The NCLEX-PN registration fee is $200 today. It goes up to $350 for anyone who registers on or after February 1, 2027, and the date you register is what counts, not the date you test. State board fees come on top of that, from $0 for a first exam in Missouri to $600 for California graduates, and many states add a fingerprint background check.
Let me be honest: the money side of getting licensed is something school barely talks about. You hear "the NCLEX is $200" and that's about it. Then you open your state board's application and there's another fee, and a fingerprint appointment that costs money too, and nobody warned you about any of it.
So I went and checked the official sources myself, because a lot of other blogs are years out of date. I went to NCSBN, the group that runs the NCLEX, and to every state board's own website, rules, or state law, one by one, and pulled the real numbers. Below is the national fee, what changes in February, and a table with every state plus D.C.
The NCLEX-PN fee: $200 now, $350 starting February 1, 2027
NCSBN sets the NCLEX fee, and you pay it to Pearson VUE when you register for the exam. It's the same for every PN and RN candidate seeking a U.S. license, and it has been $200 since 2000.
In August 2026, NCSBN announced the first increase since 2000. Starting February 1, 2027, the fee is $350 in the United States. NCSBN says the increase reflects 25 years of inflation and the rising cost of running a secure exam. Honestly, after more than 25 years at the same price, I'm not shocked. But $150 is real money when you're a new grad who hasn't started working yet.
| Fee | Cost | When you pay it |
|---|---|---|
| NCLEX registration | $200 if you register before Feb 1, 2027 $350 on or after Feb 1, 2027 | Every time you register, including retakes |
| International scheduling fee | +$150, plus VAT where it applies | Only if you test at an international test center |
| Change your board after registering | $50 | If you registered for the wrong state's board |
| Change exam type after registering | $50 | If you picked RN when you meant PN, or the other way around |
| Quick Results (optional) | $7.95 | Unofficial results two business days after your exam, charged only if a result is ready |
NCSBN says none of the other fees are changing. Only the registration fee goes up.
"Who pays $350, and who still pays $200?"
It depends on the day you finish registering with Pearson VUE. Your test date doesn't matter. Register before February 1, 2027 and you pay $200, even if your exam is in March. Register on February 1 or later and you pay $350. That goes for everyone seeking a U.S. license, in every state, and it includes retakes.
This is the part people get confused about, so let me walk through it.
- Your registration date sets the price. In NCSBN's own words: "The exam date does not affect the fee." If you complete your registration on January 31, 2027 and test in March, you pay $200. If you complete it on February 1, you pay $350.
- It's one national fee. Every state, D.C., and the U.S. territories that use the NCLEX pay the same national fee. What matters is that you're seeking a U.S. license, not where you live. Someone living in Canada who's applying for a U.S. license pays the U.S. fee.
- Retakes count. A retake you register for on or after February 1, 2027 is $350.
If you expect your board to make you eligible within 365 days of the day you register, I would. It locks in $200. But know these two rules first, because both of them can cost you the whole fee.
1. You have 365 days. Your Pearson VUE registration stays open for 365 days while you wait for your board to make you eligible. If that doesn't happen in time, you lose the fee and have to register again, at whatever the price is then.
2. Don't register twice. You can't have two open registrations for the same exam. A second one gets denied, and NCLEX registration fees are never refunded, for any reason.
Your state board's fee (the one people forget)
The $200 or $350 only gets you the exam. Your actual license comes from your state board, which sets its own application and license fees. Most boards charge something (Missouri charges nothing for a first exam). Many boards also want a fingerprint background check, which usually has its own cost, paid to the board, the state police, or a fingerprint company.
I checked every board below against its own website, rules, or state law in October 2026, and re-checked the whole table on October 19. Each state name links to the official page I used, so you can check it yourself. A few things to know before you read it:
- "Board fee" is what the board's own published sources list for a new graduate's single-state LPN/LVN license by exam. Some states charge more for a multistate (compact) license, which lets you work in other compact states.
- "What it covers" tells you what that fee pays for. Application + license means the license is included. Application means the board lists one fee to apply and no separate license fee. A few states (California and Hawaii) charge again after you pass, and a few (Iowa, Idaho, Utah, D.C.) roll the background check into the board fee. So the numbers aren't always a like-for-like comparison.
- Fingerprint amounts are what the board, state police, or vendor posts. The FBI raised its share from $12 to $15 on October 1, 2026, so some of these may be a little higher now. Fingerprint sites can also add their own fee for taking your prints.
- "Price not posted" means I couldn't find an official price for the fingerprint step. You'll see it when you apply.
