Updated for the 2026 NCLEX-RN Test Plan effective April 1, 2026.
Finishing your nursing program, whether that’s an accelerated BSN, a traditional BSN, an associate degree, or a diploma, is the first step toward becoming a licensed registered nurse. Every U.S. state and territory requires you to meet its licensure requirements and pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) before you can be licensed.
This guide explains how to get from nursing school graduation to RN licensure. It covers what’s on the exam, computerized adaptive testing, and how to register for the exam as well as how much it costs, how you should prepare, when to expect your results, and what happens after you pass. The information used here reflects the 2026 NCLEX-RN Test Plan, effective from April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2029.
One point worth mentioning because it can cause more confusion than any other part of the process is that passing the NCLEX-RN does not guarantee licensure. The NCLEX-RN is a national examination, but licensure is determined at the state level.
The exam standard is the same everywhere. The state requirements surrounding it and the pathway to licensure are not.
2026 NCLEX-RN at a Glance
- Items: 85–150
- Time limit: 5 hours maximum (breaks included)
- Format: Computerized adaptive testing (CAT)
- U.S. registration fee: $200
- Clinical judgment: Measured across 6 steps (NCSBN Clinical Judgment Measurement Model)
Source: 2026 NCLEX-RN Test Plan and 2026 NCLEX Candidate Bulletin, NCSBN.
| Item | 2026 NCLEX-RN |
| Purpose | Registered nurse licensure examination |
| Developed by | National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) |
| Administered by | Pearson, at Pearson Professional Centers |
| Format | Computerized adaptive testing (CAT), variable length |
| Number of items | 85 minimum, 150 maximum (including 15 unscored pretest items) |
| Testing time | Up to 5 hours, including breaks |
| Registration fee (U.S. licensure) | $200, nonrefundable |
| Current test plan | April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2029 |
| Passing standard | 0.00 logits, unchanged for this cycle; effective through March 31, 2029 |
| Result reported as | Pass or fail only; no numeric score issued |
| Official results | Sent by your nursing regulatory body within six weeks |
| Retesting | Up to eight times per year with 45 days between attempts, though some jurisdictions are stricter |
Of the above information, two things are especially important to keep in mind on exam day. One: the exam is adaptive, so no two candidates see the same test. And two: the five-hour limit includes every break you take, whether they’re scheduled or not.
What Is the NCLEX-RN?
NCLEX stands for National Council Licensure Examination. NCSBN develops two versions. One is the NCLEX-RN, for registered nurses. The other is the NCLEX-PN, for practical and vocational nurses.
NCSBN is the organization through which U.S. boards of nursing (and most Canadian nursing regulatory bodies) unite on matters of public protection, including the development of nursing licensure examinations.
NCSBN writes and maintains the exam. It does not issue licenses. Individual nursing regulatory bodies do, and the NCLEX result is only one part of the licensing requirements.
The exam measures whether a candidate can practice safely and effectively as a newly licensed, entry-level registered nurse. It doesn’t rank candidates or predict long-term success in the nursing field. This exam measures competence, and passing means you’ve met the minimum level needed for safe entry-level practice.
Passing nursing school and passing the NCLEX are separate steps in the process of becoming an RN. Your nursing program determines whether you have enough knowledge to graduate from the program. Your state’s nursing regulatory body determines whether you are eligible to test and, ultimately, receive a license.
NCSBN and Pearson are only involved in structuring and administering the exam.
NCLEX-RN vs. NCLEX-PN
| NCLEX-RN | NCLEX-PN | |
|---|---|---|
Licensure | RN | LPN/LVN |
Intended graduates | RN-preparation programs | Practical/vocational nursing programs |
Exam | Separate RN examination | Separate PN examination |
The passing standards for these two exams are not directly comparable. They use different scales built from different item pools and different scopes of practice. A lower number does not mean an easier exam.
What’s on the 2026 NCLEX-RN?
The 2026 NCLEX-RN Test Plan took effect April 1, 2026. It was built on the 2024 RN Practice Analysis, which surveyed nearly 24,000 newly licensed RNs about the frequency, importance, and clinical judgment relevance in the nursing activities they actually perform.
