How Much Does the NCLEX-RN Cost? Fees Explained (2026)
The NCLEX-RN registration fee is $200 USD as of September 2026, and that same amount applies whether it is a candidate’s first attempt or a retake. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) charges this fee through Pearson VUE, and it holds through January 31, 2027. Starting February 1, 2027, the fee rises to $350 USD in the United States and Australia (and to $570 CAD in Canada, up from $360 CAD), the first change to the NCLEX registration fee since 2000, according to NCSBN. That fee covers only the exam itself. It does not include the separate licensure or registration fee every candidate pays directly to their own state nursing board, which is billed apart from the exam and varies by state. Candidates testing at an international test center pay an added $150 scheduling fee, and changing details after registering carries a $50 change fee: changing your nursing regulatory body ($50 USD/CAD), changing exam type (available in the US, $50 USD), or changing exam language (available in Canada, $50 CAD). There is no separate rescheduling fee as long as a candidate reschedules at least 24 business hours before their appointment; missing that window forfeits the entire registration fee.
What the NCLEX-RN Registration Fee Covers
The $200 fee (rising to $350 in 2027) covers registering for and sitting the NCLEX-RN exam through NCSBN and Pearson VUE. It includes the exam administration itself and results processing, and it stays the same regardless of how long a candidate’s exam turns out to be, since the NCLEX-RN is a computerized adaptive test with a variable item count. Once a candidate registers and pays, the registration stays open for 365 days while the nursing regulatory body (NRB) determines eligibility. After the NRB declares a candidate eligible, an Authorization to Test (ATT) email arrives, and the candidate must schedule and sit the exam within the dates on that ATT, since NCSBN states ATT validity periods cannot be extended for any reason.
State Board Licensure Fees Are Billed Separately
The NCLEX-RN fee only pays for the exam. Actual nursing licensure comes from the state board where a candidate applies, and NCSBN’s own fee table lists the licensure or registration fee simply as “contact nursing regulatory body” for every category of candidate, U.S., Canadian, and Australian alike. Every state nursing board sets and collects its own licensure fee separately from the NCLEX fee, and those amounts, along with any application, endorsement, or fingerprinting charges, vary from board to board. Because they change independently of the NCLEX fee schedule, candidates should confirm the current amount directly with the board where they are applying rather than relying on a fixed number here.
Fee Changes and the Refund Policy You Should Know Before You Register
The February 1, 2027 increase is worth planning around: candidates who complete registration before that date are charged the current $200 (or $360 CAD) fee, while anyone who registers on or after that date pays the new $350 (or $570 CAD) fee, regardless of when the exam itself is scheduled. The international scheduling fee and the $50 change fees are not affected by this increase. Separately, NCSBN’s refund policy is strict: there is no refund of the registration fee for any reason, including duplicate registrations, failing to appear for a scheduled appointment, or failing to reschedule or cancel outside of 24 business hours before the appointment. The international scheduling fee is non-refundable as well. Rescheduling or cancelling with proper notice, on the other hand, carries no extra fee at all.
| Fee | Through Jan 31, 2027 | Starting Feb 1, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Registration fee (U.S. and Australia) | $200 USD | $350 USD |
| Registration fee (Canada) | $360 CAD | $570 CAD |
| International scheduling fee | $150 USD/CAD | $150 USD/CAD (unchanged) |
| Change NRB ($50 USD/CAD); change exam type (US only); change exam language (Canada only) | $50 USD/CAD | $50 USD/CAD (unchanged) |
| State board licensure fee | Set by each state nursing board, billed separately | |
What It Costs to Retake the NCLEX-RN
A retake is not discounted. Every attempt, first or repeat, requires reregistering and paying the full registration fee again: $200 through January 31, 2027, then $350 starting February 1, 2027. If a candidate testing internationally reschedules to a domestic center, the international scheduling fee is forfeited; going the other direction, from a domestic center to an international one, triggers a new international scheduling fee. Between the registration fee itself and any applicable scheduling or change fees, the cost of preparing thoroughly before a first attempt is almost always lower than the cost of an unplanned retake.
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How to Avoid Paying Twice
Most avoidable NCLEX costs come from registration mechanics rather than the fee schedule itself. NCSBN’s bulletin is explicit that duplicate registrations are forfeited without refund, so register once and let that registration ride out its 365 day window rather than submitting again while one is open. Reschedule outside the 24 business hour cutoff, since missing it forfeits the full registration fee, and treat your Authorization to Test window as fixed, because ATT validity dates cannot be extended for any reason. Each of those rules turns a $200 fee into $400 only when a candidate trips over it, and every one of them is avoidable with a calendar reminder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the $200 NCLEX-RN fee refundable?
No. NCSBN’s refund policy excludes duplicate registrations, failure to appear, and failure to reschedule or cancel outside of 24 business hours from any refund, under any circumstances. The international scheduling fee is non-refundable as well.
Do I pay the registration fee again if I have to retake the exam?
Yes. Every NCLEX-RN attempt, first or repeat, requires paying the full registration fee again: $200 through January 31, 2027, then $350 starting February 1, 2027.
Does the NCLEX-RN fee include my nursing license?
No. The $200 to $350 registration fee only covers the exam. Licensure itself is a separate fee paid directly to the state nursing board (nursing regulatory body) where a candidate is seeking licensure, and that amount is set independently by each board.
How much is the NCLEX-RN fee increasing in 2027?
From $200 to $350 USD in the United States and Australia, and from $360 CAD to $570 CAD in Canada, effective February 1, 2027. NCSBN states this is the first NCLEX registration fee increase since 2000.
Sources
- ncsbn.org, 2026 NCLEX Examination Candidate Bulletin
- nclex.com, Fees & Payment
- ncsbn.org, NCLEX Fee Changes Feb. 1, 2027
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