Resource Center

Nursing regulators, nursing educators and candidates remain actively engaged in the NCLEX. As such, we receive a number of questions about the NCLEX on topics ranging from examination development principles and sample content, to exam administration and using computerized adaptive testing, or CAT. We have compiled these questions and answers, and invite you to join us as we uncover the NCLEX FAQs

Practitioner wellness is a patient safety issue impacting an increasing number of practitioners each year. It is a complex problem that demands a comprehensive and transparent approach in identifying, treating, and preventing burnout and other stress-related conditions.

This webinar introduces a new, dynamic report (Education Program Pass Rate) that will be launched in January 2016 through Pearson VUE’S Business Intelligence platform. Here, our psychometric staff reviews existing reports and demonstrates how this new report will provide a better and easier way to get the information you need. After this webinar, you will be able to run the Education Program Pass Rate report for students who were educated in your jurisdiction and licensed in all jurisdictions—both first timers and repeaters. This report includes both an education program summary and individual student information.

To ensure public protection, each jurisdiction requires candidates for registered nurse licensure to meet set requirements that include passing an examination that measures the competencies needed to perform safely and effectively as a newly licensed, entry-level registered nurse. NCSBN develops a licensure examination, the NCLEX-RN, which is used by jurisdictions to assist in making licensure decisions. Triennially, NCSBN conducts the NCLEX-RN Practice Analysis to analyze entry-level RN practice. Using the data collected from the practice analysis, NCSBN develops the NCLEX Test Plan which guides the selection of content and behaviors to be tested during NCLEX administration. In April 2016, the new 2016 NCLEX-RN Test Plan will become effective. This webinar will provide an overview of the 2016 NCLEX-RN Test Plan, including new information effective with the test plan revision. 

This study identifies the knowledge needed by newly licensed RNs. The results of this study (i.e., the important knowledge statements) will be used to inform item development.

This annual publication provides national and state summary data of member boards’ licensure activities, as well as data on candidate performance on the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN Examinations.  

The basic NCLEX-RN test plan includes an overview of the content categories along with details about the administration of the exam.

Summary data for multiple categories of candidates, U.S. and international, is provided for performance on NCSBN's two nurse licensure examinations, the NCLEX-PN and NCLEX-RN.

A practice analysis study aims to investigate the applicability of the 2013 NCLEX-RN Test Plan. This periodic performance of practice analyses (i.e., job analysis) studies assists NCSBN in evaluating the validity of the test plan that guides content distribution of the licensure examination. Because changes can occur in registered nurse (RN) practice, practice analyses are conducted on a three-year cycle. This publication analyzes both the U.S. and Canadian nurse testing populations.

This webinar offers insight into the practice analysis and test plan development process used to create the NCLEX. The information discussed in this webinar can be used to assist nursing regulatory bodies with further understanding test content and purpose.