How to Register for the NCLEX-PN

To register for the NCLEX-PN, you apply for licensure with the board of nursing in the state where you want to be licensed, and you register for the exam with Pearson VUE, the company that delivers the NCLEX. Once your board confirms you're eligible and your registration is complete, Pearson VUE emails your Authorization to Test (ATT), and you can schedule your exam. The details, including fees and documents, vary by board.

Who takes the NCLEX-PN

The NCLEX-PN is the licensing exam for graduates of practical and vocational nursing programs. Passing it, along with meeting your board's other requirements, leads to a license as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) or, in California and Texas, a licensed vocational nurse (LVN). In California, LVNs are licensed by a separate board for vocational nurses rather than the board of registered nursing. If you're curious about the day-to-day role, see our LPN job description.

Step 1: Choose your state and apply to the board

Apply to the board in the state where you plan to work. If your primary state of residence is a Nurse Licensure Compact state, you may be eligible for a multistate license that lets you practice in other compact states. The compact covers LPN/VN licenses as well as RN licenses. Our guide to how a multistate compact license works explains the residency rules.

A typical board application includes:

• An online application and fee
• A criminal background check, often with fingerprints
• Proof of program completion, usually sent directly by your school
• Answers to questions about criminal history and other conduct issues
• Proof of identity

Answer every question honestly and completely. Missing documents and unexplained answers are common causes of delays.

Step 2: Register with Pearson VUE

Register for the NCLEX-PN through Pearson VUE's NCLEX website or by phone, and pay the registration fee. Fees vary and can change, so check the current amount when you register.

A few rules make a big difference:

• Use your exact legal name. The name on your registration must match the name on the ID you bring on test day. A mismatch can mean being turned away.
• Choose the correct board. Select the board you applied to, using the board code Pearson VUE lists.
• Use an email you check. Your ATT and other notices arrive by email.

Some boards want your application in before you register with Pearson VUE; others don't mind the order. Follow your board's instructions, since both pieces must be complete before you can get an ATT.

Step 3: Get your Authorization to Test

Once your board makes you eligible and your Pearson VUE registration is complete, you'll receive your ATT by email. It is valid only for a set window chosen by your board, and that window can't be extended. If it expires before you test, you generally have to register and pay again.

Step 4: Schedule your exam

Schedule at a Pearson VUE test center as soon as you can, since appointments can fill up. You'll need information from your ATT. If you need to reschedule, do it before the deadline stated in your confirmation. Missing that deadline or not showing up usually means forfeiting your registration fee.

If you need testing accommodations, request them through your board before you schedule. Accommodations must be approved by the board in advance, and you'll then schedule through Pearson VUE's process for accommodated exams.

Step 5: Prepare for the Next Generation format

The NCLEX-PN uses the Next Generation NCLEX format, introduced in April 2023. Expect clinical judgment case studies, new question types and partial credit scoring on many items. Our overview of what changed with the Next Generation NCLEX explains each item type.

Studying with others helps. The nursing students study group is a place to share resources and ask questions as you prepare.

Step 6: Test day

Read the current NCLEX Candidate Bulletin from NCSBN before test day. It lists the rules, including acceptable identification. In general, plan to:

• Arrive early to allow time for check-in
• Bring acceptable, unexpired identification with a name that matches your registration
• Go through identity checks such as a photo and palm vein scan
• Store personal items in a locker, since they aren't allowed in the testing room

The exam uses computerized adaptive testing, so it can end at different points for different candidates. Don't read anything into how many questions you get.

Step 7: Results and your license

Your official results come from your board. Some boards participate in Pearson VUE's paid Quick Results service, which provides unofficial results a couple of business days after the exam. Once you pass and meet all board requirements, the board issues your license. Our guide to registering for the NCLEX-RN covers more about what happens after the exam, and much of it applies to PN candidates too.

After you're licensed, add your license through Get Verified to put a verified license badge on your NurseTide profile.

A simple timeline

Every board works on its own schedule, but this order keeps most candidates on track:

1. Before graduation: read your board's application instructions, gather identity documents and ask your program how it sends proof of completion.
2. Around graduation: submit your board application and complete fingerprinting or the background check as soon as the board allows.
3. Once your application is in: register with Pearson VUE, checking that your name matches your ID exactly.
4. When your ATT arrives: note the expiration date and schedule your exam right away.
5. The week before: reread the Candidate Bulletin, confirm your test center location and check your ID.
6. After the exam: watch for results from your board, and keep an eye on your email for any requests.

Common reasons for delays

• Name mismatches between your registration, ID and board application
• Your school hasn't sent proof of completion yet
• Background check results are still pending
• Board questions about criminal history or prior discipline
• Registering under the wrong board

If your ATT is taking longer than expected, contact your board first, since it controls your eligibility.

Next step

Once your license is in hand, start looking for your first LPN role. Jobs on NurseTide show the pay, so browse nursing jobs near you.

General information for nurses, not medical, legal, tax or financial advice. Follow your facility's policies, your state board of nursing and the terms of your employer or contract.