The NCLEX-RN and the NCLEX-PN are the two licensing exams for U.S. nurses, and the difference comes down to which license you want.
The NCLEX-RN leads to a registered nurse (RN) license. The NCLEX-PN leads to a licensed practical nurse or licensed vocational nurse (LPN/LVN) license.
Both exams are computerized adaptive tests, both run 85 to 150 questions with a five-hour limit, and both follow a test plan that took effect on April 1, 2026.
The real gap is in the content, the scope of practice, the pay, and the education you need first.
This guide compares the two exams side by side, covers format, content, pass rates, fees, career paths, and study options, and helps you decide which one fits your goals.
For candidates looking for structured NCLEX preparation, a Simple Nursing membership is another study option to compare alongside other review resources.
Facts come from NCSBN's April 2026 candidate bulletin and 2026 test plans, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and other sources checked between October 16 and October 19, 2026.
Each one is named where it appears. Fees, rules, and prep prices change, so confirm them with your state board and the vendor before you act.
The Short Answer
- NCLEX-RN: For people who completed an RN program (diploma, associate degree, or bachelor's). Leads to an RN license.
- NCLEX-PN: For people who completed a practical or vocational nursing program. Leads to an LPN/LVN license.
- Same format: Both are computerized adaptive tests with 85 to 150 items and a five-hour limit.
- Different content weights: The RN exam leans more on management of care and complex physiological topics, and the PN exam puts more weight on coordinated care and psychosocial integrity.
- Different careers: BLS reports a median pay of $97,550 for RNs and $64,400 for LPNs/LVNs (May 2025).
What Is NCLEX?
NCLEX stands for National Council Licensure Examination. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) develops it, and state nursing regulatory bodies use it to decide whether a candidate is ready for safe, entry-level practice.
According to NCSBN's 2026 test plans, each exam measures the knowledge, skills, abilities, and clinical judgment an entry-level nurse needs to meet client needs.
When choosing the best NCLEX prep course, look for one that reinforces clinical judgment, includes realistic practice questions, and helps you understand the reasoning behind each answer.
NCSBN launched the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) on April 1, 2023.
The NGN uses real-world case studies to measure clinical judgment and decision-making, based on the NCSBN Clinical Judgment Measurement Model.
NCLEX-RN vs NCLEX-PN at a Glance
| Feature | NCLEX-RN | NCLEX-PN |
|---|---|---|
| License earned | Registered nurse (RN) | Licensed practical or vocational nurse (LPN/LVN) |
| Typical education | Bachelor's, associate degree, or diploma program | Practical nursing program, typically about 1 year |
| Exam format | Computerized adaptive test | Computerized adaptive test |
| Number of items | 85 to 150 | 85 to 150 |
| Time limit | 5 hours, including breaks | 5 hours, including breaks |
| Current test plan | Effective April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2029 | Effective April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2029 |
| Registration fee (U.S.) | $200 | $200 |
| Median pay (BLS, May 2025) | $97,550 | $64,400 |
| Job growth (BLS, 2025 to 2035) | 6% | 3% |
Sources: NCSBN NCLEX Candidate Bulletin (April 2026), NCLEX.com test plan page, BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook (RN page modified August 27, 2026; LPN/LVN page modified September 14, 2026).
Who Takes Which Exam?
You take the NCLEX-RN if you've finished an RN-level nursing program. BLS says RNs typically need a bachelor's degree, although associate degree and diploma programs are also common, and all require state licensure.
You take the NCLEX-PN if you've finished a practical nursing program. BLS says these programs typically take about one year, and graduates must pass a state licensing exam.
Your state board of nursing decides whether you're eligible, so apply there first.
Exam Format: What's the Same and What Differs
How adaptive testing works
Both exams adapt to your performance. The NCLEX tests between 85 and 150 items, and the NCSBN bulletin says the five-hour limit covers the introductory screen, all breaks, and the exam itself.
It lists two optional scheduled breaks, one after about two hours and one after about three and a half hours.
Item types
The bulletin describes multiple item formats, including case study item sets, stand-alone clinical judgment items, and exhibit-type items that show a client chart or medical record. It points candidates to the tutorial on NCLEX.com for examples of each type.
What the PN minimum looks like
The 2026 PN test plan breaks down the 85-item minimum this way: 52 scored content items, 18 items from three clinical judgment case studies, and 15 unscored pretest items.
The 2026 RN test plan describes its exam as 85 to 150 items that include unscored pretest items and clinical judgment case studies, but it doesn't give the same breakdown.
