NCLEX Exam Fee Increase 2027: U.S. $350, Canada $570 CAD

The NCLEX exam registration fee increases on February 1, 2027. Australia uses the same USD registration fee as the U.S., rising from $200 to $350 USD. For Canadian licensure, the fee rises from $360 CAD to $570 CAD. Your completed Pearson registration date—not your exam date—determines which price you pay. The current Canadian fee table notes that local taxes are excluded; verify any applicable taxes at checkout.

Register before February 1, 2027: pay the current fee. Register on or after February 1: pay the higher fee. Your exam may be later, but it must fall within the dates on your Authorization to Test (ATT).

The February 1 price change is not an at-home testing launch announcement. NCSBN has not confirmed a 2027 launch date; see our fact-checked NCLEX Online 2027 status for the current answer.

Last verified September 4, 2026 using the official NCSBN fee announcement, NCLEX candidate FAQs, and NCLEX Online update.

NCLEX Fee Increase 2027: U.S. and Canada Rates at a Glance

NCSBN says this is the first NCLEX registration-fee adjustment since 2000. It cites inflation and higher costs for exams, data protection, and cybersecurity. The increase applies to new registrations and retakes. The separate REx-PN examination fee is not changing.

How Much Does the NCLEX Exam Cost in Canada in 2027?

For candidates seeking Canadian licensure or registration, the current NCLEX exam fee is $360 CAD, excluding local taxes, when registration is completed before February 1, 2027. The fee becomes $570 CAD for registrations completed on or after that date. That is a $210 CAD increase, or about 58.3%. Verify any applicable taxes shown during registration.

The price follows your licensure destination, not where you live or where you take the exam. The official NCLEX Fees and Payment page lists the current and 2027 amounts for Canada, the United States, and Australia.

Which Date Locks In Your NCLEX Fee?

Your completed registration date controls the fee. Your test date does not. These examples show how the rule works:

Registration and scheduling are different steps

1. Apply to the nursing regulator or registration authority for your jurisdiction. This organization determines whether you are eligible to take the NCLEX, and its requirements vary by destination.
2. Register and pay for the NCLEX through Pearson. The date you complete this step determines whether you pay the current or adjusted fee.
3. Wait for eligibility and your Authorization to Test (ATT). Your NRB determines eligibility.
4. Schedule your exam. You need an ATT before you can choose an appointment.

NCSBN has not published an exact cutoff hour or time zone. Do not wait until January 31 to pay. If early registration fits your NRB requirements, complete it several days ahead and save the confirmation email.

Should You Register Before February 1, 2027?

If you expect to take the NCLEX in early 2027, registering before the increase may save you $150 USD for U.S. or Australian licensure, or $210 CAD for Canadian licensure. First, make sure the timing fits your graduation date, board requirements, testing accommodations, eligibility process, and exam plan.

Registering early may make sense when

• You are graduating in late 2026 or early 2027.
• You have checked the application requirements for your NRB.
• Your name, program code, contact information, and payment details are ready.
• Your school or board expects your eligibility process to fit the registration window.
• You understand that you must test within the dates on your ATT once it is issued.

Pause and verify before registering when

• You have not confirmed which NRB you are applying to.
• Your accommodations request or documentation is incomplete.
• Your legal name may not match the identification you will bring on exam day.
• You are unsure when your program will submit graduation information.
• You are registering only because of the price and have no realistic eligibility plan.

Know the registration and ATT time limits

• Your NCLEX registration can remain open for up to 365 days while the NRB decides whether you are eligible.
• If you are not made eligible or your eligibility is denied during that period, you forfeit the registration and fee.
• After you receive your ATT, you must test within the dates printed on it.
• The average ATT is about 90 days, but your NRB sets the exact window and it cannot be extended.

Avoid the higher 2027 fee without risking your registration

Confirm your board requirements, eligibility timing, identification details, and exam plan first. Then complete registration with time to spare.

What Other NCLEX Costs Should You Budget For?

The adjusted base fee covers NCLEX registration only. Your total NCLEX exam cost may also include nursing-board, international scheduling, credential-evaluation, travel, and preparation expenses.

Australia is shown separately in the detailed table below because, although its registration fee uses the same USD amount as the U.S., some additional change-fee rules differ by destination.

Only the NCLEX registration fee changes on February 1, 2027. NCSBN says the international scheduling and registration-change fees listed above remain unchanged.

For international nurses

Your registration fee is based on where you are seeking licensure, not where you live. For example, a nurse living in Canada who is seeking U.S. licensure pays the U.S. fee.

When the additional international scheduling fee applies, it is $150 USD for U.S. or Australian licensure candidates and $150 CAD for Canadian licensure candidates, plus applicable VAT. After February 1, 2027, a U.S.-licensure candidate testing at an international center may pay $350 for registration plus the unchanged $150 international scheduling fee. That is $500 before any applicable VAT, board, credential-evaluation, travel, or preparation costs.

For retakers

The same date rule applies to retakes. A U.S. or Australian retake registration completed on or after February 1, 2027 costs $350 USD; the Canadian fee is $570 CAD. Verify any applicable taxes during registration. Because NCLEX fees are nonrefundable, duplicate registrations, missed exams without proper notice, and expired registrations or ATTs can be costly. Check the official rules before paying again.

What Nurse Educators Should Do Now

Students graduating in late 2026 or early 2027 need this information before they build their licensure budget. Faculty can turn a surprising fee increase into a manageable planning task.

• Add the date to senior-semester orientation. Put February 1, 2027 on graduation, licensure, and NCLEX planning calendars.
• Explain the language precisely. Say "complete Pearson NCLEX registration before February 1," not simply "apply early" or "test early."
• Coordinate with program staff. Tell students when the school expects to submit graduation or eligibility information.
• Review the full cost. Include board, fingerprinting, credential, international scheduling, travel, and preparation expenses when relevant.
• Discuss support options. Identify employer reimbursement, school emergency funds, scholarships, or third-party payment options available to the cohort.
• Avoid a blanket rush. Encourage each student to confirm NRB requirements, accommodations, ID details, and eligibility timing before registering.

Confirm your board requirements and eligibility timeline first. If early registration fits, complete Pearson NCLEX registration and payment before February 1, 2027. Then schedule the exam within your ATT dates.

Message nurse educators can share with students

Register Strategically - Then Test When You Are Ready

Registering early can lock in the lower fee. Choosing your exam date is a separate decision, and readiness, not price pressure, should guide it.

Before scheduling your exam, ask:

• Can I handle current NCLEX and NGN question formats without guessing at the instructions?
• Are my computerized adaptive test (CAT) results stable, or do they swing from test to test?
• Can I explain the rationales and clinical judgment behind my answers?
• Have I targeted my weakest client-needs categories?
• Does my study plan match the current NCLEX-RN test plan?

CliniqueRN combines current NGN-style questions, unlimited CAT simulations, and an AI Readiness Predictor that uses your practice performance to show progress and weak areas. It cannot guarantee a pass, but it can give you clearer evidence for deciding what to study next and when to test.

CliniqueRN is an independent NCLEX preparation platform and is not affiliated with or endorsed by NCSBN or Pearson VUE.

If you are still building a baseline, you can start a free practice test before choosing your exam date.