The National Council Licensing Examination for RNs (NCLEX-RN) is developed by the NCSBN to assess the nursing knowledge and skills of nurses who wish to practice as registered nurses. Licensing exams are administered by a nationally recognized testing agency, Pearson VUE, at its various centers located in the United States and some centers outside the country. Board-qualified candidates may also request test accommodations.
NCLEX-RN Exam Features
The RN Licensure Exam is a Computer Adaptive Test (CAT), and the NCSBN began offering the exam on computers beginning in April 1994. NCLEX is now administered only in the CAT format, not as an oral or oral exam. paper and pencil. Before the start of the exam, candidates receive a tutorial and instructions on how to use the computer to record responses to multiple-choice and other format questions. The exam consists of around 75 to 265 questions, and of these, 15 items do not qualify as pre-test questions. The time limit for the exam is 6 hours, and candidates must answer these questions within the allotted time. The six hour time limit also includes breaks, sample questions, review, and tutorials. The respective state Board of Nursing is responsible for making the test results known to the candidates.
The licensing exam is primarily organized into four groups that are based on major client needs, including a) Safe and Effective Care Environment, b) Health Promotion and Maintenance, c) Psychosocial Integrity ed) Physiological Integrity. Section a) is divided into two subcategories: safety and infection control and care management, while section d) has four subcategories: pharmacological and parenteral therapies, physiological adaptation, potential risk reduction, and basic care and comfort. . Test questions are allocated among these categories/subcategories as a percentage.
exam eligibility
Testing eligibility is offered only to qualified candidates who are licensed by the board of nursing/regulatory body. There are some requirements that applicants must complete to be eligible to take the registered nurse license exam. These prerequisites include graduation from board-approved and accredited RN programs, completion of the BON/RN and Pearson VUE registration process, payment of exam fees, and receipt of Authorization to Test (ATT). ). Once candidates complete these paperwork, the BON qualifies them for the national RN licensing exam.
registration process
Completion of the Registration Process is the first requirement to be able to take the exam. The process requires completing certain steps including applying for and submitting a BON/RB License Application and meeting their eligibility requirements, and registering with Pearson VUE via internet, phone, or third-party payments for NCLEX-RN. Applicants will also be required to pay a $200 testing fee, and if the exam is to be scheduled at test centers outside of the US, the applicant will be required to pay an additional $150 for International Certification test scheduling. Once these requirements are completed and the Board qualifies a candidate for the exam, the testing agency will email the applicant an Authorization to Exam (ATT) which also allows scheduling of the exam with Pearson VUE. ATT is valid for 60 to 365 days depending on the Board. However, the average validity of the Authorization to Test is 90 days. ATT contains an identification number, an authorization number, and an expiration date. Failure to take the exam within the stipulated time will require the payment of another exam fee. Candidates must also complete personal identification requirements to be eligible to sit at NCLEX test centers. However, passports and cards are only valid identification for exams outside of the US.
exam results
Passing standards for passing the exam are set by the NCSBN Board of Directors. Candidates must meet these standards to pass the test. After finishing the exam, the Board, from where the candidate has applied for a license, mails the result after about a month. Applicants can also apply for the Rapid Results Service by paying $7.95 to Pearson VUE, but to take advantage of this facility, the Board in question must be a participant in this service. Successful candidates obtain a BON/RB License and are allowed to use the title “RN”. They are also allowed to practice in a variety of healthcare settings.
However, applicants who do not pass the exam may retake the exam by contacting and applying to the Board and meeting its fees and other necessary requirements. They must also pay a $200 fee to register with Pearson VUE. Once these procedures are complete, applicants will receive a new ATT that will allow them to schedule their exam with the testing agency. Applicants must wait 45 to 90 days between each licensing exam to retake the new exam.
