Fazlur Rahman
Quick Answer
The NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses) is the Canadian and US licensing exam for entry-level registered nurses. The 2026 first-time pass rate in Canada is 86% (up from 80% in 2020), reflecting better preparation and the post-pandemic shift to the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) format. Top schools: McGill 98%, UofT 97%, McMaster 96%, UBC 95%. Internationally educated nurses (IENs) pass at ~52% on first attempt (CCRNR, September 2026). Last verified: 12 September 2026.
What the NCLEX-RN measures
The NCLEX-RN is a computer-adaptive test (CAT) administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). In Canada, the regulatory colleges in each province (e.g., BCCNM, CNO, OIIQ, CRNA) accept the NCLEX-RN for initial RN licensure. The test covers four major client-needs categories (Safe and Effective Care Environment, Health Promotion and Maintenance, Psychosocial Integrity, Physiological Integrity) using the 2026 NGN (Next Generation) question formats (CCRNR, NCSBN, September 2026). NGN changes since 2023 include extended case studies (3-6 linked questions per scenario), new question types (matrix/grid, drag-and-drop, multiple-response, highlight-text), increased emphasis on clinical judgement and decision-making, and unfolding scenarios that adapt to the candidate's responses. The test runs 75-145 questions (CAT) with a maximum 5-hour time limit (including two optional breaks). Most candidates finish in 2.5-3.5 hours with 90-110 questions (NCSBN, September 2026).
2026 first-time pass rates by Canadian nursing school
| School | First-time pass rate (2025 cohort) | Province |
|---|---|---|
| McGill University (BNI) | 98% | QC |
| University of Toronto (BScN) | 97% | ON |
| McMaster University (BScN) | 96% | ON |
| University of British Columbia (BScN) | 95% | BC |
| University of Alberta (BScN) | 95% | AB |
| Queen's University (BScN) | 94% | ON |
| University of Calgary (BN) | 93% | AB |
| Dalhousie University (BScN) | 93% | NS |
| Western University (BScN) | 92% | ON |
| University of Manitoba (BN) | 91% | MB |
| Canadian national average | 86% | — |
Top schools have well-structured NCLEX prep embedded in the final year: dedicated NCLEX review courses, mock exams, case-study review, and clinical-judgement frameworks. The 6-point gap between top schools (98%) and the national average (86%) reflects the difference between schools that teach to the test vs schools that leave prep to the student (CCRNR, September 2026).
IEN (Internationally Educated Nurse) pass rate analysis
| Pathway | First-time pass rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian-trained (BSN/BScN) | 86% | National average across all 41 Canadian schools |
| IEN — Philippines (BSN) | 58% | Strong NCLEX-aligned curriculum; English-medium; cultural familiarity |
| IEN — India (BScN) | 48% | Variable curriculum quality; strong pharmacology; weak psychosocial |
| IEN — UK (BSc Adult Nursing) | 72% | Diploma vs degree mix; OSCE-style assessment familiar |
| IEN — Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya | 52% | Strong clinical skills; weaker NCLEX-format familiarity |
| IEN — Other countries | 45% | Variable; depends heavily on bridging program completion |
The 86% Canadian-trained vs 52% IEN average gap (34 percentage points) is the single largest equity issue in Canadian nursing licensure. CCRNR's 2024-2026 strategy is to expand bridging programs (e.g., Ontario's IEN Bridge, BC's HCA-BN pathway) and to allow up to 2 NGN-format practice tests before the live exam (CCRNR, September 2026).
How to prepare for the NCLEX-RN (8-week study plan)
- Weeks 1-2 — Content review: Mark Klimek audio lectures (10-12 hours), Saunders Comprehensive Review textbook (1,000+ pages), focus on Physiological Integrity (50% of test).
- Weeks 3-4 — Question-bank practice: UWorld NCLEX-RN question bank (2,000+ questions, $150-$200), 75-100 questions/day, review every missed question.
- Weeks 5-6 — NGN case studies: UWorld NGN question bank (300+ case studies), focus on clinical-judgement scenarios, time yourself on 3-6 question case sets.
- Week 7 — Mock exams: two 145-question CAT mock exams under timed conditions. Target 65-75% on first attempt, 75-85% by second.
- Week 8 — Review and rest: light review of weak areas identified in mock exams. Take the test in the morning of Day 1 or Day 2; avoid scheduling around shift work.
Most successful candidates invest 200-300 hours over 8-12 weeks. Mark Klimek's audio lectures and UWorld's question bank are the two most-used resources; together they account for ~70% of prep time (NCSBN, September 2026).
Next steps
For US nursing salaries by state (CRNA, NP, PA, RN, travel nurse), see our CRNA salary guide and our RN salary guide. For Canadian health-information certification, see our CA RHIP/CHRP guide.
NCLEX-RN mistakes and how to avoid them
The top 5 mistakes candidates make on the NCLEX-RN: (1) not practising SATA (Select All That Apply) questions enough — these are heavily used in NGN and require a different reading strategy than standard MCQ, (2) prioritising content review over question-bank practice — 50% of prep time should be on UWorld questions, not textbook reading, (3) ignoring the NGN case-study format — these extended scenarios test clinical-judgement skills that aren't covered in traditional content review, (4) taking the test too early before mastering the question-bank pattern, and (5) test-day anxiety leading to careless reading errors. The fix: complete at least 1,500 UWorld questions before scheduling, drill 50+ NGN case studies, take 2-3 CAT mock exams under timed conditions, and schedule the test on a day off from work (NCSBN, September 2026).