- Fees change. If your state's number looks different on your actual application, the application wins.
| State | Board fee | What it covers | Fingerprints / background | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $125 | Application | Not required for a single-state license | Paying by card adds a $3.50 transaction fee. A multistate license is $225 and needs fingerprints |
| Alaska | $300 | Application ($200) + license ($100) | $75 processing fee, paid to the board | |
| Arizona | $300 | Application + license | $50, paid to the board | Card payments add $2 or 2.2%, whichever is more |
| Arkansas | $100 | Application + license | $36.25 plus a processing fee, and $15 if you use Arkansas Live Scan | |
| California | $600 | Application ($300) + license after you pass ($300) | $32 state + $17 FBI, plus the Live Scan site's fee | For California graduates. Out-of-state graduates pay $330 to apply, so $630 in all |
| Colorado | Not posted | Not posted | Required; price not posted | The board says the current fee shows on the application |
| Connecticut | $150 | Application | Not listed for a single-state license | Set in state law |
| Delaware | $181 | Application | Required (IdentoGO); price not posted | The only state without Quick Results |
| District of Columbia | $237 | Application + background check | Included (Fieldprint) | |
| Florida | $110 | Application + license | Required (Livescan); price not posted | $50 processing + $50 license + two $5 state fees |
| Georgia | $40 | Application | Required (GAPS/Idemia); price not posted | Online applications only. The board's fee schedule also lists a $5 online processing fee |
| Hawaii | $40 | Application only, more due after you pass | Required (Fieldprint); price not posted | License fees after you pass include a $60 Hawaii State Center for Nursing fee. The board doesn't post the full total |
| Idaho | $102 | Application + background check | Included ($32) | |
| Illinois | $157 | $50 state application + $107 CTS processing ($157 combined); NCLEX and fingerprinting extra | Required (Illinois Live Scan vendor); price not posted | You apply to IDFPR first, then to the testing vendor, CTS. The $50 is set in the state fee rule, and CTS lists $107 |
| Indiana | $50 | Application | Required; price not posted | |
| Iowa | $143 | Application ($93) + background check ($50) | Included ($50) | |
| Kansas | $75 | Application + license | $57, paid to the board | Multistate license is $125 |
| Kentucky | $125 | Application | $57 (IdentoGO) | Plus a $15 jurisprudence exam (a short test on state nursing law), paid to NCSBN |
| Louisiana | $125 | Application + license | Required (IdentoGO); price not posted | Louisiana has its own practical nurse board. The fee is set in its fee rule |
| Maine | $75 or $50 (board sources conflict) | Application | $52 | The board's June 2026 requirements sheet says $75, but its fees page lists $50. Confirm the amount on your application |
| Maryland | $187 | Application | $57.25 as posted, paid to the state (CJIS); may now be higher | The FBI's share of fingerprint fees rose $3 on October 1, 2026, and the state says to expect that added. The board hasn't posted a new total |
| Massachusetts | $230 | Application | None listed on the application page | Credit card only |
| Michigan | $212.90 | Application + 2-year license | Required; price not posted | |
| Minnesota | $105 | Application | $35, paid to the board | Plus $10 if you're printed at the state BCA |
| Mississippi | $60 | Application | $75 | |
| Missouri | $0 | No board fee for your first exam | About $47 (state, FBI, and vendor) | A retake application is $40 |
| Montana | $100 | Application | $30, paid to the state Justice Department | The fingerprint site may charge to take your prints |
| Nebraska | $123 | Application + license | $75, paid to the State Patrol | The board fee is $30.75 instead if your license is issued May through October of an odd-numbered year. It's waived if you're 18 to 25, low-income, or in a military family. The background fee is never waived |
| Nevada | $90 | Application | $40 for a mailed fingerprint card | Qualifying military applicants and veterans can pay half the application fee |
| New Hampshire | $116 | Application + license ($88) + a required $28 health program fee | $50 (the State Police's posted fee) | |
| New Jersey | $200 | Application ($75) + $5 surcharge + license ($120) | Required (IdentoGO); price not posted | The board's guide groups this as $80 + $120. Same total |
| New Mexico | $150 | Application + license | $59 | The fingerprint site may add its own fee |
| New York | $143 | Application + license | None listed | |
| North Carolina | $75 | Application | $38 | Fingerprint sites may charge to take your prints |
| North Dakota | $155 | Application + license ($125) + background processing ($30) | Plus $43 to the Attorney General | |
| Ohio | $75 | Application | Varies by WebCheck location; $47.25 if you mail ink cards | Plus a $3.50 state transaction fee |
| Oklahoma | $85 | Application | $51.25, paid to the vendor | |
| Oregon | $204 | Application ($195) + $9 surcharge | $61 | The $61 fingerprint fee is set by a temporary rule that runs through October 31, 2026. Check the board's current fee after that |
| Pennsylvania | $95 | Application | Price not posted | $115 if you went to school out of state. You also need a child abuse reporting course |
| Rhode Island | $45 | Application | $45 national check through the Attorney General | Paying in person can add a card fee |