The test plan organizes content into four Client Needs categories. Two of these are divided into subcategories, for a total of eight content areas. Every scored content item on your exam comes from one of those eight areas. Here’s how it breaks down.
NCLEX-RN Client Needs Categories
| Client Needs category / subcategory | Percentage of items |
| Safe and Effective Care Environment | |
| Management of Care | 15–21% |
| Safety and Infection Prevention and Control | 10–16% |
| Health Promotion and Maintenance | 6–12% |
| Psychosocial Integrity | 6–12% |
| Physiological Integrity | |
| Basic Care and Comfort | 6–12% |
| Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies | 13–19% |
| Reduction of Risk Potential | 9–15% |
| Physiological Adaptation | 11–17% |
Source: 2026 NCLEX-RN Test Plan, NCSBN.
Because lengths vary, the content distribution on any exam can differ from these ranges by up to 3 percentage points in each category.
There are three key things to pay attention to about this breakdown.
One, Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies carries the largest share within the Physiological Integrity category, at 13–19 percent.
Two, the four Physiological Integrity subcategories together account for the largest block of the exam.
And three, Management of Care, at 15–21 percent, is the largest single subcategory. It covers delegation, prioritization, advocacy, scope of practice, and continuity of care. This is content many test takers underestimate relative to clinical content.
Six additional processes are woven through every category rather than being seen as separate categories. They are caring, clinical judgment, communication and documentation, culture and spirituality, the nursing process, and teaching and learning.
Clinical Judgment and Case Studies
Clinical judgment is measured on every NCLEX-RN. NCSBN describes it as an iterative, multistep process that uses nursing knowledge to observe and assess a situation, identify a prioritized client concern, and generate evidence-based solutions that deliver safe care.
Clinical judgment appears on your exam in two forms:
- Case studies. Every exam includes 18 case study items, delivered as three sets of six. Each set follows a single unfolding patient scenario. New information is revealed as you progress. The six items in a set match the six steps of the NCSBN Clinical Judgment Measurement Model: recognize cues, analyze cues, prioritize hypotheses, generate solutions, take action, and evaluate outcomes.
- Stand-alone items. Approximately 10 percent of the exam consists of individual clinical judgment items, selected depending on exam length.
Because clinical judgment is an integrated process, case study items span multiple content areas. They’re counted independently of the content-area items.
A note on terminology. You may still encounter the phrase “Next Generation NCLEX” or NGN in study materials. NGN was the April 2023 enhancement that introduced these items. It’s not a separate examination; it’s simply part of the NCLEX.
How Computerized Adaptive Testing Works
The NCLEX has been delivered exclusively by computerized adaptive testing since April 1, 1994. Understanding CAT can help remove some of the mythology about the exam.
In a traditional, fixed-length exam, everyone taking it gets the same questions, so the percentage answered correctly indicates ability. High-ability candidates spend their time answering easy items that reveal nothing about what they really know, and low-ability candidates may purely guess on harder items.
CAT works differently. It assembles your exam as you take it. So, after each answer, the computer recalculates, estimating your ability based on every response you have given and the difficulty of every item you have answered. Then, it selects the next item using three criteria:
- The item comes from the content area that best keeps your exam aligned with the test plan percentages.
- The item is targeted to what it estimates as your current ability. It’s difficult enough that you have roughly a 50 percent chance of answering it correctly, which provides maximum information about your ability.
- For repeat candidates, the item is one you have not previously seen in the current item pool.
Source: 2026 NCLEX-RN Test Plan
This is why candidates get different questions and a different number of questions. Depending on your pattern of correct and incorrect responses, the computer reaches a confident decision sooner or later.
Because of how CAT works, you must answer every item before you can advance. It will not let you skip. And once you confirm an answer and move forward, you cannot go back to a previous item.
The single most important thing to understand about CAT is this: the length of your exam does not indicate whether you passed. NCSBN states this directly. A candidate may pass or fail at 85 items, at 150 items, or anywhere in between.
