What Is Required to Take the NCLEX-RN Test?
According to the All Nursing Schools website, registered nurses have seniority over other types of nurses and medical assistants. Their seniority lets them take on administrative duties and more complex medical tasks. However, all registered nurses have to take the NCLEX-RN test. NCLEX-RN test candidates have to meet all the test prerequisites to take the exam.
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The Test
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NCLEX-RN stands for National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurse. It is a test with a minimum of 75 questions about nursing techniques and medical information. The test takes approximately four hours. This test demonstrates to employers that you have met the educational and state licensing requirements for your state.
Education
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Since the NCLEX-RN test measures how much you know about nursing, one prerequisite is a proper nursing education. You may take the NCLEX-RN test if you have completed a nursing program at an accredited nursing program. You can choose from programs that provide associate or bachelor's degrees in nursing, or programs that give you a nursing diploma. Of all of these, All Nursing Schools lists the associate programs as the most popular.
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Application and Registration
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The next step after completing your nursing program is to go through the NCLEX-RN licensing and registration process. This requires that you apply for licensure in your state, register with the National Council of State Board of Nursing (requires a fee of $200 as of 2010) and wait for the board to send you an Authorization to Take Test (ATT) letter. Without the ATT, you'll be turned away from the testing site, so it's extremely important to go through these steps in the proper order.
Identification
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The National Council of State Boards of Nursing won't let you take the NCLEX-RN test unless you can prove your identity. It wants to avoid anyone taking the test on someone else's behalf. You'll need at least one form of identification at the test site. Acceptable forms of identification include your driver's license, a state ID or your passport. If you don't have one of these forms of ID for any reason, you'll need to coordinate your test date with the time necessary to go through the process of obtaining one.
Computer Skills
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The NCLEX-RN test is computer based. This facilitates faster and more accurate scoring of the test. You should be comfortable with basic computer use prior to registering for the exam. Some stages of the application and registration process may be completed online, so it's helpful to have an email address and reliable Internet service.
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References
- Photo Credit the nurse with a mask on face sits at a table image by Cosmic from Fotolia.com
