Pass the NCLEX-PN and you're an LPN (or LVN in California and Texas). Fail and you wait 45 days, pay another $200, and try again. The exam is 85 to 150 questions, computer-adaptive, pass/fail; same engine as the RN exam, different test plan. The trap most candidates fall into: studying with RN-only banks and choosing the most aggressive clinical option on questions where the correct answer is 'notify the RN.' The exam is testing your scope, not your heroism. Understand that and you've already cleared the hardest part.
NCLEX-PN
NCLEX-PN
National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses
Get ready for practical nursing licensure with our targeted NCLEX-PN study materials.
Free forever. No credit card. Aligned to the NCSBN (National Council of State Boards of Nursing) blueprint.
At a glance
NCLEX-PN exam facts
- Questions
- 85 to 150 (CAT)
- Duration
- Up to 5 hours (including breaks)
- Passing score
- Pass/fail, measured against the NCSBN passing standard
- Cost
- $200 USD (plus state board fees)
- Format
- Computerized adaptive testing with NGN case studies
- When offered
- Year-round at Pearson VUE testing centers
The NCLEX-PN doesn't reward the bravest answer; it rewards the answer that matches LPN scope. Get the scope framing right and the rest is pharmacology and infection control.
Live practice bank
3,164
NCLEX-PN questions in our database right now, with full rationales on every choice.
Official Full Mock
NCLEX-PN: 2026 Official Full Mock
Mimics the 2026 NCSBN NCLEX-PN Test Plan: 85 questions across 8 Client Needs subcategories, 5-hour time limit.
- Questions
- 85
- Time limit
- 5 hours
- Slots
- 8
| Client Needs / Subcategory | % range | ~ questions |
|---|---|---|
Coordinated Care Safe and Effective Care Environment | 18–24% | 18 |
Safety and Infection Prevention and Control Safe and Effective Care Environment | 10–16% | 11 |
Health Promotion and Maintenance | 6–12% | 8 |
Psychosocial Integrity | 9–15% | 10 |
Basic Care and Comfort Physiological Integrity | 7–13% | 8 |
Pharmacological Therapies Physiological Integrity | 10–16% | 11 |
Reduction of Risk Potential Physiological Integrity | 9–15% | 10 |
Physiological Adaptation Physiological Integrity | 7–13% | 8 |
Source: Official NCSBN (National Council of State Boards of Nursing) test plan
Exam blueprint
What the NCLEX-PN tests
The categories below come from the current NCSBN (National Council of State Boards of Nursing) test plan. Weights are the published ranges; the actual percentage varies slightly between exam forms.
Safe and Effective Care Environment - Coordinated Care
18-24%The biggest single bucket, roughly 1 in 5 questions. Tests collaboration, advocacy, advance directives, confidentiality, and supervising UAPs (not delegating to other licensed nurses).
Safe and Effective Care Environment - Safety and Infection Control
10-16%Precautions, safe equipment handling, emergency response, and error prevention. Highly memorizable, bank these points.
Health Promotion and Maintenance
6-12%Growth and development, prenatal and newborn care, immunizations, lifestyle counseling, and screening across the lifespan.
Psychosocial Integrity
9-15%Therapeutic communication, mental health disorders, coping, end-of-life care, cultural awareness. Heavier on the PN exam than most candidates expect.
Physiological Integrity - Basic Care and Comfort
7-13%ADLs, nutrition, mobility, elimination, rest, and non-pharm comfort measures. Weighted higher on the PN than the RN exam.
Physiological Integrity - Pharmacological Therapies
10-16%Safe medication administration, dosage calculation, adverse effects, parenteral/IV therapies within LPN scope. Master the top 75 medications.
Physiological Integrity - Reduction of Risk Potential
9-15%Vital signs, lab values, recognizing changes, and notifying the RN. If the question shows a change in condition, scan for the 'notify RN' option first.
Physiological Integrity - Physiological Adaptation
7-13%Acute and chronic conditions, fluid and electrolyte balance, basic emergency response under supervision.
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How the NCLEX-PN is structured
The NCLEX-PN uses computerized adaptive testing (CAT), the same engine that runs the RN exam. You'll see between 85 and 150 questions, and the test ends when the algorithm is statistically confident in a pass or fail decision. Scoring is pass/fail; there is no percentage score.
The exam also includes Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) case-study items: clinical scenarios spread across several screens that score clinical judgment using drag-and-drop, highlight-in-text, drop-down cloze, and matrix/grid formats. Roughly 10% of scored items use NGN.
LPN vs. RN scope: why the test plan is different
The NCLEX-PN test plan emphasizes coordinated care rather than management of care. The LPN works under the direction of an RN, advanced practice provider, or physician, and the exam tests your ability to:
- Recognize when a client's condition has changed and notify the RN.
- Reinforce, not initiate, client teaching.
- Collect data and contribute to the nursing care plan, rather than independently develop it.
- Supervise UAPs but not delegate to another licensed nurse.
