The main exam required to become a licensed nurse in the United States is the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination). There are two versions: the NCLEX-RN for registered nurses (RNs) and the NCLEX-PN for practical or vocational nurses (LPNs/LVNs). Every nursing graduate must pass one of these exams to receive a state license and legally practice nursing.
The NCLEX is developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) and is administered by Pearson VUE testing centers across the U.S. It uses a computer adaptive testing (CAT) format, meaning the difficulty of questions adjusts based on your performance as you go. The test measures whether a candidate is ready to provide safe and effective nursing care to patients.
Before you can take the NCLEX, you must complete an approved nursing education program—an associate degree in nursing (ADN), a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN), or a practical/vocational nursing program for PN candidates. After graduation, you apply to your state board of nursing for Authorization to Test (ATT), which allows you to register for the exam.
Some nursing schools also require entrance or assessment exams before admission, such as the ATI TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) or the HESI A2 (Health Education Systems, Inc.) exam. These tests measure academic readiness, not licensure competency.
Once you pass the NCLEX and meet your state’s other licensing requirements, you can begin working as a nurse in hospitals, clinics, or other healthcare settings.
In summary, the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN is the mandatory exam for nursing licensure in the USA, while TEAS or HESI exams are often used earlier in the education process to qualify for entry into nursing programs.