How many questions is the NCLEX-PN, and how long do I get?

It is a variable-length computer-adaptive test of 85 to 150 questions, with a maximum of 5 hours including all breaks. A minimum-length exam contains 52 content items, 18 clinical-judgment case-study items, and 15 unscored pretest items (= 85).

Does a shorter exam mean I passed?

No. The exam stops when the computer is 95% certain you are clearly above or clearly below the passing standard — which can happen at 85 items or 150. People pass and fail at every length. Stopping early simply means the algorithm reached confidence; it is not a verdict by itself.

What is the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN)?

Since April 1, 2023, the exam measures clinical judgment using the NCSBN Clinical Judgment Measurement Model. You get 3 case studies (6 items each, stepping through recognize cues, analyze cues, prioritize hypotheses, generate solutions, take action, evaluate outcomes) plus approximately 10% stand-alone clinical-judgment items and newer item formats (such as matrix/grid, extended multiple response, bowtie, cloze drop-downs, and trend items) alongside traditional multiple-choice. For the definitive current item-format list, see the NCLEX Candidate Tutorial.

How much does it cost and how do I register?

The registration fee is $200 USD, paid to Pearson VUE (non-refundable). First apply for licensure with your board of nursing; you'll get a Registration Acknowledgment email from Pearson, then once the board makes you eligible you receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) email and schedule with Pearson VUE within the ATT window (average 90 days).

What if I fail — when can I retake it?

You may take the NCLEX up to 8 times per year with at least 45 test-free days between attempts (your jurisdiction may impose tighter limits). Failing candidates receive a Candidate Performance Report summarizing relative strengths and weaknesses by content area to guide re-study.

How is the PN test plan different from the RN one?

The PN plan uses 'Coordinated Care' where the RN plan uses 'Management of Care,' and the weightings differ. PN items focus on the entry-level LPN/LVN scope — for example, more on assisting with care, data collection, and reinforcing teaching, and on delegating to unlicensed assistive personnel rather than the broader independent decision-making tested on the RN.

When do I get my results?

Official results come only from your board of nursing, typically within about six weeks (this varies across boards). In participating U.S. jurisdictions you can buy unofficial Quick Results through your candidate profile after two business days (a minimal fee applies; not available in all states and not for Canada/Australia). Quick Results do not authorize you to practice.

How to Pass the NCLEX-PN

A practical, no-fluff guide to passing the NCLEX-PN practical-nurse licensure exam — the current exam format, content areas and weights, scoring, cost and eligibility, a realistic study plan, and the highest-leverage strategy to pass.

By David Bright · Founder & Editor Reviewed June 7, 2026 How we review

Exam logistics change — always confirm current details on the official certification site before you book.

Take a timed mock exam → Formulas & calculators → Compare prep courses →

The exam at a glance

The NCLEX-PN is the U.S. licensing exam for practical and vocational nurses (LPN/LVN), built and owned by NCSBN and delivered through Pearson VUE. It is a computerized adaptive test (CAT): the computer picks each question based on how you’ve answered so far, so no two exams are identical.

Length: 85 to 150 questions. A minimum-length exam is 52 content items + 18 clinical-judgment case-study items + 15 unscored pretest items = 85.
Time: 5 hours total, including every break.
Since April 1, 2023, this is the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN). You’ll get 3 case studies (6 items each) plus roughly 10% stand-alone items that measure clinical judgment using the NCSBN Clinical Judgment Measurement Model.
Item types go beyond multiple-choice: select-all-that-apply, matrix/grid, extended multiple response, bowtie, cloze (drop-down) menus, trend items, ordered response, hot spots, and chart/exhibit items. (For the definitive current list, see the NCLEX Candidate Tutorial.)

How pass/fail works: the exam ends under one of three rules. Most often it’s the 95% Confidence Interval Rule — once you’ve answered at least the minimum 85 items, it stops the moment the computer is 95% sure you’re clearly above or below the passing standard. If you hover right at the line, it continues to 150 (Maximum-Length) and the final ability estimate alone decides. If you run out of time (R.O.O.T.), you fail if you didn’t reach 85 items; otherwise the final estimate is scored.

The length of your exam is not a verdict. Candidates pass and fail at 85 items and at 150. Do not try to read the tea leaves mid-exam.

