clearly above or below the passing standard. This is the most common outcome.
Maximum-length rule: if your ability is very close to the standard, questions continue to the maximum, and the final estimate decides the result.
Run-out-of-time rule: if time ends first, you fail if you answered fewer than the minimum number of items. Otherwise the estimate from your answers so far decides.
The number of questions you receive does not show whether you passed. Some items give partial credit when more than one answer is correct. The NCLEX-RN passing standard is 0.00 logits, kept in place through 31 March 2029.
Every exam is scored twice, once at the test center and again after the record reaches Pearson. Results are not given at the test center. Your NRB sends the official result, within six weeks of the exam.
Fees
For 2026, the NCLEX registration fee is 360 CAD (before local taxes) for candidates seeking Canadian licensure or registration. NCSBN states that from 1 February 2027 the fee will be 570 CAD for Canada.
Other 2026 charges listed on the official site:
Taking the exam at an international test center adds a scheduling fee of 150 CAD for Canadian candidates).
Changing your NRB after registering costs $50.
Changing between RN and PN costs $50 for U.S. candidates.
Changing the exam language between English and French costs $50 CAD for Canadian candidates.
The licensure or registration fee is paid separately to your NRB. Registration fees are not refunded, including when you miss the appointment or fail to cancel or reschedule outside 24 business hours. Eligible veterans and their dependents may be reimbursed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
How to apply
Apply for licensure or registration with your NRB and pay its fee.
Register with Pearson online or by phone, with your program code, an email address and a credit, debit or prepaid Visa, MasterCard or American Express card. Third-party payment by a school, agency or employer is possible online.
Wait for your NRB to declare you eligible. Pearson then emails an Authorization to Test (ATT).
Schedule an appointment within the ATT validity dates. These cannot be extended, and the average ATT lasts about 90 days.
The name you register with must match your ID exactly. A registration stays open for 365 days while it waits for NRB eligibility. If you need testing accommodations, ask your NRB before you register.
Important dates
The exam is offered year-round, so there are no fixed exam dates. Dates that matter are the test plan period (1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029) and the fee change on 1 February 2027.
After the exam
Quick Results are an unofficial result available two business days after the exam for U.S. candidates whose NRB takes part. A fee is required.
If you do not pass, you receive a Candidate Performance Report that shows how you did in each area. NCSBN's retake policy allows a retake after 45 test-free days, and up to eight attempts a year where your NRB permits. Some NRBs set stricter limits. To retake, tell your NRB, meet any extra requirements, register and pay with Pearson again, and wait for a new ATT.
Preparation tips
Read the 2026 RN test plan and the content outlines for each category.
Practise with the official NCLEX tutorial, exam preview and Next Generation NCLEX resources on the NCLEX website.
Practise case-study questions that follow the six steps of clinical judgment.
Plan for the five-hour limit, since you cannot skip questions or return to earlier ones.
Allow time for check-in. Arrive at least 30 minutes early, with ID that matches your registration, and expect a photo, signature and palm vein scan.
FAQs
Can I see my result at the test center?
No. Official results come only from your nursing regulatory body, within six weeks. Quick Results, where offered, are unofficial.
Does getting 85 questions mean I failed?
No. The number of questions does not show the result. The exam may stop early when the computer is confident either way, or run longer when you are close to the standard.
Can I take the NCLEX-RN outside the country where I want to be licensed?
Yes. You can test at any Pearson Professional Center, though international centers carry an extra scheduling fee.
Is there a different NCLEX-RN for Canada?
No. The same exam is used for U.S. and Canadian entry to practice, and Australian registration also uses it.