1. (a) Each person seeking licensure as an LPN and who graduated from a nursing education program in the United States or Canada shall take and pass the NCLEX-PN examination.
2. (b) Each person seeking licensure as an RN and who graduated from a nursing education program in the United States or Canada, except Quebec, shall take and pass the NCLEX-RN examination, unless the applicant meets the requirement for endorsement under Nur 304.02.

3. (c) Each person seeking licensure as an RN or LPN and who graduated from a nursing education program outside the United States or Canada or has graduated from a nursing program in Quebec shall:

   1. (1) Provide a certificate of a passing grade from an examination endorsed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, issued within the 2 years prior to the date of the application;
   2. (2) Provide evidence the applicant has received educational credentials review from an institution accredited by the National Council State Boards of Nursing, and meets English language requirements pursuant to Nur 302.01(a); and
   3. (3) Provide verification of any existing nursing license from the issuing jurisdiction.
4. (d) For graduates of programs within the US or Canadian Provinces where the NCLEX is required, the NCLEX shall be taken within 6 months of graduation from an approved school of nursing.

5. (e) Notwithstanding (d) above, the following individuals who graduate from programs where the NCLEX is required may take the NCLEX examination at any time following graduation from an approved school of nursing:

   1. (1) Graduates of foreign nursing schools that have:

      1. a. Practiced in the licensed role for a minimum of 400 hours within the past 4 years before filing the application; and
      2. b. Have met the requirements of Nur 303.02(c); and

   2. (2) Graduates of Canadian nursing schools that have:

      1. a. Practiced in the licensed role for a minimum of 400 hours within the past 4 years before filing the application; and
      2. b. Are taking NCLEX for licensure.
6. (f) An applicant required by this part to obtain a passing grade on the NCLEX examination shall have a lifetime total of 5 opportunities within a consecutive 3 year period to obtain a passing grade on the examination.
7. (g) An applicant may take the examination 3 times without intervention by the board.

8. (h) Prior to a fourth attempt the applicant and the board shall do the following:

   1. (1) The applicant shall submit to the board through the OPLC a written plan of remediation and propose measures the applicant intends to implement in order to pass the exam;

   2. (2) Once the board receives a plan of remediation, it shall review the proposed remediation plan, and:

      1. a. Approve the plan if it addresses the applicant’s barriers to passing the examination; or
      2. b. Deny the plan if it fails to adequately address such barriers, and return it to the applicant with written findings of the reason(s) for denial; and

   3. (3) Once the applicant’s remediation plan is approved, the applicant shall:

      1. a. Complete the remediation plan no more than one year prior to taking the examination; and
      2. b. Submit evidence of completion of the remediation plan to the board prior to again sitting for the examination.
9. (i) If the board denies the remediation plan described in (h) above the applicant may submit a revised plan of remediation for reconsideration by the board.

10. (j) Following a fourth failure to obtain a passing grade on the required NCLEX examination, an applicant shall not be permitted to retake the examination for the fifth and final time unless the following occurs:

    1. (1) The applicant submits to the board through the OPLC a second and updated written plan of remediation and proposes measures the applicant intends to implement in order to pass the exam;

    2. (2) Once the board receives a plan of remediation, it shall review the proposed remediation plan, and either:

       1. a. Approve the plan if it addresses the applicant’s barriers to passing the examination; or
       2. b. Deny the plan if it fails to adequately address such barriers. If the board does so, it shall return the plan to the applicant with written findings of the reason(s) for denial; and

    3. (3) The remediation plan shall:

       1. a. Be completed no more than one year prior to taking the examination; and
       2. b. The applicant shall submit evidence of completion of the remediation plan prior to again sitting for the examination.

Source. #5925, INTERIM, eff 11-21-94; ss by #6010, eff 3-25-95; ss by #6778, eff 6-26-98; ss by #8664, INTERIM, eff 6-24-06, EXPIRED: 12-21-06 New. #8873, eff 4-24-07; ss by #9395, eff 2-25-09; ss by #10298, eff 3-22-13; ss by #10996, eff 12-19-15; ss by #12753, eff 4-4-19; amd by #13012, EMERGENCY RULE, eff 3-27-20, EXPIRED: 9-23-20 (see Revision Note #1 at chapter heading for Nur 300); ss by #14295, eff 8-25-25, EXPIRES: 8-25-35