What Is the NCLEX®?

The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX®) is a licensing exam for individuals who want to secure a license to practice as registered or practical nurses in the United States. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing develops the exam, which is available as two different examinations: the NCLEX-RN® is designed for individuals who are seeking licensing as registered nurses while the NCLEX-PN® is intended for individuals who want to become practical nurses. Both tests are multiple choice and administered via a computer.

An individual who wants to become a registered or practical nurse usually completes a rigorous education program to prepare for this career. Education alone, however, is not generally enough to qualify a person to practice as a registered practical nurse. Instead, most jurisdictions require licensing. After completing a nurse education program, passing the NCLEX® often is the next required step for obtaining a nurse license.

Unlike some types of examinations, the NCLEX® is not one that is open to anyone who is interested in a career in nursing. Instead, a person must be eligible to take the exam. Usually, a person is required to complete a nurse education program via an accredited institution to be eligible to take the NCLEX®. He must also complete a licensing application and pay a fee. Applicants typically have to submit to criminal background checks as well. It is important to note that the specific criteria a person may have to meet to be eligible for the nurse licensing exam vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.

A nurse licensing candidate takes the NCLEX® on a computer. The test is multiple-choice and adaptive. This means the difficulty of the test changes depending on the test takers performance. As the test taker answers questions correctly, the test adapts to give him more challenging questions. On the other hand, if an individual answers questions incorrectly, his next questions are less difficult.

An individual typically has up to five hours to complete the nurse license exam. In most cases, a person will receive the results of his NCLEX® within about two to six weeks of taking the exam. If a nurse candidate fails the exam, he can retest. He will usually have to wait three months to retake the exam again, however.

While nurse training programs can provide good preparation for the NCLEX®, a person may improve his chance of passing by taking other preparatory steps. For example, he may use study guides or attend review classes to prepare. Additionally, a nurse candidate may take practice tests to prepare for the real exam.