NCLEX Canada: All You Need to Know
NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) is a computer-adaptive test that nursing graduates are required to pass in order to obtain licensure in the USA, Canada, and Australia. This exam assesses the fundamental knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary to deliver safe and effective nursing care to patients of all ages across a variety of healthcare settings.
There are two types of NCLEX exams;
NCLEX-RN
NCLEX-PN
The NCLEX-RN Exam is for candidates who would like to become a Registered Nurse, whereas the NCLEX-PN is for candidates seeking a practical nurse licensure.
National Council of State Boards of Nursing develops NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN exams.
NCLEX Exam Eligibility
To be eligible for the NCLEX-RN exam, candidates must successfully complete a registered nursing program. Upon graduation, they should apply to their NRB for ATT approval. After receiving the ATT, they are eligible to register for the NCLEX-RN exam.
Candidates should complete a practical or vocational nursing program to be eligible for the NCLEX-PN exam. After completing their program, they need to request an Authorization to Test (ATT) from their Nursing Regulatory Body (NRB). Once they receive approval, they can register for the exam.
NCLEX Registration in Canada
Submit your licensure or registration application to the Nursing Regulatory Body (NRB) in your selected jurisdiction.
Ensure you fulfill all eligibility requirements established by the NRB for the NCLEX.
Register for the NCLEX exam through Pearson VUE.
You will receive a Registration Acknowledgment email from Pearson VUE confirming your registration.
The NRB will review your application and verify your eligibility within the Pearson VUE system.
Once your eligibility is confirmed, you will receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) email from Pearson VUE.
Schedule your NCLEX exam through the Pearson VUE portal.
Steps to Register for the NCLEX Exam
Submit Your Application
Apply for licensure or registration with the Nursing Regulatory Body (NRB) in the state or jurisdiction where you intend to practice.
Make sure you meet all eligibility criteria and adhere to the NRB’s application deadlines.Register for the NCLEX
You can register for the NCLEX using one of the following methods:Online Registration:
Visit the official NCLEX website: NCLEX Registration
Submit the registration fee with a credit, debit, or prepaid card.
A valid email address is required to receive the registration confirmation.
Telephone Registration:
Reach out to Pearson VUE NCLEX Candidate Services by calling the regional phone numbers listed on the NCLEX website.
Payment must be made with a credit, debit, or prepaid card.
A valid email address is also required for phone registration.
Request Test Accommodations (If Needed)
If you require test accommodations, contact your NRB to understand the eligibility requirements before registering for the NCLEX.
Submit your written request for accommodations at the earliest.Await Confirmation
Schedule your exam after receiving written confirmation of your accommodations (if applicable) and your Authorization to Test (ATT) email.Schedule Your Exam
Once you receive your ATT, you can book your NCLEX exam appointment using the NCLEX Scheduling portal.
Important:
If you are granted accommodations, please note that you cannot cancel them at the time of your exam appointment.
Pearson for NCLEX: What You Should Know
Established in 1994, Pearson VUE is a worldwide leader in computer-based testing services. They provide a comprehensive suite of testing solutions, ranging from online practice exams to proctored assessments in secure testing environments. Pearson VUE administers licensing exams for a variety of healthcare professionals, including nurses, EMTs, physicians, pharmacists, and massage therapists across many countries. Their mission is to deliver reliable, valid, and legally sound exams in secure centers, ensuring public safety and maintaining trust in professional licensure.
NCLEX Exam Cost in Canada
If you haven’t received confirmation of your NCLEX registration within two days of submitting your application, contact Pearson VUE Candidate Services to check your registration status. Do not submit another registration or payment before reaching out. If you choose to re-register, be sure to cancel your initial payment beforehand.
Please note that registration fees are non-refundable under any circumstances, including but not limited to:
Submitting duplicate registrations (candidates are not allowed to have more than one active registration for the same exam).
Failing to reschedule or cancel your exam appointment at least 24 business hours in advance.
Missing your scheduled exam appointment.
Furthermore, the international scheduling fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.
Understanding the NCLEX Exam
Exam Content
The NCLEX assesses your nursing knowledge, understanding of client health needs (where “client” may refer to an individual, family, or group), and essential integrated processes such as clinical judgment, communication, and documentation. Both the RN and PN exams are structured around client needs, with most questions designed to test higher-level cognitive skills. Unless otherwise specified, you should assume the client in a question is an adult.
Exam Development
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) updates the NCLEX test plan every three years through a comprehensive practice analysis. Ongoing continuous practice analyses further ensure that the exam content remains relevant and up-to-date. Nursing educators (item writers) develop exam questions, which are then reviewed by panels of practicing nurses. All questions are pretested to ensure they meet NCSBN’s statistical standards before being used in scoring.
Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT)
The NCLEX utilizes Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) to personalize the exam to each candidate’s ability level, resulting in more accurate assessments with fewer questions. After each response, the system recalculates your ability estimate, increasing the test’s precision. Pretest questions are initially unscored and only become scored items once their difficulty has been statistically validated.
NCLEX Preparation
Candidates receive guidance on how to approach test items, and a tutorial is provided before exam day.
How to find NCLEX Test Dates?
To find the NCLEX test dates, view the Pearson VUE portal, where they have different allocated dates all year-round. To register for your exam, you must create an account on the Pearson VUE portal, where you can register or log in to choose an allocated time slot. To guarantee that you get the optimal time slot for your schedule, it is recommended that you schedule your exam in advance.
NCLEX Results
The NCLEX is scored in two stages: initially by the computer at the test center, and then through a verification process after the exam record is sent to Pearson VUE. Test center staff do not have access to exam results, and no results are provided at the test center.
Official NCLEX exam results are released by the Nursing Regulatory Bodies (NRBs). Candidates will receive their results approximately six weeks after completing the exam. If you have not received your results within that timeframe, please contact your NRB for support.
NCLEX RN Quick Results
For those seeking licensure in the USA, the Quick Results Service is available in certain locations for a small fee. This service delivers unofficial NCLEX results through your candidate profile within two business days. Please be aware that Quick Results are not offered in all regions and are considered unofficial.
NCLEX Canada Pass Rate
NCLEX exam uses a pass/fail system determined by how your performance measures up against a set passing standard. You will pass if you consistently show competency, but if your performance falls below the required level, you will not pass. The exam’s scoring algorithm takes into account the difficulty of the questions, the number of correct answers, and the time taken to respond. The main goal is to evaluate your competency and ensure you are prepared to practice nursing safely and effectively.
How to Pass the NCLEX exam?
To have the best chance of passing the exam, preparation is key to success. Here are some tips that will increase your chances of passing the exam.
Using the NCLEX preparation books and online resources that are provided on their portal.
Completing mock exams to become used to the test's structure.
Enrolling in the NCLEX review course will help give you an overview of everything. This is highly recommended as it helps refresh your memory on anything you may have forgotten or didn't know.
This is what you can expect to see on the NCLEX Canada Exam:
The main focus of the NCLEX Canada exam is to test your knowledge of entry-level nursing knowledge, skills, and clinical judgment. The exam is done on a computer using a program called Computer Adaptive Test (CAT). The content that will appear on the test is Safe and Effective Care, Health Promotion and Maintenance, Psychosocial Integrity, and Physiological Integrity (includes medication, comfort, and adaptation). The exam will feature multiple-choice, case study, fill-in-the-blank, and select-all-that-apply questions. The NCLEX exam uses the metric system, and no USA and Canada health system knowledge is tested.
NCLEX Exam Centers in Canada
Canada offers 25 NCLEX exam test centers nationwide. Below is a list of International Pearson Professional Center locations in Canada, along with their addresses.
Calgary
Test Center Address
433, Marlborough Way NE
Suite 440 Marlborough Mall Professional Building.
Test Center ZIP/ Postal code: T2A 7E7
Edmonton
Test Center Address
10055 106th St NW Suite 540
Test Center ZIP/ Postal code: T5J 2Y2
Halifax
Test Center Address
6960 Mumford Road Suite 220 Mumford Professional Centre
Test Center ZIP/ Postal code: B3L 4P1
Hamilton
Test Center Address
175 Longwood Road S Suite 411A McMasters Innovation Park
Test Center ZIP/ Postal code: L8P 0A1
Montreal
Test Center Address
800 Rene Levesque Boulevard West Suite 890
Test Center ZIP/ Postal code: H3B 1X9
Ottawa
Test Center Address
11 Holland Ave Suite 512
Test Center ZIP/ Postal code: K1Y 4S1
Regina
Test Center Address
2075 Prince of Wales Drive Suite 405
Test Center ZIP/ Postal code: S4V 3A3
St Johns
Test Center Address
235 Water Street Suite 102
Test Center ZIP/ Postal code: A1C 1B6
Toronto
Test Center Address
21 St. Clair Avenue East Suite 501
Test Center ZIP/ Postal code: M4T 1L9
Toronto
Test Center Address
1075 Bay Street Suite 525
Test Center ZIP/ Postal code: M5S 2B1
Vancouver
Test Center Address
505 Burrard St Suite 570 Bentall Centre
Test Center ZIP/ Postal code: V7X 1M3
Winnipeg
Test Center Address
1020 Lorimer Boulevard Suite 309 Sterling Lyon Building
Test Center ZIP/ Postal code: R3P 0Z8
Burnaby
Test Center Address
4400 Dominion Street Suite 115
Test Center ZIP/ Postal code: V5G 1H1
Calgary
Test Center Address
250 6th Ave SW Suite 460 Bow Valley 4
Test Center ZIP/ Postal code: T2P 3H7
Edmonton
Test Center Address
10430 61 Ave NW Suite 302
Test Center ZIP/ Postal code: T6H 2J3
Halifax
Test Center Address
287 Lacewood Dr Suite 201
Test Center ZIP/ Postal code: B3M 3Y7
London
Test Center Address
1069 Wellington Road S Suite 222 Century Centre
Test Center ZIP/ Postal code: N6E 1W4
Oakville
Test Center Address
567 Michigan Drive Unit 500
Test Center ZIP/ Postal code: L6L 0C4
Ottawa
Test Center Address
1420 Blair Towers Place Suite 850
Test Center ZIP/ Postal code: K1J 9L8
Saskatoon
Test Center Address
201, 1st Avenue S Suite 1003 The Tower at Mid town
Test Center ZIP/ Postal code: S7K 1L9
Surrey
Test Center Address
15127 100 Avenue Suite 406 Guildford Landmark
Test Center ZIP/ Postal code: V3R 9P4
Toronto
Test Center Address
1 Eva Road Suite 400
Test Center ZIP/ Postal code: M9C 4Z5
Toronto
Test Center Address
2255 Sheppard Ave E Suite 107
Test Center ZIP/ Postal code: M2J 4Y1
Victoria
Test Center Address
818 Broughton Street Suite 201
Test Center ZIP/ Postal code: V8W 1E4
Winnipeg
Test Center Address
287 Broadway Suite 505
Test Center ZIP/ Postal code: R3C 0R9
In addition to the above mentioned locations, there are temporary testing center locations. Below is the list of temporary testing locations and schedules in 2025.
Kelowna
Test Center Address
Coast Capri Hotel 1171 Harvey Ave. Kelowna, BC V1Y 6E8
Date: February 4-12
Prince George
Test Center Address
Ramada Prince George
444 George Street Prince George, BC V2L 1R6
Date: July 24 - August 1
Corner Brook
Test Center Address
Corner Brook Civic Centre 1
Canada Games Place Corner Brook, NL A2H 5G4
Date: June 4-10
Sydney
Test Center Address
Membertou Convention Center
50 Maillard Street Membertou, NS B1S 3W3
Date: August 6-14
Sudbury
Test Center Address
Fairfield Inn & Suites Sudbury 490 Barrydowne Rd. Sudbury, ON P3A 3T3
Date: February 4-6
May 27- June 5
Thunder Bay
Test Center Address
Hampton Inn & Suites
760 Arthur Street West Thunder Bay ON P7E 5R9
Date: June 3-12
September 23-26
Charlottetown
Test Center Address
Delta by Marriott 18 Queen St. Charlottetown, PEI C1A 4A1
Date: January 14-17
May 20-30
November 18
Kamloops
Test Center Address
Holiday Inn & Suites 675
Tranquille Road Kamloops, BC V2B 3H7
Date: June 17-26
Nanaimo
Test Center Address
Coast Bastion Hotel 11 Bastion St. Nanaimo, BC V9R 6E4
Date: June 10-16
Fredericton
Test Center Address
Delta Marriott 225
Woodstock Rd, Fredericton, NB E3B 2H8
Date: February 5-12
June 10 - July 4
October 21-28
Yellowknife
Test Center Address
Stanton Suites Yellowknife 476 Range Lake Rd. Yellowknife, NT X1A 3Z3
Date: January 21
June 17-19
September 23
Iqaluit
Test Center Address
Aqsarniit Hotel and Conference Centre
1730 Federal Rd Iqaluit, NU XOA 1L0
Date: July 15
September 16
Windsor
Test Center Address
Holiday Inn & Suites Ambassador Bridge
1855 Huron Church Rd. Windsor, ON N9C 2L6
Date: June 11-17
Nursing is more than a profession, it’s an opportunity to create a meaningful impact on individuals, communities, and society as a whole. Each step you take toward passing the NCLEX brings you closer to joining a compassionate field devoted to caring for others.
If you’re an aspiring nurse aiming to build your career in the U.S. and seeking guidance for the NCLEX, BridgeWay is here to support you.
At BridgeWay, our mission is to empower nurses with the skills and compassion essential for delivering high-quality healthcare. Our Nursing Scholarships for a Masters in Nursing in USA are tailored for driven nurses eager to advance their careers. In the past three years alone, we have awarded scholarships to over 200 students. With personalized support and expert advice, we’ll help you make informed choices and confidently take the next step toward a rewarding nursing career.