NCLEX Requirements

NCLEX Requirements

The NCSBN NCLEX is composed of 2 types of nursing certification exams: NCLEX RN and NCLEX LPN/LVN. The former is to be taken by those who want to be registered nurses, while the latter is for those who want to be licensed practical nurses and licensed vocational nurses.     

How to register for NCLEX?

To register for NCLEX, the first thing that an applicant can do is to research for the NCLEX requirements. This is because it varies for each state. They have their own conditions for their applicants. It’s important that they meet the requirements and then apply to the state board of nursing.

To search for your state board of nursing, you can check out the list stated below:

NCLEX Requirements by State

State Contact Information
Alabama RSA Plaza, Suite 250, 770 Washington Ave.,

Montgomery, AL 36104

1-800-656-5318

Alaska 550 West Seventh Avenue,

Suite 1500

Anchorage, AK 99501-3567

907-269-8161

Arizona 1740 West Adams,

Suite 2000

Phoenix, AZ 85007

602-771-7800

Arkansas 1123 S. University, Suite 800

Little Rock, AR 72204-1619

501-686-2700

California 1747 North Market Boulevard,

Suite 150

Sacramento, CA 95834

916-322-3350

Colorado 1560 Broadway,

Suite 1350

Denver, CO 80202

303-894-2430

Connecticut 410 Capitol Avenue, MS# 13PHO

Hartford, CT 06106

860-509-7603

Delaware 861 Silver Lake Blvd., Cannon Building, Suite 203

Dover, DE 19904

302-744-4500

District of Columbia 899 North Capitol Street, NE

Washington, DC 20002

877-672-2174

Florida 4042 Bald Cypress Way, Room 120

Tallahassee, FL 32399

850-245-4125

Georgia 237 Coliseum Drive

Macon, GA 31217-3858

478-207-2440

Hawaii King Kalakaua Building, 335 Merchant Street, 3rd Floor

Honolulu, HI 96813

808-586-3000

Idaho 280 N. 8th Street, Suite 210

Boise, ID 83702

208-577-2476

Illinois IDFPR/Nursing Unit

320 W. Washington St., 3rd Floor

Springfield, IL 62786

800-560-6420

Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, 402 W. Washington Street

Indianapolis, IN 46204

317-234-2043

Iowa RiverPoint Business Park

400 S.W. 8th Street, Suite B

Des Moines, IA 50309-4685

515-281-3255

Kansas Landon State Office Building, 900 S.W. Jackson, Suite 1051

Topeka, KS 66612

785-296-4929

Kentucky 312 Whittington Parkway, Suite 300

Louisville, KY 40222

502-429-3300

Louisiana 17373 Perkins Road

Baton Rouge, LA 70810

225-755-7500

Maine 161 Capitol Street

Augusta, ME 04333

207-287-1133

Maryland 4140 Patterson Avenue

Baltimore, MD 21215

410-585-1900

Massachusetts Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 239 Causeway Street, Suite 500, 5th floor

Boston, MA 02114

877-887-9727

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

Bureau of Professional Licensing

611 W. Ottawa

Lansing, MI 48933

517-0241-0199

Minnesota 1210 Northland Drive, Suite 120

Mendota Heights, MN 55120

612-317-3000

Mississippi 713 Pear Orchard Road, 3rd Floor

Ridgeland, MS 39157

601-957-6300

Missouri 3605 Missouri Blvd.,

Jefferson City, MO 65102-0656

573-751-0681

Montana 301 South Park, Suite 401,

Helena, MT 59620-0153

406-841-2300

Nebraska 301 Centennial Mall South

Lincoln, NE 68509-4986

402-471-4376

Nevada 5011 Meadowood Mall Way, Suite 300

Reno, NV 89502

775-687-7700

New Hampshire 121 S. Fruit Street

Concord, NH 03301

603-271-2323

New Jersey 124 Halsey Street, 6th Floor

Newark, NJ 07101

973-504-6430

New Mexico 6301 Indian School Road, NE, Suite 710

Albuquerque, NM 87110

505-841-8340

New York Education Bldg., 89 Washington Avenue, 2nd Floor West Wing

Albany, NY 12234

518-474-3817, Ext. 120

North Carolina 4516 Lake Boone Trail

Raleigh, NC 27607

919-782-3211

North Dakota 919 South 7th Street, Suite 504

Bismarck, ND 58504

701-328-9777

Ohio 17 South High Street, Suite 660

Columbus, OH 43215-3413

614-466-3947

Oklahoma 2915 N. Classen Boulevard, Suite 524

Oklahoma City, OK 73106

405-962-1800

Oregon 17938 SW Upper Boones Ferry Rd

Portland, OR 97224

971-673-0685

Pennsylvania P.O. Box 2649

Harrisburg, PA 17105-2649

717-783-7142

Rhode Island 105 Cannon Building, Three Capitol Hill

Providence, RI 02908

401-222-5700

South Carolina Kingstree Building

110 Centerview Drive, Suite 202

Columbia, SC 29210

803-896-4550

South Dakota 4305 South Louise Ave., Suite 201

Sioux Falls, SD 57106-3115

605-362-2760

Tennessee 665 Mainstream Drive

Nashville, TN 37243

615.532.5166

Texas 333 Guadalupe, Suite 3-460

Austin, TX 78701

512-305-7400

Utah Heber M. Wells Bldg., 4th Floor, 160 East 300 South

Salt Lake City, UT 84111

801-530-6628

Vermont 89 Main Street, Floor 3

Montpelier, VT 05620-3402

802-828-2396

Virginia Perimeter Center, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300

Henrico, VA 23233

804-367-4515

Washington 20425 72nd Avenue South, Building 2, Suite 310

Kent, WA 98032

360-236-4700

West Virginia 90 MacCorkle Ave. SW, Suite 203

South Charleston, WV 25303

304-744-0900

Wisconsin 4822 Madison Yards Way

Madison, WI 53705

608-266-2112

Wyoming 130 Hobbs Avenue, Suite B

Cheyenne, WY 82002

307-777-7601

Frequently Asked Questions

What does NCLEX stand for?

NCLEX stands for National Council Licensure Examination. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing administers and regulates the exam for more than 50 states in the U.S.  

How many times can you take the NCLEX?

Those who fail the exam may take it again after 45 days. In a year,  most states allow applicants to retake it at least 8 times. 

How to study to pass my NCLEX on the first try?

Passing the NCLEX on the first try means that it is important to be ready for all of the subjects covered in the examinations. You can do things, such as answering free NCLEX questions or reading NCLEX books.  You can also manage your time by making an NCLEX study plan. Thus, mastery of NCLEX requires patience and discipline. 

What is a good NCLEX review online?

There are many NCLEX reviews you can check online. UWorld NCLEX is one such example. It is one of the most popular ways that you can prepare. You can also make use of free practice tests at Practice Test Geeks. We offer various online tests that’ll help you get ready for any exam, be it for NCLEX RN or NCLEX LPN/LVN.  

What is the difference between an LVN and an RN?

LVN or licensed vocational nurses are those under the supervision of RNs or registered nurses. They require a less formal program compared to the latter. Although they can perform similar duties as that of an RN, they do not have the same responsibilities.  

Can you pass the NCLEX without studying?

No, you can’t. It covers a lot of content areas and thus needs to be reviewed and prepared for. You might not be able to remember certain lessons if you do not reread your notes. The nursing state exam will require effort and time. That’s why you need to study to pass. You can try visiting NCSBN for NCLEX reviews, for example.

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