| NCSBN (National Council of the State Board of | | | | effective practice of nursing at the entry level. |
| Nursing) does not have established guidelines for | | | | NCLEX results are an important component used by |
| graduating students as to when to register. However, | | | | boards of nursing to make decisions about licensure. |
| registering for the NCLEX examination and licensure | | | | Only boards of nursing can release NCLEX |
| during the month of the student's graduation is | | | | examination results to candidates. |
| common. Note that registering to take the | | | | The NCLEX examination is administered in the United |
| examination and applying for licensure to a state | | | | States, American Samoa, the District of Columbia, |
| board of nursing are two different processes. | | | | Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and |
| Please keep in mind all NCLEX examination | | | | the Virgin Islands. The NCLEX examination is also |
| registrations will remain effective for a 365-day time | | | | administered internationally at Pearson Professional |
| period during which a board of nursing may determine | | | | Centers. For a complete list of international test |
| the candidate's eligibility. The time limit begins when | | | | centers go to or |
| the board of nursing receives the candidate's | | | | The CAT (computerized adaptive test) type test |
| registration from the test service. Candidates who | | | | adapts to your skill level. The first questions that are |
| are not made eligible by their board of nursing within | | | | presented to you are determining your ability level. |
| the 365-day time period will forfeit their registrations, | | | | Once your ability level is determined, the questions |
| including the candidate registration fee. Candidates | | | | are presented in increasing level of difficulty |
| who wish to take an NCLEX examination will need to | | | | decreasing difficulty until you have answered enough |
| re-register, including repaying the examination fee, in | | | | questions for the computer to determine (with 95% |
| order to receive an examination. | | | | statistical certainty) that you have met the passing |
| Students can register for the NCLEX examination and | | | | standard. |
| pay the $200 by credit card by calling Pearson VUE | | | | The minimum number of questions you will have is 75 |
| at 866.496.2539 or register via the Internet. | | | | (60 questions plus 15 pilot items). You will not be able |
| Apply for licensure to the board of nursing in the | | | | to distinguish pilot items from "real" items. SO, if you |
| state or territory where you wish to be licensed. | | | | get 265 items, that means the computer has not yet |
| Contact the state board for the requirements. | | | | determined that you have met the passing standard |
| Register for the NCLEX examination with Pearson | | | | at the 95% confidence level. There is no random |
| VUE by mail, telephone or via the internet. | | | | number of candidates that get the exam with 265- |
| The name with which you register must match | | | | that is a myth. |
| exactly with the printed name on the identification | | | | The test is now 6 hours long (up from 5), and you |
| you present at the test center. | | | | should take your time. Rushing through the questions |
| If you provide an e-mail address when registering for | | | | will most likely lead to failure, because each one you |
| the NCLEX examination, all subsequent | | | | get wrong due to guessing means the next question |
| correspondences from Pearson VUE will arrive ONLY | | | | is easier, and then on and on, until you fail because |
| BY E-MAIL. If you do not provide an e-mail address, | | | | you are guessing at them all. Take your time to think |
| all correspondences from will arrive only through U.S. | | | | each question through and choose the best answer. |
| mail. | | | | NCLEX is given throughout the US and its territories, |
| All NCLEX examination registrations will remain open | | | | so the same format is used and the same question |
| for a 365-day time period during which a board of | | | | bank is used across the US. |
| nursing may determine your eligibility to take the | | | | You've studied hard, finished most of your clinical |
| NCLEX examination. | | | | experience and now you're ready for the National |
| There is no refund of the $200 NCLEX registration | | | | Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX examination), |
| fee for any reason. | | | | often referred to as the "State Boards." The State |
| Receive Confirmation of Registration from Pearson | | | | Boards exam is the culmination of all the hard work |
| VUE. | | | | you completed in nursing school. The purpose of the |
| Receive eligibility from the state board of nursing you | | | | exam is to test and ensure the knowledge, skills and |
| applied for licensure with. | | | | abilities for safe, competent practice in the field of |
| Receive Authorization to Test (ATT) from Pearson | | | | nursing. |
| VUE. | | | | Who needs to take the NCLEX examination? |
| If more than two weeks have passed after you | | | | At the completion of nursing school, all graduates are |
| have submitted a registration for the NCLEX | | | | required to take the NCLEX examination in order to |
| examination and received a confirmation from | | | | practice as an entry-level licensed RN or LPN in the |
| Pearson VUE, and you have not received an ATT, | | | | United States. The registration process begins near |
| please call Pearson VUE. | | | | the end of your final year in nursing school. At that |
| You must test within the validity dates of your ATT. | | | | time you will receive an application to take the |
| These validity dates cannot be extended for any | | | | NCLEX examination. It must be filled out and returned |
| reason. | | | | to the Board of Nursing in the state in which you |
| The printed name on your identification must match | | | | expect to practice as a nurse. |
| exactly the printed name on your ATT. If the name | | | | Preparing for the NCLEX examination |
| with which you have registered is different from the | | | | If you've graduated from nursing school, you possess |
| name on your identification, you must bring legal | | | | all of the knowledge you need in order to pass the |
| name change documentation with you to the test | | | | NCLEX examination. It's easier than you think; all you |
