Which states give unlimited NCLEX attempts?
NCLEX guidelines vary by state and they change frequently, so it is important to check with your local board of nursing to confirm the current NCLEX guidelines in your area. According to the official NCLEX website, test takers can retake the exam 45 days after initially taking it. If you fail it again, this is where policies start to vary from state to state.
NCSBN requires at least 45 days between administrations, but each nursing regulatory body sets eligibility and attempt rules. Confirm the board policy before planning a retake.
Other states are a little more strict. For example, both Florida and Hawaii require you to pass the NCLEX by the third retake. After retaking it three times, you are required to take a remedial course before being allowed another attempt.
Some states are more concerned with the amount of years between graduating and passing NCLEX than they are with the exact amount of attempts. For example, North Carolina requires that test takers pass the test within one year of your first attempt. If you do not, you have to develop a remedial plan with the state’s nursing board in order to sit for it again.
Overall, NCLEX retake rules can be a little tricky to understand on a general level. Check with your specific state’s current policy to get the most accurate guidelines.
List of states with unlimited NCLEX attempts
Make sure to double-check the official information by the state’s board of nursing:
- Alabama: Alabama Board of Nursing
- Arizona: Arizona State Board of Nursing
- Arkansas: Arkansas State Board of Nursing
- California: California Board of Registered Nursing
- Connecticut: Connecticut Board of Examiners for Nursing
- Idaho: Idaho Board of Nursing
- Iowa: Iowa Board of Nursing
- Kansas: Kansas State Board of Nursing
- Maine: Maine State Board of Nursing
- Maryland: Maryland Board of Nursing
- Massachusetts: Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing
- Montana: Montana State Board of Nursing
- Nebraska: Nebraska Board of Nursing
- New York: New York State Board of Nursing
- North Carolina: North Carolina Board of Nursing
- North Dakota: North Dakota Board of Nursing
- Ohio: Ohio Board of Nursing
- Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing
- Rhode Island: Rhode Island Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education
- South Dakota: South Dakota Board of Nursing
- Virginia: Virginia Board of Nursing
- Washington: Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission
- Wisconsin: Wisconsin Board of Nursing
What does retaking the NCLEX look like?
These are the steps you need to take when retaking the NCLEX:
- Contact the board of nursing and inform them of your plan to retake the exam.
- You’ll then be informed about any fees or retake materials that are required to make you eligible to test again.
- Re-register with Pearson VUE and pay retake fees.
- You may have to wait some time to receive an Authorization to Test (ATT).
- Once you receive your ATT, you can schedule your retake.
How much does it cost to retake the NCLEX?
The U.S. NCLEX registration fee is $200. Any board reapplication, licensure, or international scheduling charge is separate and varies by jurisdiction. So, you can see how overtime the expenses of retaking the NCLEX multiple times can start to add up. For this reason, you should take steps to prepare as best as possible so that you can feel confident going into the exam the second time around.
How to prepare to retake the NCLEX
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Review your performance report
If you fail the NCLEX, you will be given a score report called the Candidate Performance Report or CPR. Although your CPR won’t share actual questions and answers, it will break down some information about your score, such as inwhich content areas you met the passing standard and in which ones you were below the passing standard. This will help you see what areas you need to focus on studying more.
Target weak areas
Once you’ve determined which subject areas are weaker for you, you can begin to prioritize study time. If you have a hard time putting in the time to study, then you may need to write up a schedule in order to hold yourself accountable.
Practice, practice, practice
You will definitely want to read up on specific subjects that you’re unsure about and do plenty of practice questions. If staying focused for the entire test duration is challenging, taking a practice test can serve as a valuable practice run to build your endurance.
Utilize a review course
An online or in-person NCLEX review course can also help you learn about testing strategy and review helpful questions so that you can pass NCLEX on the second time around.
Takeaways
Failing the NCLEX may feel like the worst case scenario, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t succeed the second (or third, or fourth) time around. Every state has different rules when it comes to how many times you can attempt the NCLEX. It is important to research your specific state’s retake policy so that you can know what to expect. Reviewing your score report, prioritizing study time, and completing an NCLEX review course can help you ensure that you pass your NCLEX retake.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which states offer unlimited NCLEX attempts?
Several states currently don’t cap the number of times you can retake the NCLEX, including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. Since policies change often, always confirm current rules with your state’s board of nursing before planning a retake.
2. How long do I have to wait before retaking the NCLEX?
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) requires a minimum 45-day waiting period between attempts. Beyond that baseline, each state’s nursing board sets its own additional eligibility rules, so requirements can vary once you’ve failed more than once.
3. Do any states limit NCLEX attempts or require extra steps after failing?
Yes. Florida and Hawaii, for example, require candidates to pass by their third retake, after which a remedial course is mandatory before another attempt is allowed. North Carolina takes a different approach, requiring candidates to pass within one year of their first attempt or submit a remedial plan to the state board.
4. How much does it cost to retake the NCLEX?
The standard NCLEX registration fee is $200 per attempt in the U.S. Keep in mind that board reapplication, licensure, or international scheduling fees are separate and vary by jurisdiction, so costs can add up with multiple retakes.
5. What steps should I take to retake the NCLEX after failing?
Start by contacting your board of nursing to confirm any required fees or remedial materials, then re-register with Pearson VUE and pay the retake fee. Once you receive your Authorization to Test (ATT), you can schedule your exam. Before retesting, review your Candidate Performance Report (CPR) to identify weak content areas, prioritize focused study time, complete practice questions, and consider an NCLEX review course to strengthen your test-taking strategy.