In 2025, 59.1 percent of first-time U.S.-educated candidates finished at the minimum number of items, and 20.5 percent reached the maximum, with an average test length of 103 items and an average testing time of 2 hours and 14 minutes. Source: 2025 NCLEX Examination Statistics (Research Brief Vol. 96)
Do not try to reverse-engineer CAT during the exam. The difficulty of individual questions and the total number of questions you receive do not reliably indicate whether you are passing. Maintain a reasonable pace and answer each item carefully.
NCSBN recommends maintaining a reasonable pace and reading each item carefully.
From Nursing School Graduation to RN Licensure
The path from graduation to an active RN license involves two main organizations: your nursing regulatory body and Pearson. The exact requirements and timing vary by jurisdiction.
From Nursing School to RN: The Licensure Timeline
- Graduate from your nursing program, whether it’s an ABSN, BSN, ADN, or diploma prelicensure program.
- Apply to your nursing regulatory body, the state board where you want to be licensed.
- Register for the NCLEX-RN with Pearson.
- Your regulatory body determines eligibility. Registrations stay open 365 days awaiting eligibility.
- Receive your Authorization to Test (ATT) — validity set by your regulatory body and cannot be extended.
- Schedule the NCLEX-RN. You must test within your ATT validity dates.
- Take the NCLEX-RN.
- Receive your results. Your regulatory body will issue official results within six weeks.
- Complete all remaining licensing requirements. These vary by state and may include background screening.
- Your RN license is issued by your nursing regulatory body, not by NCSBN.
Order and requirements may vary by jurisdiction. Source: NCSBN, 2026 NCLEX Candidate Bulletin.
The exact order of this process and the specific requirements for licensure can vary by jurisdiction.
Some states process eligibility in days; others take weeks. Some require fingerprinting and criminal background screening before eligibility is granted; others handle it after the exam; some issue temporary permits allowing graduates to work under supervision while licensure is pending; others do not.
Confirm the sequence with the nursing board where you intend to practice rather than assuming another state’s process applies.
How to Register for the NCLEX-RN
1. Apply for licensure with your nursing regulatory body
This is the first step. Your nursing regulatory body (commonly called the state board of nursing) grants your license, and it is the only authority that can declare you eligible to test.
Some people may register with Pearson before applying to their state board, but this can lead to problems. Your registration can remain idle, and you will forfeit your fee if the board doesn’t make you eligible to test within 365 days.
If you need testing accommodations, request them from your regulatory body at the time that you apply for licensure and before registering with Pearson. The board must authorize accommodations, and you should not schedule an appointment until you have written confirmation and an ATT listing the granted accommodations.
2. Register for the NCLEX with Pearson
Register online at NCLEX.com or by telephone through Pearson NCLEX Candidate Services. You will need your nursing program’s education program code, an email address, and a valid Visa, MasterCard, or American Express credit, debit, or prepaid card. Nursing schools, agencies, and employers can also register and pay on a candidate’s behalf.
The first and last names you use when you register must match the identification you present on exam day. A mismatch means you may be turned away and will have to reregister and pay again.
You’ll receive an email acknowledgment once Pearson processes your registration. All Pearson correspondence arrives by email only.
3. Your eligibility is confirmed
Your registration will stay open for 365 days while your state board determines eligibility. If the board does not make you eligible or denies eligibility within that window, you will forfeit the registration and the fee and must start over. You also cannot hold two open registrations for the same exam type simultaneously. Duplicates will be denied, and you will not receive a refund.
4. Receive your Authorization to Test
Once you are declared eligible to take the exam, Pearson will email you your Authorization to Test. The ATT contains your authorization number, candidate identification number, and expiration date.
Your nursing board sets ATT validity periods, and they vary. Most are about 90 days, but your state board ultimately decides. These dates cannot be extended for any reason. If you do not test within the allotted time, you must re-register and pay $200 again.
If more than two weeks have passed since your registration acknowledgement and you have not received an ATT, contact your state board to confirm that it has everything it needs.
5. Schedule your examination
You can schedule online through NCLEX.com or by phone. If you’re taking the exam for the first time, you’ll be offered an appointment within 30 days of the scheduling request. Repeat candidates are offered one after 45 days. You do not have to accept the first date offered, but remember, you must test within your ATT window.
