Global Nursing Licensing Exams
Whether securing your licence in the United States, United Kingdom, Gulf (UAE/Saudi), Canada, or Australia: access official blueprints, clinical judgment test plans, and practice case studies.
Select Your Target Practice Jurisdiction
Nursing exams for the United States
NCLEX-RN for registered nurses, NCLEX-PN for practical/vocational nurses.
NCLEX-RN
Practice liveNCSBN
The RN licensing exam for the USA and Canada, and Stage 1 of Australia’s OBA.
- Syllabus ✓
- 1 practice set
Syllabus & practice
Used in: United States, Canada, Australia
NCLEX-PN
Practice liveNCSBN
The licensing exam for LPN/LVN practical and vocational nurses in the USA.
- Syllabus ✓
- 1 practice set
Syllabus & practice
Nursing exams for Canada
NCLEX-RN everywhere except Quebec; REx-PN for practical nurses in Ontario and BC.
NCLEX-RN
Practice liveNCSBN
The RN licensing exam for the USA and Canada, and Stage 1 of Australia’s OBA.
- Syllabus ✓
- 1 practice set
Syllabus & practice
Used in: United States, Canada, Australia
REx-PN
Practice liveNCSBN for CNO (Ontario) and BCCNM (British Columbia)
Entry exam for practical nurses in Ontario (RPN) and British Columbia (LPN).
- Syllabus ✓
- 1 practice set
Syllabus & practice
Nursing exams for the United Kingdom
NMC Test of Competence: a computer-based test, then an OSCE in the UK.
Nursing exams for Australia
NMBA outcomes-based assessment: NCLEX-RN, then an OSCE.
NCLEX-RN
Practice liveNCSBN
The RN licensing exam for the USA and Canada, and Stage 1 of Australia’s OBA.
- Syllabus ✓
- 1 practice set
Syllabus & practice
Used in: United States, Canada, Australia
NMBA OBA
Practice liveNursing and Midwifery Board of Australia
Australia’s two-stage assessment: NCLEX-RN, then an OSCE.
- Syllabus ✓
- 1 practice set
Syllabus & practice
Nursing exams for New Zealand
Nursing Council competence assessment: theory exam and OSCE.
Nursing exams for the United Arab Emirates
DHA (Dubai), DOH (Abu Dhabi) or MOHAP (other emirates) licensing exams.
DHA exam
Practice liveDubai Health Authority
Prometric licensing exam for nurses in Dubai.
- Syllabus ✓
- 1 practice set
Syllabus & practice
DOH exam
Practice liveDepartment of Health – Abu Dhabi
Prometric licensing exam for nurses in Abu Dhabi.
- Syllabus ✓
- 1 practice set
Syllabus & practice
MOHAP exam
Practice liveMinistry of Health and Prevention, UAE
Prometric licensing exam for nurses in the Northern Emirates.
- Syllabus ✓
- 1 practice set
Syllabus & practice
Nursing exams for Saudi Arabia
SCFHS classification and the Saudi Prometric nursing exam.
Nursing exams for Qatar
MOPH Department of Healthcare Professions (formerly QCHP) exam.
Nursing licensing exams compared
| Exam | Countries | Set by | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN | United States, Canada, Australia | NCSBN | Questions: 85–150 (15 unscored pretest) · Time: Up to 5 hours, incl. tutorial and optional breaks |
| NCLEX-PN | United States | NCSBN | Questions: 85–150 (15 unscored pretest) · Time: Up to 5 hours |
| REx-PN | Canada | NCSBN for CNO (Ontario) and BCCNM (British Columbia) | Questions: 90–150 (30 unscored, 60–120 scored) · Time: 4 hours |
| NMC CBT & OSCE | United Kingdom | Nursing and Midwifery Council (UK) | CBT Part A: Numeracy: 15 questions, 30 minutes · CBT Part B: Clinical: 100 MCQs, 2 h 30 min |
| NMBA OBA | Australia | Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia | Stage 1 (RN): NCLEX-RN via Pearson VUE · Stage 1 (EN): Separate MCQ exam run by Ahpra |
| NCNZ assessment | New Zealand | Nursing Council of New Zealand | Theory exam: Online multiple choice (RN or EN level) · Orientation: 2 days, in person |
| DHA exam | United Arab Emirates | Dubai Health Authority | Delivery: Computer-based multiple choice, Prometric · Before the exam: Eligibility + primary source verification |
| DOH exam | United Arab Emirates | Department of Health – Abu Dhabi | Delivery: Computer-based multiple choice, Prometric · Before the exam: Eligibility + primary source verification |
| MOHAP exam | United Arab Emirates | Ministry of Health and Prevention, UAE | Delivery: Computer-based multiple choice, Prometric · Before the exam: Eligibility + primary source verification |
| SCFHS exam | Saudi Arabia | Saudi Commission for Health Specialties | Delivery: Computer-based multiple choice, Prometric · Before the exam: Eligibility + primary source verification |
| QCHP / DHP exam | Qatar | Ministry of Public Health Qatar – Department of Healthcare Professions | Delivery: Computer-based multiple choice, Prometric · Before the exam: Eligibility + primary source verification |
Nursing exams abroad: common questions
Which nursing exam do I need to work abroad?
It depends on the jurisdiction: the NCLEX-RN for the USA and Canada (except Quebec), the NMC CBT and OSCE for the UK, the NMBA outcomes-based assessment (NCLEX-RN then an OSCE) for Australia, the NCNZ theory exam and OSCE for New Zealand, and Prometric licensing exams set by DHA, DOH, MOHAP, SCFHS or Qatar’s DHP for the Gulf.
Is the NextGen NCLEX-RN accepted outside the USA?
Yes. Every Canadian province and territory except Quebec uses the NextGen NCLEX-RN, and Australia uses it as the Stage 1 MCQ exam of its outcomes-based assessment (OBA) for internationally qualified registered nurses.
Can I take the NCLEX or NMC CBT at international test centres?
Yes. Pearson VUE administers both the NCLEX-RN and UK NMC CBT at hundreds of international testing centers across North America, the UK, Europe, the Middle East, India, and the Philippines.
References
- [1]NCSBN. NCLEX examsstandard
- [2]Nursing and Midwifery Council. Test of Competencegov
- [3]Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. MCQ exam for IQNMsgov
- [4]Nursing Council of New Zealand. Competence assessment processgov