NCLEX Cost in 2026 and the Fee Increase Coming in 2027 

By Tiffany Paolino, MSN, BSN · Reviewed by Rachel Taylor, MSN, BSN, RN

How much does NCLEX® cost? If you’re seeking U.S. licensure, the NCLEX registration fee is $200 when you register with Pearson VUE before February 1, 2027. Registrations completed on or after that date cost $350, which is the first fee increase since 2000. Your state board application fee and other required costs are paid separately, and the RN and PN sample budgets below add them up for the full NCLEX cost.

How Much the NCLEX Exam Costs to Register

How much is the NCLEX exam? The table below shows the registration fee for each licensure country, since the NCLEX exam fee depends on where you plan to be licensed. You pay this NCLEX exam cost to Pearson VUE when you register, and one registration covers one attempt. Pearson VUE accepts Visa, Mastercard and American Express credit, debit or prepaid cards, and payment is due at registration.

Candidate	Registered before Feb 1, 2027	Registered on or after Feb 1, 2027
US licensure	$200 USD	$350 USD
Canadian licensure	$360 CAD	$570 CAD
Australian licensure	$200 USD	$350 USD

The 2027 NCLEX Fee Increase and Who It Affects

The 2027 NCLEX fee increase is based on the date you complete your Pearson VUE registration, and not your exam date. If you finish registering on January 31, 2027, and test in March, you pay the current fee, while anyone who registers on February 1 or later pays the new one. Retakes follow the same rule, and NCSBN says no other NCLEX fees are changing. Register when your board’s instructions say to, since NCLEX fees are nonrefundable.

State Board Application Fees for the NCLEX

Your NCLEX application fee goes to your state board, separate from the Pearson VUE registration, and it pays for the board’s review of your eligibility for a license. Boards set this fee by applicant type, so where you graduated can change the amount, and California charges internationally educated RN applicants a separate, higher rate.

Some boards fold other charges into the application, such as the Texas Nursing Jurisprudence Exam or New York’s first registration. Use NCSBN’s directory to find your state board of nursing and check its current fee schedule.

State	Applicant type	Board application fee
California	California-educated RN applicant	$300
California	Internationally educated RN applicant	$750
Texas	U.S.-educated RN applicant	$75, jurisprudence exam included
New York	First-time PN applicant	$143, includes license and first registration

Total Cost to Get Your Nursing License

How much does it cost to take the NCLEX and get licensed? The two budgets below add up the required fees for a U.S.-educated RN applicant in Texas and a first-time PN applicant in New York. Each subtotal covers fixed fees only, since fingerprints, transcripts and travel depend on your vendor, school and test center. To build your own NCLEX cost, swap in your board’s fee, add the conditional costs that apply to you, and use the right-hand column if you will register on or after February 1, 2027. Each example shows the cost of NCLEX licensure for one applicant in one state.

Texas RN item / payee	Category	Before Feb 1, 2027	From Feb 1, 2027
Pearson VUE / exam registration	Required	$200	$350
Texas BON / RN application	Required	$75	$75
Known-fee subtotal	Required fixed fees	$275	$425
IdentoGO / fingerprints; school / transcripts / background checks	Conditional / variable	Varies	Varies
Travel / accommodation	Personal / conditional	Personal allowance	Personal allowance
Pearson VUE / Quick Results ($7.95); prep	Optional	Excluded from subtotal	Excluded from subtotal

New York PN item / payee	Category	Before Feb 1, 2027	From Feb 1, 2027
Pearson VUE / exam registration	Required	$200	$350
NYSED / PN license and first registration	Required	$143	$143
Known-fee subtotal	Required fixed fees	$343	$493
School / transcripts	Conditional / variable	Varies	Varies
Travel / accommodation	Personal / conditional	Personal allowance	Personal allowance
Quick Results (if NYSED participates); prep	Optional	Excluded from subtotal	Excluded from subtotal

An NCLEX prep course like Archer Review’s SurePass is optional, but it helps protect the fees above, since a second attempt means paying the registration fee again. Three months of SurePass is $189 through November 15, and its Readiness Assessment shows you’re ready once you score High or Very High four times in a row. Get three months of SurePass.

Fingerprints, Background Checks, and Other Required Fees

Most state boards require a fingerprint-based background check, and fees vary by state and fingerprinting provider. For example, Texas requires fingerprints taken through IdentoGO, and California lists a $49 processing fee for manual fingerprint cards. Even if you completed a background check through your nursing school, you may need to complete another one to meet your state board’s requirements. Be sure to follow your board’s specific instructions to avoid additional fees or delays in your application.

Some boards fold these costs into the application. Idaho’s $102 application includes fingerprint processing, and the Texas fee includes the Nursing Jurisprudence Exam, so neither needs a separate budget line. Ask your school whether it charges to send official transcripts, and plan for travel or hotel costs only if your closest test center is far from home.

Change Fees and How to Avoid Losing Your Fee

Pearson VUE charges $50 to change your nursing regulatory body or to switch between the RN and PN exam after registering, and Canadian candidates pay $50 CAD to change exam language. Moving your appointment is free if you do it in time.