How it is scored

Forget percent-correct. The NCLEX measures your ability relative to the passing standard, re-estimating it after every scored answer. Harder questions you get right pull your estimate up; easier ones you miss pull it down. There is no fixed percentage of people who pass — you pass by performing at or above the standard, full stop.

15 pretest items are unscored and indistinguishable from real ones, so treat every question as if it counts.
Some items (those where more than one key exists) use partial credit scoring — plus/minus, zero/one, or rationale scoring — so a near-miss can still earn something; never leave such an item half-answered if you have a defensible choice.
You cannot go back once you confirm an answer, so commit deliberately.

Are you eligible — and what does it cost?

You don’t apply to NCSBN. The path is:

Apply to your board of nursing (NRB) in the state/jurisdiction where you want to be licensed — typically after graduating an approved practical/vocational nursing program.
Register with Pearson VUE and pay the $200 USD fee. You’ll get a Registration Acknowledgment email from Pearson.
The board makes you eligible in the Pearson system.
You receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) email.
Schedule and test within the ATT window (the board sets it; the average is 90 days, and it cannot be extended).

Other possible fees: +$150 USD international scheduling (plus VAT where applicable), $50 to change your board after registering, and $50 to change exam type (RN/PN) where allowed. Your board’s licensure fee is separate. Miss your ATT window and you re-register and pay again — so schedule early. (The NCLEX-PN is for U.S. licensure only.)

Build a realistic study plan (week-by-week)

Most candidates need 6 to 8 weeks of focused prep. The single best predictor of readiness is volume of practice questions with rationales, not hours of re-reading.

Weeks 1-2 — Diagnose and build base. Take a timed practice set. Map weak areas to the content list below. Start a daily habit of 40-60 NGN-style questions, always reviewing the rationale for every option, right or wrong.
Weeks 3-5 — Content + clinical judgment. Rotate through the eight content areas, weighting time toward the heavy hitters (Coordinated Care, Pharmacology, Safety). Drill case studies specifically — they’re worth 18 guaranteed items. Build pharm flashcards by drug class, not by individual drug.
Week 6 — Simulate. Do at least two full-length, timed sessions to train pacing and stamina. Aim for roughly 1-2 minutes per item so you’d finish 150 inside 5 hours.
Final days — Consolidate. Light review of high-yield facts, lab values, and safety priorities. No cramming new content.

Quality beats quantity: understanding why three options are wrong teaches more than memorizing one right answer.

The exam mindset / highest-leverage strategy

The NCLEX-PN tests safe, entry-level LPN/LVN judgment, not encyclopedic recall. Train these reflexes:

Safety first. When unsure, pick the answer that protects the client from harm.
Use a priority framework — ABCs (airway, breathing, circulation), then Maslow, then “assess before you act.” On NGN case studies, walk the six steps in order: recognize cues, analyze cues, prioritize hypotheses, generate solutions, take action, evaluate outcomes.
Answer the LPN scope. Many distractors are correct for an RN but outside PN practice — choose the action a practical/vocational nurse can perform or that involves notifying the RN/provider.
Read the actual question. Decide whether it wants the first/priority/best action versus simply a correct one.
Keep a steady pace. Spending five minutes agonizing over one item risks the R.O.O.T. rule.

Master the content areas (how each is tested)

Content-area weights — spend your study time in proportion.

Eight areas, grouped into four Client Needs. Approximate targets (ranges in the test plan):

Coordinated Care — ~21% (18-24%). The biggest slice. Delegation/assignment to unlicensed assistive personnel, supervision, prioritization, advance directives, confidentiality, and reporting up the chain. Expect “who do you see first” and “what can you delegate” items.
Safety and Infection Prevention and Control — ~13% (10-16%). Standard and transmission-based precautions, error prevention, safe equipment use, hazardous materials, emergency response.
Pharmacological Therapies — ~13% (10-16%). Safe administration, expected effects, adverse reactions, dosage calculation, and reinforcing medication teaching. High-yield — drill by class.
Psychosocial Integrity — ~12% (9-15%). Coping, therapeutic communication, grief, behavioral cues, and basic mental-health care. Pick the response that’s open, supportive, and client-centered.
Reduction of Risk Potential — ~12% (9-15%). Recognizing complications, vital signs, lab values, monitoring after procedures, and when to escalate.
Basic Care and Comfort — ~10% (7-13%). Hygiene, mobility, nutrition, elimination, rest, and non-pharmacologic comfort.
Physiological Adaptation — ~10% (7-13%). Caring for clients with acute, chronic, or worsening conditions; fluid/electrolyte basics; expected vs. unexpected responses.
Health Promotion and Maintenance — ~9% (6-12%). Growth and development, prevention, screening, and reinforcing healthy-living teaching.