Schedule your tests as soon as possible. Test centers fill up, and waiting narrows your options. You want to make sure you find a seat at an exam center before your ATT expires.
Changes to testing appointments must be made at least 24 hours in advance. Missing that window or failing to show up will forfeit your fee and invalidate your ATT.
Official registration instructions are published at NCLEX.com/registration.
How Much Does the NCLEX-RN Cost?
| Expense | Current cost (U.S. licensure) |
| NCLEX registration fee | $200 |
| State licensure/application fee | Varies by jurisdiction; contact your nursing regulatory body |
| International scheduling fee | $150, if testing outside the U.S. and its territories |
| Change nursing regulatory body after registering | $50 |
| Change exam type (RN/PN) after registering | $50 |
| Quick Results service (optional, unofficial) | $7.95 |
| Background check, fingerprinting, temporary permit | Varies by jurisdiction |
The NCLEX registration fee and your state RN licensing fee are two separate expenses that are paid to two separate organizations.
The $200 goes to Pearson for one exam attempt. Your application fee goes to your nursing regulatory body for the license itself. Neither one covers the other. This is a common cost misunderstanding among new graduates.
Application fees differ substantially by state. Some bundle fingerprinting and background screening into the application; others bill separately. Because those figures change, check your board’s current fee schedule directly to be sure.
All NCLEX registration fees are nonrefundable. There is no refund for duplicate registrations, for failing to reschedule or cancel outside 24 business hours, or for failing to appear. The international scheduling fee is nonrefundable under any circumstances.
It’s also worth noting that the NCLEX-RN is on the Department of Veterans Affairs list of qualified licensure and certification examinations. Eligible veterans and their dependents can be reimbursed for the cost of the exam. Qualifying veteran candidates currently have no limit on the number of attempts that can be reimbursed. Reimbursement requires VA Form 22-0803, which must be submitted with the initial request to the local VA office.
How to Prepare for the NCLEX-RN
There is no single best way to study or prepare. Candidates come from different programs and backgrounds, with varying gaps and varying amounts of available time. Below are basic principles rather than an exact schedule.
Start with the current test plan
Download the 2026 NCLEX-RN Test Plan before you build a study plan. It’s free, roughly 50 pages, and the actual exam blueprint. The content distribution percentages are used, and Appendix A provides a detailed listing of the specific content within each category.
Don’t study using an expensive outline when the official one is free and more authoritative.
Identify weak content areas diagnostically
Use practice test results as a diagnostic instrument, not a scoreboard. Find the categories where you have trouble, then focus on that content. It’s also a good idea to put more time toward the areas that make up a large part of the exam that you have the most difficulty with.
Practice clinical judgment specifically
Case-based items ask you to identify relevant cues in a body of information, then connect those cues to a clinical picture, prioritize competing hypotheses, choose interventions, act, and then evaluate the outcome.
Include unfolding case scenarios in your preparation rather than relying only on isolated practice questions.
Use practice questions deliberately
A hundred questions that you worked through carefully and understand the reasoning behind are more helpful than several hundred questions that you rushed through. It’s easy to quickly go through hundreds of questions without actually learning much.
Practice under timed conditions
You may sit for the exam for a maximum of five hours. Being able to concentrate under pressure for that long is its own skill, and it won’t develop through short twenty-question sessions. Build in longer practice blocks so that exam day is not the first time you have to concentrate on clinical reasoning for two-plus hours straight.
Review rationales for correct answers too
Reviewing why you got something wrong is an obvious choice, but reviewing why you got something right is where you can identify other problems.
A correct answer reached through flawed reasoning is one you will miss if the scenario shifts slightly. Even if you get a question right, review the rationale to make sure you really understand and don’t just make a lucky guess.
Prepare for test day itself
Sleep matters. So does knowing where the test center is, how long it will take you to get there, and where you will park.
Confirm that your identification is valid, unexpired, and matches your registration exactly. Plan to arrive 30 minutes early.
