How do internationally educated nurses take the NCLEX?
Checked against the regulator’s own pages, October 2026
Apply to the board of nursing (the nursing regulatory body) where you want a licence first, then register with Pearson VUE and pay. Once the board makes you eligible you receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) and can schedule the NCLEX-RN, including at international test centres. Each board sets its own requirements, which can include credentials evaluation and an English test.
Who this is for
Nurses educated outside the US who want a US nursing licence.
What the official guidance says
- Entry into nursing practice is regulated by the licensing authorities of NCSBN’s member boards; NCSBN develops the NCLEX-RN, which those boards use in licensure decisions.
- Each nursing regulatory body has its own eligibility requirements, and NCSBN does not keep a list of them. State requirements can include credentials evaluation and English proficiency exams.
- The steps are: apply to the nursing regulatory body, register with Pearson, receive your ATT email, then schedule your exam.
- An ATT is valid for a period the board sets (on average 90 days), and you must test within those dates.
- The NCLEX is offered at international test centres in countries including Australia, India, Kenya, the Philippines, South Africa and the United Kingdom.
- The NCLEX-RN uses computerized adaptive testing: a minimum of 85 items and a maximum of 150, within five hours including breaks.
- You can retake 45 days after an exam. The registration fee is US$200, plus a US$150 international scheduling fee; NCSBN says the US registration fee rises to $350 on 1 February 2027.
What it does not mean
- Passing the NCLEX is not a licence. The board of nursing issues the licence.
- NCSBN does not license nurses or set one English score for every state.
- An NCLEX pass does not give you a US visa.
What to do next
- 01Choose the state and read its board’s rules for internationally educated nurses.
- 02Apply to that board, including any credentials evaluation it requires.
- 03Register with Pearson VUE, wait for your ATT, then schedule.
Questions
Can I take the NCLEX outside the US?
Yes. NCSBN lists international test centres for US licensure in a number of countries, including the UK, India, the Philippines and Kenya. An international scheduling fee applies.
Does the NCLEX count in Australia?
The NMBA uses the NCLEX-RN as the MCQ exam for Stream B registered nurses, and exempts those who passed it within 10 years of establishing their portfolio.
Is Migo part of NCSBN or any board of nursing?
No. Migo is an independent service. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by NCSBN or any board of nursing, and it does not give legal or immigration advice.
Official sources
- NCSBN: Nurse licensure guidance
- NCLEX (NCSBN): Register for the NCLEX
- NCLEX (NCSBN): Testing locations
- NCLEX (NCSBN): 2026 NCLEX-RN test plan (PDF)
- NCLEX (NCSBN): Results
- NCLEX (NCSBN): Fees and payment
Checked October 2026. Regulators change their rules, fees and scores, so confirm them on the official page before you act.
The visa side
Registration and the visa are separate. Migo’s visa guides cover the routes for this country, from the official government pages.
Where Migo can help
Migo AI Mobility does not prepare US nursing licensure or the NCLEX yet. Today it prepares UK registration (the NMC for nurses and midwives, the HCPC for allied health professionals) and Australian registration through Ahpra for nurses, midwives, radiographers, physiotherapists and occupational therapists. If you are weighing those countries up too, Migo can build a free plan for one of them. For the visa side of this country, see Migo’s visa guides.
Your plan is free. You approve every paid step.
Related guides
Migo is independent: it is not affiliated with or endorsed by the regulator named on this page. This is general information, not legal or immigration advice.