| South Carolina | $70 | Application | Price not posted | $80 if you also want a temporary license |
| South Dakota | $100 | Application + license | $50 (state + FBI check, per the Attorney General) | |
| Tennessee | $150 | Application | $37.15 (from a 2022 notice; may now be higher) | Includes the state regulatory fee |
| Texas | $75 | Application, including the $25 jurisprudence exam on Texas nursing law | $41.95 at IdentoGO, per the board's FAQ; other sites vary | The board's FAQ doesn't say whether $41.95 includes the FBI's $3 increase on October 1, 2026 |
| Utah | $92 | Application ($60) + background check processing ($32) | Included; the print vendor's fee is extra | |
| Vermont | $75 | Application | Required; price not posted | Set in state law |
| Virginia | $170 | Application | $35.95 inside Virginia, $38.95 outside | A rule that would raise this to $280 is waiting on the Governor's review. It isn't in effect |
| Washington | $93 | Application + license (includes $24 in state surcharges) | $36, only if you have an out-of-state address or want a multistate license | Multistate license is $158 |
| West Virginia | $75 | Application | Required (IdentoGO); price not posted | West Virginia has its own LPN board |
| Wisconsin | $73 | Application + license | Listed only for a multistate license | |
| Wyoming | $130 | Application | $60, paid to the state (DCI) | Card payments add 2.4% ($1 minimum) |
California, where I tested, has the highest board fee on this list, because the vocational nursing board charges $300 to apply and another $300 for your license after you pass. Missouri sits at the other end and charges nothing for your first exam. Most other states land between about $40 and $300, but a few rows (Colorado and Hawaii) aren't full totals yet, so check your own board before you budget.
What it adds up to: three real examples
Here's what the total looks like in three states, using the posted fees above. I picked the cheapest board, one in between, and the most expensive one. The California example assumes you went to school in California, and fingerprint sites can add their own fee on top of any of these. Texas uses the $41.95 IdentoGO price from the board's FAQ, so its totals are approximate.
| State | NCLEX | Board | Fingerprints | Total if you register before Feb 1, 2027 | Total on or after |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri | $200 / $350 | $0 | About $47 | About $247 | About $397 |
| Texas | $200 / $350 | $75 | About $42 (IdentoGO) | About $317 | About $467 |
| California | $200 / $350 | $600 | $49 + site fee | $849 + site fee | $999 + site fee |
Add $7.95 if you buy Quick Results. Together, these charges can make your total much higher than the exam fee alone.
How you pay, step by step
Your state application and your NCLEX registration are two separate payments to two different places. Depending on your state, you may also pay a fingerprint vendor, a card processing fee, or a license fee after you pass. Here's how it goes.
- Apply to your state board and pay its fee. That's the board fee in the table above, plus fingerprints if your state requires them. Every board has its own application, so start on your board's website.
- Register with Pearson VUE and pay the NCLEX fee. That's $200, or $350 if you register on or after February 1, 2027. You can register online or call Pearson at 866-496-2539. They take Visa, Mastercard, or American Express, as a credit, debit, or prepaid card. Your school or employer can also pay through Pearson's third-party payment option.
- Wait for your Authorization to Test (ATT). Once your board makes you eligible, you get your ATT by email. Schedule your exam and test within the dates on it. If you don't test inside that window, you lose the fee.
- After your exam, Quick Results is optional. It's $7.95 for an unofficial result two business days later. Your official result comes from your board either way.
Ways to pay less (or at least not lose money)
- Register before February 1, 2027, but only if you expect your board to make you eligible within 365 days of the day you register. Then test within the dates on your Authorization to Test. That's $150 back in your pocket.
- If you're a veteran, or a family member using VA education benefits, check the GI Bill. The NCLEX-PN is on the VA's list of approved licensing tests. If you're covered under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the Montgomery GI Bill, or Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance, the VA can pay you back for the test fee, up to $2,000 per test. You send VA Form 22-0803 with your receipt and your results (or a copy of your license). The VA takes the money out of your remaining GI Bill entitlement, and it won't pay the fee for the license itself.
- Ask your school or your new employer. Pearson VUE takes third-party payments from nursing schools, agencies, and employers. It never hurts to ask if they'll cover it.
- Check for a state waiver. Nebraska, for example, waives its board fee for applicants 18 to 25, and Nevada takes 50% off the application fee for qualifying military applicants. Read your own board's fee page closely.
- Don't lose the fee you already paid. If you can't make your test date, reschedule or cancel at least 24 business hours ahead. For a Saturday, Sunday, or Monday exam, do it no later than Friday and at least 24 hours before your appointment time, and allow for national holidays. Miss it or cancel late and the fee is gone. Same if you register twice.
