All Nursing Exams

LPN programs: from enrollment to the NCLEX-PN

A board-approved LPN program (about 1 year) leads to the NCLEX-PN. You apply to your board, pay Pearson US$200 and test in up to five hours.

Checked November 15, 2026
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Short answer: A licensed practical nurse (LPN) program, which the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says usually takes about 1 year, prepares you for the NCLEX-PN, the licensing exam every US board of nursing uses for practical and vocational nurses. After you graduate from a board-approved program, you apply to your state board, register with Pearson VUE (US$200, or US$350 for registrations completed from February 1, 2027), receive your Authorization to Test, and take an exam of 85 to 150 questions in up to five hours.

Six steps from LPN graduation to license: graduate, apply to your board, register and pay US$200, Authorization to Test valid on average 90 days, NCLEX-PN of 85 to 150 items, result from your board

Before you enroll: is the program board-approved?

This is the most important check. BLS says LPNs and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) "must complete a state-approved educational program". The Texas Board of Nursing, for example, accepts NCLEX applicants who have "graduated from an approved nursing program". If your program is not approved by the board in the state where you want a license, you may not be allowed to take the exam there.

How to check:

  1. Find your state board in the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) directory of US members.
  2. Open the board's list of approved practical or vocational nursing programs.
  3. Confirm the exact school name and campus.

Some states have more than one nursing board. NCSBN marks California, Louisiana and West Virginia as having more than one member board. In California, vocational nurses are licensed by the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians, not the board for registered nurses.

Your board sets the other rules, and NCSBN says it "does not maintain a list of requirements for each NRB" (nursing regulatory body).

What the program leads to

Graduation does not give you a license. NCSBN says each jurisdiction requires "passing an examination that measures the competencies needed to perform safely and effectively as a licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/VN)". That exam is the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). Your title will be LPN or LVN, depending on the state. See What is an LPN?

The NCLEX-PN is used for US licensure only, according to NCSBN.

After graduation: the steps in order

Steps 2 to 7 follow NCSBN's candidate bulletin; the Texas details are one board's example. Your board may add its own steps, so read both.

  1. Your school confirms your graduation to the board. In Texas, your program dean or director sends an Affidavit of Graduation.
  2. Apply for licensure to your state board and meet its requirements. Texas tells LVN and LPN graduates to choose its NCLEX-PN application for US graduates, and requires fingerprints and the Nursing Jurisprudence Exam before you can receive an Authorization to Test (ATT).
  3. Register for the NCLEX-PN with Pearson VUE and pay the fee.
  4. Receive Pearson's registration acknowledgment email.
  5. The board makes you eligible in Pearson's system.
  6. Receive your ATT email. The board sets how long it is valid; NCSBN says the average is 90 days, and it cannot be extended.
  7. Schedule and take the exam. First-time test takers are offered an appointment within 30 days of asking.

Timeline checklist

Point in time What to check Official rule
Last term of school Program is board-approved; application forms ready Your board
Right after graduation School sends proof of graduation; you apply to the board Your board
When you register Fee paid to Pearson VUE US$200; US$350 for registrations from February 1, 2027
Two weeks after registering No ATT yet? Contact your board NCSBN bulletin
While waiting Registration stays open 365 days
ATT received Book a seat early Valid on average 90 days, no extensions
Exam day 85 to 150 items Five hours, breaks included
After the exam Official result From your board, within six weeks (varies by board)

The date you register decides the fee, not the exam date. More on fees: How much does the NCLEX cost?. Your board also charges its own application fee, which NCSBN does not list.

Some candidates can buy unofficial Quick Results two business days after the exam for US$7.95, if their board takes part. Details: When do NCLEX results come out?

What is on the NCLEX-PN

The 2026 NCLEX-PN test plan took effect on April 1, 2026. Every exam includes 18 case study items (three case studies) and 15 unscored pretest items. Coordinated Care has the highest share in the test plan, at 18 to 24% of items.

What to do next

  1. Check that your program is on your state board's approved list before you enroll.
  2. In your last term, read your board's application page and prepare documents early.
  3. Register with Pearson VUE as soon as the board allows, and book your seat when the ATT arrives.

Common questions

Can I take the NCLEX-PN to work in Canada?

No. NCSBN says the NCLEX-PN is used for US licensure only. Canadian regulators set their own route.

What if I fail the NCLEX-PN?

NCSBN allows up to eight attempts a year with at least 45 test-free days between them, and some boards are stricter. You pay the full fee again. See How many times can you retake the NCLEX?

Does my LPN program choose my state?

No. You apply to the board in the state where you want a license. If your program is in a different state, ask that board whether it accepts your program.

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