Free Official NCLEX Preparation Resources
NCSBN publishes many free materials. These are the authoritative versions of what commercial products describe secondhand.
| Resource | What it provides | Cost |
| 2026 NCLEX-RN Test Plan | The current exam blueprint, content distribution, and detailed content listings by category | Free |
| 2026 NCLEX Candidate Bulletin | Registration, scheduling, identification, candidate rules, results processing, retake policy | Free |
| Exam Preview | How the item types fit into the overall exam | Free |
| Sample Pack | Three RN case studies, two PN case studies, and additional item examples | Free |
| Candidate Tutorial | Hands-on practice with the Pearson exam software and item formats | Free |
| NCLEX Information Flyer | The eight steps of the NCLEX, acceptable identification, scheduling rules | Free |
Working through the Candidate Tutorial before exam day is worth the time. Coming across an item format that you’re unfamiliar with for the first time on test day is something you can avoid.
What to Expect on NCLEX Test Day
Test center procedures are standardized and enforced. The short version? Arrive early, bring the correct identification, and don’t bring anything else into the testing room.
- Arrival. Plan to get there at least 30 minutes before your appointment. Being more than 30 minutes late may mean forfeiting your spot, which is recorded and visible to your regulatory body.
- Identification. You need one acceptable form of ID. It is required. It must be government-issued, unexpired, physical rather than digital, have your name in Roman characters, and include a recent photograph and a signature. Your name must match your registration exactly. At international test centers, including those in Puerto Rico, a passport book or card is the only acceptable form of identification.
- Check-in. You will provide a digital signature and a palm-vein scan, have your photograph taken, and complete a security screening protocol before entering the testing room. You cannot wear hats, scarves, or coats in the testing room or in your photograph, and you must remove watches and large jewelry.
- Personal belongings. Electronic devices are placed in a sealed Pearson-provided bag and stored in a locker for the duration of the appointment. Pearson enforces a zero-tolerance policy on unauthorized electronics. Study materials of any kind are prohibited, including during breaks. Anyone accompanying you cannot wait inside the test center.
- Materials provided. You receive an erasable noteboard and a marker, and an on-screen calculator is available during the exam. You can ask the test administrator for earplugs, but you cannot bring your own.
- Breaks. Two optional breaks are offered. The first is after about two hours of testing, and the second after about three and a half hours. You may request additional breaks by raising your hand. During breaks, you must leave the testing room and provide a palm-vein scan when leaving and returning. All breaks still count against your five hours. The clock does not stop.
- Confidentiality. Disclosing exam items before, during, or after the exam is a violation of law. That includes discussing items with instructors, friends, or family, posting about them online, and reconstructing items from memory.
- Conclusion. You will complete a brief questionnaire, the administrator will collect your noteboard, and your device bag will be opened and inspected. There are no results available at the test center. Staff cannot access them.
The complete current rules are published in the NCLEX Candidate Rules and the Candidate Bulletin. Read them before exam day rather than at the check-in desk.
How Is the NCLEX-RN Scored?
The NCLEX is pass or fail. No score is ever released to you, your school, or your employer. There is no percentage, no scaled score, and no class rank.
The current NCLEX-RN passing standard is 0.00 logits, as set by the NCSBN Board of Directors in April 2026 and retained for another three years. To pass, your measured ability must sit at or above that standard. There is no preassigned percentage of candidates who pass or fail.
Three things determine when your exam ends and how it is scored:
- The 95% confidence interval rule. This is the most common outcome. Once you have answered the minimum number of items, the exam stops when the computer is 95 percent certain your ability is clearly above or clearly below the passing standard.
- Maximum-length exam. If your ability sits very close to the standard, the computer keeps producing items until it reaches the maximum number of questions. At that point, it sets aside the 95 percent requirement and uses only your final ability estimate. At or above the standard, you pass; below it, you fail.
- Run-out-of-time rule. If time expires before the maximum, and you have not answered the minimum number of items, you fail the exam. If you have answered at least the minimum number of questions, your final ability estimate is computed from every completed response and compared to the standard.
Fifteen items on every exam are unscored pretest items that are being tested for future use. You won’t be able to distinguish them from scored items. This is by design. They do not affect your ability estimate or your result.
