For detailed information about scheduling, preparing for and writing Registered Nurse examinations, visit the Registered Nurse Examinations webpage.
Why do we have to write a registration exam?
As Ontario’s nursing regulator, CNO is accountable for ensuring that it grants registration only to those who demonstrate the nursing knowledge to provide safe care.
Registration exams such as the NCLEX-RN contribute to patient safety. The NCLEX-RN tests whether you have the knowledge, skill and judgment to provide safe care during your first year of practice. CNO is accountable for ensuring that only those who demonstrate the ability to apply nursing knowledge and provide safe care are allowed to practice in Ontario.
Preparation
Will my Ontario nursing education prepare me for the NCLEX-RN?
Yes. Your Ontario nursing education should prepare you to write the NCLEX-RN because the exam tests competencies that nurses need at the beginning of their nursing careers in Ontario.
Should I take an NCLEX-RN prep course?
Your nursing education and the resources we have suggestedshould be enough to prepare you for the NCLEX-RN. Several third-party vendors offer preparation courses. These are not associated with, or endorsed by, CNO or the exam provider. No third party has access to the exam question bank, and you should be wary of any party claiming to have such access. We are aware of “American” content in some preparation courses. However, the exam does not test a writer’s knowledge of a particular health care system, history or legislation.
Content and Format
What does the NCLEX-RN test?
The NCLEX-RN does not test everything that is taught during a four-year baccalaureate nursing program. It tests entry-level skills, knowledge and judgment — what nurses need to know to provide safe care at the beginning of their careers. For example, it asks questions about pain management, medication administration, basic care and comfort, infection control, health promotion and maintenance, and concepts such as maintaining confidentiality of patient information.
In addition, all drug names are generic and refer to medications that entry-level nurses are expected to know. Measurements are provided in metric units.
Does the NCLEX-RN include questions specifically about Canadian or American health care systems or legislation?
No. The NCLEX-RN does not test knowledge of health care systems, history, cultural issues, or government policy and laws. Such items vary by Canadian province and territory and by American state.
You will need to write a jurisprudence exam that tests for knowledge of Ontario health care legislation and regulations.
Is the content of the NCLEX-RN reviewed by Canadian nurses?
Yes. Canadian nurses, including clinical educators, review the content of the NCLEX-RN. They continue to review and develop the exam to ensure it meets our needs as regulators and the needs of the public for safe nursing care.
What is computer-adaptive testing?
Computer-adaptive testing (CAT) is the format of the NCLEX-RN. CAT programs determine the level of difficulty of questions they present to writers, based on how well writers responded to the preceding question. For example, if a writer responds correctly to a question of medium difficulty, the next question will be slightly more difficult.
How many questions does the NCLEX-RN have?
There is no set number of questions. It depends on how long it takes the algorithm to determine whether you are consistently performing above, or below, passing level. The number of scored questions will be between 70 and 135.
How was the French version of the exam developed?
The process of developing the French version of the NCLEX-RN is rigorous. Canadian translators use federal government-level standards to translate the questions. Translations are reviewed by Canadian nurses who are fluent in French and English, and who work in bilingual health care settings or facilities. Any items they do not approve are removed from the French version. You can access lexicon terms here.
All items that appear on an English version of the exam at any given period have been translated into French. This method ensures both versions have identical items and measurements.
The examination process
How and when will I receive my results?
CNO will send you your exam results through the message centre of the online application portal. In most cases, we send results within one week of writing the exam.
What happens if I don’t pass the NCLEX-RN the first time?
There is no limit to the number of times you can write the NCLEX-RN until you pass.
Each time you are not successful, Pearson Professional Assessments will send you a Candidate’s Performance Report (CPR). This document provides information about how you did in each section of the exam, indicating whether you performed above, near or below the passing standard. Find more information about CPRs on NCSBN’s website.
How many times can I take the exam?
There is no limit to the number of times you can write the NCLEX-RN until you pass. You can take the NCLEX once in any 45-day period (up to a maximum of eight times per year). However, you will need to pass the exam and meet all other requirements to become registered to practice as a nurse in Ontario within two years of applying to register with CNO.