What to do after failing the NCLEX

Failing the NCLEX can be a daunting experience, but it’s important to remember that it’s not the end of your journey to the United States. The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) is a critical step for nurses seeking licensure in the US, as it assesses the knowledge and skills necessary to practice safely and effectively. The NCLEX is designed to ensure that nurses are prepared to meet the demands of the healthcare environment and deliver care to the standards in the USA.  

In this guide, you’ll find: 

• NCLEX retake process 
• 5 steps to retake your NCLEX exam 
• Tips to help you pass the NCLEX 
• How Espirita can help you pass your exam retake

NCLEX retake process

When applying to retake the NCLEX exam, there are a few rules you need to consider, but the process is mostly the same to the first time you took the test. With the average first time pass rate of internationally trained nurses being 53.81%, don’t feel disheartened if you need to retake it.  

If you’re fortunate to have passed the exam, you can find out what to do next after passing the NCLEX.  

How many times can you take the NCLEX? 

According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), nurses can retake the exam up to eight times a year. However, some states impose their own limits on the number of attempts allowed within a year. If you need to retake the exam, it’s important to check the policy of the state board of nursing you’re applying to. 

How soon can you retake the NCLEX? 

You can apply to retake the NCLEX exam straight away. However, you must wait until your authorisation to test (ATT) is valid, which will be no earlier than 45 days after your previous attempt of taking the NLCEX-RN. Therefore, you cannot take the exam more than once in a 45-day period. This is meant to give nurses enough time to prepare and improve their chances of passing next time.  

Luckily, if you need to retake the NCLEX exam, you don’t need to retake the CGFNS Qualifying Exam® again as your certification lasts for life. Unlike the CGFNS Qualifying Exam®, which is designed to evaluate the credentials of internationally educated nurses, the NCLEX focuses on the practical application of nursing knowledge in real-world scenarios. Understanding the differences between the CGFNS and NCLEX exams is useful if this is your first time applying for licensure in the US. 

5 steps to retake your NCLEX exam 

1. Contact your nursing regulatory body 

Once you have received your Candidate Performance Report, showing your failure to pass the exam, you should contact your nursing regulatory body (also known as the state board of nursing) as soon as possible. They can provide you with specific guidelines on how to proceed, including any necessary documentation or fees required for retaking the exam. It’s important to verify the retake policies and any additional requirements that may apply in your state. 

2. Pay fees and meet requirements 

Just like when you registered the first time, once you have contacted the nursing regulatory body, you then must register with Pearson Vue again and pay the required fees. You must pay a $200 registration fee each time you take the NCLEX via a valid VISA MasterCard, American Express credit card, debit card or a prepaid card. On top of this, you must also pay a $150 scheduling fee for your test. Remember, when making the payments, you must also provide your programme code.  

3. Register with Pearson Vue 

Once you have made the payment, make sure that you have received the confirmation email that verifies that you’re booked in to take it. If you don’t receive this email, avoid registering again as you may end up paying for more than one exam.  

Instead, contact the Pearson Vue candidate services to check the status of your booking. Remember that the name you use when you register is the same as the name on the identification you will present at the testing centre on the day of your exam retake.  

4. Receive your new authorisation to test (ATT) 

If your registration is successful, your state board of nursing will review your application before you receive your ATT. This will be sent to your registered email. You can’t schedule your NCLEX exam without a valid ATT, so make sure that you check its expiry date before booking.  

5. Schedule a new exam appointment 

Once you have your valid ATT, you can book your exam. You must book it at an NCLEX testing centre, either online via Pearson Vue, or by calling the Pearson Vue candidate services directly. View the steps you must take to book your exam via the different methods: 

• Online: Register through the Pearson Vue website as this can expedite the process for test bookings. Sign in with the same credentials you used to register and request a date, time and a location to test in.  
• Telephone: Call the Pearson Vue candidate services directly, their telephone number is located on each Pearson Vue test centre’s website. Provide your ATT number and identification information to verify yourself, so make sure that you have these to hand when calling. Once you have verified yourself, you can request a date, time and location to take your test in.  

Tips to help you pass the NCLEX  

Preparing for the NCLEX exam can increase your confidence in your capabilities and improve your chances of passing on your next attempt. Espirita will offer support and guidance where possible, but we recommend you take the following steps to ensure you pass the NCLEX on your next try: 

• Identify areas you need to improve on (using your Candidate Performance Report) 
• Create a detailed study plan 
• Practice using sample questions 
• Seek advice from nursing agencies, such as Espirita

The minimum questions you need to get a calculated confidence interval in to pass the NCLEX is 85 questions. This is because it is the minimum number of questions you must answer on the test. The maximum number of questions on the exam is 150, but it will stop once it determines with 95% certainty whether you have passed or failed.  

If you’re feeling confident in your ability to take the exam and want to test yourself, use our NCLEX practice questions to help you prepare before your test date. 

How Espirita can help you pass your exam retake 

The team at Espirita has experience in exam preparation and can point you in the right direction to the best resources to help you prepare for your test. Or if you’re experiencing pre-exam nerves, our dedicated team is here to support you to make sure you remain confident in your abilities.