NCLEX-RN

The National Council Licensure Examination is a standardized exam that each state board of nursing uses to determine whether or not a candidate is prepared for entry-level nursing practice. In order to take the NCLEX, you must apply for nursing license from your state board of nursing. That board will determine whether or not you meet its criteria for NCLEX-eligibility. You must then register to take the exam.

Once you've applied for a license from your state board of nursing, you will receive an NCLEX Examination Candidate Bulletin in the mail. You may then register with the National Council of State Boards of Nursing's testing service by phone, or by filling out a mail-in registration form. Once your state board of nursing has verified your eligibility either by certifying you themselves or by receiving the eligibility Certification from CGFNS or through another agency engaged by the Board, to take the NCLEX, you will receive an Authorization to Take the Test (ATT), along with a list of testing centers and instructions for how to schedule an appointment to take the examination.

The NCLEX is a multiple-choice exam, which uses an interactive system called Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) to gauge your level of competence. RN candidates will answer a minimum of 75 questions; the computer will attempt to access your level of competence. If you are clearly above the passing standard at this time, you will pass; likewise, if you are clearly below the standard you will fail. If you are too close to the standard to allow a definitive result to be determined, you will continue to answer questions until a final assessment can be made. RN candidates may take a maximum of 265 questions.

the NCLEX-RN, please visit www.ncsbn.org.