The NACE Practice Test is an essential resource for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) aiming to bridge to Registered Nursing (RN) programs. The Nursing Acceleration Challenge Exam (NACE), administered by the National League for Nursing (NLN), evaluates your nursing knowledge and clinical competence to determine if you qualify for advanced placement.
Our comprehensive NACE Exam resources cover both NACE I and NACE II exams. Whether you are preparing for the NACE 1 Exam in Foundations of Nursing or the specialized NACE II exams, our free NACE Test Prep materials are designed to help you pass. Use our NACE 1 Practice Test modules and study guides to boost your confidence and secure your spot in an LPN-to-RN bridge program.
Facts verified Oct 15, 2026 against National League for Nursing (NLN) Assessment Services Division. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions | 100 items (version 1.2) | National League for Nursing (NLN) Assessment Services Division |
| Time limit | 150 minutes (version 1.2) | National League for Nursing (NLN) Assessment Services Division |
| Passing score | No national pass mark; each program sets its own | National League for Nursing (NLN) Assessment Services Division |
| Exam fee (Proctor360 on-demand scheduling) | $30 to test within 48 hours | National League for Nursing (NLN) Assessment Services Division |
| Exam fee (Proctor360 reschedule (<24h)) | $30 to reschedule less than 24 hours before | National League for Nursing (NLN) Assessment Services Division |
| Retake policy | 30 days between attempts unless the school sets otherwise | National League for Nursing (NLN) Assessment Services Division |
| Delivery | At the school, or online with remote proctoring | National League for Nursing (NLN) Assessment Services Division |
| Eligibility | Licensed PN/VNs seeking entry to or enrolled in an RN program | National League for Nursing (NLN) Assessment Services Division |
| Score release | Within 24 hours in school and student accounts | National League for Nursing (NLN) Assessment Services Division |
| Registration deadline (Virtual (Proctor360)) | Book at least 48 hours ahead | National League for Nursing (NLN) Assessment Services Division |
Facts verified Oct 15, 2026 against National League for Nursing (NLN) Assessment Services Division. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
The NLN NACE Exam (Nursing Acceleration Challenge Exam) is the primary gateway for LPNs and LVNs to advance to Registered Nursing (RN) programs, validating prior learning to bypass introductory coursework. LPN-to-RN bridge students may also want to practice with our NCLEX practice test. Practice with the free Nursing Acceleration Challenge Exam (NACE) I PN-RN practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (7 questions with answer explanations).
NACE certification through the Nursing Acceleration Challenge Exam I validates that licensed practical nurses possess the foundational nursing knowledge required for registered nurse licensure. Unlike traditional bridge programs that require additional semesters of coursework, NACE certification allows experienced LPNs to demonstrate competency through a single standardized assessment. Candidates who pass earn academic credit that satisfies prerequisite requirements at participating nursing programs, significantly reducing the time and cost of earning an RN degree.
Prepare for the Nursing Acceleration Challenge Exam I PN-RN exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
Interactive Nursing Acceleration Challenge Exam (NACE) I PN-RN resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:
Quick review for NACE I and NACE II topics
Our comprehensive NACE study guide covers everything you need to know about the exam. From the NACE 1 exam basics to registration and results, explore each tab to ensure you are fully prepared for your NACE test prep journey.
Estimated score calculation
Required to Pass: ~70% (Estimated)
Your Score: 126 correct ✓ PASS
Follow these steps to register for and take the Nursing Acceleration Challenge Exam. LPN-to-RN bridge students may also want to practice with our NCLEX practice test.
The NACE (Nursing Acceleration Challenge Exam) is a standardized test developed by the National League for Nursing (NLN) that allows licensed practical nurses to demonstrate college-level nursing knowledge and accelerate their path to an RN degree. The NACE I specifically covers foundational nursing content areas including anatomy, physiology, and life sciences that LPNs are expected to have mastered through clinical experience and prior education. Passing the NACE can save months or even a full year of coursework by granting academic credit at participating nursing programs.
The NACE I PN-RN exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions with a time limit of 150 minutes (2.5 hours), and the NLN reports a percentage-correct score plus a percentile rank. Each nursing school sets its own minimum passing score, so candidates should confirm the required threshold with their specific program before testing.
NACE certification through the NLN serves as proof that a licensed practical nurse possesses the academic knowledge equivalent to foundational nursing coursework at the college level. Many PN-to-RN bridge programs require NACE certification as a prerequisite for admission or for granting advanced placement within their curriculum. Candidates must hold a current LPN or LVN license and typically need to register through the NLN's official testing portal to schedule their exam either on campus through their school or online with a live Proctor360 proctor.