The most common trap on PN questions: choosing the most clinically aggressive option ('start an IV,' 'draw labs,' 'call a rapid response') when the correct answer is to report findings to the RN. The exam is testing scope, not heroism. When you see a change in condition and 'notify the RN' is an option, treat it as the front-runner until something else disqualifies it.
Study strategy for the NCLEX-PN
Plan on 4 to 8 weeks of focused work. A typical successful sprint:
- Weeks 1-2: Content refresh on pharmacology, lab values, infection control, and maternal-newborn, the highest-yield areas on the PN.
- Weeks 3-5: 75-100 practice questions per day, mixed across all eight test-plan areas, with full rationales.
- Week 6: Drill NGN case studies and pharmacology calculations until they're reflex.
- Final week: Two full-length CAT simulations and a light review of weak areas.
Avoid relying on RN-only question banks. The framing of correct answers differs, you want a tool that labels its questions to the PN test plan.
Registration and the day of the test
Apply for licensure through your state board of nursing, then register and pay the $200 fee with Pearson VUE. After your board declares you eligible, NCSBN issues an Authorization to Test (ATT) with a 90-day window. Schedule your exam during that window. Bring one valid government-issued photo ID. Personal items get locked away, phones, smartwatches, and notes are not permitted in the testing room.
Sample questions
Practice NCLEX-PN questions
Reveal each answer and rationale to see how Precision Nursing teaches the reasoning behind every question.
Question 1
Safe and Effective Care Environment - Coordinated CareAn LPN is caring for a postoperative client who reports chest pain that radiates to the left arm. After staying with the client, which action should the LPN take next?
- A.Administer sublingual nitroglycerin from the home medication list
- B.Notify the registered nurse immediately
- C.Document the symptom and continue rounds
- D.Reassess the client in 30 minutes
Show answer & rationale
Correct answer: B
New-onset chest pain radiating to the arm may indicate myocardial infarction. The LPN's scope is to stay with the client and immediately notify the RN, who will further assess and initiate appropriate orders. Administering medication without a current order is outside scope. Documenting alone or delaying assessment ignores a potentially life-threatening change.
Question 2
Physiological Integrity - Pharmacological TherapiesAn LPN is reinforcing teaching for a client newly prescribed warfarin. Which statement by the client indicates the teaching has been effective?
- A."I will take aspirin if I get a headache."
- B."I will increase leafy green vegetables in my diet."
- C."I will use an electric razor instead of a blade."
- D."I do not need to keep my INR appointments if I feel well."
Show answer & rationale
Correct answer: C
Warfarin increases bleeding risk. An electric razor reduces the chance of cuts. Aspirin compounds the bleeding risk. Vitamin K-rich foods (leafy greens) should be kept *consistent*, not increased. INR monitoring must continue regardless of symptoms.
Study tips
What works for NCLEX-PN prep
Anchor every question in LPN scope: when a condition changes, look for 'notify the RN' first.
Master the top 75 NCLEX-PN medications, pharmacology accounts for ~13% of the test cold.
Practice dosage calculation daily. A single arithmetic slip costs you a whole question.
Drill infection-control precautions until they're reflex. These are gift points.
Use NCLEX-PN-labeled question banks, not RN-only banks. The framing matters.
Sit at least two full-length CAT simulations before exam day to build endurance.
FAQ
Common questions about NCLEX-PN
How many questions are on the NCLEX-PN?
Between 85 and 150, depending on how the adaptive algorithm evaluates your performance.
How is the NCLEX-PN scored?
Pass/fail. NCSBN sets a statistical passing standard and the algorithm determines whether your demonstrated ability is above it.
How much does the NCLEX-PN cost?
$200 USD paid to Pearson VUE, plus any state board licensure fee.
Can I retake the NCLEX-PN if I fail?
Yes. NCSBN allows a retake every 45 days. Your state board may set additional limits.
Is the NCLEX-PN easier than the NCLEX-RN?
It's not easier, it's different. The PN exam tests LPN scope, with more emphasis on coordinated care and less on independent management. The clinical reasoning bar is just as high.
When do I get my NCLEX-PN results?
Official results from your state board take 2 to 6 weeks. NCSBN Quick Results returns unofficial results in 48 hours in most states.
Honest answers
Before you sign up, three things you're probably wondering
“Is the free tier actually useful, or just a teaser?”
1,000+ full-rationale questions across every NCLEX-PN blueprint category. No time limit. No paywall after the first five.
“Is it like the real exam?”
Same format, same difficulty curve, same item types, built directly against the NCSBN (National Council of State Boards of Nursing) published test plan. We're not the test-makers, but we follow their blueprint.
“Why not use the official free samples?”
Use both. The official samples are small and authoritative. We give you the volume, the rationales, and the weak-area analytics on top.
Your NCLEX-PN prep starts here
Drill NCLEX-PN-style questions until passing is the obvious outcome
Thousands of NCLEX-PN-aligned questions. Full rationales on every answer, right and wrong. Adaptive practice that mirrors the real exam. No credit card required to start.
Free forever. No credit card. Aligned to the NCSBN (National Council of State Boards of Nursing) published test plan.