Clinical judgment runs through all eight via the case studies and stand-alone items. (Individual exams may vary up to ±3% per category.)

Common pitfalls

Reading exam length as a result and panicking or coasting. Don’t.
Cramming pharmacology by individual drug instead of by class and mechanism.
Choosing the “RN” answer — independent actions outside LPN scope are classic traps.
Acting before assessing/collecting data, or skipping the priority framework.
Ignoring NGN case-study practice until the last minute — those 18 items are too valuable to wing.
Doing questions without reading rationales. That’s just guessing with extra steps.

After you pass (licensure, CE, renewal)

Official results come only from your board of nursing, usually within about six weeks (varies by board). In participating U.S. states you can buy unofficial Quick Results after two business days via your candidate profile (a minimal fee applies; not available in all states or for Canada/Australia) — but they don’t authorize you to practice.
Your board issues the license and sets all terms.
Continuing education and renewal are handled by your board, not NCSBN — typically a 1-2 year cycle with CE hours. Confirm your state’s exact rules.
If you don’t pass: you’ll get a Candidate Performance Report showing strengths and weaknesses by area. You may retake up to 8 times per year with at least 45 test-free days between attempts (your jurisdiction may limit further). Use the report to target re-study.

The week before, and exam day

Confirm logistics: test center location, ID that exactly matches the first and last name on your ATT (a mismatch means re-registering and re-paying).
Taper, don’t cram. Light review of lab values, safety priorities, and high-yield pharm. Protect sleep, especially the last two nights.
Run the tutorial ahead of time so NGN item formats feel familiar.
Exam day: arrive at least 30 minutes early, expect security checks (including a palm-vein scan and digital signature), and remember the 5 hours include your breaks — they don’t stop the clock, so plan them. Scheduled breaks are offered after about two hours and again after about three and a half hours.
Pace yourself: roughly 1-2 minutes per item, commit to an answer, and move on. Trust your preparation and let the adaptive engine do its job.

Quick-reference: exam tips by domain

Pulled from every term in this subject — a fast last-pass before exam day.

Coordinated Care

Accountability — The PN is accountable for everything they personally do — and for tasks they delegate to UAP.
Advocacy — If the client's wishes conflict with the plan, advocate up the chain — RN first, then provider.
Collaboration — Initiate a referral through the RN to PT, dietary, or social work rather than acting outside scope.
Confidentiality — Share only with the care team on a need-to-know basis; never discuss clients in elevators or on social media.
Consent — The provider obtains informed consent; the nurse witnesses the signature and confirms understanding.
Delegation — The LPN/LVN may be delegated to by the RN and may delegate to UAP — but never to another LPN/LVN.
Documentation — Chart objectively, factually, and as close to real time as possible — never chart in advance.
Handoff — Use SBAR — Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation — for a complete, structured handoff.
HIPAA — HIPAA applies to ALL forms of protected health information — written, spoken, and electronic.
Incident — File a factual, non-blaming incident report — do NOT mention the report in the client's chart.
Prioritization — Use ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) and Maslow — physiologic needs and safety before psychosocial.
Referral — Discharge planning and referrals should start on admission, not at discharge.
Reporting — Report changes in vital signs, mental status, or pain to the RN first — the RN escalates to the provider as needed.
Scope — The PN does NOT perform the initial admission assessment, develop the care plan, or give IV-push medications in most states.
Supervision — The PN supervises UAP for delegated tasks like vital signs, bathing, and ambulation — and follows up on the result.

