1. What are the requirements for taking the NCLEX as an internationally educated nurse?

As an internationally educated candidate, you will need to complete the two processes listed in the above
question.
Additionally, regulations and requirements regarding internationally educated nurses vary for each board
of nursing. Requirements may include:

Obtaining Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) certification

Taking an English proficiency exam

Obtaining official review of credentials (i.e. review of nursing education)

NCSBN does not maintain a list of requirements for internationally educated nurses for individual boards
of nursing.
Candidates do not need to be U.S. citizens to take the NCLEX, however, there are some boards of nursing
which will not allow candidates without U.S. Social Security numbers to apply for licensure or obtain a
license. It would be up to a non-U.S. citizen to find out from the board of nursing whether either of these
situations apply.
Links to all boards of nursing websites and contact information are available on the Contact a Board of
Nursing page.
2. What are the eligibility requirements for taking the NCLEX?
NCSBN does not maintain a list of eligibility requirements to take the NCLEX. Contact the board of
nursing where you are seeking licensure for their requirements.
Links to all boards of nursing websites and contact information are available on the Contact a Board of
Nursing page.
3. How do I register for the NCLEX?
To take the NCLEX, you will first need to complete two separate processes:
1. Contact your board of nursing and request a licensure application.
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You will pay a licensing fee to the board of nursing along with the submission of your
application materials.

Licensure applications must be obtained from the board of nursing in the

state/jurisdiction where you are seeking licensure, as requirements vary from board to
board.

Obtain a copy of the online NCLEX Candidate Bulletin

2. Register with Pearson VUE (the testing vendor) using one of the following methods:

Online - Visit http://www.pearsonvue.com/nclex and pay with a credit, debit or

prepaid card.

Phone - Call Pearson VUE NCLEX Candidate Services at 866.496.2539 and pay the
$200 by credit, debit or prepaid card.

Contact your state board of nursing about applying for licensure.

Find out more about the NCLEX registration process.
4. Where can I take the NCLEX?
The NCLEX is given year round and is administered by Pearson VUE. Candidates can take the exam at
any Pearson Professional Center in the U.S. (including U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Guam,
Northern Mariana Islands). International locations where the NCLEX is offered for purposes of domestic
licensure include Australia, Canada, England, (Germany - temporarily not testing at this location), Hong
Kong, India, Japan, Mexico, Philippines, Puerto Rico and Taiwan.
Candidates are able to take the NCLEX at any Pearson Professional Testing location, regardless of the
board they are applying for licensure.
Candidates can find U.S. and international test center locations by going to the Pearson VUE website
at www.pearsonvue.com/nclex.
For more information on where the NCLEX is offered, visit the Test Center Locations page.
5. I have registered for the NCLEX, when will I get my Authorization to Test (ATT) email?
Once you have been made eligible by your board of nursing, you will receive an Authorization to Test
(ATT) via the email address you provided when registering. You must have your ATT email to schedule
an appointment to take the NCLEX. A paper copy of the ATT is no longer necessary for admittance to the
NCLEX. To gain access to the NCLEX, you will be required to present one form of acceptable
identification. The first and last name on your identification must match exactly the name you provided
when registering. For further details, visit Authorization to Test.
After you register with Pearson VUE and your board of nursing declares you eligible, you will receive
your Authorization to Test (ATT). All application materials and fees must be submitted to the board of
nursing before they can deem you eligible to test.
Once the board of nursing declares you eligible to test and your ATT is issued, you must test within the
validity dates of your ATT (varies from 60 days to 365 days; however, the average is 90 days). These
validity dates cannot be extended for any reason. If you do not test within these dates you will have to
reregister and pay another exam fee. The ATT contains your authorization number, candidate
identification number and an expiration date. You need the ATT to schedule an appointment to take the
NCLEX.

Call Pearson VUE NCLEX Candidate Services at 866.496.2539 or at one of the international telephone
numbers in the NCLEX Candidate Bulletin to report a lost ATT or if it has been two weeks since you
registered and have not received your ATT.
Links to all boards of nursing websites and contact information are available on the Contact a Board of
Nursing page.
6. When a candidate calls to schedule an exam, how soon can they expect to get an
appointment?

First-time test takers will be offered an appointment within 30 days of the call, or online attempt, to
schedule an appointment; repeat candidates will be offered an appointment within 45 days. If you wish,
you may decline the appointment offered and schedule later than the 30 or 45 days.
7. What forms of identification are accepted at the test center?
The only acceptable forms of identification in test centers in the United States* are:

U.S. drivers license (Department of Motor Vehicle-Issued) (if expired, a renewal slip that contains
a photograph and a signature must be presented in order to be admitted)

U.S. state identification (Department of Motor Vehicle-Issued)

Passport

U.S. Military Identification

The only identification acceptable in test centers outside of the United States is:

Passport

All identification must be valid and not expired with signature and photograph. All identification must be
in English and signed in English.
Drivers/learners permits, temporary identification (examples include limited term IDs and any ID
reading temp or temporary) and passport cards are not accepted for admittance to the NCLEX.
Candidates with identification from a country on the U.S. governments sanctioned countrieswill have to
follow the requirements listed in order to sit for the exam.
For more information on identification, visit the Acceptable Identification page.