How Many Times Can You Take the NCLEX? Retake Rules for 2027

The NCLEX is the licensing examination every nurse must pass to practise in the United States and Canada. Most candidates educated in the United States pass at the first attempt, but a significant number do not, and pass rates are much lower for repeat test-takers and for many internationally educated nurses. If you have failed, or are anxious that you might, the most important questions are practical: how soon can you try again, how many attempts do you get, and what should you do differently?

This guide explains the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) retake rules, how they interact with state board limits, what your Candidate Performance Report tells you, special considerations for international candidates, costs, and a step-by-step plan to pass on your next attempt in 2027.

The basic NCSBN retake rule

Under NCSBN policy, candidates who do not pass the NCLEX must wait at least 45 days between attempts. This means you can sit the examination up to eight times in a 12-month period, if your state or provincial regulator allows it.

The 45-day wait is counted from the date of your previous examination. You cannot book a new appointment before you are eligible again, and you must re-register and pay the examination fee each time.

State board limits on attempts

The NCSBN rule sets the minimum waiting time, but each state board of nursing (and, in Canada, each provincial regulator) decides its own rules on retakes. These can include:

• A maximum number of attempts before additional requirements apply.
• Time limits: some boards require candidates to pass within a certain number of years after graduation, after which they must complete additional education or a refresher course.
• Remediation requirements: after a certain number of failures, some boards require a board-approved review course or remedial education before another attempt.
• New applications: some boards require a new licensure application and fee after a failure, in addition to the Pearson VUE registration fee.

Because rules differ and change, always read the current rules of the board where you applied for licensure before booking a retake. If you are struggling with one board’s limits, think carefully before applying to another state, as you may still be bound by rules about previous attempts.

The Candidate Performance Report (CPR)

If you do not pass, you receive a Candidate Performance Report. It does not show your score or tell you which questions you missed, but it shows how you performed in each area of the NCLEX test plan compared with the passing standard, for example “above”, “near” or “below” the passing standard. The client needs categories include:

• Management of Care.
• Safety and Infection Control.
• Health Promotion and Maintenance.
• Psychosocial Integrity.
• Basic Care and Comfort.
• Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies.
• Reduction of Risk Potential.
• Physiological Adaptation.

Your CPR is the most valuable document for planning your next attempt. Areas “below” the passing standard need the most work, but do not ignore areas “near” the standard. Management of Care and Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies carry a large share of questions, so weakness there has a big impact.

How the Next Generation NCLEX works (and why people fail)

Since April 2023, the NCLEX has been the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN), designed to test clinical judgement more directly. Key features:

• It is a computerised adaptive test: each question’s difficulty depends on how you answered previous ones.
• Candidates answer a minimum of 85 and a maximum of 150 questions, including 15 unscored pretest questions, within a five-hour limit.
• It includes case studies with several linked questions and new item types, such as matrix, drag-and-drop, highlight and bow-tie questions, some scored with partial credit.
• The examination stops when the computer is 95 percent confident you are above or below the passing standard, or when you reach the maximum number of questions or run out of time.

Common reasons candidates fail include gaps in core content (especially pharmacology and prioritisation), poor clinical judgement on case studies, test anxiety, rushing or running out of time, and studying by memorising facts rather than practising applying them. See our guide to what it means to get 150 questions on the NCLEX.

Pass rates for repeat test-takers

NCSBN publishes pass rates every year. First-time pass rates for US-educated registered nurse candidates have been high, around 88 percent in recent data reported on Nursing TV. Pass rates for repeat test-takers are much lower, and pass rates for internationally educated first-time candidates are also substantially lower than for US-educated candidates. This is not a reason to give up; it is a reason to change your approach rather than simply retaking with the same preparation. See our NCLEX pass rates breakdown.

A step-by-step plan for your next attempt

Week 1: pause, process and plan

• Allow yourself a few days to feel disappointed. Failing is painful, and many excellent nurses have failed at least once.
• Read your CPR carefully and list your weakest areas.
• Check your board’s retake rules, fees and any remediation requirements.
• Decide on a target date at least 45 days away, but give yourself enough time to prepare properly, often six to ten weeks.

Weeks 2 to 5: rebuild content and judgement

• Use a high-quality question bank with detailed rationales. Read every rationale, including for questions you got right.
• Focus on your weakest categories first, especially pharmacology, prioritisation and delegation, and safety.
• Practise the NCSBN Clinical Judgement Measurement Model: recognise cues, analyse cues, prioritise hypotheses, generate solutions, take action and evaluate outcomes.
• Do NGN-style case studies daily.
• Review content where your rationales show gaps, using a review book or course.

Weeks 6 to 8: build stamina and confidence

• Take full-length, timed adaptive practice exams under realistic conditions.
• Track your performance in each category over time.
• Practise your pacing: aim to keep moving without rushing.
• Rehearse your exam day routine: travel, food, breaks and relaxation.

