LPN Practice Test PDF (Free Printable 2026)
Boost your LPN exam score with practice questions and detailed answer explanations. Track progress with instant feedback.
LPN Practice Test PDF – Free Printable NCLEX-PN Preparation
Studying for your NCLEX-PN to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)? A printable LPN practice test PDF gives you a focused offline study format — annotate clinical scenarios, work through pharmacology questions by hand, and identify knowledge gaps across the NCLEX-PN content areas. This page provides a free PDF download plus a breakdown of what the NCLEX-PN tests and how to prepare effectively. Practice with the free LPN - Licensed Practical Nurse practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (500+ questions with answer explanations).
The NCLEX-PN is administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) and is required for licensure as an LPN/LVN in all US states. The exam uses Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT), meaning the question count varies by candidate (between 85–150 questions). Working through clinical scenario questions in print helps develop the clinical reasoning skills the exam demands.
- The NCLEX-PN consists of 85 to 150 computer-adaptive items, which includes 15 unscored pretest items. (National Council of State Boards of Nursing)
- Candidates have five hours to complete the NCLEX-PN, including all breaks. (National Council of State Boards of Nursing)
- The NCLEX-PN passing standard is -0.18 logits, effective through March 31, 2029. (National Council of State Boards of Nursing)
- The NCLEX-PN registration fee for candidates seeking U.S. licensure is $200 USD. (National Council of State Boards of Nursing)
- The NCLEX-PN retake policy permits candidates to take the exam up to eight times per year with a minimum of 45 test-free days between attempts. (National Council of State Boards of Nursing)
- The NCLEX-PN is administered via computer at Pearson Professional Centers. (National Council of State Boards of Nursing)
- Candidates must receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) from their nursing regulatory body before scheduling the NCLEX-PN. (National Council of State Boards of Nursing)
- Official NCLEX-PN results are sent by the nursing regulatory body within six weeks, while unofficial Quick Results are available in two business days where offered. (National Council of State Boards of Nursing)
Facts verified Nov 8, 2026 against National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
LPN Exam at a Glance
| Item | Detail | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions | 85–150 items (adaptive), including 15 unscored pretest items | National Council of State Boards of Nursing |
| Time limit | 5 hours | National Council of State Boards of Nursing |
| Passing score | -0.18 logits | National Council of State Boards of Nursing |
| Exam fee | $200 USD | National Council of State Boards of Nursing |
| Retake policy | Up to 8 attempts per year, with 45 test-free days between attempts | National Council of State Boards of Nursing |
| Delivery | Pearson Professional Centers (computer-based) | National Council of State Boards of Nursing |
| Eligibility | Authorization to Test (ATT) required | National Council of State Boards of Nursing |
| Score release | Official results within 6 weeks from NRB; unofficial Quick Results in 2 business days where offered | National Council of State Boards of Nursing |
| Registration deadline | Registration stays open 365 days awaiting NRB eligibility; then test within ATT validity dates | National Council of State Boards of Nursing |
| Testing window | First-timers offered appointment within 30 days; repeat candidates 45 days after last attempt | National Council of State Boards of Nursing |
Facts verified Nov 8, 2026 against National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
Free LPN - Licensed Practical Nurse Study Tools
Interactive LPN - Licensed Practical Nurse resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:
- Free Licensed Practical Nurse Question and Answers — 16 questions with instant scoring and answer explanations
- LPN - Licensed Practical Nurse flashcards — review key terms and concepts card by card
- LPN - Licensed Practical Nurse study guide — topic-by-topic overview of what the exam covers
- LPN - Licensed Practical Nurse cheat sheet — one-page printable summary for last-minute review
Pro Tip: Focus your LPN study time on areas where you score lowest. Most exam questions test application of knowledge, not memorization.
What the NCLEX-PN Covers
The NCLEX-PN tests clinical judgment across four major client needs categories, with each category weighted by percentage of total exam questions. The 2026 Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) update added clinical judgment measurement model (CJMM) items that test six cognitive skills.
Safe and Effective Care Environment (26–32%)
This is the largest category and covers management of care and safety/infection control. For management of care: advance directives, client rights, continuity of care, informed consent, and ethical/legal practices. For safety: fall prevention, handling hazardous materials, medical and surgical asepsis, standard precautions, and error reporting. Prioritization questions — deciding which patient to see first — fall here.
Pharmacological Therapies (12–18%)
Pharmacology is where most candidates feel least prepared. NCLEX-PN tests expected side effects and adverse reactions, medication administration (rights of medication administration), drug interactions, and the LPN's role in medication management. When practicing with your LPN practice test PDF, prioritize learning drug classes and their common adverse effects over memorizing individual drug names.
Reduction of Risk Potential (9–15%)
This category covers diagnostic tests, laboratory values (know critical highs and lows for electrolytes, CBC, and coagulation studies), therapeutic procedures, and potential complications of surgeries and treatments. Vital sign interpretation and early recognition of deteriorating condition are frequently tested.
