NCSBN Certifications

NCLEX-RN

The NCLEX-RN, which stands for the National Council Licensure Examination [for] Registered Nurses (RN), is a computer adaptive test that is required for nursing graduates to successfully pass to be licensed as a Registered Nurse in the US and Canada. In other words, anyone who wants to become a Registered Nurse in either the US or Canada, must pass the NCLEX-RN.

Eligibility & Licensure Requirements are determined by the individual State Board of Nursing where the candidate will practice.

NCLEX-RN examinations are administrated in a computer adaptive form. Therefore, the length format may vary based on a candidate-specific ability. Due to possible variations in exam lengths, Client Need Categories (Subjects) distributions of the individual exam may differ up to ± 3% in each category.

NGN stands for Next Generation NCLEX. The NGN is a planned revision to go in effect April 2023, where 10% of the NCLEX exam will include new, long form question types that will test a nursing graduates clinical reasoning skills.

These new question types will include the below:

  • Extended Multiple Response

  • Extended Drag and Drop

  • Cloze

  • Enhanced Hot Spot

  • Matrix/Grid

NCLEX-PN

The National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN exam) is administered by individual State Boards of Nursing. The NCLEX-PN is often referred to as “The Boards” or “State Boards.” The NCLEX-PN has only one purpose: To determine if it is safe for you to begin practice as an entry-level practical/vocational nurse.

These boards have a mandate to protect the public from unsafe and ineffective nursing care, and each is responsible for regulating the practice of nursing in its respective state.

The NCLEX-PN exam is organized according to the framework, “Meeting Client Needs.” There are four major categories and eight subcategories. Many nursing programs are based on the medical model where students take separate medical, surgical, pediatric, psychiatric, and obstetric classes. However on the NCLEX-PN exam, all of the content is integrated.

CAT is an acronym for “computer adaptive test,” a testing format that is interactively based on your response to the questions. Based on your skill level, the CAT ensures that the questions are not “too hard” or “too easy.”

Your first question will be relatively easy—below the level of minimum competency. If you answer it correctly, the computer selects a slightly more difficult question. If answered incorrectly, the computer selects a slightly easier question. By continuing to do this throughout the test, the computer is able to determine your level of competence.

Regulatory Exam - Practical Nurse (REx-PN)

The REx-PN is a new Canadian Practical Nurse exam developed for the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) and the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO). 

BCCNM and CNO have partnered with NCSBN to develop the REx-PN. NCSBN is dedicated to developing psychometrically sound and legally defensible nurse licensure and certification examinations consistent with current practice. 

The periodic performance of practice analysis (i.e., job analysis) studies assists BCCNM and CNO in evaluating the validity of the test plan that guides content distribution of the licensure examination for Licensed Practical/Registered Practical Nurses (LPN/RPNs). Because the Canadian health care industry is rapidly changing, practice analysis studies will be conducted by BCCNM and CNO on a five-year cycle. This practice analysis was conducted with the assistance of National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). 

The National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP)

The National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) is the largest nurse aide certification exam program in the U.S. with over 200,000 paper and practical exams administered annually.

The NNAAP consists of two components: a written or oral portion and a skills demonstration portion. The oral portion is offered in English and Spanish. Each candidate must successfully complete both components of the exam before a state can add their name to the state nurse aide registry. The state registry is used to assure employers that the potential hire has met the federal and state requirements for employment.

Provisions to the NNAAP test plan are made based on studies of observed activities for newly-certified nurse aides. The activities identified in these studies are analyzed in relation to the following:

  • the importance of their performance
  • their impact on maintaining client safety
  • the settings where they were performed

These analyses guide the development of a framework for entry-level nurse aide performance that incorporates specific client needs, concepts and processes fundamental to the work performed by nurse aides.

The Medication Aide Certification Examination (MACE)

The Medication Aide Certification Examination (MACE) is a national medication aide certification exam that will be administered to nurse aides who choose to receive additional training to become certified medication aides. 

The MACE is a national medication aide certification exam typically administered to nurse aides who choose to receive additional training to become certified medication aides. NCSBN develops the MACE and administers the computer-based exam with the contractual assistance of Pearson VUE. Once certified, these medication aides serve an important role in hospitals and long-term care facilities by helping distribute medications and monitoring for adverse reactions. 

Provisions to the MACE test plan are made based on studies of observed activities for newly-certified medication aides. The activities identified in these studies are analyzed in relation to the following:

  • the importance of their performance 
  •  their impact on maintaining client safety 
  •  the settings where they were performed 

These analyses guide the development of a framework for entry-level medication aide performance that incorporates specific client needs, concepts and processes fundamental to the work performed by medication aides.

  • Certification Agency : NCSBN
  • Duration : Varies
  • Level : All
  • Type : Professional Certification
  • Format : 100% Online - On Demand
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