Some item formats award partial credit where more than one correct answer exists, using plus/minus, zero/one, or rationale scoring.
For first-time U.S.-educated candidates in 2025, estimated decision consistency was 0.90, meaning roughly 90 percent of pass/fail decisions would be identical if the same population was immediately retested with a different set of items.
When Do You Get NCLEX Results?
There are only two ways to learn your NCLEX outcome.
Official results. Every exam is scored twice, once by the computer at the test center and again after it is transmitted to Pearson. Your nursing board sends your official result to you, typically within six weeks of your exam, though the timeframe varies by board.
Official results come only from your regulatory body. Do not contact NCSBN, Pearson, or the test center for results. They can’t provide them, and test center staff cannot access them. If six weeks pass without a result, contact your board.
Quick Results. Candidates seeking U.S. licensure in participating jurisdictions can purchase an unofficial result through their Pearson candidate profile for $7.95 two business days after testing.
Most U.S. jurisdictions participate; check NCSBN’s Quick Results page for the current list of participants. The service is not available for candidates seeking licensure in Canada or Australia. Quick Results tell you the outcome of your exam. They do not authorize you to practice as a licensed nurse.
A word on the “Pearson VUE trick”
There’s an informal method circulating online in which candidates attempt to re-register for the exam and interpret the system’s response as a signal of pass or fail. It is not sanctioned by NCSBN or Pearson. It is not documented in any official source, and it is not a result.
If you choose to try it, treat it accordingly. The only unofficial result NCSBN recognizes is the Quick Results Service, and the only result that carries any weight is the official one from your nursing regulatory body.
Attempting a second registration also carries a real risk: candidates cannot hold two open registrations for the same exam type. A duplicate registration is processed, denied, and nonrefundable.
What Happens After You Pass the NCLEX-RN?
Passing the NCLEX satisfies one requirement among several that you will need to obtain a license to practice.
Your state board of nursing determines whether you have met its requirements and issues your license. Depending on the state, remaining requirements may include criminal background screening and fingerprinting, verification of completion of your nursing program, jurisdiction-specific coursework or examinations, or additional documentation. Some states issue temporary permits during processing; others do not, meaning you cannot work as a nurse until the permanent license appears.
The gap between passing and practicing can vary widely, from days in some jurisdictions to weeks in others. If you have a job with a start date that is contingent on licensure, confirm your board’s processing timeline early so you and your employer know what to expect.
Your board is the authority on what you need to submit for licensure. NCSBN maintains contact information for every U.S. nursing regulatory body.
What Happens If You Don’t Pass?
About 13% of first-time U.S.-educated candidates did not pass in 2025, so retesting is not unusual.
Candidate Performance Report (CPR). Candidates who do not pass will receive a CPR from their nursing regulatory body. It will identify the result as failing, tell you how many items you were administered, and summarize your relative strengths and weaknesses against the test plan categories. This is the most specific diagnostic information you will ever receive about your own exam performance. Read it before you study anything else.
Waiting period. The NCSBN retake policy allows you to retest 45 days after you last took the exam. Some regulatory bodies require a longer waiting period, which will be reflected in your new ATT validity dates.
Annual limit. Candidates applying through a participating regulatory body may take the NCLEX up to eight times per year, as long as there are at least 45 test-free days between attempts. Some jurisdictions have stricter limits, so confirm your board’s policy.
Retake steps. Notify your state board that you intend to retake the exam. The board will tell you which fees or materials you need to submit to be eligible for retesting. Reregister with Pearson and pay the fee. Wait for a new ATT. Schedule a new appointment.
A retake will cost another $200 to Pearson, plus whatever your board charges to reapply. Schedule the new attempt after you have worked through the CPR and spent time strengthening the weak areas it identifies.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rates and Statistics
NCSBN publishes annual NCLEX statistics broken out by candidate type, degree type, and jurisdiction. The figures below come from the 2025 NCLEX Examination Statistics research brief, published June 2026.
