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NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN: which exam should I prepare for?

The NCLEX-RN is the licensure exam for registered nurses, the NCLEX-PN for practical/vocational nurses. Your nursing regulatory body decides eligibility.

Updated · iOS, Android and Web

Prepare for the exam that matches the license you are applying for: usually the NCLEX-RN if you are in a registered nursing program, the NCLEX-PN if you are in a practical or vocational nursing program (U.S. only). The nursing regulatory body (NRB) where you apply decides whether you may take it.

Who takes which exam

NCLEX-RNNCLEX-PN
LicenseRegistered nurse (RN)Licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/VN)
What it measures"the competencies needed to perform safely and effectively as a newly licensed, entry-level registered nurse (RN)""the competencies needed to perform safely and effectively as a licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/VN)"
Where it is usedNCSBN member boards (U.S.), most Canadian nursing regulatory bodies, and Australia's Ahpra (for internationally qualified nurses)U.S. licensure only

The quotes are from the 2026 NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN Test Plans published by NCSBN, the organization that develops both exams. The places of use come from the test plans and from nclex.com.

Usually, the exam matches your nursing program: a registered nursing program leads to the NCLEX-RN, a practical or vocational nursing program to the NCLEX-PN. NCSBN's Uniform Licensure Requirements call for "graduation or eligibility for graduation" from "a Member Board–approved RN prelicensure program" for RN licensure, and from "a Member Board–approved LPN/VN prelicensure program" for LPN/VN licensure. There are exceptions: for example, "graduates from RN prelicensure programs who wish to take the NCLEX-PN® must have successfully completed a Member Board–approved LPN/VN role delineation course." Each NRB also sets its own rules. If you are not sure which license your program prepares you for, ask your school or the NRB.

Your nursing regulatory body decides

NCSBN puts it plainly: "Each nursing regulatory body (NRB) has its own eligibility requirements to take the NCLEX."

  1. Apply to the NRB. "First, submit an application for licensure/registration to the NRB where seeking to be licensed/registered. This step is required to obtain eligibility to take the NCLEX."
  2. Register with Pearson, the testing vendor, and pay the exam fee.
  3. Wait for your Authorization to Test. "After the NRB declares a candidate eligible and they have registered through Pearson, candidates will receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) email."

For the requirements that apply to you, contact the NRB where you want to practice. The full process is on nclex.com.

Registered for the wrong exam? For candidates seeking U.S. licensure, the 2026 NCLEX Candidate Bulletin lists a $50 fee to change the exam type (RN/PN) after registration; for Canadian and Australian candidates it is listed as "Not applicable". If your NRB has already made you eligible, contact the NRB first; otherwise, contact Pearson.

How the two exams compare

The format is the same; the content reflects each role.

  • Length: both exams have 85 to 150 items and a five-hour limit that includes the introduction and all breaks.
  • Clinical judgment: both include three case studies of six items each, measuring the six steps of the NCSBN Clinical Judgment Measurement Model, from recognizing cues to evaluating outcomes.
  • Content: both test plans have eight content areas under the same four Client Needs categories. Two differ: the RN plan has Management of Care (15–21% of items) where the PN plan has Coordinated Care (18–24%), and the RN plan's Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies (13–19%) is Pharmacological Therapies (10–16%) in the PN plan. Some shared areas also have different ranges, such as Physiological Adaptation (RN 11–17%, PN 7–13%). Our NCLEX pharmacology essentials cover the medication area for both exams.

For a closer look at each exam, see our NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN pages and the article how the NCLEX works.

Choosing your exam in the app

iOS

You choose the exam the first time you open the app: it's the first of five setup questions, Which exam are you preparing for? (see how to get started). The app describes each exam in one line:

  • NCLEX-PN®: "Assesses basic nursing skills for care under supervision"
  • NCLEX-RN®: "Evaluates advanced nursing skills for independent patient care"

The first setup question, "Which exam are you preparing for?", with the NCLEX-PN and NCLEX-RN cards

You can change your choice later in the app's Settings: see how to switch between NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN and what happens to your progress when you switch.

Sources

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