NCLEX Fee Increase 2027: What Changes on February 1

From February 1, 2027, the NCLEX registration fee rises from $200 to $350 in the United States and Australia, and from $360 CAD to $570 CAD in Canada. The fee depends on when you complete your registration, not on your exam date, and it applies to every NCLEX registration, including retakes.

If you are planning your exam for 2027, that is the short version of the NCLEX price increase. The rest of this article explains what exactly changes, who it affects, and why the date you register matters more than the date you test.

What Changes on February 1, 2027

NCSBN, the organization that develops the NCLEX, announced the change in August 2026. The new registration fee is:

• $350 for candidates seeking licensure in the United States;
• $350 for candidates seeking licensure in Australia;
• $570 CAD for candidates seeking licensure or registration in Canada.

Until then, the current fees apply: $200 USD for U.S. licensure, $360 CAD for Canadian licensure or registration (excluding local taxes), and $200 USD for Australian licensure.

NCSBN explains the reason in one sentence: the change "reflects 25 years of inflation and rising costs associated with exams, data protection and cybersecurity."

Who the Change Affects

The new fee applies to all NCLEX registrations. In practice, that means:

• NCLEX-RN candidates. The registration fee for U.S. licensure goes from $200 to $350.
• NCLEX-PN candidates. The same registration fee applies. NCSBN's fee schedule lists fees by licensure country, not by exam type. The NCLEX-PN overview covers the exam itself.
• Candidates who retake the exam. A retake is a new registration, and it is charged the fee in effect on the date you complete that registration.
• Candidates in Canada. The fee becomes $570 CAD. The REx-PN examination fee is not affected.
• Candidates in Australia. The fee becomes $350.

Some fees do not change. NCSBN states that international scheduling fees and change fees will remain the same.

Why Registration Timing Matters

The rule is simple: registrations completed before February 1, 2027, are charged the current fee. Registrations completed on or after February 1, 2027, are charged the new fee. The exam date does not affect the fee.

So a candidate who completes registration in January 2027 and tests in March 2027 pays the current fee. A candidate who registers on February 1, 2027, pays the new fee, even if the exam is only a few weeks later.

That can make early registration look like an easy way to save $150. Before you rush, check how the process actually works:

1. Registration is not the same as eligibility. You register with Pearson VUE, but your nursing regulatory body (NRB) decides when you are eligible to test. NCLEX registrations stay open for 365 days while waiting for that eligibility.
2. The fee can be forfeited. If your NRB does not make you eligible, or denies eligibility, within those 365 days, you forfeit the registration and the exam fee. You would then need to register again and pay the fee in effect at that time.
3. There are no refunds. NCLEX fees are not refunded for any reason.
4. The testing window is fixed. Once you are eligible, you receive an Authorization to Test (ATT). You must test within its validity dates, which average 90 days and cannot be extended.
5. One open registration at a time. If you already have an open NCLEX registration for the same exam type, a second registration is denied and its fee is not refunded. Re-registering before February 1 does not lock in the current fee if an earlier registration is still open.

Registering before February 1 makes sense when you are already applying to your NRB and expect to become eligible within the year. It makes less sense if you are not yet sure when, or where, you will apply for licensure. Paying early only to lose the fee later is not a saving.

If you are unsure, ask your NRB about its timeline before you register.

NCLEX Fees Before and After February 1, 2027

Fees are paid with a Visa, Mastercard or American Express credit, debit or prepaid card. Your NRB's own requirements are separate: before a retake, for example, NCSBN says the NRB will tell you about any fees or materials it needs to make you eligible again.

How to Avoid Paying for a Retake

No preparation method can guarantee a result, and we will not pretend otherwise. What you can control is whether you pay a registration fee you did not need to pay.

Do not lose the fee through a missed appointment. If you need to reschedule or cancel, do it at least one full business day (24 hours) before your appointment. For an appointment on a Saturday, Sunday or Monday, that means calling Pearson VUE no later than the Friday before, and still at least 24 hours ahead. Not showing up, or rescheduling or cancelling without that notice, forfeits the exam fee (and the scheduling fee, if you paid one), and the ATT is invalidated. You would have to register and pay again, at whatever the fee is on that date.

Schedule when you are ready, not when the calendar pushes you. Because the exam date does not affect the fee, you do not need to test before February 1 to keep the current price. Registering early and testing when you are prepared are two separate decisions.

Prepare for the exam that actually exists. Start with the official Test Plan and the NCSBN Sample Pack, Exam Preview and Candidate Tutorial, so the format does not surprise you on test day. The 2026 NCLEX study roadmap turns the Test Plan into a weekly routine, and evidence-based study methods explains why active practice works better than rereading notes. It is also worth reading how to pass the NCLEX before you set a test date.

Understand the exam before you sit it. Variable exam length and adaptive testing are easier to handle once you know how they work. Read How the NCLEX Works and what to expect on test day.

If an attempt does not go your way, use the evidence. Candidates who do not pass receive a Candidate Performance Report (CPR), which NCSBN describes as a guide to prepare for the retake. Failing the NCLEX Is Not the End covers how to read that result calmly and plan the next attempt, and the NCLEX retake rules explain when you can register again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which NCLEX fee applies to me?

The one in effect on the date you complete your registration. Before February 1, 2027, that is $200 USD for U.S. licensure, $360 CAD for Canadian licensure (excluding local taxes) and $200 USD for Australian licensure. On or after February 1, 2027, it is $350 in the United States and Australia and $570 CAD in Canada. For the full cost of the exam, including the fees that do not change, see what the NCLEX costs.

I register in January 2027 but test in March. Which fee do I pay?

The current fee. NCSBN bases the fee on the date you complete your registration. The exam date does not affect it.

Does the increase apply to the NCLEX-PN?

Yes. The new fee applies to all NCLEX registrations, including the NCLEX-PN. In Canada, the REx-PN examination fee is not affected.

Do I pay the new fee for every retake?

Only for retake registrations you complete on or after February 1, 2027. Each attempt is a new registration, and the same fee applies to all NCLEX registrations, including retakes, based on the date the registration is completed. Under the NCSBN retake policy, candidates applying to a participating NRB can test up to eight times a year, with at least 45 test-free days between exams, and some NRBs set stricter limits. The full NCLEX retake rules cover the wait, the steps and where boards are stricter.

Can I get a refund of the NCLEX fee?

No. NCLEX fees are not refunded for any reason. The international scheduling fee is also non-refundable.

Can veterans be reimbursed for the NCLEX fee?

Eligible veterans can request reimbursement by submitting VA Form 22-0803 to their local VA office. This option is not available to candidates applying in Canada or Australia.

Before You Register

The fee change does not change what the exam measures. Explore ExamReady NCLEX preparation when you want a structured place to practice before you register.

Official resources

• NCSBN: NCLEX Fee Changes Feb. 1
• NCLEX: Fees and payment
• NCLEX: Frequently asked questions
• NCLEX: Registration
• NCLEX: Scheduling, rescheduling and cancellation
• NCLEX: Results and retake policy
• NCLEX preparation materials and Candidate Tutorial