How Many Times Can You Take the NCLEX 2026?

Let me start with the good news: if you failed the NCLEX, it is not the end of your nursing career. Not even close.

I know it feels that way right now. You studied for months, walked into that testing center, and it did not go the way you planned. That is devastating, and I am not going to pretend otherwise.

But here is what I need you to understand: you can retake the NCLEX. And many nurses who fail the first time go on to pass and have amazing careers. The question is not if you can try again. It is how and how many times.

Let me walk you through everything you need to know about NCLEX retakes in 2026.

The National Standard: 8 Attempts Per Year

According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), you can take the NCLEX up to 8 times per year. There is a mandatory 45-day waiting period between each attempt, which works out to a maximum of 8 tries in a 12-month period.

But here is the catch: that is just the national standard. Individual states can (and do) have their own restrictions that are stricter than the NCSBN policy.

This means you need to check two things:

1. The NCSBN rules (8 times per year, 45-day wait).

2. Your specific state's rules (which might limit attempts further).

The 45-Day Waiting Period

No matter what state you are in, you must wait at least 45 days after your exam before you can retake the NCLEX. According to NCSBN's official retake policy, some states require even longer. Pennsylvania, for example, requires 46 days.

Why the wait? NCSBN wants you to use this time productively. You should be reviewing your Candidate Performance Report (CPR), identifying weak areas, and actually preparing differently for your next attempt.

The worst thing you can do is just wait 45 days and try again without changing your study approach. That is how people end up failing multiple times.

State-by-State Retake Policies

Here is where it gets complicated. Every state board of nursing has different rules about NCLEX retakes. Some are pretty relaxed, while others have strict limits.

States with Unlimited Retakes

These states follow the basic NCSBN policy with no additional restrictions:

There are about 23 states that allow unlimited retakes. If your state is on this list, you just need to pay the fees, wait the required time, and register again.

States with Strict Limits

Other states have time limits or attempt caps. Here are some examples based on official state board of nursing policies:

Alaska: According to the Alaska Board of Nursing, you must pass within 2 years of your first attempt. After that, you need to complete a board-approved remedial course.

Colorado: According to the Colorado Board of Nursing, you have 3 attempts within 3 years of your first test. To take it a fourth time, you need to petition the board and may need to complete additional courses.

Delaware: According to the Delaware Board of Nursing, you must pass within 5 years of graduation. After 2 years post-graduation, you need proof of completing a board-approved review course.

Florida: According to the Florida Board of Nursing, you can retake for up to 5 years. After 3 failures, you must complete a board-approved remedial course.

Georgia: According to the Georgia Board of Nursing, you must pass within 3 years of graduation. If you do not, you need to complete another nursing program.

Hawaii: According to the Hawaii Board of Nursing, you have unlimited attempts, but after 3 failures, you must complete a board-approved remedial course (minimum 60 hours didactic and 60 hours clinical).

Illinois: According to the Illinois Board of Nursing, you have a 3-year window from initial application to pass. If you do not pass, you must take additional nursing education and reapply.

Indiana: According to the Indiana State Board of Nursing, after 3 failures, you must appear before the board for review.

Louisiana: According to the Louisiana State Board of Nursing, you have 4 attempts within 2 years of graduation. After that, you need to re-enroll in a nursing program.

Michigan: According to the Michigan Board of Nursing, you must pass within 2 years of graduation. After 3 failures, you need a board-approved remediation program. Maximum 6 total attempts.

This is not an exhaustive list. Rules change, and your state might have specific requirements I have not covered here. Always, always, always check with your state board of nursing directly before planning your retake.

The Three-Year Rule

Here is another important deadline: NCSBN generally requires candidates to pass the NCLEX within three years of graduating from nursing school.

This is not a universal rule (some states have different timeframes), but it is the standard. If too much time passes after graduation, you may need to complete additional coursework or even re-enroll in a nursing program before you can test again.

The moral of the story? Do not wait too long between attempts. The longer you are out of nursing school, the harder it becomes to pass.

How to Retake the NCLEX: Step by Step

If you need to retake the NCLEX, here is exactly what to do according to NCSBN and Pearson VUE:

Step 1: Wait for your results. You can access unofficial results through Pearson VUE's Quick Results service about 2 business days after your exam (costs about $8). Official results come from your state board in about 6 weeks.

Step 2: Review your Candidate Performance Report. This report breaks down your performance by content area. It shows whether you performed near, below, or above the passing standard in each category. Use this to focus your studying.

