The latest version of the NCLEX stresses sound decision-making and critical thinking skills, which are in high demand in the healthcare industry. There’s much to know to prepare for the NCLEX. Fortunately for nursing candidates, numerous test prep resources are available, including test plans, sample questions, practice exams, and study materials.

If you’re preparing to become a nurse, read on for information on how to develop an NCLEX study plan so you can conquer the exam.

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The NCLEX is a standardized test that determines whether nursing school graduates are ready to work in nursing positions. The test is administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), which analyzes the skills, knowledge, and abilities needed to work in nursing roles. NCSBN regularly updates the NCLEX according to the nursing field’s needs. The latest update to the NCLEX is called the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN).

The NCLEX was first offered in the U.S. in 1982 and has been overhauled several times since. The NGN, released in April 2023, was many years in the making. Research reports had previously identified frequent practice errors among entry-level nurses and unacceptably high levels of employer dissatisfaction with entry-level nurses’ decision-making skills.

NCSBN’s analysis also found that licensed nurses are increasingly expected to make complex decisions when caring for patients, placing even more importance on their decisions and judgments.

As a result, the Next Generation NCLEX stresses sound clinical judgment with the goal of reducing nursing errors as a result of poor clinical decision-making. Other high-priority skills emphasized in the revised exam include problem-solving, critical thinking, professional communication, and active listening—high-demand skills in hospitals, long-term care institutions, community-based clinics, and other healthcare facilities.

The NCLEX Is a computer-adaptive test (CAT), meaning the exam adapts in real time to each test taker’s abilities. There are two categories of the NCLEX: one for registered nurses, the NCLEX-RN, and one for practical nurses, the NCLEX-PN. On this page, we’ll focus on NCLEX-RN

Taking the NCLEX involves many steps:

First, you must apply for registration and licensure with a National Regulatory Body. U.S. candidates must pay a $200 registration fee ($360 in Canada).

Next, you’ll receive an email from Pearson acknowledging your registration. You’ll be made eligible and receive an Authorization to Test email from Pearson.

You must then schedule an exam appointment by calling Pearson NCLEX Candidate Services at 866-496-2539.

On exam day, you won’t be allowed to bring any study materials to the testing center, and you cannot access your mobile phone or other devices during the exam. Bring a snack and a signed photo ID. You’ll have five hours to finish the test. After completing your exam, your official results will be sent within six weeks.

To pass the NCLEX-RN, candidates must demonstrate knowledge of their client’s health needs and an understanding of the integrated processes fundamental to nursing practice.

The NCLEX’s framework is centered around client needs. The official NCLEX 2023 test plan is organized into the following client needs categories:

Safe and effective care environment

Health promotion and maintenance

Psychosocial integrity

Physiological integrity

All of the above-mentioned client needs categories integrate questions regarding the nursing process, caring, communication and documentation, teaching and learning, and culture and spirituality. The NCLEX also measures test takers’ clinical judgment processes with case study questions and stand-alone questions, which vary based on the length of the exam.

The NCLEX-RN exam may include questions written with clients of various ages in mind. In general, if the age or age category of the client is not stated in an item, it can be understood that the client is an adult.

To pass the NCLEX, you must demonstrate that you possess the minimum level of ability required for safe and effective entry-level nursing practice. The passing standard is set every three years by NCSBN’s board of directors. In setting this standard, the board uses input from an expert panel, the historical record of passing standards, and information about the education readiness of high school graduates interested in nursing.

With CAT, every exam is unique. That’s because CAT tests are assembled interactively as candidates take the test, during which the computer selects items that match each candidate’s ability. The items are stored and classified by category, difficulty level, and clinical judgment level. After a candidate answers an item, the computer calculates an ability estimate for the test taker based on their previous answers.

CAT is meant to be more efficient than traditional testing because high-ability test takers can forgo easier questions on the exam, which would not provide a useful assessment of their abilities.

New scoring methods for the NGN aim to give candidates partial credit for partial understanding, in contrast with the old system, which only scored answers as correct or incorrect.

Consider preparing for the NCLEX by developing your study plan. With your test date in mind, plan practice tests and set aside time to review your results. Give yourself enough time to study—several weeks or even months, depending on your schedule and ability level. Use multiple study methods, and remember to pace yourself, as there’s much ground to cover.

Practice tests and questions are common tools for NCLEX prep. Seek online practice tests that utilize CAT-style questioning to simulate the real exam. Familiarize yourself with as many questions as possible, and when reviewing your practice test results, study questions you got right in addition to those you got wrong.

If you want more in-depth NCLEX preparation, several companies—including Princeton Review, Kaplan, Assessment Technologies Institutes (ATI), and Nursing. com—offer NCLEX review courses and study materials.

NCSBN also offers a wealth of preparation materials online, including official Next Generation test plans. NCSBN updates its NCLEX test plans every three years to ensure they accurately reflect current standards. Plus, the 2023 NCLEX Examination Candidate Bulletin provides the latest information for candidates.