To sit for the NCLEX, you need to graduate from a nursing program your state board of nursing has approved, file a licensure application with that board, register and pay $200 to Pearson VUE, receive an Authorization to Test, and arrive at the testing center with a valid government-issued photo ID whose name matches your registration exactly. The NCLEX exam requirements are set in two places at once: the National Council of State Boards of Nursing sets the baseline rules, and each state’s board of nursing adds its own eligibility and documentation steps on top. Which version you take depends on the license you want — NCLEX-RN for registered nurses, NCLEX-PN for practical or vocational nurses.
Who Can Take the NCLEX
Every board of nursing requires proof that you graduated from an approved nursing program before authorizing you to test. For the NCLEX-RN, that means an Associate Degree in Nursing or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. For the NCLEX-PN, it means a practical or vocational nursing program, usually ending in a certificate or diploma. The word that matters is “approved”: your program must be recognized by the board of nursing in the state where you plan to get licensed, not merely accredited by a general education body.1National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Approval of Nursing Education Programs
Your school handles verification by sending an official transcript or graduation confirmation directly to the board. That paperwork proves you completed the required clinical hours and coursework, and many boards receive it electronically through Nursys, the national database for nurse licensure verification.2National Council of State Boards of Nursing. License Verification Without that verification on file, the board will not move your application forward. Some programs send it automatically near the end of your final semester; others require you to request it, so confirm which applies to you.
Applying Through Your State Board
The process starts with a licensure application to the board of nursing in the state where you want to practice. You will provide standard personal information, your Social Security number, and the nursing school code that NCSBN assigns to your program. Entering the wrong school code is one of the most common preventable mistakes and can get your application rejected outright, forcing you to refile and pay again.3NCLEX. NCLEX: The Pathway to Practice
Application fees charged by the board vary widely, typically from $50 to over $300 depending on the state. That fee is separate from the $200 you will pay Pearson VUE for the exam itself. Some states also require proof of citizenship or legal residency. Every name on your application must match your legal identification exactly; even a minor discrepancy can create delays or force you to start over.3NCLEX. NCLEX: The Pathway to Practice
Most boards also require a criminal background check. The format varies by state: fingerprint-based checks at the state and federal level, name-based searches, or self-disclosure.4The Council of State Governments. Capitol Facts and Figures – Nurse Licensure Criminal Background Checks A criminal record does not automatically disqualify you — boards evaluate cases individually. Failing to disclose a past conviction when asked, though, is treated far more seriously than the conviction itself. Boards routinely find undisclosed records during background checks, and that nondisclosure alone can lead to denial. Budget roughly $20 to $60 for fingerprinting and processing, depending on your state.
Multistate Versus Single-State Licensure
If your primary state of residence belongs to the Nurse Licensure Compact, you can apply for a multistate license that lets you practice in any other compact member state without a separate license. To qualify, you must prove residency through a driver’s license, voter registration, or federal tax return filed from that state; owning property there is not enough.5Nurse Licensure Compact. How it Works If your state is not in the compact, or you want to practice in a non-compact state, you will need to apply through that specific board.
Registering and Scheduling With Pearson VUE
While your board processes the application, you register separately with Pearson VUE, which administers the exam. The registration fee is $200 for candidates seeking U.S. licensure.6NCLEX. Fees and Payment International candidates testing outside the United States pay an additional $150 scheduling fee on top of the $200. Payment goes through the Pearson VUE website, which starts a parallel track where the board cross-references your application with your school’s educational verification.7National Council of State Boards of Nursing. NCLEX Registration Process
Once the board clears you, you receive an Authorization to Test by email. The ATT contains a unique candidate number and an expiration date. The validity window varies by state; some grant 90 days, others set shorter periods. Your specific dates appear on the email, so check them immediately.8NCSBN Help Center. When will I get my NCLEX Authorization to Test (ATT) email Return to the Pearson VUE portal to pick a date, time, and testing center. Appointments fill on a first-come, first-served basis, and convenient locations book up quickly. If your ATT expires before you test, you forfeit the $200 and start over. No refunds are issued for any reason, including no-shows and missed deadlines.6NCLEX. Fees and Payment
Rescheduling and Cancellation
To change your appointment, you must do so at least 24 business hours before the scheduled time. Miss that cutoff and your options are to show up for the original appointment or forfeit the fee and reregister from scratch.9NCSBN Help Center. How do I reschedule my exam appointment? There is no partial-penalty tier; it is all or nothing at that line.
Identification Required on Test Day
You need one valid, government-issued, physical photo ID whose name matches your Pearson VUE registration. Accepted forms are:
- Passport (book or card)
- Driver’s license
- State-issued identification card
- Permanent residence card
- Military identification card
The ID must be a physical original, not a photocopy or a digital version on your phone, and it cannot be expired. First and last names must match your registration exactly. Even a small difference — a middle name present on one document but not the other, for example — can get you turned away.10NCLEX. Acceptable Identification
If you arrive without acceptable ID, staff will deny you entry and treat you as a no-show. That means paying another $200 registration fee and waiting for a new ATT, so verify your documents the day before.10NCLEX. Acceptable Identification
Extra Steps for Internationally Educated Nurses
If you graduated from a nursing program outside the United States, roughly two-thirds of state boards require you to complete the CGFNS Certification Program before authorizing you to take the NCLEX-RN. The program has three components:11CGFNS International. CGFNS Certification Program
- A credentials evaluation that verifies your secondary school education, nursing transcripts, and current home-country nursing license. The license must be unrestricted and validated within the last three years, with verification sent directly from the licensing authority.
- A qualifying exam: 165 computer-based questions (150 scored, 15 unscored) over three hours. This is separate from the NCLEX itself.
- English language proficiency, demonstrated through an approved exam such as the TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, or PTE Academic. Scores must come from a test taken within one year of your qualifying exam date, and at-home test versions are not accepted.
The English requirement is waived if your nursing education was conducted entirely in English (including textbooks) and you studied in a specified country, including Australia, Canada, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom, or the United States.11CGFNS International. CGFNS Certification Program
Not every state requires full CGFNS certification. Some accept a credentials evaluation alone, and a few run their own review processes. Check directly with the board of nursing in the state where you plan to practice, because this is the single biggest variable for international candidates and the step where most delays happen.
Testing Accommodations
Candidates with disabilities can request modifications under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Requests are evaluated individually and may include extra testing time, a separate room, or additional breaks.12Pearson VUE. Test accommodations Nursing mothers can request breaks to pump; Pearson VUE testing centers provide a private space with a chair, table, and electrical outlet.
Documentation must be reasonable and tied to the specific accommodation you are asking for. In many cases one or two of the following will suffice: a recommendation from a qualified professional, proof of past accommodations such as an IEP or Section 504 Plan, or the results of a professional evaluation. If you received accommodations during nursing school and can certify you still need them, the testing entity should generally grant the same accommodations without demanding more paperwork.13ADA.gov. ADA Requirements: Testing Accommodations Never having received formal accommodations before does not disqualify you; what matters is demonstrating a current need, which your full history can establish, including informal accommodations.
Retaking the NCLEX
If you do not pass, NCSBN allows you to retake the exam up to eight times per year, with a mandatory 45-day waiting period between attempts. You pay the full $200 registration fee each time; there is no discounted retake rate.14National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). 2026 NCLEX Examination Candidate Bulletin
Those are the NCSBN baseline rules. Individual boards often impose stricter limits. Some states cap total lifetime attempts; others require a board-approved remediation or refresher course after a certain number of failures. Contact your board of nursing directly after an unsuccessful attempt before re-registering, because starting the process without checking can waste time and money if your state has additional steps you did not know about.