Unlike the NCLEX-RN, which is a licensure exam required to practice as a registered nurse, NACE certification is an academic credit-by-examination pathway that validates prior learning rather than granting a professional license. The NACE I focuses on foundational sciences and nursing concepts, while the NCLEX-RN emphasizes clinical judgment and safe patient care across all practice areas.
The NACE, or Nursing Acceleration Challenge Exam, is a standardized test developed by the National League for Nursing (NLN) that allows licensed practical nurses and licensed vocational nurses to earn credit for foundational nursing coursework. By passing the NACE I PN-RN exam, LPNs and LVNs can bypass redundant classroom hours and transition directly into an RN program at an advanced standing. The exam validates that a candidate already possesses the clinical knowledge and nursing fundamentals taught in early semesters of a registered nursing program, making it a practical gateway for experienced nurses seeking career advancement without repeating material they use daily in patient care.
The NACE I PN-RN exam contains 100 multiple-choice questions covering foundations of nursing practice, including basic patient care, pharmacology principles, nutrition, mental health concepts, and the nursing process. Candidates are given 150 minutes to complete the test, which is administered on campus by the nursing school or online through the NLN's Proctor360 remote proctoring service. Scores are reported as a percentage correct with a percentile rank, and each nursing school sets its own minimum passing score (commonly in the 65-76% range). Because there is no universal passing threshold, applicants should confirm the required score with their target RN bridge program before sitting for the exam. Registration is handled through the NLN website, and the 2026 testing fee is $75 for a school-administered exam or $96 for the virtual version.
Looking for free NACE practice exam questions before you register for the real thing? The fastest way to gauge readiness is a NACE free practice exam that mirrors the official item style: single-best-answer, scenario-based questions drawn from the same nursing-process blueprint (Assessment, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation) the NLN uses to build the NACE I PN-RN exam. This page works as a full NACE practice test free resource — every quiz module above maps to a content area on the blueprint, so a NACE practice exam session here pinpoints weak spots in basic health needs, medication principles, or fluid and electrolyte balance before you pay the $75-$96 official fee. Candidates searching for more structured NACE exam practice questions should pair each quiz with our downloadable NACE study guide PDF, which summarizes the same topics in a print-friendly format for offline review. Combine short, frequent practice sessions (20-30 questions at a time) with the flashcards above for spaced repetition, and let your results guide how much additional NACE prep you schedule before test day. Most candidates who work through 300 or more questions across every content area report feeling confident walking in, so treat this page as your ongoing NACE prep hub rather than a one-time review.
Many readers pair this guide with the nace exam study guide to check their readiness before exam day.
Budget approximately $100 to $150 for your NACE test prep and exam fees per test required.
Join thousands of nursing students who passed their NLN NACE exam with our free practice resources. Start your journey to becoming an RN today!
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Validates your knowledge and skills objectively | Study materials can be expensive |
| Increases job market competitiveness | Exam anxiety can affect performance |
| Provides structured learning goals | Requires dedicated preparation time |
| Networking opportunities with other certified professionals | Retake fees apply if you don't pass |
Try these questions from our free Nursing Acceleration Challenge Exam (NACE) I PN-RN practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.
The NACE I PN-RN exam is designed for which population of nursing students?
Answer: B. Licensed practical nurses seeking registered nurse licensure through an accelerated program
The NACE I (Nursing Acceleration Challenge Exam) is designed for LPNs/LVNs who wish to transition to RN status by demonstrating competency in nursing knowledge.
A competent 80-year-old client with end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has a living will that explicitly states they do not want mechanical ventilation. The client develops acute respiratory failure and becomes lethargic. The client's family insists that 'everything be done' to save them. Which action by the nurse demonstrates proper legal and ethical practice?
Answer: C. Honor the client's advance directive and advocate for comfort care measures.
A living will is a legal advance directive that outlines a competent client's wishes for medical treatment at the end of life. The nurse has an ethical and legal obligation to honor these documented wishes. The principle of autonomy dictates that the client's right to self-determination be respected. The nurse's primary role is to advocate for the client's wishes, which in this case involves providing comfort care rather than initiating unwanted life-sustaining treatment.
A charge nurse observes a licensed practical nurse (LPN) performing a task outside their scope of practice. What is the charge nurse's immediate priority?
Answer: B. Immediately stop the task and ensure client safety
Client safety is the immediate priority; the charge nurse must stop the out-of-scope activity at once, then follow up with documentation and education.
A nurse is administering potassium chloride 40 mEq IV. Which practice is safest?
Answer: B. Dilute in at least 100 mL and infuse no faster than 10 mEq/hour
IV potassium must be diluted and infused slowly (≤10 mEq/hr peripherally) to prevent cardiac dysrhythmias; IV push is never acceptable.
Take the full Nursing Acceleration Challenge Exam (NACE) I PN-RN practice test