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Can you take the NCLEX outside the United States?

Yes. NCSBN lists 19 international NCLEX locations. Testing there adds a non-refundable US$150 (or CA$150) international scheduling fee.

Checked November 10, 2026

Short answer: Yes. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) lists 19 international locations where the NCLEX is offered, and testing at one of them adds a non-refundable international scheduling fee of US$150 (CA$150 if you seek Canadian registration), plus value added tax (VAT) where it applies, on top of the registration fee.

NCSBN says you can take the NCLEX year-round at any Pearson Professional Testing location, whatever board you applied to. You still apply to your board or regulator first.

Where the international test centers are

NCSBN's Testing Locations page names these international locations: Australia, Brazil, France, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Türkiye and the United Kingdom. NCSBN's FAQ and its quarterly address list differ slightly (the address list also has rows for Canada and for Guangzhou in China), so treat your Pearson VUE scheduling screen as final.

NCSBN says the list can change without notice. Examples from the October 2026 address list:

Country Cities include
Philippines Manila (the address is in Makati), Muntinlupa City
India Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mohali, Mumbai, New Delhi, Noida, Pune, Surat
United Kingdom Belfast, London Docklands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Horley, Leeds, Leicester, Manchester
Australia Adelaide, Box Hill, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Parramatta, Perth, Sydney
Japan Osaka, Shinjuku

What counts as "international" for you

It depends on where you seek a license, not where you live.

You seek a license in Domestic centers (no extra fee) International centers (extra fee)
United States The United States and its territories: American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, US Virgin Islands Everywhere else, including Puerto Rico
Australia The United States and its territories Everywhere else, including centers in Australia
Canada Canadian provinces and territories, and the mainland United States Everywhere else

So an Australian registration candidate pays the extra fee even in Sydney (see The NCLEX for Australia), and a Canadian candidate testing in the mainland United States does not.

What it costs to test abroad

Fee US or Australian license Canadian registration
Registration fee now US$200 CA$360, local taxes extra
Registration fee from February 1, 2027 US$350 CA$570
International scheduling fee US$150 plus VAT CA$150 plus VAT

You pay the international scheduling fee when you schedule. NCSBN says it stays the same after February 1, 2027. NCSBN does not publish VAT rates by country. The date you register decides your registration fee: see How much does the NCLEX cost?.

Changing or losing an international appointment

  • Changes are by phone only, through Pearson Candidate Services.
  • Moving to another international center keeps your scheduling fee. Moving to a domestic center loses it.
  • If your center becomes unavailable, you are notified. If you then move to a domestic center, the scheduling fee is refunded, the one refund NCSBN describes.
  • A missed appointment, or a change made too late, costs you the exam fee and the scheduling fee, and your Authorization to Test (ATT) becomes invalid.

Limits to know before you book

  • Passport only. International centers, Puerto Rico included, accept only a passport book or card. See What can you bring on NCLEX test day?.
  • Sanctioned countries. NCSBN says US trade restrictions stop candidates who live in a sanctioned country from taking the NCLEX. If your passport is from a sanctioned country, you must prove you live somewhere else. NCSBN does not print a list of these countries.

What to do next

  1. Apply to your board or regulator first. You cannot schedule without the ATT.
  2. When your ATT arrives, see which centers Pearson VUE offers, and book early.
  3. Check that your passport is not expired and that its first and last names match your registration.

Common questions

Can a US license candidate test in Canada?

NCSBN's international address list has rows for Canada. For a US license candidate, any center outside the United States and its territories is international, so the extra fee applies.

Do I get my result at the test center abroad?

No. Official results come only from your board. See When do NCLEX results come out?.

Can I take the NCLEX at home instead?

No. NCSBN says the NCLEX Online is not launching in 2026, and no date has been announced.

Prep from our team

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