NCLEX-RN first-time pass rates by year
| Year | First-time, U.S.-educated | All candidates |
| 2016 | 85% | 70% |
| 2017 | 87% | 72% |
| 2018 | 88% | 73% |
| 2019 | 88% | 73% |
| 2020 | 87% | 72% |
| 2021 | 83% | 69% |
| 2022 | 80% | 63% |
| 2023 | 89% | 70% |
| 2024 | 91% | 73% |
| 2025 | 87% | 69% |
Source: NCSBN, 2025 NCLEX Examination Statistics. Annual figures are reported as published by NCSBN, rounded to whole percentages. The precise 2025 first-time U.S.-educated rate was 86.7 percent, and the precise all-candidate rate was 69.1 percent.
It’s worth taking a closer look at these trends. The all-candidate rate runs 15 to 20 points below the first-time U.S.-educated rate every year. Why? Because it pools repeat candidates and internationally educated candidates, who pass at substantially lower rates.
When a headline cites a single “NCLEX pass rate,” check which population it describes. Recent graduates of U.S. prelicensure programs belong in the first-time, U.S.-educated group.
2025 pass rates by candidate type
| Candidate type | Tested | Passed | Pass rate |
| First-time, U.S.-educated | 192,916 | 167,272 | 86.7% |
| Repeat, U.S.-educated | 42,513 | 22,404 | 52.7% |
| First-time, internationally educated | 52,827 | 24,999 | 47.3% |
| Repeat, internationally educated | 40,187 | 12,271 | 30.5% |
| All candidates | 328,443 | 226,946 | 69.1% |
2025 pass rates by nursing degree type
| Degree type | Tested | Passed | Pass rate |
| Baccalaureate | 100,258 | 87,814 | 87.6% |
| Associate degree | 89,549 | 77,061 | 86.1% |
| Diploma | 2,671 | 2,226 | 83.3% |
Source: NCSBN, 2025 NCLEX Examination Statistics, Table 8.
An important limitation: NCSBN does not report accelerated BSN graduates separately. It categorizes test takers by diploma, associate degree, and baccalaureate degree, with a small category for special program codes.
ABSN graduates are counted within the baccalaureate figure alongside traditional four-year BSN graduates. The 87.6 percent baccalaureate rate therefore should not be presented as an ABSN pass rate. There is no published national figure that isolates accelerated BSN candidates.
The spread across degree types in 2025 was 4.3 percentage points, from 83.3 percent for diploma programs to 87.6 percent for baccalaureate programs. That is a real gap, but it is far smaller than the one between first-time and repeat candidates, or between first-time U.S.-educated and internationally educated candidates.
How to Use NCLEX Pass Rates When Comparing Nursing Programs
Prospective students typically treat NCLEX pass rates as a signal of quality, and while they are a legitimate one, they can be easy to misread.
A program’s pass rate is only one factor to consider. Others include:
- Multiple years of results. One cohort performing well is not a trend. Three to five years of good results gives you a better idea of whether a pass rate is stable or represents a single good year.
- Cohort size. A program graduating 12 students per year will swing wildly in percentage. A 100 percent pass rate from a cohort of 12 means twelve people passed, but if one doesn’t, that rate drops to 92 percent.
- Completion and graduation rates. A program that loses many students before graduation ultimately reports NCLEX results only for those who complete the program. Consider pass rates and completion rates together.
- Accreditation. Treat accreditation as a first cut. An unaccredited program can jeopardize your licensure eligibility, so screen those out early. Beyond that, though, it won’t help you compare programs, since the ones worth considering all have it.
- Cost and total price. Tuition, fees, and the opportunity cost of an accelerated timeline or moving across the country.
- Clinical education. Placement sites, hours, and whether the program helps with clinical placements and locating preceptors or requires students to find their own.
- Admissions requirements. Prerequisites, entrance testing, and prior degree requirements.
- Student support. Tutoring, remediation policy, and whether NCLEX preparation is built into the curriculum.
Two programs can post the same pass rate and offer entirely different experiences. A rate is a useful filter for screening out programs with persistent, multi-year underperformance. But it is a weak tool for ranking programs that all sit in a normal range.
You can compare program-level data in our state-by-state ABSN program directories.
Can You Take the NCLEX Online?
