Retaking the NCLEX-PN

13,781 repeat candidates in 2025 · 45 test-free days between attempts

Take the full NCLEX-PN practice exam

85 questions including three unfolding case studies, scored the NCSBN way, with a report by client-needs category.

Or start with a free drill
Free sample · Question 1 of 3Health Promotion

While collecting a family history, the nurse learns that a client's father and brother both had colon cancer before age 50. What should the nurse do?

What happens after a fail

In 2025, 13,342 U.S.-educated candidates retook the NCLEX-PN and 41.7% passed, against 86.6% on the first attempt. Another 439 internationally educated repeat candidates passed at 27.6%. A repeat attempt costs the full registration fee again and must wait at least 45 test-free days. Use the wait to study the areas your Candidate Performance Report marks below the passing standard.

Waiting period
At least 45 test-free days between attempts
Attempts
Up to eight a year under NCSBN policy; your nursing regulatory body may allow fewer
Fee per attempt
$200 before February 1, 2027; $350 from that date
Repeat pass rate (2025)
41.7% U.S.-educated · 27.6% internationally educated
Line drawing of a desk calendar with a circled date, a checklist clipboard, a stack of textbooks, a laptop, a mug and a stethoscope

The retake rules

  • NCSBN allows up to eight NCLEX attempts a year, with at least 45 test-free days between examinations. Your nursing regulatory body may allow fewer attempts or require remediation; check with it before you re-register.
  • Every attempt needs a new registration with Pearson VUE and the full fee: $200 before February 1, 2027, $350 from that date. Retakes are not discounted.
  • You also need a new Authorization to Test from your board, and you must test within its validity dates.
  • When you schedule, repeat candidates are offered an appointment after the 45-day period.

Sit the full exam under the real clock

Take the full NCLEX-PN practice exam

85 questions including three unfolding case studies, scored the NCSBN way, with a report by client-needs category.

Or start with a free drill

Read your Candidate Performance Report

Candidates who do not pass receive an individualized Candidate Performance Report from NCSBN. It rates your performance in each test plan content area and in clinical judgment as above, near or below the passing standard. Study the areas below the standard first, then those near it. The pass decision rests on your overall ability estimate, so keep strong areas strong as well.

A 45-day plan

  • Days 1–10: drill the categories marked below the passing standard every day, reading the note on every option, right or wrong.
  • Days 11–25: alternate the remaining categories with the select-all-that-apply and case-study drills; these item types carry partial credit and reward committing to each option.
  • Days 26–35: sit the 85-item mock exam under the clock, review every missed item, then drill the two weakest categories on your report.
  • Days 36–42: sit the 150-item mock exam to build stamina; in 2025, 17.7% of first-time U.S.-educated PN candidates went to the maximum length.
  • Last three days: light review of the drills you have mastered, sleep, and exam-day logistics: identification, arrival time, breaks.

Common questions

How long do I have to wait to retake the NCLEX-PN?

At least 45 test-free days between attempts, and no more than eight attempts in a year under NCSBN’s policy. Some nursing regulatory bodies allow fewer attempts per year or require a remediation course after repeated failures.

What is the NCLEX-PN pass rate for repeat test takers?

In 2025, 41.7% of the 13,342 U.S.-educated repeat candidates passed, and 27.6% of the 439 internationally educated repeat candidates, compared with 86.6% and 53.7% on the first attempt.

Does the exam length tell me whether I passed?

No. The exam stops at 85 items when it is 95% certain of the result in either direction, so a short exam can be a pass or a fail. Reaching 150 items means your ability was close to the standard and the final estimate decided.

Take the full NCLEX-PN practice exam

85 questions including three unfolding case studies, scored the NCSBN way, with a report by client-needs category.

Or start with a free drill

More NCLEX-PN guides

Sources

Original practice questions for exam preparation, written to the 2026 NCLEX-PN Test Plan. Independent practice, not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) or Pearson VUE. NCLEX and NCLEX-PN are registered trademarks of NCSBN.