The last few days

• Light review only; avoid heavy new content.
• Sleep well and eat normally.
• Prepare identification and confirm your appointment details.

Our NGN study plan for international nurses and prioritisation practice questions are useful tools.

Managing test anxiety

Anxiety affects many repeat candidates. Helpful strategies include slow breathing exercises during the test, positive self-talk, taking scheduled breaks, and practising under timed conditions so the real exam feels familiar. If anxiety is severe, consider speaking to a counsellor or healthcare provider. Candidates with a documented disability may request testing accommodations through their board well in advance.

Costs of retaking

Each attempt requires a new registration with Pearson VUE and payment of the NCLEX registration fee (currently US$200 for US boards, with different fees for Canadian regulators). Many boards also charge an application or re-examination fee. International candidates may also need to pay for an international scheduling fee and travel to a test centre. Budget for these costs, as well as study resources, so financial stress does not add to exam pressure.

International candidates: special considerations

• The NCLEX is available at Pearson VUE test centres in a number of countries outside the United States, including the Philippines, India, the United Kingdom, Canada and others. Availability can change.
• Your eligibility depends on the state board where you applied, which may have its own requirements for credentials evaluation, English proficiency and education equivalence.
• Your Authorization to Test (ATT) has a validity period. If you fail, you need a new registration and a new ATT before retesting.
• US visa and employment plans often depend on passing; discuss timelines with your employer or recruiter honestly.

Read our guides to US nursing licensure for international nurses and whether a Philippine nursing degree is valid in the USA.

What happens to a temporary permit or job offer after a fail?

Some states issue temporary permits or graduate nurse authorisations that allow new graduates to work under supervision while waiting to take the NCLEX. In many of these states, the permit ends automatically if you fail the exam. Rules vary, so check your board’s guidance as soon as you receive your result.

If you have a job offer that depends on passing:

• Tell your manager or recruiter promptly. Employers deal with this situation regularly, and honesty early builds trust.
• Ask about options. Some employers can move you into a nursing assistant, patient care technician or unit support role until you pass, or delay your start date.
• Get any agreement in writing, including how long the employer will hold the position.
• Ask about support. Some hospitals offer study resources, mentoring or paid review courses for new graduates.

Retake rules outside the United States

The NCLEX-RN is also used in Canada and forms part of the assessment for many internationally qualified nurses in Australia. Rules on retakes are set by the relevant regulator, not by NCSBN alone:

• Canada: provincial and territorial regulators set their own limits on the number of attempts and timeframes within which you must pass. Some limit candidates to a small number of attempts before further education is required.
• Australia: the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia’s outcomes-based assessment has its own rules for attempts at the NCLEX and the OSCE.

If you are testing for a regulator outside the US, check its current rules before you book a retake.

Choosing how to study for a retake

Repeating the same study method that led to a fail rarely works. Consider what might suit you better:

• Question banks with detailed rationales: useful for building clinical judgement, provided you read the rationales for every answer, not just the ones you got wrong.
• Structured review courses: offer a schedule, teaching and accountability. Choose one that covers Next Generation NCLEX item types.
• Official NCSBN resources: NCSBN publishes the test plan, sample items and candidate information, and offers its own review products.
• Tutoring or study groups: explaining your reasoning to someone else reveals gaps quickly.
• Content review: targeted reading on areas flagged in your Candidate Performance Report, especially pharmacology and physiological adaptation.

Whatever you choose, combine content review with daily question practice and regular timed tests.

A sample 60-day retake timeline

Because you must wait at least 45 days between attempts, many candidates plan for around two months. An example:

• Days 1 to 5: rest, read your CPR, decide your resources and book your retake date.
• Days 6 to 30: focused content review on weak areas, with 50 to 75 practice questions a day and careful rationale review.
• Days 31 to 50: mixed practice across all areas, case studies daily, two full-length timed tests.
• Days 51 to 58: light review, a final full-length test, rest and logistics.
• Days 59 and 60: rest, prepare documents and travel, sleep well.

Adjust this to your own life. If you work full-time, a longer timeline with fewer daily hours may be more realistic.

Money matters

Retakes cost money: a new NCLEX registration fee, possibly a new board application or re-examination fee, travel and review materials. To reduce financial stress:

• Check whether your board requires a new application fee for re-examination.
• Ask employers whether they reimburse review courses or exam fees.
• Use free official resources and library access before buying expensive packages.
• Avoid paying for “guaranteed pass” programmes; no one can guarantee a result.

