According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be an estimated 3.3 million total positions open to registered nurses by the year 2026. Individuals interested in entering this exciting health care profession must graduate from an approved nursing program and pass the NCLEX, or the National Council Licensure Examination, per state regulations. After studying for and taking this standardized test, there are steps that students can take to view unofficial results while waiting for an official letter from the state board of nursing.

NCLEX Exam is Scored

Directly following test completion your NCLEX examination will be scored two times. The first score will be made via computer directly at your testing center. The second will be made at Pearson VUE, a private testing company that administers the exam. Pearson VUE NCLEX verification gives you increased confidence in the validity of the results.

Exam Results Are Transmitted

Your results will be transmitted to your state board of nursing either electronically or by U.S. mail. Individual state boards of nursing make the decision about how to provide students with their official scored test results. Do not call Pearson VUE or your state board of nursing for official results. Official results cannot be given via phone. Do not ask the test center administrator for your test results. Although tests are scored by computer at the testing site, in-person test results are not given to any student.

NCLEX Quick Results Are Released

If your state board of nursing permits Pearson VUE's quick results to be released, you will be able to check the Pearson VUE NCLEX website for unofficial NCLEX results. You can find NCLEX quick results 48 hours from start or finish. Wait at least 48 hours after you have taken the NCLEX examination before searching for results. Otherwise, you may receive a message indicating NCLEX results not available at this time.

Pay Pearson VUE NCLEX fee

Log on to the Pearson VUE NCLEX website to access quick results. These are unofficial results. Go to the Pearson VUE NCLEX website and click on My Account. Provide your user name and password. Pay the quick results fee by credit card. As of 2018, the fee is $7.95.

Await Official NCLEX Results

Wait approximately one month following your test-taking date. Official NCLEX results will be mailed to you from your specific state board of nursing. Check your mail frequently for the official results. In the meantime, if you are curious as to how well nursing students in your state perform on the test, NCLEX results by state are released in the annual statistical report available on the website of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

Retake NCLEX if Needed

If you don't pass the NCLEX, you must wait at least 45 days to retake the test. The NCLEX can be repeated up to eight times a year. According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) in 2017, 90 percent of candidates with a nursing diploma or a bachelor's degree in nursing students pass the NCLEX on their first try. The average passing rate of students with an associate degree in nursing is 84.3 percent. The NCSBN indicates that 45.6 percent of candidates pass on repeat attempt.

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