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What can you bring on NCLEX test day?

Bring one acceptable, non-expired, government-issued ID with photo and signature, and arrive 30 minutes early. Devices go in a sealed Pearson bag.

Checked November 10, 2026

Short answer: Bring one physical, non-expired, government-issued ID with your name in Roman characters, a recent photograph and a signature, and arrive at least 30 minutes before your appointment. The test center provides an on-screen calculator and an erasable note board, and your phone and other devices are sealed in a plastic bag from Pearson.

These rules are from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), mainly its candidate rules version 6.1, dated August 8, 2026.

Identification rules

At a domestic test center, NCSBN accepts a passport book or card, a driver's license, a provincial, territorial or state identification card, a permanent residence card, or a military identification card. At an international test center, including Puerto Rico, only a passport book or card is accepted. What counts as domestic depends on where you seek licensure: see Can you take the NCLEX outside the United States?.

  • If your ID has no signature, bring a second ID that has one.
  • An ID that is clipped, cracked, broken or otherwise altered is treated as expired.
  • Your first and last names must match your registration exactly. If your name has changed, bring the marriage license, divorce decree or court name-change document.

Without acceptable ID, you are turned away. You must reregister and pay another exam fee, and an international scheduling fee is also lost.

Arrival and check-in

Arrive at least 30 minutes before your appointment. If you arrive more than 30 minutes late, you may have to forfeit the appointment. Check-in includes:

  • Biometrics: your signature, a photograph and a palm vein scan.
  • Security scanning: required before you are admitted to test, breaks included. Refusing without a board-approved exception means you are turned away and lose the fee.
  • Devices: powered off and sealed in the plastic bag. If you refuse, you cannot test.
  • Locker: all other personal items, including removable jewelry wider than 1/4 inch (1/2 centimeter).

The eyeglasses policy (August 2026)

Version 6.1 of the rules added an eyeglasses policy. The 2026 Candidate Bulletin still prints version 6.0, which does not have it.

  • Eyeglasses that need any kind of charge are prohibited, such as Google Glass, Meta glasses and other smart glasses.
  • Ordinary eyeglasses are inspected.
  • If you wear eyeglasses during the exam, wear them for your admission photo too.

Bring, or leave outside

Bring Leave outside or at home
One acceptable ID Phones, smart watches, smart glasses, smart rings and other devices (sealed bag)
A second ID with a signature, if your main ID has none Study notes and any test preparation materials
Your name-change document, if your name changed Handheld calculators, conversion tables and dictionaries
Ordinary eyeglasses that need no charge Your own earplugs (ask the test administrator for a pair)
Religious or cultural dress (NCSBN makes provisions for it) Hats, scarves, gloves and outerwear, including fleece jackets
Bags, wallets, ordinary watches, food, drink and lip balm (locker)
Weapons

The items marked (locker), outerwear, and medical aids or devices cannot come into the testing room but may be used on a break. Devices and study notes are never accessible, breaks included.

During the exam and on breaks

Raise your hand to ask for a clean note board. Writing on anything else is prohibited.

Two optional breaks are offered, after two hours and after three and one-half hours of testing. For any other break, raise your hand and wait to be escorted out. You must leave the testing room on any break, and the palm vein scan is taken when you leave and when you return. The exam clock does not stop. Timing details are in How many questions are on the NCLEX, and how long is it?.

After the closing survey, return your device bag unopened to the administration desk.

What to do next

  1. Check that your ID is acceptable and that its first and last names match your registration.
  2. Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes early.

Common questions

What if a technical problem delays my exam?

If the delay is longer than 30 minutes, you can keep waiting or reschedule with no extra fee.

Can I talk about the questions after the exam?

No. NCSBN rules forbid discussing items with anyone, online or in person.

How do I report a problem on exam day?

Call 1-866-496-2539 or email info@ncsbn.org within 14 days of the exam.

Prep from our team

NCLEXPace has 3,200+ NCLEX-RN practice questions with rationales, Next Generation NCLEX case studies and CAT Readiness Exams. All Nursing Exams, NCLEXPace and NPractitioner are run by the same team. See https://www.nclexpace.com.

Sources