| center on the day of your test. The only acceptable | | | | have to do is review the material you haven't seen in |
| forms for legal documentation are: marriage licenses, | | | | a while. The trick to passing is starting the review |
| divorce degrees and/or court action legal name | | | | process immediately following your final exams when |
| change documents. All documents must be in English | | | | the information is fresh in your mind. Learn all you can |
| and must be the original documents. | | | | about the test particulars and ways to assure a |
| Schedule an appointment to test by calling Pearson | | | | passing score. |
| VUE. | | | | Getting test results |
| To change your appointment date: | | | | You will be notified of your NCLEX examination |
| For exams scheduled on: Tuesday, Wednesday, | | | | results by mail within 2 to 4 weeks, depending on the |
| Thursday, and Friday, call Pearson VUE at least 24 | | | | distribution procedures for the state in which you |
| hours in advance of the day and time of your | | | | applied. If you are successful, expect to receive a |
| appointment. | | | | sheet of paper notifying you of your passing score. |
| For exams scheduled on: Saturday, Sunday and | | | | If you did not pass the exam, expect to receive a |
| Monday, call Pearson VUE no later than Friday at | | | | diagnostic profile that describes overall performance |
| least 1 full business day in advance of the time of | | | | in each section of the exam. Keep in mind that you |
| your appointment. | | | | must wait three months before applying to retake |
| Present one form of acceptable identification and | | | | the NCLEX examination. If you want faster results, |
| your ATT on the day of the examination. | | | | you can use the NCLEX Quick Results service. |
| The only acceptable forms of identification in test | | | | Results are available by phone three days after |
| centers in the U.S., American Samoa, Guam, Northern | | | | taking the NCLEX examination. Call (900) 328-8378 |
| Mariana Islands and Virgin Islands are: | | | | and follow the prompts. There is a $7.95 charge. |
| U.S. drivers license (not a temporary or learners | | | | Results are also available online. The $7.95 charge still |
| permit) | | | | applies and you will need your user name, password |
| U.S. state identification | | | | and a credit card. |
| Passport | | | | The National Council of State Boards of Nursing |
| For all other test (international) centers, only a | | | | operates the NCLEX examination Quick Results |
| passport is acceptable. All identification must be | | | | service. This service is currently available in 38 states: |
| written in English, have a signature in English, be valid | | | | Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of |
| (not expired) and include a photograph. Candidates | | | | Columbia, Florida, Georgia-PN, Georgia-RN, Illinois, |
| with identification from a country on the U.S. | | | | Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, |
| embargoed countries list will not be admitted to test. | | | | Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, |
| You will not be admitted to the examination without | | | | Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New |
| acceptable identification and your ATT. If you arrive | | | | Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, |
| without these materials, you forfeit your test session | | | | Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South |
| and must re-register; this includes re-payment of the | | | | Dakota, Texas (VN only), Utah, Vermont, |
| $200 registration fee. | | | | Washington, West Virginia (PN only), Wisconsin and |
| Receive your NCLEX examination results from the | | | | Wyoming. |
| board of nursing you applied for licensure with within | | | | If you did not take the test in one of these states, |
| one month from your examination date. Under the | | | | you cannot get your unofficial results using the Quick |
| guidance of its membership, the National Council of | | | | Results service. If you have questions about this |
| State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN) develops and | | | | service, call the National Council of State Boards of |
| administers two national nurse licensure examinations; | | | | Nursing at (866) 293-9600. |
| the National Council Licensure Examination for | | | | Tips on Test Taking |
| Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN®) and the National | | | | 1) Watch out for the words: except, always and not |
| Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses | | | | in all NCLEX questions. |
| (NCLEX-PN®). These two examinations are used | | | | (2) Answer each question. You are not penalized for |
| by all U.S. state and territorial Boards of Nursing to | | | | taking an educated guess. |
| test entry-level nursing competence of candidates | | | | (3) Get a good night's sleep before the NCLEX. |
| for licensure as Registered Nurses and as Licensed | | | | (4) Wear layered clothing to the exam. |
| Practical/Vocational Nurses. The NCLEX examinations | | | | (5) Practice with a watch and bring a watch to the |
| are provided exclusively as (CAT) computerized | | | | test. |
| adaptive tests. | | | | (6) Study for each material section of the NCLEX |
| Several steps must be completed before a nurse can | | | | individually. |
| safely enter the profession. These typically include: | | | | (7) If you extremely weak in one area of content |
| Graduation from an accredited nursing program | | | | focus on that area. |
| Meeting specific requirements of the state board of | | | | (8) Don't cram for the NCLEX. Read over a good |
| nursing | | | | practice study guide at least one week in advance. |
| Passing the National Counsel of State Boards of | | | | (9) Stay away from negative talk about the NCLEX |
| Nursing (NCSBN) NCLEX examination for registered | | | | with other students. |
| nurses (RNs) or licensed practical/vocational nurses | | | | (10) Know the route to the testing center, |
| (LPN/VNs) | | | | (11) Double check that you have the appropriate ID |
| About the Test | | | | prior to the NCLEX test. |
| The NCLEX examination is designed to test | | | | (12) Work through several practice tests prior to the |
| knowledge,skills and abilities essential to the safe and | | | | exam. |