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.
Facts verified Nov 8, 2026 against National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| 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.
Interactive LPN - Licensed Practical Nurse resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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?
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?
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?
Answer: C. Irregular heart rhythm on the monitor
Hyperkalemia from IV potassium can cause life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias requiring immediate intervention.