Registering for the NCLEX
Information provided by Kaplan Test Prep

About six weeks prior to graduation, you will be given the following applications by your nursing school:

1. Application for licensure.
2. Application for the NCLEX.

On a predetermined date, you will be required to submit the completed forms and the licensure fees to your nursing school. Upon receipt of an ATT (authorization to test), you will be able to schedule your test date and time.

With the advent of the computer adaptive NCLEX, you are able to schedule an individual date and time to take the exam. Testing is available year-round, 15 hours a day, 6 days a week, in 5-hour time slots.

Submitting an application

Following the appropriate procedures
Your first step is to submit an application to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). You will be required to follow the procedures established by the individual State Boards of Nursing. Some states have combined registration for the NCLEX exam with the application for licensure. In all other states, you must apply for licensure with the State Board of Nursing in the state in which you wish to become licensed. Once you have applied, you will receive a Candidate Bulletin to register for the NCLEX.

Exam and licensure fees
The cost to take the NCLEX CAT is $120. Additional licensure fees are determined by the individual State Board of Nursing.

Sending it in
You are responsible for sending the completed test application and the fee to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. You can register by phone by calling: 1-1.866.496.2539 in the USA
1.952.681.3815 for outside the USA

Calls should be made between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday. Phone registrants are required to pay by VISA or Master Card. There is a $9.50 service fee for the phone registration. You will receive a postcard acknowledging receipt of registration. If you prefer, you may send a personal check, cashier's check or money order to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

You will not be able to schedule an appointment to take the exam until your State Board of Nursing declares you eligible and you receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) in the mail.