NCLEX USA Exam Application | Processing and Registration
Know more about the NCLEX exam and other necessary information that you need to know first before processing your NCLEX USA.
What do you need to know about the NCLEX exam?
Let’s start with the basics. The NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) is a standardized exam for nursing licensure in the United States, Canada, and Australia, administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). This exam assesses whether a nursing candidate is qualified to practice in their chosen state or province.
In the United States, the NCSBN oversees more than 50 State Boards of Nursing (SBON), each with its own NCLEX requirements, qualifications, registration process, and exam fees. As a result, eligibility criteria vary—some foreign-trained nurses may qualify in one state while others may not, depending on factors such as education, work experience, and state-specific regulations.
What is the difference between the NCLEX RN and PN?
The US NCLEX Application has two types, (1) NCLEX RN - for candidates who completed an Associate Degree in Nursing or a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) and (2) NCLEX PN - exclusively for practical and vocational nurses who obtained a diploma in Licensed Vocational Nursing or License in Practical Nursing.
What are the steps of the NCLEX exam?
A typical NCLEX RN or NCLEX PN Application process for foreign nurses consists of the following phases:
STEP 1: Choosing the best state to apply for NCLEX
Each U.S. state has unique eligibility requirements, qualifications, and application processes for the NCLEX. Candidates must first undergo a pre-qualification assessment to determine which state they are eligible for based on their education, work experience, and career goals before proceeding with the application.
STEP 2: NCLEX Credential Evaluation Phase
In this phase, candidates' educational credentials are evaluated to determine their equivalency to U.S. nursing education standards.
Note: Not all State Boards of Nursing (SBON) require a pre-eligibility or credential evaluation phase as part of their NCLEX application process.
STEP 3: NCLEX Eligibility Phase
During this phase, the U.S. nursing regulatory body evaluates whether a candidate meets the eligibility requirements to apply for the NCLEX under a specific State Board of Nursing (SBON).
As part of this process, most State Boards of Nursing require candidates to complete a criminal background check (CBC). While some SBONs do not mandate a CBC, candidates are still required to disclose any history of unlawful conduct.
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STEP 4: NCLEX Authorization to Test/ATT Phase
After the nursing regulatory body declares you eligible, you will receive an Authorization to Test notification. This will serve as a notification that you are eligible to take the exam.
Note: ATT validity varies for each state.
STEP 5: NCLEX Exam Scheduling Phase
Once your ATT is approved, you are now eligible to choose your preferred NCLEX exam date within the validity dates indicated on your ATT. Make sure that you reviewed enough rationales from your NCLEX RN/PN practice test or NCLEX RN/PN book materials before scheduling your examination.
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STEP 6: Take your NCLEX exam
The NCLEX passing rate of foreign nurses was around 53.81% for RNs (First time - Internationally Educated) and 51.14% for PNs (First time - Internationally Educated) in 2024, and no matter which state or testing site you chose, everyone takes the same NCLEX test.
STEP 7: Claim your NCLEX exam result
The official exam results can be issued by the State Board of Nursing (SBON); however, it's important to note that not all State Boards of Nursing can provide these results.
STEP 8: Get your license or apply for a license application
Passing the NCLEX does not guarantee immediate licensure. Some State Boards of Nursing (SBONs) require candidates to complete a separate license application before issuing a license. Depending on the SBON's requirements, applications may be submitted online or via mail.
From searching the most suitable NCLEX state that you qualify for, checking the NCLEX requirements by each state compatible with your work experience and other qualifications can be overwhelming, especially to foreign nurses who are not acquainted with or had no knowledge in applying for NCLEX. Due to this licensure application process for NCLEX, candidates are advised to seek assistance from a specialized application preparation center like NEAC Medical Exams Center. NEAC is an innovative pioneer medical exams application center that offers easy and fast exam applications for NCLEX exam application and will do all the work for your NCLEX application for the best price to avoid financial losses and delays that may cause rejections of your application.
For further inquiries about the requirements, qualifications, and fees for the NCLEX USA Exam Application, kindly email us at inquiry@medexamcenter.com.
FAQs
There is no difference between a compact license and a multistate license. This terminology is used interchangeably to reference the Nurse Licensure Compact license that allows a nurse to have one license, with the ability to practice in all NLC compact states.
Yes, a candidate can take the NCLEX at any Pearson Professional Testing location, regardless of where the candidate is applying for licensure/registration.
Nursys is the only national database for verification of nurse licensure, discipline and practice privileges for RNs and LPN/LVNs licensed in participating boards of nursing, including all states in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC).
The NCLEX score transfer process allow candidates who have passed the NCLEX but are not yet licensed in the jurisdiction, making them eligible to transfer their score to another jurisdiction via NCSBN.
"A Candidate Performance Report let the NCLEX takers know their performance in each exam content area and only intended to provide indications of the candidate's strengths and weaknesses. If you did not answer at least the minimum number of NCLEX RN/PN questions, you would receive an abbreviated CPR, which tells you how many questions were answered and how many must be evaluated. Some states require the candidate to request a copy from the BON or Board of Nursing to be able to receive it."
Yes, as some states in the US do not require a license from the candidate's country of education as long as they meet all other requirements by their preferred Board of Nursing.
Not all states are members and participating in the Pearson VUE Quick results service, and the candidate will wait for the board to email or mail their official exam result.
Yes, not all states require the English exam before taking the NCLEX, as each State Board of Nursing in the US has different NCLEX requirements.
The NCLEX RN is a computer-based exam that only Pearson Professional Centers can administer. The majority of the questions are multiple-choice with four answer alternatives.
Yes. For 2020, the test's duration has been changed. Test takers will answer 75 to 145 questions (rather than a maximum of 265), and the exam will take five hours rather than three hours to finish. The exam still contains 15 experimental test questions that have no bearing on scoring.