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The NCLEX Guide Ask Us

Guide Sections

About the NCLEX

Why the NCLEX

In January 2015, the Canadian Council of Registered Nurse Regulators (CCRNR) made the decision to transition from using the Canadian Registered Nurses Exam (CRNE) to using the National Council Licensure Examination-RN (NCLEX-RN) to evaluate graduate nurses’ eligibility for licensure. The decision to make this transition was based on a number of considerations, including a desire to make the exam accessible to students year-round, to shorten the turn-around on exam results for students, and to move to a computer-adaptive testing format. The NCLEX-RN was thoroughly reviewed against Canadian standards and “entry to practice” competencies prior to its adoption in Canada, and was accepted as an appropriate licensure examination for all nurses in Canada (1).  

NCLEX Format

The NCLEX-RN is a Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) that uses an algorithm to select each subsequent question based on the testees answers to previous questions.  The algorithm estimates the testees ability, and chooses questions that it 'expects' the testee will have a 50% chance of answering correctly; because of the adaptive nature of the test, the test is slightly different in length and difficulty for each testee.  Broadly speaking, the NCLEX-RN can range in length from 75 questions to 265 questions, based on the ratio of correct-to-incorrect answers given by the test-taker (2).

For more information about the CAT and how it works, NCSBN's Examinations Department provides this 6 minute streaming video.

A list of CAT and other NCLEX-related FAQs have also been provided by the NCSBN here.

Registration - New NB Graduates

The Nurse's Association of New Brunswick's (NANB) website provides detailed instructions on the process of application to practice nursing in New Brunswick.  The full details of this process can be found on the NANB website here.  In general, however, the process is as follows:

1.  Complete the NANB online Application for Registration form.

  • Complete the form
  • Pay the NANB processing fee online.
  • Submit proof of legal name.
  • Submit a current criminal record check through CSI Screening.
  • Submit an official final school transcript.

2.  Apply to Pearson VUE to take the NCLEX

  • Apply
  • Receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) from Pearson VUE
  • Schedule an appointment to take the exam
    • Coming exams offered in Fredericton
    • Other times are available from out-of-province test centers.

3.  Obtain a Temporary Registration from NANB

NOTE: Students with UNB Nursing degrees who wish to work in a different province (or state) must complete the registration processes specific to that province/territory or state.  For information about those processes, visit their local nursing association websites.

Official Resources

1.  NCSBN: NCLEX and Other Exams

2.  NANB: Registration Examination

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sources Cited:
1.  College of Nurses of Ontario: Q&As about the NCLEX-RN for exam writers
2.  NCSBN: Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT)


Last modified on November 17, 2022 13:34