Failed NCLEX-RN? Retake Rules, 45-Day Wait, CPR & Next Attempt
Failing the NCLEX-RN does not end your U.S. nursing licensure pathway.
Candidates can retake the examination, but they must follow the current rules of NCSBN and the Nursing Regulatory Body (NRB) through which they are applying.
The most important rule is:
NCSBN allows candidates applying through participating regulatory bodies to take the NCLEX up to eight times per year, but some jurisdictions impose stricter limits or longer waiting periods.
How Long Do I Have to Wait After Failing NCLEX?
The NCSBN retake policy allows a new attempt 45 days after the previous examination.
However:
45 days is the minimum NCSBN interval, not a guarantee that every nursing board will allow a retest exactly on day 45.
Some Nursing Regulatory Bodies have additional rules or limits.
The new ATT will reflect the date from which the candidate is permitted to test again.
How Many Times Can I Take NCLEX-RN?
Under the general NCSBN policy, candidates applying through participating Nursing Regulatory Bodies may take NCLEX:
Up to 8 times in one year
with:
At least 45 test-free days between attempts
Some states or jurisdictions may allow fewer attempts or impose additional conditions.
Candidates should always confirm the retake policy of the specific Nursing Regulatory Body where they are applying.
What Is the NCLEX Candidate Performance Report (CPR)?
Candidates who do not pass NCLEX receive a Candidate Performance Report (CPR).
If a candidate does not answer the minimum number of items required for evaluation, an abbreviated CPR may be issued. It reports how many items were answered and how many were required, but it does not provide the full diagnostic performance information.
Performance is generally described as:
- Below the Passing Standard
- Near the Passing Standard
- Above the Passing Standard
The report should be used to guide preparation for the next attempt.
Important
NCLEX is not passed or failed by individual subject sections.
A candidate cannot simply count how many areas were “above” or “near” the passing standard to calculate whether they almost passed. The final NCLEX result is based on overall examination performance.
How Should I Read My CPR?
A practical order is:
These topics should receive the highest priority during your study remediation.
These areas need stronger consistency, concept application, and clinical reasoning.
Do not completely ignore stronger areas. They still need to remain strong for the next examination attempt.
NCSBN itself recommends focusing first on areas listed below the passing standard and then working through areas near the passing standard.
What Should I Do After Failing NCLEX?
The official retake process is straightforward:
Notify the NRB that you intend to retake NCLEX. The board will tell you whether any additional application, fee or documentation is required.
Repeat candidates must complete a new NCLEX registration and pay the applicable examination fee.
The Nursing Regulatory Body must make the candidate eligible again.
A new Authorization to Test is required.
Repeat candidates are offered examination appointments beginning 45 days after the previous attempt, subject to eligibility and appointment availability.
Do I Need to Pay Again?
Yes.
A failed NCLEX attempt does not include a free automatic retake. The candidate normally needs to:
- Complete the required NRB retake process
- Register again with Pearson
- Pay the new NCLEX registration fee
- Pay applicable international scheduling charges if testing internationally
Board-specific retake or application fees may also apply.
Do I Need a New ATT After Failing?
Yes.
A previous ATT cannot simply be reused for another examination attempt. After the NRB makes the repeat candidate eligible, Pearson issues a new ATT, and the candidate must test within the dates stated on that ATT.
For the complete application and ATT process, read: NCLEX-RN Application, ATT & Pearson VUE Guide for Indian Nurses
Should I Retake NCLEX Immediately After 45 Days?
Not necessarily.
The 45-day rule tells you when you may become eligible to retest. It does not mean every candidate should automatically schedule the earliest possible appointment.
Before booking, ask:
If major weaknesses remain, more preparation may be better than rushing into another attempt.
Do Not Memorize Previous NCLEX Questions
After an unsuccessful attempt, some candidates try to reconstruct questions from memory. This is not a reliable preparation strategy.
NCLEX uses Computerized Adaptive Testing, and another examination will not simply reproduce the same set of questions. Instead, preparation should focus on the underlying nursing concepts and clinical-judgment processes.
For the official exam framework, read:
A Better Strategy for the Next Attempt
A repeat candidate should ideally work through four areas:
Review weak nursing concepts identified through the CPR and practice tests.
Strengthen cue recognition, analysis, prioritization, intervention selection and outcome evaluation.
Practice identifying unstable clients, immediate threats and the safest nursing action.
Avoid answering questions only from memorized facts. Understand what the question is asking the nurse to decide.
The goal should not be: “Do more questions.”
The goal should be: “Understand why each answer is safe or unsafe.”
Can I Change My Nursing Board After Failing?
Failing NCLEX through one nursing board does not automatically mean that changing boards is the correct solution.
NCLEX itself is a national examination used by all U.S. Nursing Regulatory Bodies. Changing states may create additional:
- Eligibility requirements
- Credential evaluations
- Fees
- Documentation
- Licensure complications
Board selection should therefore be based on the applicant's actual licensure needs, not solely on an unsuccessful examination attempt.
For guidance:
About Medline Academy®
Medline Academy® is an NCLEX-RN-focused nursing education institution in Kerala providing structured live NCLEX-RN preparation for Indian nurses in Malayalam and English.
For repeat candidates, preparation should focus on the reason for the previous result rather than simply repeating the same study method.
Medline Academy's NCLEX-RN preparation includes areas such as clinical judgment, NGN case studies, prioritization, delegation, pharmacology, patient safety and CAT-style practice.
For a structured preparation sequence:
Frequently Asked Questions
Under NCSBN's general policy, candidates must have at least 45 test-free days between attempts. Some nursing boards may require longer.
Participating Nursing Regulatory Bodies may allow up to eight attempts per year, with at least 45 days between examinations. Some jurisdictions have stricter limits.
The Candidate Performance Report shows a failed candidate's relative performance across NCLEX Test Plan and clinical judgment areas and is intended to guide remediation.
Yes. Repeat candidates normally need to register again with Pearson and pay the applicable examination fee. Additional nursing-board or international scheduling fees may also apply.
Yes. Repeat candidates require a new ATT after the Nursing Regulatory Body makes them eligible again.
Official Information Notice
NCLEX retake rules and Nursing Regulatory Body requirements may change.
Candidates should verify their current retake eligibility directly with NCLEX/NCSBN and the Nursing Regulatory Body through which they applied before registering or making payments.
For official retake documentation, refer to: