The NCLEX-RN is the licensing exam for registered nurses in the United States and Canada, and Australia uses it too, as the written stage of its assessment of internationally qualified nurses. You can prepare for it in Kuwait, but there is no NCLEX test centre in Kuwait or anywhere else in the Gulf. The nearest centres are in Amman, Istanbul, India, Lahore and Manila. Registration costs US$200 plus a US$150 international scheduling fee, rising to US$350 for registrations made on or after 1 February 2027. The exam itself is the Next Generation NCLEX: 85 to 150 questions in up to five hours, pass or fail.
This guide covers who can take it, the steps from Kuwait, fees, where to sit the exam, the format, and how to prepare.
| Country | How the NCLEX fits |
|---|---|
| United States | Required for RN licensure. You apply to a state board of nursing, which decides your eligibility. |
| Canada | Required by the provincial nursing regulators, except Quebec, which does not use the NCLEX. |
| Australia | The multiple-choice stage of the Nursing and Midwifery Board's outcomes-based assessment for some internationally qualified nurses, followed by a clinical exam (OSCE). |
The UK, Ireland and the Gulf do not use the NCLEX. For the UK, see OET vs IELTS for nurses. For a licence in Kuwait itself, see the Kuwait Prometric exam for nurses.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Registration, US or Australia | US$200 |
| Registration, Canada | CAD 360 |
| International scheduling fee (testing outside the US, Canada and US territories) | US$150 (CAD 150 for Canada), plus VAT where applicable |
| Changing your regulatory body | US$50 |
Source: NCSBN fees. All fees are non-refundable.
The fee is going up. From 1 February 2027, registration rises to US$350 (US and Australia) and CAD 570 (Canada). The international scheduling fee does not change. What counts is the date you register, not the date you sit the exam, so registering before 1 February 2027 locks in the current fee (NCSBN, August 2026). Budget separately for credential evaluation, your regulator's application fee, and travel to the test centre.
NCSBN's international test centre list, updated October 2026, has no centre in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain or Oman. The nearest options for a nurse in Kuwait are:
Centres are reviewed every quarter, so check the list before you book flights. Plan your annual leave around your ATT window: if it expires before you test, you have to apply again.
The current exam, the Next Generation NCLEX, launched on 1 April 2023 and focuses on clinical judgment. The 2026 NCLEX-RN Test Plan has applied since 1 April 2026.
| NCLEX-RN | |
|---|---|
| Questions | 85 to 150 |
| Time | Up to 5 hours, including optional breaks (offered at about 2 and 3.5 hours; the clock keeps running) |
| Format | Computerized adaptive test: each question is chosen based on your previous answers |
| Clinical judgment | Three case studies (six questions each) plus stand-alone clinical judgment items |
| Result | Pass or fail; official results from your regulator, usually within six weeks |
| Retakes | You can be offered a new appointment 45 days after an attempt |
Source: NCLEX Candidate Bulletin and Next Generation NCLEX. Unofficial "Quick Results" are available for a fee after two business days in participating US states only.
The exam stops as soon as it is confident whether you are above or below the passing standard. Finishing at 85 questions does not mean you failed, and running to 150 does not mean you passed.
Nurses going to the US usually also need a VisaScreen certificate from TruMerit, which includes an English test unless you trained in English in an exempt country. For tests taken on or after 12 May 2026, TruMerit lists these scores for registered nurses (TruMerit):
| Test | Required score |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 overall, 7.0 in Speaking |
| OET | Listening 320, Reading 340, Writing 350, Speaking 360 |
| PTE Academic | 55 overall, 76 in Speaking, 62 in the other sections |
At-home tests are not accepted. Check the current table on the VisaScreen page before you book, because requirements change. Our guides to the IELTS test in Kuwait and the PTE exam in Kuwait cover booking.
No. NCSBN's international test centre list has no centre in Kuwait or any other Gulf country. The nearest are in Amman, Istanbul, India, Lahore and Manila.
US$200 registration for the US or Australia (CAD 360 for Canada) plus a US$150 international scheduling fee. Registration rises to US$350 for registrations made on or after 1 February 2027.
Between 85 and 150, in up to five hours. The exam is adaptive and stops when it can decide whether you have passed.
For some internationally qualified nurses, yes: the NCLEX-RN is the multiple-choice stage of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia's outcomes-based assessment, followed by a clinical OSCE. Check the board's current requirements for your qualification.
No. The UK Nursing and Midwifery Council has its own test of competence and requires IELTS Academic or OET for English.
Your regulator sets it. It averages about 90 days and cannot be extended, so prepare before you apply.
REG Education & Immigration's NCLEX-RN course in Kuwait covers the exam content, critical thinking and test-taking strategy, with practice questions and detailed feedback on your progress. It sits alongside our Prometric, BLS and ACLS training for nurses at our branches in Salmiya, Jaleeb Al-Shuyoukh and Mangaf.
See our medical training courses or contact us to plan your NCLEX timeline.
SalmiyaREG Immigration and Education2nd Floor, Building No. 44,Yusuf, Yousef Al Bader St
Jaleeb Al-ShuyoukhBuilding No. 146, Floor 2,Street 6, Block 4,Near Subway
Mangaf1st Floor, Building No. 90,Street 25, Block 4,Near Green Asia Supermarket
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