How much does the NCLEX exam cost?
How much does the NCLEX exam cost?
$200 NCLEX registration fee
$100 – $1,000 NCLEX exam prep course
NCLEX exam cost
The NCLEX costs $200 for the exam registration fee. In addition to the cost of the test, candidates must pay a nursing licensure fee ranging from $75 to $375, depending on the state. NCLEX exam prep courses cost $100 to $1,000 and feature practice questions, online flashcards, and adaptive practice tests that mimic the real exam.
| Fee type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Registration fee | $200 |
| Additional International Scheduling fee | $150 |
| Change nursing regulatory body after registration fee | $50 |
| Change exam type (RN/PN) after registration fee | $50 |
| Nursing license fee | $75 – $375* |
| Fingerprint processing & background check | $50 – $100* |
| NCLEX exam prep course | $100 – $1,000 |
*Varies by state and nursing regulatory body (NRB)
NCLEX fees
The NCLEX exam registration fee is $200 and is payable by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or debit card. You'll pay an extra $50 if you need to change your nursing regulatory body (NRB) or change the exam type from RN to PN or vice versa after your initial registration.
NCLEX does not provide refunds of registration fees for any reason. If you don't receive confirmation of your registration within two days, contact Pearson VUE to check the status before submitting another registration.
NCLEX exam prep course
The best way to achieve a passing score on the NCLEX is to invest plenty of time in studying and preparing for the test.
NCLEX exam prep courses cost $100 to $1,000, depending on if they're self-paced or taught via live online sessions.
Online review courses cost $30 to $250 per month and feature practice questions, flashcards, adaptive practice tests, etc.
The NCLEX Mastery app for Android and IOS costs $24.99 per month.
Nursing license fees
Nursing license fees range from $75 to $375, depending on the state. In addition to the application fee, you may be required to pay a one-time fee of $50 to $100 for fingerprint processing and a background check. The licensing process can take up to 6 months, so be sure to apply as far in advance as possible.
Nursing licenses must be renewed every 2 to 4 years, and requirements for renewal vary by state. Many states require nurses to complete a specific number of continuing education units (CEUs) or clinical hours within a given period.
What is the NCLEX?
The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) is the test to become a licensed nurse. Some nursing schools refer to it as the "board exam". The NCLEX tests the candidate's application of knowledge learned in nursing school and determines whether the candidate is ready to safely practice nursing.
There are two versions of the exam:
NCLEX-RN for licensed Registered Nurses (RNs)
NCLEX-PN for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) or Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs)
NCLEX-RN exam content
The NCLEX-RN is an exam candidates must pass to be licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN). The test integrates content related to client needs and patient care, clinical judgment, communication and documentation, safety, culture and spirituality, teaching, and more, including:
Social sciences (psychology and sociology)
Biological sciences (anatomy, physiology, biology, and microbiology)
Physical sciences (chemistry and physics)
The table below shows the distribution of topics covered in the NCLEX-RN exam.
| Client Needs | Percentage of items from each category & subcategory |
|---|---|
Safe and Effective Care Environment
|
15% – 21% 10% – 16% |
| Health Promotion and Maintenance | 6% – 12% |
| Psychosocial Integrity | 6% – 12% |
Physiological Integrity
|
6% – 12% 13% – 19% 9% – 15% 11% – 17% |
NCLEX-PN exam content
The NCLEX-PN is an exam candidates must pass to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN). The test assesses the candidate's knowledge related to patient care, clinical judgment, clinical problem solving, communication and documentation, safety, and culture and spirituality, as well as:
Social sciences (psychology and sociology)
Biological sciences (anatomy, physiology, biology, and microbiology)
The table below shows the distribution of topics covered in the NCLEX-PN exam.
| Client Needs | Percentage of items from each category & subcategory |
|---|---|
Safe and Effective Care Environment
|
18% – 24% 10% – 16% |
| Health Promotion and Maintenance | 6% – 12% |
| Psychosocial Integrity | 9% – 15% |
Physiological Integrity
|
7% – 13% 10% – 16% 9% – 15% 7% – 13% |
NCLEX exam eligibility requirements
Each jurisdiction's nursing regulatory body (NRB) sets its own eligibility requirements to take the NCLEX. Most NRBs require all candidates to be at least 18 years old, demonstrate a good moral character, and meet these minimum education requirements:
NCLEX-RN exam: Associate Degree of Nursing (ADN), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), or diploma from an accredited RN licensure program
NCLEX-PN exam: diploma or degree in practical nursing (LPN) or vocational nursing (LVN)
Before you register for the exam, check your state's nursing regulatory body website to confirm whether they have any additional eligibility requirements
FAQs about the NCLEX exam
How many questions are on the NCLEX?
The NCLEX features 150 questions total, including 15 unscored sample questions used for creating future exams. Candidates have five hours to answer a minimum of 85 questions.
Because the NCLEX is an adaptive test, the computer automatically stops generating new questions once the candidate answers enough questions for the algorithm to determine with 95% confidence that they have passed or failed. This means even though every candidate must answer at least 85 questions, the test may end before the candidate answers all 150 questions.
How many times can you take the NCLEX?
You can take the NCLEX up to 8 times per year, but you must wait at least 45 days between attempts. However, some state nursing regulatory bodies (NRBs) place additional limits on the number of attempts allowed. Check your NRB for details.
How hard is the NCLEX?
The NCLEX is considered a challenging exam. However, the difficulty depends on your own nursing school experience and how well you prepare for the test.
The exam also uses Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT), meaning it adapts to the test taker's performance in real-time and selects questions of optimal difficulty for the candidate.
The NCLEX is a pass/fail exam. The table below shows the pass rates for candidates who took the NCLEX exam in recent years.
| Candidate & exam | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN | ||
| First-time takers (US educated) | 94.15% | 88.56% |
| First-time takers (internationally educated) | 58.77% | 52.60% |
| Repeat takers (US educated) | 52.78% | 51.15% |
| Repeat takers (internationally educated) | 44.05% | 42.35% |
| NCLEX-PN | ||
| First-time takers (US educated) | 91.09% | 86.67% |
| First-time takers (internationally educated) | 51.65% | 54.03% |
| Repeat takers (US educated) | 45.39% | 42.84% |
| Repeat takers (internationally educated) | 29.17% | 29.13% |
How do I find out if I passed the NCLEX?
Official NCLEX exam results are available through your state's nursing regulatory body (NRB) within 6 weeks of your exam date. If your NRB participates in the Quick Results Service, you can access your unofficial results 48 hours after your exam date for a $7.95 fee.
Do LPNs take the NCLEX?
Yes, aspiring Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) must pass the NCLEX-PN exam to obtain a nursing license.
Finding an NCLEX tutor near you
In addition to self-study or taking a review course, working one-on-one with a nursing tutor can increase your chance of passing the NCLEX exam on the first attempt. Follow these tips to find a reputable, qualified nursing tutor near you:
Search for tutors with at least 5 years of experience.
Choose a tutor with experience helping students prep for the new Next Generation NCLEX (NGN).
Read reviews of nursing tutors on Google and Tutors.com.
Select a tutor whose teaching style and format best suit your personal learning style.
Ask about their students' exam pass rate.
Questions to ask nursing tutors
Ask nursing tutors these questions to ensure you choose the best one for you:
How much experience do you have tutoring students for the NCLEX exam?
What percentage of your students pass the exam on their first attempt?
What is your teaching style?
What happens during a typical tutoring session?
How much time should I spend on independent study between sessions?
Will you help me develop a study plan?
What are the hardest areas of the exam?
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