Facts about NCLEX Exam- Key Nursing School Aptitude Examination

Finishing a nursing school program is surely a top accomplishment. The entire time and effort you devoted for studying in nursing school got finally paid off in the form of a degree. But wait for a moment; you aren't actually a nurse until you have passed a very important test named the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).


The NCLEX is the test that let you complete an accredited nursing program licensure to practice nursing proficiently. It is a vital test and must be passed in order to be employed as a nurse throughout the United States. In fact, it can be measured as a standardized examination that every state board of nursing in United States perform to check out whether you as an applicant are equipped for the entry-level nursing practice or not. This examination is used by nursing boards to grant nurse license. The examination not just checks your nursing awareness but skills that are primarily necessary to practice nursing carefully at an entry level.


The NCLEX is made and administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. It comes in two categories- The National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical and Vocational Nurses (NCLEX-PN). Both these examinations are test primarily used by state and territorial boards of nursing to help in determining licensure decisions. In order to become a nurse, you must pass one of those two exams. While there is always stress on you to do well in the test, few following information might make you understand the selection process much easier-


Step.1 In order to take the NCLEX, initially you must apply for nursing license from your state board of nursing. That board will in fact decide whether or not you meet its criteria for NCLEX examination-eligibility. After you apply for the nursing license, you will be given an NCLEX Examination Candidate Bulletin in the mail.


Step.2 Once you obtain an NCLEX Examination Candidate Bulletin from your state board of nursing in the mail, you must register for the examination. You may then register with the National Council of State Boards of Nursing testing service via phone or by filling out a mail-in registration form. This is yet another important step as it helps the state board of nursing to check whether you have passed their eligibility to take the NCLEX examination.


Step.3 After the state board of nursing has confirmed your eligibility to take the NCLEX examination, you will be given an Authorization to Take the Test (ATT), along with a record of testing centers. Both the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN nursing school aptitude examination questions are multiple-choice questions containing 4-options. It uses an interactive system called Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) to evaluate your rank of aptitude. However, the important point to understand is that –


(1)If you have applied for Registered Nursing License then you must answer for at least of 75 questions

(2)If you have applied for Practical Nursing License then you have to answer for 85 questions.

Based upon your examination performance the computer will access your level of proficiency. After you take the test you will have to wait for the results. The time you require to wait generally depends on the way the results are reported in your state. It can be either through phone or e-mail. If in case you fail the test, you will be given a review of your examination highlighting topics where you did well or areas where you need to study further. However, you will be able to take the test again after a mandatory waiting period (usually 45 days). This waiting period may differ from state to state.


Today, acting as a nursing school aptitude examination, this NCLEX exam is conducted by each state board of nursing in United States. As a competitor, you need to pass the examination to prove your awareness required to perform nursing effectively. This is an examination to maintain public health protection in the whole of the United States.