What Each Exam Covers
Both test plans organize questions by client needs, with percentage ranges for each category. Here is how they compare under the 2026 plans.
| Client needs category | NCLEX-RN | NCLEX-PN |
|---|---|---|
| Management of Care (RN) or Coordinated Care (PN) | 15 to 21% | 18 to 24% |
| Safety and Infection Prevention and Control | 10 to 16% | 10 to 16% |
| Health Promotion and Maintenance | 6 to 12% | 6 to 12% |
| Psychosocial Integrity | 6 to 12% | 9 to 15% |
| Basic Care and Comfort | 6 to 12% | 7 to 13% |
| Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies (RN) or Pharmacological Therapies (PN) | 13 to 19% | 10 to 16% |
| Reduction of Risk Potential | 9 to 15% | 9 to 15% |
| Physiological Adaptation | 11 to 17% | 7 to 13% |
Source: 2026 NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN test plans on NCLEX.com, effective April 2026.
Confirm the exact ranges against the official PDFs before you build a study plan on them.
A few patterns stand out:
- RN candidates face more pharmacology and physiological adaptation. Those categories carry higher ranges on the RN exam.
- PN candidates face more psychosocial integrity and coordinated care. Their ranges run higher in those areas.
- Several categories match. Safety and infection control, health promotion, and reduction of risk potential carry the same ranges on both.
Scope of Practice: What Each Nurse Does
BLS describes registered nurses as providing and coordinating patient care, teaching patients and the public about health conditions, and offering advice and emotional support to patients and families.
BLS describes LPNs and LVNs as providing basic medical care to patients who are ill, injured, or recovering, or who have disabilities.
Their duties include monitoring vital signs, providing basic comfort care, reporting patient status to RNs, advanced practice nurses, or physicians, and documenting care.
They typically work under the supervision of RNs and doctors.
Each state sets its own scope of practice, so check your state board for details.
Pay and Job Outlook
| Measure | RN | LPN/LVN |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual pay (May 2025) | 97,550(46.90 an hour) | 64,400(30.96 an hour) |
| Projected job growth, 2025 to 2035 | 6%, faster than average | 3%, as fast as average |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. BLS also projects about 51,800 LPN/LVN openings each year over the decade.
Many nurses start with the PN route and later move to RN, since it's a shorter path to licensure. Bridge programs exist for this, and your state board or school can explain the options.
NCLEX Pass Rates: RN vs PN
NCLEX-RN
NCSBN's research brief on 2025 results (document date June 2026) reports these NCLEX-RN pass rates for U.S. licensure, January through December 2025:
| Candidate group | Tested | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| First-time, U.S.-educated | 192,916 | 86.7% |
| First-time, internationally educated | 52,827 | 47.3% |
| Repeat, U.S.-educated | 42,513 | 52.7% |
| Repeat, internationally educated | 40,187 | 30.5% |
| All candidates | 328,443 | 69.1% |
Becker's Hospital Review (July 1, 2026) reports that the overall NCLEX-RN pass rate for the first half of 2026 was 74.4%, with first-time, U.S.-educated candidates at 88.6%, using data current through June.
NCLEX-PN
A report hosted by the Arizona State Board of Nursing (dated October 16, 2026) lists NCLEX-PN first-time pass rates for candidates educated in nursing regulatory body jurisdictions:
85.96% in the first quarter of 2026, 85.84% in the second, and 86.23% in the third, for a 2026 total of 86.04% across 47,383 candidates.
Comparable 2025 PN figures weren't available in the sources checked, so this guide doesn't compare years.
What these numbers mean
First-time U.S.-educated candidates pass at high rates on both exams. Repeat takers and internationally educated candidates face lower rates on the RN exam.
Pass rates describe past test takers, not your odds, so what you do to prepare matters more than the average.
How to Register and What It Costs
The NCLEX.com registration page and NCSBN's candidate bulletin describe these steps:
- Apply to your nursing regulatory body (NRB). This makes you eligible to test. Request any accommodations here.
- Register with Pearson VUE. Pearson handles payment and scheduling.
- Pay the fee. The bulletin lists $200 for U.S. licensure. Optional extras include a $150 international scheduling fee and $50 to change the NRB or exam type (RN or PN) after registering.
- Receive your Authorization to Test (ATT). You get it by email once the NRB confirms eligibility and your registration is complete.
- Schedule at a Pearson test center. Your ATT is valid for a period set by your NRB, which averages 90 days and can't be extended.
NCLEX.com says official results come only from your nursing regulatory body. In states that offer Quick Results, candidates can see unofficial results 48 hours after the exam for a fee.
