Can I take the NCLEX without a nursing degree? One of the terrifying parts about getting a nursing degree is the NCLEX exam. You’ve spent years studying various illnesses and how to treat them, and now you have to prove that you know everything there is to know about nursing by taking a test.
The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) is the last and most difficult exam for a registered nurse to pass. A similar licensing exam, the National Council Licensure Examination-PN (NCLEX-PN), is required by some states. (A few require both.) If you want to be eligible to take either exam, you must graduate from a recognized nursing program and have the appropriate experience.
Both NCLEX exams are administered by Pearson VUE, formerly known as the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), on computers at approved testing centres throughout the United States.
Can I take the NCLEX without a nursing degree?
At first glance, this may be a question that you have asked yourself. If you have decided to pursue a career in nursing and haven’t already earned your BSN, the answer may seem to be a simple “no”. It is possible to take the NCLEX exam without a nursing degree.
Before you start investigating your options, there are a few things you should know about the NCLEX exam and why you should consider taking the exam before you earn your BSN.
Key Things to Know
- Nursing Education Options Vary by State
- The NCLEX Exam Is Designed for Students with a BSN
- Many Students Earn their Degree “On-the-Go”
- An Associate Degree Can Work as a Substitute for BSN
- The NCLEX Exam is More Challenging for Students with an Associate Degree
The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) is offered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. NCLEX is critical to begin your nursing career. Before taking the exam, you must have a license to practice as a registered nurse.
NCLEX requirements vary state by state. For example, to register for NCLEX in Missouri, you must be registered with the Missouri Board of Nursing and complete the application process.
You will need to submit your application fee to complete an application and submit your licensure verification documents. You will be sent an NCLEX confirmation letter and a date and time for your exam when it has been completed.
You can take the NCLEX without a nursing degree, but you will need to meet the following requirements:
- You hold an active, unencumbered license in another state or jurisdiction.
- You are NOT able to take the NCLEX if your license has been suspended, revoked, or surrendered and you have not subsequently been granted a new license. The same applies if you have a license but have not actively practised nursing within the last six months.
What jobs can I do with a nursing degree without the NCLEX exam?
Nursing is one of the most sought-after professions in the country, with over 3.4 million nurse jobs projected to be available by 2022.
Despite this growth, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing reports that a high percentage of those positions – about 30% – will go unfilled because not enough students are graduating from nursing programs.
Having a nursing degree isn’t easy. It requires hard work, dedication and sacrifice. Some people want to become nurses because they want to help or see it as a good living.
For others, though, they want to make a difference in people’s lives and are willing to do anything to make that happen.
They recognize the importance of becoming a nurse, and that is why they have taken the initiative to get their education.
But after completing their program, many of these students wonder what job opportunities are available for them without taking the NCLEX exam.
What are some of your new nurses’ advice on passing the NCLEX?
Wearing the right clothing on test day (no matter the weather outside) and getting a good night’s sleep is important. But what’s really going to help you perform your best on NCLEX-RN is preparation.
If you have been spending time studying and have identified your strengths and weaknesses, there are some strategies you can take to maximize your score and end up with a test day score you’ll be excited about.
I am a new nurse who has been out of school for about a month now. I went through the summer of hell where I took many full-length practice exams, read practice exams, took many quizzes from other platforms, etc.
It was all helpful, but honestly, the best way to help predict what the NCLEX will be like is to take at least one practice exam that is computer adaptive. I found that these exams put a lot more focus on critical thinking rather than memory and recall.
The program that I used was a free one by Kaplan called “Nclex Mastery.” However, I just started using an app called “KAPLAN NCLEX”, and I love it. It has many questions similar to the ones on my NCLEX, and it is very easy to use.
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