Pharmacological Therapies

Acetaminophen — Maximum 4 g/day (less with liver disease or alcohol use); overdose antidote is acetylcysteine.
Albuterol — Side effects: tachycardia, tremor, jitteriness. Use BEFORE inhaled corticosteroid when both are ordered.
Digoxin — Hold and notify the provider if the apical pulse is below 60. Therapeutic level is 0.5-2 ng/mL.
Heparin — Monitor aPTT; the antidote is protamine sulfate. Give SubQ in the abdomen — do not aspirate or massage.
Ibuprofen — Give with food to reduce GI upset; watch for GI bleeding and renal effects in older adults.
Insulin — Only regular and rapid-acting insulin may be given IV. Know peak times — that is when hypoglycemia is most likely.
Levothyroxine — Take on an empty stomach in the morning, 30-60 min before food; signs of toxicity mimic hyperthyroidism.
Lisinopril — Watch for dry cough, hyperkalemia, and angioedema; contraindicated in pregnancy.
Lithium — Therapeutic level 0.6-1.2 mEq/L. Maintain steady sodium and fluid intake; low sodium = lithium toxicity.
Metformin — Hold for 48 hours before and after IV contrast — risk of lactic acidosis and renal injury.
Metoprolol — Hold and notify if pulse <60 or systolic BP <100. Never stop abruptly — rebound tachycardia.
Morphine — Hold and notify if respiratory rate <12. Antidote is naloxone.
Naloxone — Onset is fast but duration is short — monitor for re-sedation as the opioid can outlast naloxone.
Potassium — Never push IV potassium; always dilute and infuse on a pump. Take oral with food.
Warfarin — Monitor PT/INR; therapeutic INR is typically 2-3. Antidote is vitamin K.

Safety and Infection Control

Airborne — TB, measles, and varicella require a negative-pressure room and a fitted N95 respirator.
Asepsis — Medical asepsis is clean technique; surgical asepsis is sterile technique used for invasive procedures.
Contact — Wear gown and gloves on entry — examples include MRSA, C. difficile, and scabies.
Droplet — Use a surgical mask within 3-6 feet — examples include influenza, pertussis, and meningitis.
Falls — Keep the bed low and locked, the call light within reach, and complete a fall-risk assessment on admission.
Fire — Use RACE — Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish (or Evacuate). Order matters: people first.
Handwashing — Use soap and water (not alcohol-based gel) for C. difficile and other spore-forming organisms.
Isolation — Airborne (TB, measles) needs a negative-pressure room and N95; varicella is airborne AND contact (add gown and gloves) until lesions crust.
Oxygen — No open flames, smoking, or electric razors near oxygen. Post 'no smoking — oxygen in use' signs.
PPE — Don in order: gown → mask → goggles → gloves. Doff in reverse, gloves first.
Precautions — Standard precautions apply to ALL clients regardless of suspected infection.
Quarantine — Quarantine separates the exposed; isolation separates those already infected.
Restraints — Restraints require a provider order, the least-restrictive type, and frequent monitoring. Never tie to a side rail.
Sharps — Never recap a used needle — dispose directly into a puncture-resistant sharps container.
Sterile — Open sterile fields above waist level; a 1-inch border around the field is considered contaminated.

Psychosocial Integrity

Abuse — Interview the client alone; nurses are mandatory reporters for suspected child and elder abuse.
Addiction — Know withdrawal patterns — alcohol withdrawal can be life-threatening (DTs); opioid withdrawal is miserable but rarely fatal.
Anger — Stay calm, do not argue, ensure your own safety and an exit route; set firm limits on behavior.
Anxiety — Stay with a client in severe or panic-level anxiety; use a calm voice and short, simple directions.
Boundaries — Self-disclosure and accepting gifts can blur boundaries; keep the focus on the client.
Coping — Identify and reinforce the client's healthy, existing coping mechanisms during a crisis.
Crisis — Crisis intervention is short-term and focuses on immediate safety and problem-solving.
Delirium — New confusion in an older adult is a UTI until proven otherwise; check vitals, glucose, and meds.
Dementia — Use short sentences, one instruction at a time, and a consistent routine; do not reason with the client.
Denial — Do not confront denial directly in early stages; ensure safety and offer support.
Depression — Sudden mood improvement in a severely depressed client can signal suicide plan — assess directly.
Empathy — Empathy ('That sounds frightening') builds trust; sympathy and false reassurance do not.
Grief — Grief has no fixed timeline; the nurse's role is to support — not rush — the process.
Rapport — Use open-ended questions and silence; avoid 'why' questions that can sound accusatory.
Suicide — A client with a plan, means, and intent is at HIGHEST risk; provide one-to-one observation.

