The national council licensure examination nclex is a nationwide examination for the licensing of nurses in the united states canada and australia since 1982 2015 and 2020 respectively there are two types the nclex rn and the nclex pn after graduation from a school of nursing one takes the nclex exam to receive a nursing license a nursing license gives an individual the permission to practice nursing granted by the state where they met the requirements. Ncsbn is dedicated to developing psychometrically sound and legally defensible nurse licensure and certification examinations consistent with current practice 6 million candidates have taken the nclex since april 1994. Ncsbn develops a licensure examination the national council licensure examination for registered nurses nclex rnr which is used by member board jurisdictions and most canadian nursing regulatory bodies to assist in making licensure decisions several steps occur in the development of the nclex rn test plan. The national council of state boards of nursing inc ncsbn national council licensure examination for registered nurses nclex rn tests knowledge abilities and skills essential to the safe. National council licensure examination nclex for registered nurses the osu institute of technology nursing program is approved by the oklahoma board of nursing graduates of this state approved program are eligible to apply to write the national council licensure examination nclex for registered nurses