 Next Generation NCLEX logo | |
| Acronym | NCLEX |
|---|---|
| Type | computerized adaptive testing |
| Administrator | National Council of State Boards of Nursing |
| Skills tested | Nursing science |
| Purpose | Prerequisite to nurse licensure in the USA and Canada |
| Year started | 1994 in United States 2015 in Canada |
| Regions | United States, Canada and Australia |
| Languages | English and French |
| Annual number of test takers | NCLEX-RN:  358,998 (in 2023)[1] NCLEX-PN:  65,679 (in 2023)[1] |
| Prerequisites | Candidate must be a graduate of an approved nursing school. Fluency in English assumed. |
| Fee | $200 USD or $360 CAD |
| Used by | State Boards of Nursing in United States and Board of Nursing in 10 Canadian provinces |
| Qualification rate | NCLEX-RN: 69.66% (in 2023)[1] NCLEX-PN: 74.54% (in 2023)[1] |
| Website | www |
The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) is a nationwide examination for the licensing of nurses in the United States, Canada, and Australia since 1982, 2015, and 2020, respectively.[2][3] There are two types: the NCLEX-RN and the NCLEX-PN. After graduating from a school of nursing, one takes the NCLEX exam to receive a nursing license. A nursing license gives an individual the permission to practice nursing, granted by the state where they met the requirements.
NCLEX examinations are developed and owned by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN). The NCSBN administers these examinations on behalf of its member boards, which consist of the boards of nursing in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and four U.S. territories, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
To ensure public protection, each board of nursing requires a candidate for licensure to pass the appropriate NCLEX examination: the NCLEX-RN for registered nurses and the NCLEX-PN for vocational or practical nurses. NCLEX examinations are designed to test the knowledge, skills, and abilities essential for the safe and effective practice of nursing at the entry level.
NCLEX examinations are provided in a computerized adaptive testing (CAT) format and are presently administered by Pearson VUE in their network of Pearson Professional Centers (PPC). With computerized exams such as this, the computer selects which question you are asked based on how you answered the previous question. The NCLEX covers a wide range of material. The individual will be scored on their ability to think critically about decisions involving nursing care.[4]
- ^ a b c d "2023 : Number of Candidates Taking NCLEX Examination and Percent Passing, by Type of Candidate" (PDF). National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ "NCSBN Historical Timeline". National Council of State Boards of Nursing. 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-03-16. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
canadawas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Catalano, Joseph T. (2012). Nursing Now!: Today's Issues, Tomorrow's Trends (6th ed.). Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Co. pp. 209–227. ISBN 978-0-8036-2763-5. OCLC 746316107.