Reduction of Risk Potential

Biopsy — After a liver biopsy, position the client on the RIGHT side to apply pressure and prevent bleeding.
Bleeding — Tachycardia and falling BP signal hemorrhage; check the dressing AND underneath the client.
Drainage — Describe drainage by color, amount, and odor — sudden bright red or large volume is reportable.
Dressing — Change wet, soiled, or non-occlusive dressings promptly; document wound appearance with each change.
EKG — Lethal rhythms — ventricular fibrillation, pulseless V-tach, asystole, PEA — require immediate response.
Endoscopy — After an upper endoscopy, withhold food and fluids until the gag reflex returns.
Glucometer — Wipe away the first drop of blood and use the side of the fingertip to reduce pain and improve accuracy.
Infection — Cardinal signs: redness, warmth, swelling, pain, drainage, fever, and elevated WBC.
Monitoring — Know critical lab values (e.g., potassium <2.5 or >6.5) that require immediate notification.
MRI — Screen for ALL metal implants (pacemaker, aneurysm clips, shrapnel) before MRI — a life-threatening hazard.
Specimen — Collect cultures before the first antibiotic dose and label at the bedside to prevent errors.
Telemetry — Assess the client first, not just the monitor — confirm a lethal rhythm by checking the client.
Urinalysis — A clean-catch midstream sample reduces contamination; refrigerate or process within 1 hour.
Vitals — Trends matter more than single readings — always compare to the client's own baseline.
X-ray — Ask women of childbearing age about pregnancy before any x-ray; shield as appropriate.

Basic Care and Comfort

Ambulation — Dangle the legs at the bedside before standing to reduce orthostatic hypotension and falls.
Catheter — Maintain a closed system and keep the drainage bag below the bladder to prevent CAUTI.
Comfort — Use nonpharmacologic measures such as positioning and distraction alongside analgesics.
Constipation — Encourage fluids, fiber, and activity first; laxatives are added only as needed.
Dysphagia — Sit fully upright, chin tucked, small bites; thicken liquids as ordered; suction available.
Elimination — Increase fluids and fiber and encourage activity to prevent constipation.
Enteral — Verify tube placement before each bolus; flush with 30 mL water before, between, and after medications.
Feeding — Always elevate the HOB ≥30° during and 30 min after feeding to reduce aspiration risk.
Hygiene — Inspect the skin during the bath and reposition immobile clients at least every 2 hours.
Incontinence — Toilet on a schedule rather than 'as needed' — every 2 hours is a common starting interval.
Mobility — Early ambulation prevents DVT, pneumonia, and pressure injuries.
Nutrition — Position upright and verify tube placement before tube feeding; hold for high gastric residual per policy.
Ostomy — A healthy stoma is pink/red and moist; pale, dusky, or black stoma is an emergency.
Positioning — Semi-Fowler's for dyspnea; left-side for late pregnancy; flat with HOB <30° for spinal precautions.
Rest — Cluster nursing care to allow uninterrupted sleep cycles.

Physiological Adaptation

Acidosis — Kussmaul respirations are the body compensating for metabolic acidosis (as in DKA).
Arrhythmia — Pulseless V-tach and V-fib require immediate defibrillation; asystole and PEA do not.
Diabetes — Hypoglycemia: cold, clammy, give sugar. Hyperglycemia: hot, dry, give insulin.
Edema — Daily weight is the most accurate measure of fluid status — 1 kg change ≈ 1 L of fluid.
Embolism — Sudden dyspnea, tachycardia, and chest pain post-op — suspect pulmonary embolism. Sit up, oxygen, notify.
Fracture — 5 P's of neurovascular check: pain, pallor, pulse, paresthesia, paralysis. Compare to the other limb.
Hypoxia — Restlessness and confusion are early signs of hypoxia; cyanosis is a late sign.
Infarct — Crushing chest pain, diaphoresis, and nausea — give aspirin and nitroglycerin per protocol; oxygen only if hypoxic. (Morphine is reserved for chest pain unrelieved by nitrates, not routine — the old MONA mnemonic is outdated.)
Ischemia — Time is muscle and brain: rapid reperfusion limits damage in MI and stroke.
Paralysis — Position to prevent contractures and pressure injuries; passive ROM until active movement returns.
Pneumonia — Encourage cough, deep breathing, and incentive spirometry; elevate HOB to ease breathing.
Seizure — Protect the head, turn the client to the side, and NEVER insert anything into the mouth.
Sepsis — Obtain blood cultures BEFORE starting broad-spectrum antibiotics; give fluids early.
Shock — Early shock shows tachycardia and restlessness; hypotension is a LATE sign.
Stroke — Use FAST — Face droop, Arm weakness, Speech, Time. Time of onset determines thrombolytic eligibility.

