Exams / NCLEX / How long is the NCLEX?

How long is the NCLEX?

You get up to 5 hours to take the NCLEX, and that time includes the introductory screens and every break. Many people finish sooner, because the exam can stop after 85 questions.

Checked against the sources on October 15, 2026.

The 5-hour limit is the same for the NCLEX-RN and the NCLEX-PN, no matter how many questions you get.

Breaks

All breaks are optional. You’re offered a scheduled break about 2 hours in and another about 3 and a half hours in, and you can ask for a break at other times too. The clock keeps running during every break.

If time runs out

If you haven’t answered at least 85 questions when time runs out, the result is a fail. If you have, NCSBN scores the exam using your final ability estimate from everything you answered. So steady pacing matters more than finishing early, and it helps to leave the long breaks for when you need them.

Sources

  1. NCSBN, 2026 NCLEX candidate bulletin. The time limit includes the introduction and all breaks; breaks are optional. Checked October 15, 2026.
  2. NCSBN, 2026 NCLEX-RN test plan. 5-hour limit for 85 to 150 questions; running out of time before 85 questions is a fail. Checked October 15, 2026.
  3. NCSBN, Exam day. Five hours including breaks. Checked October 15, 2026.

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More about the NCLEX

How many questions are on the NCLEX?

The NCLEX has between 85 and 150 questions. It’s a computerized adaptive test, so it stops as soon as the computer is 95% sure your ability is clearly above or below the passing standard.

What is the NCLEX passing score?

The NCLEX has no passing score as a percentage. You pass by performing at or above NCSBN’s passing standard, which the adaptive test measures as it goes and checks with three rules.

How much does the NCLEX cost?

NCLEX registration costs $200 in the United States. NCSBN is raising it to $350 for registrations made on or after February 1, 2027, and the date you register sets the fee, not the date you test.

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