NCLEX exam day: what to bring, check-in and breaks

The night before

This guide covers what to bring, what check-in looks like and how breaks work, so you know what to expect before you walk in. Read it a few days early, then again the night before.

• Check that the ID you'll bring matches the exact first and last names on your ATT and your registration.
• Confirm your appointment date, time and location against the confirmation email from Pearson.
• Plan your route and aim to arrive at least 30 minutes early.
• Gather any approved accommodation paperwork you were given.

What ID to bring

Your ID must be valid, government-issued, not expired, physical (not digital), show your name in Roman characters, have a recent photograph and show your signature. A clipped, cracked, broken or altered ID is invalid.

Canadian and U.S. appointments are normally at domestic test centers, where accepted IDs include a passport book or card, a driver's license, a provincial, territorial or state ID card, a permanent residence card and a military ID card. Test centers outside Canada and the U.S. accept only a passport book or card.

If your ID has no signature, bring a second ID that does. The signature on that ID must match your name exactly.

Your ID must match the first and last names you registered with. If it doesn't, you'll be turned away and must pay to register again.

Check-in

• Arrive at least 30 minutes early. If you arrive more than 30 minutes after your appointment, you may lose the appointment and your fee.
• Show your ID, provide a digital signature, complete a palm vein scan and have your photo taken.
• Go through the security scan. If you refuse it without an approved exception from your regulator, you'll be turned away.
• Remove hats, scarves and coats, and take off watches, large jewelry and other accessories.
• Put your phone and any other electronic device in the sealed bag Pearson provides. Pearson has a zero tolerance policy for unauthorized devices. A device that isn't in the bag at check-in means you won't be allowed to test, and you'll have to register again and pay another fee.
• Store your personal items in your locker. You can't access them during the exam, including breaks.

During the exam

The exam includes an on-screen calculator. Any writing has to go on the noteboard you're given. Writing anywhere else is prohibited.

The five-hour clock runs through every break, and it doesn't stop when you step out. Keep an eye on the time, but don't rush your answers.

How breaks work

You're offered two optional scheduled breaks: about two hours in, and again at about three and a half hours. The computer tells you when each one starts.

All breaks count toward your five hours. NCSBN strongly advises against leaving the test center during breaks. You'll need a palm vein scan before and after any break, and an unscheduled break requires you to raise your hand and wait to be escorted out.

Handling nerves

Nerves are normal, and feeling anxious doesn't mean you're failing. A plan you've practiced helps more than trying to feel calm.

Practice at test pace before the day, and sleep well the night before. During the exam, read each question fully and answer it on the content, not on how hard it feels.

If you hit a run of hard questions, remember that the test adapts to you. Difficult items don't mean you're doing badly.

Reset between questions with one slow breath. Don't rapid-guess to finish faster, because that can drastically lower your score.

If anxiety is affecting your sleep or daily life, talk to your doctor or a counselor well before test day, not on the morning of the exam.