NCLEX Exam for Nursing: fees, registration, eligibility criteria, syllabus & exam pattern

Darshan Shah

27 Jun 2024

This article is everything you need to know about the NCLEX Exam for Nursing. But let us first dive into what the NCLEX Exam is all about. NCLEX, short for The National Council Licensure Examination, is a nationwide examination in the United States, Canada, and Australia for the licensing of nurses. It is an MCQ based computer-adaptive test, meaning the difficulty of the questions asked adapts to how the user is answering them. There are two types of this exam: the NCLEX-RN for becoming a Registered Nurse and the NCLEX-PN for becoming a licensed Practical Nurse. It is given by students who’ve graduated from their nursing schools. Thus, this exam is important for obtaining a licence granted by the government and start practising as a nurse. Read along to find out more about the NCLEX exam in our complete guide.

NCLEX Full Form

NCLEX stands shorts for The National Council Licensure Examination.

NCLEX Exam for Which Country?

The NCLEX exam is widely used in the USA, Canada, and Australia for giving the nursing licence to Nursing Graduates.

NCLEX Exam: Eligibility Criteria

There are a few requirements that you need to meet prior to applying for the NCLEX Exam. These are slightly different for the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN. Here are some common eligibility criteria amongst both:

Educational Requirements

The basic eligibility criteria to apply for the NCLEX exam is graduation from an approved nursing program either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), Science in Nursing (BSN), an associate degree, or a nursing Diploma. These may however differ based on the country’s regulatory body and its set educational standards.

Language Proficiency Requirements

As an international student, you may be asked to submit your IELTS or TOEFL scores.

Applying to a Regulatory Body

Each state has its own Regulatory Body. You need to apply with the regulatory body of the state you wish to practise in. Keep in mind that each will have its own requirements and procedures. So, make sure to keep in track with them.

Fitness and Background Checks

A fitness check may be required to demonstrate your ability to work through the basic tasks that are expected from a nurse. Additionally, a background check to make sure there’s no criminal record with you can be done by the authorities.

Authorization to Test (ATT)

Once you apply for the NCLEX and all the necessary requirements are met, you will be granted an Authorization to Test (ATT). This means that the regulatory body has approved your application and you can proceed to apply for the test and choose a date.

How to Register for NCLEX Exam?

Here is a step by step process to register for the NCLEX exam:

• STEP 1: Choose the state/province you want to practise in and apply for licensure with its nursing regulatory body (NRB).
• STEP 2: After your application is reviewed by your NRB and is approved, you will receive an Authorization to Test (ATT).
• STEP 3: The Pearson VUE administers the NCLEX exam. After receiving ATT, go to the NCLEX website and fill up an online examination form after creating an account with the Pearson VUE.
• STEP 4: Pay the exam fee for NCLEX. For Indian students the fee is $200. But for international scheduling more charges apply.
• STEP 5: At last, choose an exam date and centre within 90 days after getting your ATT on the Pearson VUE website.

Useful Links:

Contact your NRB

NCLEX Registration

Testing Locations

Schedule an Exam Appointment Online

NCLEX Exam Fees in India

Below is an official fee chart as mentioned by the Pearson VUE on the NCLEX website. NCLEX Exam Fee in India is the same as registration fees i.e. $200 USA Licensure, but international scheduling may result into additional charges, totalling up to 25,776 INR.

Refer to the below table curated especially for Indian students:

NCLEX Exam Pattern

The NCLEX Exam Pattern mainly focuses on how the candidates are able to apply their nursing knowledge to real-world scenarios. It uses MCQ based Computerised Adaptive Testing (CAT). CAT means that the difficulty level of questions is totally based on the candidate’s performance in real time. Some of the key points to note about the NCLEX exam pattern are:

• Question Format: NCLEX exam uses MCQ, fill-in-the-blank calculations, multiple response questions, ordered response questions, and hotspot questions.
• Number of Questions (varies as per the candidate’s performance)

Only the first 60 questions are counted out of 75 questions. Rest are saved for future evaluation purposes.

• Time Limit

• Passing Standard

As such, there isn’t any passing criteria mentioned. The ability of the candidate to meet a minimum competency level is determined, evaluating whether they can safely and effectively practise nursing.

NCLEX Exam Syllabus

Essentially, the syllabus is divided into 4 main categories with their respective subtopics:

These topics overall assess the candidate’s ability to practise nursing. You may also refer these official resources for more information on the test format: NCLEX RN Test Plan 2023, NCLEX PN Test Plan 2023.

NCLEX Practice Questions

For excelling at the NCLEX exam, you need to have enough practise with the actual exam format. Here are some tips to how you can practise thoroughly before appearing for your NCLEX exam:

• Use official resource like the NCSBN or National Council of State Boards of Nursing for practise questions. Prepare for NCLEX
• Try to create exam-like environment and put time restraints while practising for the test.
• Understand each correct or incorrect answer and add to your knowledge for future improvement.
• Identify your weak areas and put more time in studying and improving in those.

Here are some resources you may want to use for practising for the NCLEX exam:

Likewise, books can be a great source to practise for the NCLEX exam. Here’s a list of some of the best prep guides available:

• Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN Examination
• Kaplan NCLEX-RN Prep Plus
• Lippincott Q&A Review for NCLEX-RN
• NCLEX-RN Questions & Answers Made Incredibly Easy
• HESI Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN Examination

NCLEX Testing Centers In India

• Pearson Professional Centers - Bangalore

Trade Center, Dickenson Road, Next to Maniple Centre, Bangalore, KAR 560042

• Pearson Professional Centers - Chennai

Gee Gee Emerald Building, 151, Village Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai, TAM 600034

• Pearson Professional Centers - Hyderabad

202, ABK Olbee Plaza, Road No.1, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, AND 500034

• Pearson Vue Professional Centers - New Delhi

Yousuf Sarai Community Centre, Above Hyundai Showroom, New Delhi, DEL 110016

• Pearson Professional Centers - Mumbai

Solitaire Corporate Park,167 Andheri, J B Nagar Link Rd, Chakala, Andheri, Mumbai, MAH 400093

Final Thoughts

The NCLEX exam is an important step for nursing aspirant to get licensed for practising in mainly the USA and Canada. As of 2020, Australia too is using it for licensing nursing graduates. The more you understand the eligibility criteria, registration process, exam fees and pattern, and the syllabus, the more you can come up with strategies to prepare. There are so many resources available to practise thoroughly for the NCLEX exam. Utilising all the available study material, resources and mock tests will help you to succeed in the NCLEX exam confidently. For any further assistance or questions about the NCLEX exam or studying abroad, please feel free to reach out to D-Vivid Consultant, a trusted Study Abroad Consultant in Surat & Ahmedabad. We are there every step of the way to help you to navigate the otherwise hectic process easily, and make your career dreams a reality. Contact us @ 75750 20920 for more personalised guidance and support.