Myths about NCLEX retakes

• “You get the same questions again.” No. The exam draws from a large item bank and avoids repeating items you have already seen.
• “Retakes are harder.” The passing standard is the same for every attempt.
• “If you fail twice, you will never pass.” Many nurses pass on their second, third or later attempt after changing their approach.
• “Employers will see every attempt.” Employers generally see your licence status, not your attempt history, although some applications may ask.

Looking after your mental health

Failing a licensing exam can bring feelings of shame, grief and fear about the future, especially if family, finances or immigration plans depend on it. These feelings are common and understandable. Talk to someone you trust, whether a friend, family member, mentor, faith leader or counsellor. Many schools and employers offer confidential support services. If you notice that low mood is affecting your sleep, appetite or ability to function for more than a couple of weeks, speak to a healthcare provider. Your wellbeing matters more than any exam date.

Learning from nurses who passed on a later attempt

Nurses who pass after one or more unsuccessful attempts often describe similar turning points. These composite examples reflect common experiences:

The over-reader

One new graduate spent hours rereading textbooks but answered few practice questions. After failing, she switched to answering questions every day and writing a one-line summary of each rationale. Within six weeks, she noticed she was recognising patterns in prioritisation questions. She passed on her second attempt.

The exhausted worker

An internationally educated nurse was working night shifts as a care assistant while studying. He failed twice, both times feeling exhausted halfway through the exam. On his third attempt, he negotiated day shifts for a month, scheduled study in the mornings and took two full-length practice tests. He passed with time to spare.

The anxious perfectionist

Another candidate knew the content well but panicked during case studies, second-guessing every answer. She worked with a counsellor on test anxiety, practised breathing techniques and set a rule to move on after a reasonable time on each question. Her next attempt felt calmer, and she passed.

The common thread is that each nurse changed something specific, based on an honest look at what went wrong. More hours alone did not make the difference; a different approach did.

Your retake checklist

1. Read your Candidate Performance Report and list weak areas.
2. Check your board’s re-examination rules and any application fee.
3. Re-register with Pearson VUE and wait for a new Authorization to Test.
4. Book a date at least 45 days after your last attempt, allowing enough preparation time.
5. Choose a study approach different from last time.
6. Schedule full-length timed practice tests.
7. Plan rest, sleep and support.
8. Prepare identification and travel arrangements a week ahead.

Special considerations for internationally educated nurses on visas

For nurses outside the United States, a failed attempt can affect wider plans. Some points to consider:

• VisaScreen and immigration: immigration processes for nurses usually require evidence of passing the NCLEX or an approved alternative. A delay in passing may delay these steps, but it does not usually cancel an existing petition. Speak to your immigration attorney or recruiter about timing.
• English test validity: English test scores used for VisaScreen and some boards are valid for a limited period. If retakes take longer than expected, check whether your scores will still be valid.
• Authorization to Test validity: each new ATT has its own validity period set by your board. Book promptly to avoid it expiring.
• Testing location: international Pearson VUE centres can have limited availability, so book early and have a backup date in mind.

Many internationally educated nurses pass on a second or later attempt once they adjust to US-style questions on delegation, legal responsibilities and prioritisation. If you trained in the Philippines, our guide on whether a Philippine nursing degree is valid in the USA explains the full process.

Frequently asked questions

How soon can I retake the NCLEX after failing?

You must wait at least 45 days from your previous attempt, under NCSBN rules.

How many times can I take the NCLEX in a year?

Up to eight times in 12 months under the NCSBN 45-day rule, but your state board may set lower limits or additional requirements.

Is there a lifetime limit on NCLEX attempts?

NCSBN does not set a lifetime limit, but some state boards limit attempts or require remediation or further education after a number of failures or years since graduation.

Does failing the NCLEX affect my nursing job offer?

It can delay starting as a registered nurse. Many employers allow new graduates to retest, especially if they communicate early and honestly. Check your offer conditions.

Will employers know how many times I took the NCLEX?

Your license record shows that you are licensed; the number of attempts is not usually a focus for employers once you hold a license.

Should I take a review course before retaking?

Many repeat candidates benefit from a structured review course or tutoring, especially if their board requires remediation or if self-study has not worked.

But what if I have failed several times already?

Multiple failures usually mean the study method, not the person, needs to change. Consider a structured course with live teaching, one-to-one tutoring focused on clinical judgement, a full review of pharmacology and prioritisation, and an honest look at factors such as anxiety, work hours, family pressures or language. Check whether your board requires remediation or additional education, and complete it fully. Many nurses who passed on a later attempt went on to excellent careers. Persistence, combined with a smarter plan, works.

Related: NCLEX pass rates 2026 · What happens if you get 150 NCLEX questions? · NGN study plan for international nurses

Sources: National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCLEX Candidate Rules, retake policy, Next Generation NCLEX information, Candidate Performance Report, NCLEX pass rate statistics), Pearson VUE. State board rules vary; always confirm with your board of nursing.