NCLEX-RN checklist for internationally educated nurses

Choose your state and read its requirements

Each board of nursing has its own eligibility rules, and NCSBN does not keep a list of them. Start on your board's website. Examples of boards that publish international requirements: New York, Texas and California.

Get your credentials evaluated (if your board requires it)

Many boards ask for a credentials evaluation, such as the Credentials Evaluation Service (CES) Professional Report from TruMerit (formerly CGFNS). It verifies your licenses and diplomas and compares your nursing education with US standards. Some boards require license validation dated within the last 9 months.

English proficiency (in some states)

Certain states require an English Language Proficiency Report with the CES report. Accepted exams include IELTS, TOEFL iBT, OET, Cambridge English, MET and TOEIC; each board sets its own passing scores, and at-home versions are not accepted by TruMerit.

Apply to the board of nursing

Submit your application for licensure to the board. This is what makes you eligible to take the NCLEX.

Register and pay with Pearson VUE

Registration and payment are done with Pearson. The registration fee is $200 today and rises to $350 for registrations completed from February 1, 2027. Testing at an international center adds an international scheduling fee ($150 plus VAT where applicable), charged when you schedule and not refunded.

Your first and last name must match your ID exactly. A registration stays open 365 days while the board decides your eligibility.

Receive your Authorization to Test (ATT)

Once the board makes you eligible and you're registered with Pearson, you get an ATT email. The ATT is valid for a period set by your board (90 days on average) and cannot be extended. If you don't test within those dates, you must register and pay again.

Schedule your exam early

Schedule online or by phone with Pearson. Don't wait until your ATT is about to expire: centers may not have a seat in time. At international test centers, the only accepted ID is a passport.