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What is Nclex PN exam?

Author

Olivia House

Published Feb 17, 2026

What is Nclex PN exam?

The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) is a national exam that determines your ability to practice nursing. The NCLEX-PN is a test that measures your knowledge and expertise of the essential skills that are required to safely enter the field of practical nursing.

Furthermore, what does the Nclex PN exam consist of?

The NCLEX-PN exam is a computerized adaptive exam that can consist of anywhere between 85 to 205 questions. You will also be given 25 “experimental” items that will not count towards your score.

Also, what is the difference between Nclex PN and RN? The National Council Licensure Examination, or NCLEX, is a test developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. The NCLEX-RN is used for graduates of registered nursing programs, and the NCLEX-PN is used for practical and vocational nursing graduates.

Furthermore, what is Nclex PN?

The National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN) is an exam designed for entry-level practical nurses and vocational nurses (LPN or VN). In order to determine eligibility to sit for the NCLEX-PN, you must first contact your state's nursing board.

What is the passing score for LPN Nclex?

NCLEX-PN Passing Standard

In December 2019, the NCSBN Board of Directors voted to raise the passing standard for the NCLEX-PN Examination. The new passing standard is -0.18 logits*, 0.03 logits higher than the current standard of -0.21 logits. The new passing standard will take effect on April 1, 2020.

How long should I study for the Nclex PN?

five hours

How do I prepare for Nclex PN?

Your NCLEX-PN prep should include a test plan as well as plenty of practice tests. Remember to check out this page on the NCSBN website for a more detailed NCLEX-PN review. These “PN Test Plans” are specifically for the NCLEX-PN, and they'll help you study by covering the content and scope of the exam.

Is the Nclex hard to pass?

NCLEX Pass Rates

According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, in 2017, the first-attempt NCLEX pass rate for U.S.-educated nursing students was 87%. The second-attempt pass rate for domestically-educated students taking the test was 45.56%. These results demonstrate that it is a pretty difficult test.

What happens if you fail the Nclex?

If you happen to fail the NCLEX-RN, you will be allowed to retake it at a later date. According to the NCSBN website, you are allowed to take the exam up to eight times per year with a 45 day waiting period between attempts.

Is Nclex PN harder than UWorld?

Harder scoring

Another reason you might find that UWorld practice tests are harder than the actual NCLEX is the way that they are scored. With UWorld, you will get a percentage of how many questions you answered correctly, and you will see how many questions you got wrong.

How much does Nclex PN cost?

The cost to take the NCLEX-PN exam is $200. Additional licensure fees are determined by the individual State Boards of Nursing. Send your completed test application and fee to NCS Pearson. You can register by phone by calling: 866-49-NCLEX or online at

What is PN and RN?

Like most things in life, it's not quite that simple. There are two major categories of nurses working in medical settings across the U.S.—the registered nurse (RN) and the practical nurse (PN)—also called a “vocational nurse” in California and Texas.

How many questions do you need to pass Nclex PN?

85 questions

Who is eligible for Nclex exam?

To qualify to take the NCLEX-RN, you must first complete an accredited registered nursing program.

How do you know if you passed Nclex RN?

Official results are mailed to candidates from their state board of nursing approximately six weeks after the exam. However, some states will allow test-takers to get results 48 hours after the exam using the Quick Results service. Keep reading for more information on scoring and results for the NCLEX-RN.

What is higher than an RN?

Both nurse practitioners (NPs) and registered nurses (RNs) work closely with patients to monitor their health and provide care for acute and chronic illnesses. Registered nurses need, at a minimum, an associate's degree in nursing (ADN), while nurse practitioners need at least a master's degree.

What is the highest position of a nurse?

certified registered nurse anesthetist

Is LPN and RPN the same?

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) are essentially different names for the same role. The term LPN is used in all provinces and territories except for Ontario. In Ontario, the preferred term for these nurses is RPN, though the role that they serve in the community is similar.

Is the Nclex easier than Kaplan?

I feel like Kaplan prepared me well but NCLEX was much easier than Kaplan. We had two students who graduated last year come in and talk about NCLEX and they said that Kaplan was a lot harder than the actual exam.

Is an RN higher than a BSN?

Common RN vs.

A registered nurse is able to practice within their field with only an associates degree, but a BSN is the preferred level of education for many nurse specialties throughout the medical career landscape.

Do hospitals hire LPNs anymore?

Hospitals also hire LPN's. However, not every hospital still hires LPN's. Some hospitals have obtained or are trying to obtain “magnet status”, so they will only hire RN's to perform nursing duties.

Is LPN going away?

LPN Employment Outlook: 2020 to Future. Licensed Practical Nurses, or LPNs, are nurses who perform direct patient care in a variety of healthcare settings. This may be because LPNs are being shifted out of the hospital setting. In fact, there was a 29% reduction of LPNs in the hospital setting between 1991 and 2000.

Can an LVN challenge the RN boards?

The United States is currently in the midst of a nursing shortage. In California, a prospective LVN can challenge the board and sit for the LVN licensing exam- without having to go through an approved, formal LVN program.

Can you fail the Nclex in 85 questions?

According to a recent release from the NCSBN, the passing logit score for the NCLEX-RN (through 2019) is 0.00. The RN version requires that you answer at least 75 questions and no more than 265. In contrast, you will need to answer a minimum of 85 questions on the PN exam, with a maximum of 205 questions.

Can you fail the Nclex with 60 questions?

If a candidate fails with 60 items, does this mean they did very poorly? This means that it took only the minimum number of items for the scoring algorithm to determine with 95% certainty that the candidate's nursing ability was below the passing standard.

How hard is the LPN Nclex?

Meanwhile, the NCLEX-PN exam had a pass rate of around 84% for the same demographic. That means the answer to is the NCLEX hard is more like a response “it's hard, but you will pass the first time if you study.” For people who had been educated in the United States, the pass rate for a test retake was lower.

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