After graduating from an accredited nursing program, the last hurdle to becoming a licensed clinician is taking and passing the NCLEX®.
You may wonder when you can take the NCLEX, when you should take it, and if you’re even prepared to take it. In most states, the earliest you can take the exam is 45 days after your graduation date. Check with your nursing regulatory body (NRB) to determine if your state requires a longer waiting period.
But just because you can take the NCLEX that close to graduation, does it mean you should? Here are 3 questions to consider when deciding how long to wait to take the NCLEX after graduation.
#1 When Do You Plan to Practice?
Is the clinical workforce already calling your name, or are personal matters demanding your attention first? Asking yourself when you actually want to begin your career as a nurse helps determine when you’ll want to take the NCLEX.
If you plan to take a few months — or even a gap year — after graduation, you might not feel a rush to test right away. Waiting could be a wise move. You’ll have extra time to study with high-quality test prep so that you feel more confident and prepared on exam day.
While most students are hesitant to start their life as a nurse right away, others are eager to begin immediately. If you’re part of the latter group, that 45-day mark is something to watch.
In an ideal world, you’d simply show up to a testing center and take the exam — but that’s not the case. Once you know you’re eligible, follow these steps to register for the NCLEX:
- Apply to your NRB for licensure.
- Register with Pearson VUE and pay registration fees.
- Receive your Authorization to Test (ATT).
- Schedule your exam date with Pearson VUE.
#2 How Long Can You Retain What You Learned?
A major advantage of taking the NCLEX immediately after graduation is that the information you learned in nursing school is fresh in your mind. Procrastinating could mean all that precious knowledge becomes harder to recall — or worse, lost entirely.
If you don’t take the NCLEX within the first 3 months of graduation, dedicate daily time to practicing with one of our NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN review courses. Our challenging NCLEX-style questions, detailed answer rationales, vivid illustrations, and precise performance tracking will help reinforce key concepts explored in your nursing program — increasing your chances of NCLEX success.
#3 Are you Prepared?
Whether you take the NCLEX 45 days, 6 months, or a year after graduating, there’s 1 pressing question: Are you prepared for this high-stakes licensure exam?
The NCLEX is a computer-adaptive test that measures your competency with each question. The difficulty adjusts based on your previous answers, meaning you can’t trick the system or rely on luck. Your greatest asset will be a solid, intentional study plan — without it, you risk missing the mark.
The best answer to how long you should wait? It’s up to you. Just make sure you’re prepared. Here’s how to set yourself up for success:
- Use high-quality, industry-leading NCLEX practice questions.
- Choose test prep written by experienced nurse educators and practicing clinicians.
- Use smart flashcards with spaced-repetition technology.
- Track your progress and take self-assessments to gauge your confidence.
If you incorporate all this into your study routine, you won’t be questioning your readiness anymore. You’ll know it’s NCLEX time.