- Think twice about the Pearson Vue Trick. Running it can mean a real registration charge, at whatever the fee is that day ($350 starting February 1, 2027). I wrote a whole post on whether the trick is worth it, and the short version is that $7.95 Quick Results is the better deal.
"What if I have to retake it?"
Then you pay the NCLEX fee again, at whatever the price is on the day you re-register. NCSBN allows up to eight attempts a year, with at least 45 test-free days between them. Some boards are stricter than that, and some charge their own reapplication fee too, like Missouri's $40. Your board will tell you what it needs before it makes you eligible again.
And if you're in that spot right now, I'm sorry. I know how heavy that feels. But a retake with a real plan is a different exam than the first one. The 30-day NCLEX-PN study plan is where I'd start, and the free practice questions are there for the daily work.
Whatever you end up paying, I truly believe it's the best money you'll spend on your career. Passing is the big step between you and your license. Just go in knowing the real number, register at the right time, and don't hand anybody money you don't have to. I'm rooting for you.
If you're past the paying part and stuck in the waiting part, here's how to know if you passed the NCLEX, and what each of the popular signs really means.
FAQ
How much does the NCLEX-PN cost?
The NCLEX-PN registration fee is $200 for anyone seeking a U.S. license who registers before February 1, 2027, and $350 for anyone who registers on or after that date. You pay it to Pearson VUE. State board fees are separate, from $0 for a first exam in Missouri to $600 for California graduates, and many states also require a fingerprint background check with its own cost.
If I register before February 1, 2027 but test after, what do I pay?
You pay $200. NCSBN says the date you complete your registration sets the fee, not the date of your exam. Your registration stays open for 365 days from the day you register while your board makes you eligible, and if that doesn't happen in time you lose the fee and have to register again.
Does the $350 NCLEX fee apply in every state?
Yes. The NCLEX fee is set by NCSBN, not by your state, so it is the same for every candidate seeking a U.S. license. What decides your fee is where you are seeking a license, not where you live. Your state board's own license fee is separate and does vary by state.
Is the NCLEX fee the same for a retake?
Yes. Every NCLEX registration, including a retake, pays the fee in effect on the day you register. A retake registered on or after February 1, 2027 costs $350. NCSBN allows up to eight attempts a year, with at least 45 test-free days between them, and some boards are stricter or charge their own reapplication fee.
Can I get a refund on the NCLEX fee?
No. NCLEX.com says there are no refunds of registration fees for any reason, including duplicate registrations, missing your appointment, or cancelling less than 24 business hours ahead. If you can't make your date, reschedule or cancel at least 24 business hours before it. For a Saturday, Sunday, or Monday exam, do it no later than Friday and at least 24 hours before your appointment time, and allow for national holidays.
Does the GI Bill pay for the NCLEX-PN?
It can. The NCLEX-PN is on the VA's list of approved licensing tests, and eligible veterans and dependents can be paid back for the test fee, up to $2,000 per test, using VA Form 22-0803. You must already be covered under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the Montgomery GI Bill, or Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance. The VA takes the amount out of your remaining entitlement, and it won't pay the fee for the license itself.
How do I pay the NCLEX fee?
Online through Pearson VUE, or by phone at 866-496-2539, with a Visa, Mastercard, or American Express credit, debit, or prepaid card. Your school, an agency, or an employer can also pay for you through Pearson's third-party payment option.
Does my NCLEX registration expire?
Yes. Your Pearson VUE registration stays open for 365 days while your board makes you eligible. Once you're eligible, you have to test within the dates on your Authorization to Test. If your board doesn't make you eligible within the 365 days, or you don't test before your Authorization to Test expires, you lose the fee and have to register and pay again.
How much does an LVN license cost in California?
The Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians charges $300 to apply if you went to school in California, and another $300 for your license after you pass. If you went to school outside California, the application is $330. Live Scan fingerprints add $32 for the state and $17 for the FBI, plus the Live Scan site's own fee. Add the $200 NCLEX fee, or $350 if you register on or after February 1, 2027.
NCLEX® is a registered trademark of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). Pearson VUE® is a trademark of Pearson Education. Passclex isn't affiliated with either. These figures were checked against official sources on October 15, 2026 and re-checked on October 19, 2026: the fee increase, the registration-date rule, and the unchanged fees from NCSBN's fee change announcement (posted August 21, 2026); current fees and the refund policy from NCLEX.com's Fees & Payment page and FAQ; the 365-day registration window and third-party payment from the Registration page; the retake rules from the Results page; Quick Results from the Quick Results page; GI Bill reimbursement from VA.gov; the FBI fingerprint fee change from the Federal Register (notice 2026-11435); and every state fee from the board website, rule, or state law linked in the table. Some published state fees are incomplete or may lag recent changes, so confirm the amount on your own application and fingerprint booking. This table gets re-checked every few months.