Retaking the NCLEX-RN

82,700 repeat candidates in 2025 · 45 test-free days between attempts

Take the full NCLEX-RN 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 3Basic Care and Comfort · Select all that apply

A nurse is teaching a client with urge incontinence about bladder training. Which instructions are appropriate? Select all that apply.

What happens after a fail

In 2025, 82,700 candidates retook the NCLEX-RN for U.S. licensure: 42,513 educated in the United States, of whom 52.7% passed, and 40,187 educated elsewhere, of whom 30.5% passed. A repeat attempt costs the full registration fee again and must wait at least 45 test-free days. Use the wait to study the categories 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 (CAD $360) before February 1, 2027; $350 (CAD $570) from that date
Repeat pass rate (2025)
52.7% U.S.-educated · 30.5% 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 (CAD $360) before February 1, 2027, $350 (CAD $570) 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 (commonly about 90 days).
  • When you call or go online to schedule, repeat candidates are offered an appointment after the 45-day period.

Sit the full exam under the real clock

Take the full NCLEX-RN 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 marked Below first, then those marked Near. The report does not add up to the pass decision: the exam decides on your overall ability estimate, so keeping strong areas strong matters too.

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 for a maximum-length sitting; the real exam can run the full five hours.
  • Last three days: light review of the drills you have mastered, sleep, and the exam-day logistics: identification, arrival time, breaks.

Common questions

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

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-RN pass rate for repeat test takers?

In 2025, 52.7% of U.S.-educated repeat candidates and 30.5% of internationally educated repeat candidates passed, compared with 86.7% and 47.3% on the first attempt. Repeat candidates who study the categories their Candidate Performance Report marks below the standard are the ones who close that gap.

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-RN 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-RN guides

Sources

Original practice questions for exam preparation, written to the 2026 NCLEX-RN 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-RN are registered trademarks of NCSBN.