Health Promotion and Maintenance

Development — Know Erikson's stages and key milestones; significant deviations may signal a problem.
Exercise — Adults need 150 min/week of moderate aerobic activity plus strength training twice weekly.
Immunization — Live vaccines (MMR, varicella) are contraindicated in pregnancy and significant immunocompromise.
Lifestyle — Smoking cessation is the single most effective lifestyle change to reduce disease risk.
Literacy — Use plain language and visuals; confirm understanding with teach-back, not 'do you understand?'
Mammogram — Screening typically begins at age 40-50 depending on guideline and risk — know your local recommendation.
Menarche — Late menarche or absence by age 16 (primary amenorrhea) warrants evaluation.
Menopause — Postmenopausal bleeding is NEVER normal — refer for evaluation to rule out malignancy.
Obesity — Even 5-10% weight loss meaningfully improves blood pressure, glucose, and lipid profiles.
Prenatal — Folic acid before and during early pregnancy prevents fetal neural tube defects.
Prevention — Primary prevents (vaccines), secondary detects early (screening), tertiary limits disability (rehab).
Screening — Screening is secondary prevention; know recommended schedules (mammography, colonoscopy at 45).
Smoking — Use the 5 A's: Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, Arrange follow-up. Nicotine replacement raises quit rates by about 50–60%.
Teaching — Assess readiness and health literacy first; use teach-back to confirm understanding.
Wellness — Health promotion focuses on a behavior change the client is motivated and ready to make.

Frequently asked questions

How many questions is the NCLEX-PN, and how long do I get?: It is a variable-length computer-adaptive test of 85 to 150 questions, with a maximum of 5 hours including all breaks. A minimum-length exam contains 52 content items, 18 clinical-judgment case-study items, and 15 unscored pretest items (= 85).
Does a shorter exam mean I passed?: No. The exam stops when the computer is 95% certain you are clearly above or clearly below the passing standard — which can happen at 85 items or 150. People pass and fail at every length. Stopping early simply means the algorithm reached confidence; it is not a verdict by itself.
What is the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN)?: Since April 1, 2023, the exam measures clinical judgment using the NCSBN Clinical Judgment Measurement Model. You get 3 case studies (6 items each, stepping through recognize cues, analyze cues, prioritize hypotheses, generate solutions, take action, evaluate outcomes) plus approximately 10% stand-alone clinical-judgment items and newer item formats (such as matrix/grid, extended multiple response, bowtie, cloze drop-downs, and trend items) alongside traditional multiple-choice. For the definitive current item-format list, see the NCLEX Candidate Tutorial.
How much does it cost and how do I register?: The registration fee is $200 USD, paid to Pearson VUE (non-refundable). First apply for licensure with your board of nursing; you'll get a Registration Acknowledgment email from Pearson, then once the board makes you eligible you receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) email and schedule with Pearson VUE within the ATT window (average 90 days).
What if I fail — when can I retake it?: You may take the NCLEX up to 8 times per year with at least 45 test-free days between attempts (your jurisdiction may impose tighter limits). Failing candidates receive a Candidate Performance Report summarizing relative strengths and weaknesses by content area to guide re-study.
How is the PN test plan different from the RN one?: The PN plan uses 'Coordinated Care' where the RN plan uses 'Management of Care,' and the weightings differ. PN items focus on the entry-level LPN/LVN scope — for example, more on assisting with care, data collection, and reinforcing teaching, and on delegating to unlicensed assistive personnel rather than the broader independent decision-making tested on the RN.
When do I get my results?: Official results come only from your board of nursing, typically within about six weeks (this varies across boards). In participating U.S. jurisdictions you can buy unofficial Quick Results through your candidate profile after two business days (a minimal fee applies; not available in all states and not for Canada/Australia). Quick Results do not authorize you to practice.