As hard as it is to take the grueling NCLEX® exam, waiting to see if you passed can feel even harder.
You’ve made it through the challenges of the classroom, cleared the hurdles of clinicals, graduated proudly from your nursing program, prepped endlessly for the NCLEX, and now . . . you . . . have . . . to . . . wait.
This leaves NCLEX test takers wondering, When will I know if I passed the NCLEX? How long will this take? Is there a way to find out if I passed the NCLEX sooner?
It’s been said that patience is a virtue, but while waiting for exam results, those who completed the NCLEX may not be feeling very virtuous. Understandably, they want to know as soon as possible if they passed the NCLEX, or if they have to begin preparing to retake the exam.
There are three ways in which you can find out if you passed the NCLEX exam
- Unofficial Results
- Official Results
- The Pearson Vue Trick (this is the super duper unofficial work around some students try)
Unofficial Results
You can find out “unofficial” results if your nursing regulatory body (NRB) participates in a service called the Quick Results Service. The downside is that the service isn’t free — it costs $7.95 to access. The upside is that if your NRB participates in this service, you can find out unofficially if you passed two business days after you complete the NCLEX.
Keep in mind, even if your unofficial results say that you passed your exam, this does not authorize you to begin practicing as a licensed nurse. You’ll still have to wait for your official results from your nursing regulatory body.
Official Results
Many times, students eager to find out if they passed their exam will contact the testing center, Pearson Vue, or even the NCSBN, hoping to find an answer. There is no need to do that because they will not give you that information.
The only way you will receive your official results is through your nursing regulatory body. This takes place approximately six weeks after you take the NCLEX.
Some things to note:
- If you have not received your results after six weeks, contact your nursing regulatory body.
- Your results are double-checked for accuracy. Your exam is scored by the computer as you take the exam and then later verified by Pearson VUE.
- Though your exam is scored by the computer at the testing center, your results will not be released at the testing center, and the staff on site will not have access to your test results.
If you did not pass your NCLEX, you will receive a Candidate Performance Report (CPR) from your nursing regulatory body. This report is meant to help you identify your weak areas as you begin preparing to retake your exam.
In the Candidate Performance Report you will be informed of the number of items you completed on the exam and given a summary of your performance. This will help you pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses in order to perform better in the future.
Pearson Vue Trick (PVT)
(Note: The Pearson Vue Trick is a way test takers have found to get a hint as to whether or not they passed the NCLEX. It is neither official or unofficial.)
On forums or in NCLEX Facebook groups, you’ll hear test takers asking about the “good pop up” and the “bad pop up” — this is referring to the Pearson Vue Trick.
Here’s how it works:
About four hours after the exam, students login to their Pearson Vue accounts and attempt to pay to take the exam again. The “good pop up” will inform them that they “recently scheduled this exam” and “another registration cannot be made at this time.” The “bad pop up” accepts the payment.
Again, this is not considered a reliable source of information.
Summary
Upon completion of your NCLEX, if your nursing regulatory body participates in the Quick Results Service, you can access unofficial results two business days after the exam.
Official results will be sent to you by your nursing regulatory body approximately six weeks after your NCLEX exam date.
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