The NCLEX, explained
The NCLEX is the licensing exam for US nurses, written by NCSBN and delivered by Pearson VUE. There are two versions, the RN and the PN, and your state board of nursing decides when you are eligible to take it. A new test plan took effect in April 2026.
RN or PN
| NCLEX-RN | NCLEX-PN | |
|---|---|---|
| License | Registered nurse | Practical or vocational nurse |
| Questions | 85 to 150 | 85 to 205 |
| Time limit | 5 hours | 5 hours |
| Pass rate, all candidates, 2025 | 69.1% | 77.3% |
This guide is written mainly for the RN exam. Practical and vocational nurses have their own section, with the PN requirements, fees, pass rates, format and prep options set out separately.
What changed in 2026
The 2026 test plan took effect on April 1, 2026 and runs through March 31, 2029. It updates terminology and adds topics, but the Next Generation format, the adaptive testing and the content weights are reported as unchanged.
What the 2026 changes mean for youThe path, start to license
Apply to the state board where you want to be licensed. It decides your eligibility.
Create an account and pay the $200 exam fee.
Once the board confirms eligibility you get an Authorization to Test with a validity window. Book inside it.
Sit the adaptive exam at a Pearson VUE center. Official results come from your board.
Not sure which board to apply to? The directory links to every state’s official board of nursing.
Study strategy
NCLEX prep is mostly question practice. A question bank with readiness assessments tells you when you are ready to book.
A failed attempt costs another $200 and a 45-day wait, so do not book on a deadline alone.
Your ATT has a validity window set by your board. Apply early so you have time to choose a date.
Everything else on the NCLEX
UWorld, Archer, Kaplan and SimpleNursing compared.
→Board, ATT and who decides eligibility.
→Exam fee, state fees and prep.
→First-time and overall, and why they differ.
→How scheduling and retakes work.
→Adaptive testing and what is tested.
→The April 2026 test plan.
→Six head-to-head comparisons.
→The low-cost stack, and where it backfires.
→Official test plans and more.
→Board and Pearson VUE, in order.
→ID, the test center and pacing.
→What our NCLEX pages are based on.
→Common questions
What is the difference between the RN and PN?
The NCLEX-RN is the exam for registered nurses and the NCLEX-PN is for practical or vocational nurses. They are separate exams with separate prep products, so buy the one that matches your license.
Does everyone answer the same number of questions?
No. The exam is adaptive, so the system decides when it is confident of your result. RN candidates answer between 85 and 150 questions.
Can I retake the NCLEX?
Yes, with a 45-day wait between attempts. You pay the $200 exam fee each time, and your board may set its own limits.