Physiological Adaptation (7–13%)
Pathophysiology, altered states of nutrition, fluid and electrolyte imbalances, medical emergencies, and illness management round out the physiological categories. Prioritizing care based on pathophysiology (e.g., which complication is most life-threatening) is the core skill tested here.
Health Promotion and Maintenance (6–12%)
Developmental stages, health screening, disease prevention, expected body changes across the lifespan, and patient education are the primary topics. These questions tend to be more straightforward than clinical judgment items but still require specific knowledge.
Psychosocial Integrity (7–13%)
Mental health concepts, coping mechanisms, crisis intervention, therapeutic communication, and caring for clients with mental health disorders fall here. Therapeutic communication questions are reliably tested — know what LPNs should say (and not say) in therapeutic interactions.
How to Use This LPN PDF for NCLEX-PN Prep
Work through the PDF one content category at a time rather than all questions in sequence. Mark every question you're unsure about — even if you selected the right answer. Uncertainty on a correct answer reveals gaps that straight scoring misses. After the PDF, take online practice tests at our LPN practice test page for instant scoring and content-category breakdowns.
- ✓Learn the ABC priority framework: Airway → Breathing → Circulation before all else
- ✓Memorize critical lab values: Na+ (135–145), K+ (3.5–5.0), Hgb normals, INR therapeutic range
- ✓Review the 5 rights of medication administration — and the additional rights added in recent years
- ✓Study common drug classes and their adverse effects: anticoagulants, diuretics, cardiac glycosides, antibiotics
- ✓Practice prioritization questions: Maslow's hierarchy + ABCs + acute vs. chronic conditions
- ✓Review infection control precautions: standard, contact, droplet, airborne — and which diseases require each
- ✓Study therapeutic communication: open-ended questions, reflection, clarification — and nontherapeutic responses to avoid
- ✓Review wound care and skin integrity: pressure injury stages, wound assessment terminology
- ✓Practice NGN clinical judgment questions: trend, recognize cues, prioritize, generate solutions
- ✓Take at least 3 full 85-question NCLEX-PN style timed practice tests before your exam date
Free LPN Practice Tests Online
After completing this PDF, take full online NCLEX-PN style practice tests at our LPN practice test page — instant scoring by content area and explanations for every question help you build the clinical judgment skills the Next Generation NCLEX now emphasizes. Use both the PDF for deliberate concept review and the online tests for adaptive practice that simulates the CAT format.
Sample LPN - Licensed Practical Nurse Practice Questions
Try these questions from our free LPN - Licensed Practical Nurse practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.
A patient's serum TSH is 0.05 mIU/L and free T4 is elevated. Which clinical findings would the LPN expect?
- A. Tachycardia, heat intolerance, and weight loss
- B. Bradycardia, cold intolerance, and weight gain
- C. Hyponatremia and lethargy
- D. Hyperglycemia and polyuria
Answer: A. Tachycardia, heat intolerance, and weight loss
Low TSH with high free T4 indicates hyperthyroidism, causing increased metabolic rate with tachycardia, heat intolerance, and unintentional weight loss.
A patient is using a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump. Which action is within the LPN's scope of practice?
- A. Programming the PCA pump settings
- B. Monitoring the patient's pain level and respiratory status
- C. Changing the opioid cartridge independently
- D. Adjusting the lockout interval
Answer: B. Monitoring the patient's pain level and respiratory status
The LPN monitors the patient's response to PCA therapy including pain levels, sedation, and respiratory status, reporting changes to the RN.
A patient's fasting blood glucose is 58 mg/dL and they are diaphoretic and trembling. What should the LPN do first?
- A. Give 15-20 g of fast-acting carbohydrates and recheck glucose in 15 minutes
- B. Administer insulin per sliding scale
- C. Notify the provider before taking any action
- D. Offer a full meal immediately
Answer: A. Give 15-20 g of fast-acting carbohydrates and recheck glucose in 15 minutes
Symptomatic hypoglycemia requires immediate treatment with 15-20 g of rapid-acting carbohydrates followed by recheck using the 15-15 rule.
An LPN is caring for a patient receiving IV potassium chloride. Which assessment finding requires the most immediate intervention?
- A. Mild burning at the IV site
- B. Urine output of 35 mL/hr
- C. Irregular heart rhythm on the monitor
- D. Blood pressure of 138/86 mmHg
Answer: C. Irregular heart rhythm on the monitor
Hyperkalemia from IV potassium can cause life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias requiring immediate intervention.
Take the full LPN - Licensed Practical Nurse practice test
How this page was made: written with AI tools and published by Nathan Beja, founder of Practice Test Geeks, who is responsible for its content. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy
Sources & references
Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy
- pearsonvue.com — Exam information · verified Nov 2026
- nclex.com — Eligibility, test dates, retake policy, score release, registration deadline, passing score, test delivery, time limit, exam format, fees · verified Nov 2026