Not yet. NCSBN is developing an online, remotely proctored version of the exam that would let candidates test outside traditional test centers, using ID validation, object detection, an environmental scan, and a 360-degree camera view that combines a phone app with the computer’s camera.
NCSBN has stated explicitly that NCLEX Online is not launching in 2026 and that no specific launch date has been announced. When it does launch, NCSBN has said that domestic and international candidates will both be eligible, that testing at a Pearson test center will remain an option, and that the exam itself, including questions, length, psychometrics, and rules, will be identical, regardless of where it is taken.
NCLEX-RN Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are on the NCLEX-RN?
Between 85 and 150. Every candidate answers at least 85 items; the maximum is 150. Fifteen items on every exam are unscored pretest items.
How long is the NCLEX-RN?
Test takers have up to five hours to complete the exam, including the introductory screen and all breaks. In 2025, first-time U.S.-educated candidates averaged 2 hours and 14 minutes; only 0.5 percent used the full five hours.
How much does the NCLEX-RN cost?
It is $200 to register for U.S. licensure. This payment is made to Pearson and is nonrefundable. Your state licensure application fee is separate and set by your nursing regulatory body.
Is the NCLEX-RN hard?
It is a minimum-competence exam aimed at entry-level practice, and it is adaptive, so it targets items you have roughly a 50 percent chance of answering correctly. Because of this, the exam will feel difficult, regardless of how well you are doing. In 2025, 86.7 percent of first-time U.S.-educated candidates passed.
What score do you need to pass the NCLEX?
There is no score. The NCLEX is pass or fail. Internally, your measured ability must sit at or above the passing standard of 0.00 logits.
Can you pass the NCLEX in 85 questions?
Yes. Finishing at the minimum means the computer reached 95 percent certainty about your ability as early as possible. In 2025, 59.1 percent of first-time U.S.-educated candidates finished at the minimum number of items.
Can you fail the NCLEX in 85 questions?
Yes. The 95 percent confidence rule works in both directions. Exam length indicates only how quickly the computer became certain, not which way it decided.
How soon after nursing school can you take the NCLEX?
As soon as your nursing regulatory body declares you eligible and issues an ATT, and you can book an appointment within your ATT validity dates. Timing depends on how quickly your board processes your application and your program’s completion verification, which varies by jurisdiction.
How long does an ATT last?
Your state board sets the validity period; the average is about 90 days. You cannot extend the dates for any reason. If you do not test within the time frame, you must re-register and pay the fee again.
How soon can you retake the NCLEX?
The NCSBN retake policy allows retesting 45 days after your previous attempt. Some states require a longer wait, which will be reflected in your new ATT validity dates.
How many times can you take the NCLEX?
Up to eight times per year through a participating nursing regulatory body, with at least 45 test-free days between attempts. Some jurisdictions set stricter yearly limits.
Can you take the NCLEX online?
No. NCSBN is developing NCLEX Online but has stated that it will not launch in 2026. No launch date has been announced.
Does passing the NCLEX automatically make you an RN?
No. Passing satisfies only one licensure requirement. Your state nursing board issues your license after confirming you have met each of its requirements, which may include background screening and other state-specific steps.
Do ABSN graduates take the same NCLEX as traditional BSN graduates?
Yes. Graduates of accelerated and traditional BSN programs take the same NCLEX-RN. There is no separate NCLEX examination for ABSN graduates.
Where This Fits in Your Nursing Path
The sequence for most students seeking to become RNs is entrance testing, nursing school, then licensure testing. The TEAS is commonly used for nursing school admissions, while the NCLEX-RN is taken after completing a nursing program. One gets you into a program; the other is a requirement for licensure.
If you are still choosing a program, our guide to accelerated BSN programs covers admissions requirements, program length, cost, and clinical structure. If you have already graduated, your next stop is your state board of nursing.
Last reviewed: August 2026. NCLEX-RN exam format, registration, fees, and testing information were checked against current NCSBN and NCLEX guidance, including the 2026 NCLEX-RN Test Plan, the 2026 NCLEX Candidate Bulletin, and the 2025 NCLEX Examination Statistics. State boards of nursing may set additional licensure and retesting requirements.