Not passing the NCLEX is common and fixable. Each attempt starts fresh, with new questions, and the Candidate Performance Report you receive shows exactly where to focus. Here is the retake timeline, what it costs, and how to turn your report into a study plan.
The retake process, step by step
- Get your official result from your nursing regulatory body (NRB) and your Candidate Performance Report.
- Check your NRB's retake requirements. Eligibility rules, including any limit on attempts, are set by the nursing regulatory body where you seek licensure, not by NCSBN.
- Re-register with Pearson and pay the registration fee again. The fee is set by the date you register: $200 in the U.S. now, $350 for registrations on or after February 1, 2027 (see the NCLEX fee increase).
- Receive a new Authorization to Test (ATT) once your NRB makes you eligible.
- Schedule. NCSBN says repeat candidates are offered appointments starting 45 days after their last attempt. You can choose a later date if you need more time.
How to read your Candidate Performance Report
The CPR is a two-page report sent only to candidates who do not pass. It rates your performance in each NCLEX test plan content area, and in clinical judgment, as one of three levels:
| Rating | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Below the Passing Standard | Clearly below the standard in this area | Study these first |
| Near the Passing Standard | Not clearly above or below | Study these next |
| Above the Passing Standard | Clearly above the standard | Keep reviewing to maintain them |
If you did not answer the minimum number of questions, you receive an abbreviated CPR that shows only how many questions you answered and how many were required.
What is different on a retake
- Each attempt is scored independently; your previous exam does not count against you.
- You will not see the same questions: NCSBN rotates its question pools so repeat candidates do not get items they have already seen.
- The rules are the same: 85 to 150 questions in five hours (see how many questions are on the NCLEX).
A study plan for your retake
- Map your CPR to the test plan. List each content area rated below or near the standard. The 2026 test plan shows what each area covers and how much of the exam it is.
- Practice by category, then mixed. Drill your weakest categories first, then switch to mixed sets so you practice deciding which knowledge a question needs.
- Train clinical judgment directly. Work through case studies step by step: recognize cues, analyze cues, prioritize hypotheses, generate solutions, take action, evaluate outcomes. See Next Generation NCLEX case studies.
- Review prioritization and delegation. Management of Care is the largest RN category; start with prioritization and delegation.
- Track mastery, not hours. Retake when your weak categories are consistently strong, not just when 45 days have passed.
Frequently asked questions
How soon can I retake the NCLEX?
NCSBN says repeat candidates are offered appointments starting 45 days after their last attempt. Your nursing regulatory body sets eligibility, so confirm its requirements too.
How many times can you take the NCLEX?
It depends on the nursing regulatory body where you seek licensure. Check its rules before re-registering.
Do I have to pay again to retake the NCLEX?
Yes. You re-register and pay the fee in effect on your registration date: $200 in the U.S. before February 1, 2027, and $350 on or after that date.
What is the NCLEX Candidate Performance Report?
A two-page report sent to candidates who do not pass. It rates each content area and clinical judgment as below, near, or above the passing standard.
Will I get the same questions on my NCLEX retake?
No. NCSBN rotates question pools so repeat candidates do not see items they have already answered.
Sources
- NCSBN. Candidate Performance Report.
- NCSBN. Scheduling.
- NCSBN. NCLEX FAQs.
- NCSBN. Fees & Payment.
- NCSBN. Registration.
Practice for the NCLEX, free
Progress Note is a free, adaptive NCLEX-RN question bank with cited rationales, mastery by Client Needs category, and a guided roadmap built on the 2026 test plan.
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