NCLEX Examination & Schooling Information
An applicant for initial licensure must pass the appropriate National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) prescribed by the board. The applicant shall comply with all application procedures established by the governing body of the NCLEX and by the board.
The Board shall admit an applicant for licensure examination if the applicant has completed and submitted the S.C. Application for Licensure by Examination with the correct fee. Your application must include the following:
- 2"x2" photograph, signed and dated
- Copy of the applicant's birth certificate or a valid passport issued by the applicant's country of origin demonstrating that the applicant is eighteen years of age or older (Hospital copies are not accepted)
- Copy of legal name change documents, if applicable
- Copy of the applicant's social security card or permanent resident card. A resident alien who does not have a social security number must have an alien identification number
- Fee Schedule: Payment should be made via electronic check, debit or credit card
An applicant who does not pass the licensure examination on the first attempt may retake the examination no more frequently than once every forty-five (45) days, for up to one (1) year from the date of the initial attempt.
Applicants who do not pass the examination within one (1) year of the initial attempt must provide evidence of board-approved remediation, satisfactory to the Board, prior to being approved for reexamination.
Applicants who have not successfully passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) within three (3) years of graduation are required to re-qualify by enrolling in an approved nursing education program and demonstrating the knowledge, skills, and abilities expected of a graduate nurse.
Repeat applicants must:
- Submit copies of all Diagnostic Profiles (if examinations were taken in another state) from all previous attempts
- Complete and submit the repeater application with the required fee.
Remediation requirements and additional information can be found by clicking here.
A license must be issued in the applicant's legal name, as verified by a birth certificate or other legal documentation acceptable to the Board.
If a licensee legally changes their name after licensure, the licensee must notify the Board within fifteen (15) business days. This notification must include:
- A copy of the legal document authorizing the name change
- The applicable fee
A licensee's name will not be changed in Board records without proper written authorization and sufficient identification documentation.
When are examinations given?
The licensure examination for Registered Nurse (RN) and Practical Nurse (PN) applicants is administered through Pearson VUE at Pearson Professional Centers using Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT).
Examinations are offered six (6) days per week. In South Carolina, test centers are located in:
- Columbia
- Greenville
- North Charleston
Candidates are not required to test within South Carolina and may schedule their examination at any available location nationwide.
How much does the exam cost?
Applicants are required to pay:
- A fee for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX)
- A separate licensure application fee to the South Carolina Board of Nursing
Examination fees are paid directly to NCLEX, while licensure application fees are paid to the Board. Please refer to the Board's fee schedule for current RN and PN application fees.
For additional information, applicants may:
- Visit the NCLEX website
- Call 1-866-496-2539 (Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. CST)
- Download the NCLEX Candidate Bulletin at www.ncsbn.org