How many times can you take the NCLEX?

Failing the NCLEX is hard news, but it is not the end of the road. The national rules give you plenty of chances. The real limits, if any, come from the state where you want your license.

How many times can you take the NCLEX?

You can take the NCLEX up to eight times a year, and at least 45 test-free days must pass between attempts. That is the NCSBN retake policy, as stated in the 2026 NCLEX Examination Candidate Bulletin.

The 45 days count from the date you last tested. NCSBN’s results page notes that some boards make candidates wait longer, and the extra time shows up in the validity dates on your new Authorization to Test.

NCSBN’s policy sets no lifetime cap. Whether you can actually keep testing depends on your nursing regulatory body (NRB), usually your state board of nursing. The bulletin tells candidates to check their board’s retake policy, and NCSBN notes that some boards allow fewer exams a year.

Does your state limit how many times you can take the NCLEX?

Yes, some states do, and their rules override the national baseline for anyone seeking a license there. State limits usually take one of three forms: a cap on attempts, a required remedial course after several failures, or a deadline counted from your graduation date.

Here are four examples, each from the state’s own law or board rule as published in October 2026.

State	Rule	What happens when you hit it	Source
Florida	Three consecutive failures, in any state, trigger a remedial course	Complete a board-approved remedial course, then apply to retest within 6 months; you get up to three more attempts before remediation is required again	Fla. Stat. 464.008 (2026)
Colorado	Three attempts within three years of your first NCLEX, taken anywhere	A fourth attempt needs a written waiver petition after documented preparation; the board decides at its sole discretion and expects waivers to be rare, and the steps must be done within two years of your third exam	3 CCR 716-1, Rule 1.1(E)(9) (eff. Mar. 17, 2026)
Texas	US graduates may retest only within four years of their graduation date	Past four years, no Authorization to Test is issued; you must complete a new nursing program (a refresher course does not count)	Texas BON, Board Rule 217.2(c)–(d)
Georgia	Must pass within three years of graduation	Reestablish eligibility by enrolling in and graduating from an approved nursing program	Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 410-2-.01

Notice that Florida and Colorado count attempts made in other states. Moving to a different state does not wipe the slate clean.

These are examples, not a full list. Rules change, so read your own board’s current page or call the board before you plan your next date.

How do you register to retake the NCLEX?

You repeat two parts of the original process: your board makes you eligible again, and you reregister with Pearson VUE and pay the fee. NCSBN’s results page lays out the order.

1. Tell your board you plan to retest. Your board tells you which forms or fees it needs. Texas, for example, uses a separate “NCLEX RETEST Application” in its online portal.
2. Reregister with Pearson VUE and pay the registration fee. In 2026 the US fee is $200. NCSBN has announced it rises to $350 on Feb. 1, 2027.
3. Wait for your new Authorization to Test (ATT). It arrives by email once your board declares you eligible.
4. Schedule your exam within the ATT’s validity dates, and no sooner than your 45 test-free days allow.

A few rules from the 2026 Candidate Bulletin can cost you money if you miss them. The ATT lasts as long as your board sets (90 days on average), and the dates cannot be extended for any reason. If you don’t test in that window, you reregister and pay again.

You also can’t hold two open registrations for the same exam at once. A registration stays open 365 days while your board decides eligibility. NCSBN does not refund registration fees, including for duplicate registrations or missed appointments.

Board fees are separate. Your state may charge its own retest application fee on top of the Pearson VUE fee, so check its fee schedule.

How do you use your Candidate Performance Report?

Your Candidate Performance Report (CPR) shows where you were weakest, so study those areas first. The board sends it to every candidate who fails.

According to NCSBN, the CPR is a two-page report. It lists how many items you answered and rates your performance in each test plan content area and clinical judgment category. Each area gets one of three labels: below, near or above the passing standard.

Pass or fail depends on your performance across the whole exam, so the CPR points to strong and weak areas rather than giving section scores. NCSBN suggests this order:

• Start with every area marked below the passing standard.
• Move next to areas near the passing standard.
• Keep reviewing areas above the passing standard so they stay strong.

If you answered fewer than the minimum number of items, NCSBN says you get an abbreviated CPR instead. It gives your item count and the count needed for a full evaluation, but no breakdown by area.

How should you study for an NCLEX retake?

Study differently this time: let your CPR set the priorities, then confirm the gaps with fresh practice before you book a date. Repeating the exact same plan risks the same result.

A practical sequence looks like this:

1. Map your CPR to the test plan. List each area marked below or near the passing standard. Our NCLEX-RN exam overview explains the eight test plan categories and the Next Generation question types.
2. Take a diagnostic before you study. The free NCLEX-RN diagnostic test covers all eight categories in 52 questions. Compare its weak spots with your CPR, because content may have faded since exam day.
3. Build a dated plan. Our NCLEX-RN study plan works back from your exam date and puts your weakest categories first.
4. Practice the clinical judgment steps, not just facts. For every missed question, read the rationale and write down why your choice was wrong, not just what the right answer was.
5. Rehearse under time. Set a timer and work through our free NCLEX-RN practice questions, including case studies, so a long sitting feels familiar.

Pick your test date after your practice results improve, not just when the 45 days run out. The waiting period is a minimum, not a target.

Quick answers

How long do you have to wait to retake the NCLEX? At least 45 days from your last attempt under NCSBN policy. Some boards require a longer wait, which shows in your new ATT dates.

Is there a lifetime limit on NCLEX attempts? Not under national policy. Some states effectively set one, such as Colorado’s three attempts in three years or Texas’s four years from graduation.

Do you pay the full fee again to retake the NCLEX? Yes. You reregister with Pearson VUE and pay $200 (US, 2026), rising to $350 on Feb. 1, 2027, plus any board fee.

Do failed attempts in another state count? They can. Florida and Colorado both count NCLEX attempts taken in any jurisdiction.

Who decides if you can retake the NCLEX? Your state board of nursing. It must declare you eligible again before you receive a new Authorization to Test.