Retake rules
The bulletin says you can take the NCLEX up to eight times a year, with at least 45 test-free days between attempts.
Your state may allow fewer attempts, so check your NRB. Each attempt is independent, and the same fee applies.
NCLEX Prep: Costs and Options
Most candidates use a question bank, a review course, or both. Prices vary by plan length, and vendors change them often, so check each vendor's page.
- Simple Nursing: The vendor's own pricing page (last modified August 13, 2026) lists NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN monthly plans around $49.99 to $59.99, 90-day passes around $126 to $138, an RN Pass Guarantee around $171 to $195, and a Full Journey Pass around $240 to $312.
- The page shows two prices for each plan without labeling which one is current, so confirm at checkout. It lists a five-day free trial.
- UWorld: The NCLEX-RN qBank page (last modified October 13, 2026) lists plans from $139 for 30 days to $449 for 730 days.
- It makes no guarantee. It cites a 98% first-time pass rate for users who completed at least 75% of the question bank, a conditional figure the company reports itself.
For plan details, this guide to the Simple Nursing membership covers tiers and pricing. It's an unsigned third-party page, so verify its prices on the vendor's site.
If you're deciding between two big names, this comparison of Simple Nursing vs UWorld looks at budget and study style. It's also an unsigned third-party page with undisclosed promotional links, so treat its conclusions with care and compare vendor pages yourself.
To see a wider list of options, browse this roundup of the best NCLEX prep course choices. It's an unsigned page that quotes pass rates secondhand, so check any statistics against NCSBN and prices against each provider.
How to choose prep
- Pick the right exam first. An RN course won't prepare you for the PN weights, so match the product to your exam.
- Check the item types. Make sure it includes NGN-style case studies.
- Compare plan length to your timeline. Access windows run from days to years.
- Read the guarantee terms. Look for what you must complete before a refund or extension applies.
- Try a free trial. Test the interface before you pay.
- Review the 2026 test plan. Use the category weights above to focus your study time.
Which Exam Should You Take?
- Choose the NCLEX-PN if you want to start working sooner, are completing a practical nursing program, or plan to bridge to RN later.
- Choose the NCLEX-RN if you're finishing an RN program and want the broader scope and higher median pay BLS reports.
Your program decides your eligibility, so the real choice happens when you pick a nursing program.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Studying the wrong test plan. Use the 2026 plan for your exam, and not an older one.
- Ignoring clinical judgment practice. Both exams include case studies.
- Waiting too long after graduation. Your ATT has a fixed window that can't be extended.
- Treating pass rates as a prediction. They're averages across candidates.
- Buying prep on price alone. Compare features, access length, and guarantee terms.
- Skipping your state board. Eligibility and retake rules vary by jurisdiction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN?
The NCLEX-RN leads to an RN license, and the NCLEX-PN leads to an LPN/LVN license. The exams share a format but differ in content weights and in the scope of the job they license.
Is the NCLEX-PN easier than the NCLEX-RN?
Neither exam is easy, and the sources reviewed don't support a simple answer. First-time pass rates run in the mid to high 80s for U.S.-educated candidates on both, according to the data above, and the content differs in focus.
How many questions are on each exam?
Both run 85 to 150 items within five hours, according to NCSBN's April 2026 candidate bulletin.
How much does the NCLEX cost?
The bulletin lists a $200 registration fee for U.S. licensure. Other costs, such as your state's licensing fees, are separate.
How many times can I retake the NCLEX?
Up to eight times a year with at least 45 test-free days between attempts, unless your state allows fewer.
Did the NCLEX change in 2026?
Yes, new test plans took effect April 1, 2026, and run through March 31, 2029, according to NCLEX.com.
Can I take the NCLEX-PN first and the NCLEX-RN later?
Yes, many nurses do. You'll need to complete an RN-level program and meet your state's requirements before taking the RN exam.
The Bottom Line
The NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN share a format, but they lead to different licenses, different scopes of practice, and different pay.
Match the exam to your program, study from the 2026 test plan for your exam, and compare prep options at your real budget and timeline.
Confirm fees, eligibility, and retake rules with your state board before you register.
Sources
- NCSBN, NCLEX Examination Candidate Bulletin, April 2026.
- NCSBN, 2026 NCLEX-RN Test Plan and 2026 NCLEX-PN Test Plan, effective April 2026.
- NCLEX.com, Registration, Test plans, and Next Generation NCLEX.
- NCSBN, 2025 NCLEX Exam Statistics research brief. June 2026.