NCLEX guide · 4 minute read
NCLEX-RN vs REx-PN: which exam do you write in Ontario?
Your education decides. A nursing degree leads to a Registered Nurse application and the NCLEX-RN. A practical nursing diploma leads to a Registered Practical Nurse application and the REx-PN. The REx-PN is shorter (4 hours, 90 to 150 questions) and costs $350, against $360 for the NCLEX-RN.
Should I write the NCLEX-RN or the REx-PN?
The College of Nurses of Ontario decides which category you apply for from your education. For an RN application you need a baccalaureate nursing degree. For an RPN application you need a practical nursing diploma. A diploma that let you work as an RN in your home country does not meet Ontario's RN requirement, but you may be able to apply as an RPN instead.
How do the NCLEX-RN and REx-PN compare?
| NCLEX-RN | REx-PN | |
|---|---|---|
| Licence | Registered Nurse (RN) | Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) in Ontario; Licensed Practical Nurse in BC |
| Questions | 85 to 150 (15 unscored) | 90 to 150 (30 unscored) |
| Time limit | 5 hours, breaks included | 4 hours, including tutorial and breaks |
| Format | Computerized adaptive test with case studies | Computerized adaptive test |
| Fee (CAD) | $360; $570 from 1 Feb 2027 | $350 |
| Retakes | Every 45 days, up to 8 a year | Wait 60 days, up to 6 a year |
| Used in | Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia and the United States, among others | Ontario and British Columbia |
What happened to the CPNRE?
The Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Exam is no longer an option in Ontario. The REx-PN replaced it on 4 January 2022. If you passed the CPNRE by the end of 2021, that pass still meets CNO's exam requirement.
How is the NCLEX-PN different from the REx-PN?
Both are NCSBN exams for practical nurses, written for different countries. The NCLEX-PN licenses LPNs and LVNs in the United States. The REx-PN registers RPNs in Ontario and LPNs in British Columbia, and CNO names it as the exam it accepts for RPN registration.
| NCLEX-PN | REx-PN | |
|---|---|---|
| Licence | LPN or LVN in the United States | RPN in Ontario; LPN in British Columbia |
| Questions | 85 to 150 (15 unscored) | 90 to 150 (30 unscored) |
| Time limit | 5 hours | 4 hours |
| Question formats | 3 clinical judgement case studies of 6 questions, plus stand-alone items | Multiple choice, multiple response, calculations, exhibits and graphics |
| Fee | $200 USD; $350 from 1 Feb 2027 | $350 CAD |
The content areas overlap but are weighted differently: pharmacology is 10 to 16% of the NCLEX-PN and 14 to 20% of the REx-PN. For the US route, see how to get a US nursing licence; for the REx-PN in detail, see the REx-PN exam, explained.
Is the REx-PN changing in 2027?
Yes. A new REx-PN test plan and passing standard take effect on 1 January 2027. The length and time limit stay the same: 90 to 150 questions in 4 hours, and the passing standard rises from −0.32 to −0.09 logits. Our REx-PN exam guide explains the test plan, scoring and booking. The REx-PN website also offers a free 125-question exam preview, which is good practice for the format.
Can I start as an RPN and become an RN later?
Your education decides the category, so moving to RN later normally means meeting the RN education requirement. CNO lists education pathways and assessments for nurses whose education is not yet equivalent. Check CNO's nursing education requirements for your situation.
Writing the NCLEX-RN or REx-PN?The 12-week program covers both, taught live by Mandeep, RN.
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What else do nurses ask?
Can I choose to write the REx-PN instead of the NCLEX-RN?
Your education decides your category. A nursing degree leads to the RN application and the NCLEX-RN; a practical nursing diploma leads to the RPN application and the REx-PN.
Is the REx-PN easier than the NCLEX-RN?
The REx-PN is shorter, with a four-hour limit, and tests practical nursing practice. Both are adaptive exams that need structured preparation.
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