To reschedule or cancel your NCLEX appointment without losing your exam fee, you must provide at least one full business day’s notice. For Tuesday through Friday exams, make changes at least 24 hours in advance. For Saturday, Sunday, or Monday exams, changes must be made by Friday, at least 24 hours before your appointment. Be mindful of national holidays, and always keep your confirmation email. Leaving a voicemail does not count as proper notice.

If you miss your appointment, change it late or let your Authorization to Test (ATT) expire, you lose your NCLEX exam fee, plus any international scheduling fee, and you must register and pay again. If your board doesn’t confirm your eligibility within 365 days of when you registered, you lose the registration and the fee. Your ATT averages about 90 days and cannot be extended, so treat its end date like any expiration date you’d check on a med, and schedule early in the window. See how to register for the NCLEX for booking steps.

What the NCLEX-PN Costs Compared With the NCLEX-RN

The NCLEX-PN exam cost and NCLEX-RN exam cost are the same for U.S. licensure: Pearson VUE charges the same amount for either exam. Your board’s licensure application fee can still differ by license type. Mississippi, for example, charges RN applicants $100 and LPN applicants $60 for licensure by examination, so check your board’s application fee for the license you’re seeking.

Extra Costs for Internationally Educated Nurses

The cost of NCLEX licensure for internationally educated nurses depends on where you were educated and where you test. For candidates seeking U.S. licensure, scheduling the NCLEX at an international test center adds a $150 USD international scheduling fee, plus value-added tax where applicable. Whether the fee applies depends on the test center’s location, not the candidate’s nationality.

Australia is classified as an international testing location, so a U.S.-licensure candidate testing there pays the fee. That fee is nonrefundable, even if you move to a domestic center later, and the fee stays the same in 2027.

Where you studied affects your board costs, separately from the Pearson VUE fees above. California charges internationally educated RN applicants $750, and some boards require a credential evaluation, such as the $485 Credentials Evaluation Service report from TruMerit, formerly CGFNS. Check which evaluators your board accepts before ordering one. Read how internationally educated nurses apply, or get helpful information from Archer’s NCLEX application processing support page.

What It Costs to Retake the NCLEX

Retaking the NCLEX means paying the full NCLEX exam cost again, because each registration covers one attempt, and many boards also charge a reapplication fee. The registration-date rule above applies to retakes too. In California, for example, the Board of Registered Nursing charges $250 to reapply and repeat the exam. For waiting periods and attempt limits, see how many times you can take the NCLEX.

NCLEX Fee Checklist From Application to License

☐ Review your board of nursing’s requirements, including applicable fees and when each payment is due.

☐ Budget for the NCLEX application fee, fingerprints and official transcripts.

☐ Pay the NCLEX exam fee to Pearson VUE when your board says to register, keeping the February 1, 2027 price change in mind.

☐ Book your exam soon after your ATT arrives, choosing a date that gives you time to get ready.

☐ Plan for travel and consider if you want to purchase Quick Results after your exam.

☐ Save every receipt for reimbursement or tax records.

FAQs about NCLEX Fees and Payment

What if I do not receive my registration confirmation?

If you do not receive an email confirmation within two days of registering, contact Pearson NCLEX Candidate Services to check your registration status before submitting another registration or payment. Duplicate registration fees are nonrefundable, so registering again could mean paying the NCLEX exam fee twice. If you have already registered a second time, contact Pearson for assistance.

Can veterans get the NCLEX fee reimbursed?

Veterans and eligible dependents with GI Bill benefits may be reimbursed for NCLEX test fees, up to $2,000 per test. VA pays even if you don’t pass, and retakes qualify, as long as you have benefit entitlement left. The reimbursement uses part of your GI Bill entitlement, prorated based on the fee you paid. To apply, submit VA Form 22-0803 online or by mail with proof of payment, such as your Pearson VUE receipt. VA reimburses the testing fee only, not the fee to obtain your state license.

Will my nursing school or employer pay for the NCLEX?

Your nursing school, agency or employer may help cover the cost. Pearson VUE accepts third-party payment for NCLEX registration, so ask before you pay. Confirm whether the organization covers the NCLEX registration fee, your board of nursing’s application fee or both. Also ask whether it pays upfront or reimburses you later, what documentation it requires and which deadlines apply.

Are optional Quick Results worth adding to my budget?

Quick Results is an optional $7.95 addition to your NCLEX exam cost, available to candidates seeking U.S. licensure if your nursing regulatory body participates. It provides unofficial results two business days after your exam but does not authorize you to practice. To skip the fee, you can check whether your license has posted using the free license verification feature on Nursys. Your nursing regulatory body sends official results within six weeks.

Planning Your NCLEX Cost Around the 2027 Deadline

Your total NCLEX cost depends on your board of nursing’s fees and when you register with Pearson VUE. Beginning February 1, 2027, the NCLEX registration fee will increase from $200 to $350. Planning ahead and preparing thoroughly can help you avoid additional expenses associated with retaking the exam. If you’re testing in January, three months of SurePass is $189 through November 15, with a Readiness Assessment that shows when you’re ready. Get three months of SurePass.