Step 3: Contact your state board of nursing. Let them know you plan to retake the exam and ask about any fees or requirements. Some states require you to submit a new application.

Step 4: Wait the required time. At minimum 45 days, but check your state's specific policy.

Step 5: Re-register with Pearson VUE. Pay the $200 exam fee and wait for your new Authorization to Test (ATT).

Step 6: Schedule your exam. Once you have your ATT, you can pick a testing date and location.

Step 7: Study differently this time. This is the most important step. If you do the same thing you did before, you will get the same result.

Why Do People Fail the NCLEX?

Before you retake the exam, you need to understand why you did not pass the first time. The most common reasons include:

Not enough practice questions. Reading content is not the same as applying it. You need to practice answering NCLEX-style questions. Lots of them.

Weak clinical judgment skills. The NGN format tests your ability to think through patient scenarios. If you are not practicing case studies and clinical reasoning, you are missing a major part of the exam.

Poor test-taking strategies. Sometimes people know the content but struggle with how the questions are written. Learning to eliminate wrong answers, identify key words, and manage time can make a huge difference.

Test anxiety. Nursing school teaches you the content. But if anxiety is interfering with your performance, that is a separate issue to address.

Not studying the right content. If you spent weeks on material that is barely tested, you wasted valuable prep time. Focus on high-yield topics: safety, infection prevention, pharmacology, prioritization, delegation.

Trying to memorize instead of understand. The NCLEX does not test recall. It tests application. You need to understand why interventions work, not just memorize them.

How to Pass on Your Next Attempt

According to NCSBN pass rate data, while first-time test takers have a 91% pass rate, repeat test takers only pass about 43 to 52% of the time.

Why? Because many people do not change their approach. They just wait 45 days and try again with the same study habits that did not work the first time.

Here is how to actually improve your chances:

Analyze your CPR honestly. Where were you weakest? Those are the areas to prioritize.

Get a structured study plan. Do not just randomly review topics. Follow a systematic approach that covers all content areas. Our NCLEX FastTrack Bundle includes a 5-step study roadmap with a personalized planner, so you know exactly what to do each day.

Do more practice questions than you think you need. Aim for at least 100 questions per day in your final weeks of prep. Make sure they are NGN-style questions with detailed rationales.

Study the rationales, not just the answers. Understanding why an answer is right (and why the others are wrong) teaches you how to think through similar questions.

Consider a different prep resource. If what you used before did not work, try something new. The Mark Klimek NCLEX Bundle is popular because it teaches you to think conceptually rather than memorize facts.

Address test anxiety. If anxiety is a factor, work on stress management techniques. Practice under timed conditions so the real test feels more familiar.

Do not rush back. Just because the minimum wait is 45 days does not mean you should test at 45 days. Take the time you actually need to prepare properly. Failing again wastes more time (and money) than waiting an extra few weeks.

The Cost of Retaking the NCLEX

Every retake costs money. Here is what to budget for according to Pearson VUE and state board websites:

That is potentially $375 to $800 for each retake attempt. Plus the cost of delayed income while you wait to start working as a nurse.

The best financial decision? Pass on your next attempt. Invest in good prep materials now to avoid paying for multiple retakes.

What If You Have Exhausted Your Attempts?

If you have reached your state's limit or the three-year deadline, your options depend on your specific situation:

You may be able to petition your state board for additional attempts if you can demonstrate remediation efforts. You might need to complete a board-approved refresher course or remediation program. In some cases, you may need to complete additional nursing education or even re-enroll in a nursing program. You could potentially apply for licensure in a state with more lenient retake policies.

None of these options are ideal, but they exist. Talk to your state board about your specific circumstances.

Final Thoughts

Failing the NCLEX hurts. But it does not define you as a nurse.

The question is not how many times you can take the NCLEX. The question is what are you going to do differently next time?

Take your CPR seriously. Invest in quality prep materials. Study smarter, not just harder. And give yourself the time you need to actually be ready.

You made it through nursing school. You can absolutely pass this exam. It might just take a second (or third) try to get there.

Ready to prep for your retake? Our 3,000+ NCLEX Question Bank gives you NGN-style practice with detailed rationales, so you understand not just what the right answer is, but why.

You have got this. Now let us make it happen.

Sources

• National Council of State Boards of Nursing. NCLEX Results and Retake Policy. nclex.com/results
• National Council of State Boards of Nursing. NCLEX Pass Rates. ncsbn.org
• Pearson VUE. NCLEX Registration. pearsonvue.com/nclex
• Individual State Boards of Nursing (Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan)