NCLEX Exam
Comparison with
the Canadian Registered Nurse Exam

A comparison of the NCLEX exam in the US and the nursing entrance test used in Canada shows that the Canadian Registered Nurse Exam is neither prepared nor administered in the same way as the US nursing entrance exam.

These differences show up on the following table of comparison.

NCLEX National Council Licensure Examination	CRNE Canadian Registered Nurse Exam
offered in other countries besides the USA	Offered only in Canada
NCLEX exam is offered frequently throughout the year. Candidates must receive authorization to test (ATT) by applying to the state nursing board. Once the ATT is received each individual applicant schedules their own NCLEX appointment at a testing center.	three times per year usually at the end of Jan or in early Feb, June, and October. Candidates cannot schedule their own appointments and must take the exam at the time it is offered. Sometimes in larger urban centers there will be multiple sites where the exam is administered. Early applicants may get a choice of venue.
computer based using Computer Adaptive Testing	paper based test, but it is marked by a computer using scanning technology.
approx 75-250 questions. The computer will stop the exam automatically after the minimum number of questions if the computer programs determines with 95% certainty that the applicant can pass (or fail) the remainder of the questions with 95% certainty.	up to 200 operational questions. All candidates must answer all questions. Every exam contains questions that are begin tested for use on future exams. Candidates have no way of knowing which questions are operational and which ones are experimental.
significant focus on pathology and physiology	significant focus on application of knowledge and critical thinking.
context is the American society and health care system	context is the Canadian society and the Canadian health care system
$200 registration fee ($350 outside the US). Some states may add processing fees. non-refundable	$450-$600 varies by province Difference in cost may be a result of the various processing fees charged by the provincial nursing bodies non-refundable
first time US educated pass rate = 86-89%	first time Canadian educated pass rate = 93-95%
multiple choice and alternate formats such as short answer .	multiple choice format
minimum 45 days between attempts- some states specify 90 days	since the exam is only offered 3 times per year there would be a minimum wait of 4 months for the second attempt
individual state nursing boards decide how often the exam can be re-taken. Some states recommend a re-entry program after 2 unsuccessful attempts but some states have unlimited attempts.	The CRNE can only be taken three times. After two unsuccessful attempts the candidate may be required to show proof of a learning or study plan. For internationally educated nurses the recommendation to take a re-entry program may be made if the candidate has failed twice.
NCLEX allows calculators to be used during the exam and the candidate receives a tutorial on the computer based calculator before the exam is written	no calculators or electronic devices of any kind are permitted in the testing center.
Questions are written to test nursing knowledge (and application of knowledge) of how to meet individual client needs. Clients are defined as individuals, families, and groups	CRNE exam questions are written to test 128 defined nursing competencies. Clients are defined as individuals, families, groups, and communities. This means that community health nursing theory is tested on the entry level exam.

This analysis demonstrates that using the NCLEX exam preparation materials may seem like a good way to to review some nursing theory, but it may not adequately prepare you to meet all the competencies required for passing the Canadian nursing entrance test.

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Comparison of the Canadian Registered Nurse Exam and the NCLEX exam in the United States of America.

Read about the Substantially Equivalent Competency assessment now being used in British Columbian and Alberta.

View the structural variables that affect the look and feel of the CRNE

Go from this NCLEX exam comparison with the CRNE to the page on the nursing entrance test for Canada.

More information about the Canadian Registered Nurse Exam

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