A Complete Beginner’s Guide for USA NCLEX requirements for Foreign Educated Nurses

Is America your dream nursing career destination? If so, understanding the NCLEX is crucial for you. This article will help you learn about,

1. What is NCLEX?
2. USA NCLEX requirements for Foreign Educated Nurses
3. Steps for NCLEX Exam Registration
4. Format of NCLEX
5. What is the NCLEX passing score in the USA?
6. How to apply for NCLEX exam from India?

Let’s break down each section for a deeper understanding!

If you are a registered nurse who dreams of planting your nursing career in the USA, you might be familiar with NCLEX. If not, don’t worry! NCLEX is one of the main requirements to work as a nurse in the USA. State licensing in the United States requires nursing school graduates to pass the NCLEX.

USA healthcare is world-wide popular. The reason behind this is the best care they provide to patients. They provide this quality care through their best and most qualified healthcare professionals. So they thoroughly check whether the healthcare professionals who are going to work with them are really capable of handling each medical situation.

The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) is an exam that is approved by every US nursing board to evaluate whether the nursing candidate is capable of practicing entry-level nursing in the USA. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) administers two types of NCLEX tests, and the choice between them depends on your nursing occupation.

The two types of NCLEX are:

• Designed for entry-level licensed nursing occupations.
• Specifically for Practical Nurses (PNs) or Vocational Nurses (LVNs).
• LPNs/LVNs provide basic nursing care under the supervision of registered nurses or physicians.
• Successful completion of the NCLEX-PN is a requirement for obtaining licensure as a practical or vocational nurse.

• Geared towards Registered Nurses (RNs) with advanced training and greater responsibilities.
• RNs are qualified to perform a broader range of nursing duties, including assessing patients, developing care plans, and administering medications.
• Successful completion of the NCLEX-RN is necessary for RN licensure, allowing individuals to practice as registered nurses in various healthcare settings.

US healthcare consists of 8% of internationally trained professionals, which means around 300,000 international nurses are working in the USA. By 2030, there will be a minimum of 200,000 annual vacancies for registered nurses, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Can I work as a nurse in USA without NCLEX? The most-queried question in 2023. If you have a similar question then the answer is, yes, NCLEX-RN is mandatory to start your nursing career in America. To get a nursing license in the USA you need to meet certain requirements which vary in each state. But all states of US approve NCLEX as one of the tests that check your ability to get a license.

The NCLEX requirements & eligibility criteria are predominantly determined by the Nursing Regulatory Body (NRB).

• You should have either a Practical Nursing Diploma, an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
  
• You should complete a criminal history report or a background check
• You should provide verification of foreign nursing licenses
• You should provide verification of educational qualifications and credentials evaluation

There is no age limitation for the NCLEX exam. After meeting these requirements, let us begin your NCLEX registration.

The following are the steps for NCLEX Exam registration,

1. Apply to Nursing Regulatory Board
2. Pearson VUE Registration
   
3. Authorization to Test
   
4. Book your Exam slot
   
5. Take the exam

To begin the registration process, you first need to submit your application to the Nursing Regulatory Board (NRB) of the state in which you are planning to work. The requirements vary in each state in the USA. Complete the application form with your qualifications, including details of your nursing degree and any additional requirements.

The second step on your way to NCLEX is your registration with Pearson VUE. Pearson VUE is an official testing service for various exams. You have to take your NCLEX-RN through the Pearson VUE website. There will be a fee for this.

Upon successful registration, you’ll receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) in your email. This ATT grants you permission to schedule your exam. You can schedule your exam on the date you are willing to attend. The ATT is usually valid for 90 days. So it is safe to schedule before 90 days.

The fourth step is to arrange the date, time, and location of a Pearson VUE examination. Testing centers will be the locations where the NCLEX is administered. You will be provided with an email confirmation of your appointment, which will contain the specified date, time, and directions to the testing center.

Now it’s time to attend the NCLEX. Before that, understand that the NCLEX-RN is a Computerized Adaptive Test which means the question difficulty adjusts based on your performance. So answer each question to the best of your ability. Understanding the format of the NCLEX is highly recommended before taking the exam.

Now that you may be familiar with the requirements of NCLEX-RN and the registration process of NCLEX-RN, it’s time to know more details about the format of NCLEX-RN exams.

As we discussed, the NCLEX exam is a Computerized Adaptive Test (CAT), which evaluates your theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and level of critical thinking ability in order to enter your nursing career.

This exam mainly covers all content areas of the exam, including physiological integrity, a safe and effective care environment, health promotion and maintenance, and psychosocial integrity.

This CAT is based on your knowledge level. That means that if your answer to the first question is correct, it will result in more complex questions.

Candidates must answer at least 75 questions within the allocated five hours to either pass or fail the NCLEX exam. The maximum number of questions in both the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN exams is 145. You can face anywhere between 75 and 145 questions, depending on how well you respond to the progressively challenging items.

Since the NCLEX is adaptive, the percentage required to pass varies for each candidate. The test continually adapts to the individual’s level of knowledge, challenging them until it identifies the difficulty level at which they have a 50% chance of success.

It is a basic knowledge that IELTS is highly required for any overseas career. But if you want to attend the NCLEX, it is not necessary to prove your English language proficiency ;. But that doesn’t mean that IELTS is not required for a nursing career in the USA. Anyway, for the visa screen, it is a mandatory requirement to prove your English language proficiency.

The above requirements are needed for an Indian nurse to apply for the NCLEX exam. Also, you can go through agencies for NCLEX exam registration as you are preparing for the NCLEX exam. As you know, reputed organizations have years of experience handling the NCLEX registration process. If you are new to the NCLEX registration process, the possibilities of errors increase, and at the same time, it will take more time.

Who is eligible for the NCLEX exam in India? The eligibility criteria are the same as mentioned. The NCLEX eligibility criteria for Indian nurses are:

1. A bachelor’s degree in nursing is required.
2. Apply to the Nursing Regulatory Board in your preferred state. Complete the application form with your qualifications, including details of your nursing degree and any additional requirements.
3. The ATT is a crucial document needed to proceed with the NCLEX. Ensure that you have received your ATT after completing the necessary steps with the Nursing Regulatory Board.
4. Visit the Pearson Vue website and register for the NCLEX exam. Ensure that your personal information is complete and accurate when registering.
5. Pay the required application fees for the NCLEX. These fees are essential for processing your application and scheduling your exam with Pearson Vue.

To sum up, navigating the above steps diligently is crucial for a successful NCLEX-RN licensure process. Each element contributes to a comprehensive assessment of your qualifications and eligibility to practice as a registered nurse in the United States.

Does this blog help you to clear the doubt of can I work as a nurse in USA without NCLEX? Follow Career Grids for updated information about the NCLEX process and US nursing careers.

Best of luck on your journey to becoming a registered nurse!