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You can take the NCLEX up to 8 times per year, with a mandatory 45-day waiting period between each attempt. Most states follow this national standard but several have their own rules that can significantly limit your options. You also have a window of three years from your graduation date to pass, after which additional requirements kick in.

That’s the short answer. But if you’ve just failed, or you’re planning your retake strategy, the details matter a lot more than the headline number. The Testavia blog has covered the NCLEX in depth including what makes the NCLEX so hard and what to expect from quick results but this article focuses on one thing: exactly how many shots you get, and what happens if you need more than one.

The National NCLEX Retake Rules (NCSBN Standard)

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) sets the baseline rules. Candidates are permitted to attempt the NCLEX up to eight times within a calendar year, with a mandatory waiting period of 45 days between each attempt. Candidates are also required to pass the exam within three years of graduating from nursing school to remain eligible.

So in practical terms: if you fail today, you can’t retest for 45 days. You can do that up to 8 times within a single calendar year. And the entire clock resets at the end of the year but your 3-year graduation window doesn’t.

That’s the federal baseline. But your state gets to add its own rules on top of it.

NCLEX Retake Rules by State

This is where most articles fall short. The national rules are just the starting point. Some states don’t have a limit on how many times you can take the exam each year California and New York are among the most notable. In contrast, certain states have additional restrictions for retaking the NCLEX. Archer Review’s state-by-state NCLEX retake breakdown goes deeper on the rules for each state if you want to check yours specifically.

Here are the states with rules that differ most significantly from the national standard:

Alaska — Must pass within two years of the first attempt. Fail beyond that window and you’ll need to complete a remedial nursing program before retesting.

Colorado — Only three attempts within three years of your first test. A fourth attempt requires submitting a petition to the board, with no guarantee of approval.

Delaware — More lenient. You have five years post-graduation to pass, with no cap on the number of attempts during that period.

Florida — Must complete a board-approved remedial course after three failed attempts before you can test again.

Georgia — Three years from graduation to pass. No extensions — the board closes the door after that.

Hawaii — Unlimited attempts, but a remedial course is required after three failures. After completing the course, you have six months to attempt again.

Illinois — Three years from your first attempt to pass. Fail beyond that and you must complete additional nursing coursework and reapply for licensure on repeat until you pass.

Indiana — Three attempts total. After three consecutive failures, the board reviews your case and may require additional coursework before allowing another attempt.

Kentucky — One of the stricter states. Failing twice triggers a letter from the Kentucky Board of Nursing, a mandatory waiting period determined by the board and a full reapplication for licensure including fees and potentially a new background check.

Louisiana — Practical nurses get four attempts within two years. RN candidates must pass within four attempts over four years of completing their program. Fail four times and you must repeat the entire program.

Michigan — Must pass within three years of graduation. After that, you need a certification of skills competency or can request an extension from the board.

Mississippi — Six attempts within two years of graduating. After that, contact the state board for guidance on further attempts.

Nevada — Four attempts. After four failures, the board decides case by case whether additional attempts are granted.

New Hampshire — Up to five attempts within three years and this includes attempts made in other states. After three failures, you must submit a board-approved remediation plan before a fourth or fifth attempt.

New Jersey — Board-reviewed remedial training required after three failed attempts before a fourth is allowed.

New Mexico — Five attempts within three years of initial eligibility.

Oklahoma — Two years to pass after completing your nursing program. After that, a refresher course or supervised clinical experience is required.

Tennessee — Two failures trigger board-mandated requirements set case by case. Fail to pass within three years and enrollment in another nursing program is required.

If your state isn’t listed above, it most likely follows the standard NCSBN rules of 8 attempts per year with a 45-day wait. But always verify directly with your state’s nursing regulatory body policies update and the stakes are too high to rely on a blog post alone.

What Happens If You Don’t Pass Within 3 Years?

This is the question most articles bury. The three-year rule is real and it carries serious consequences.

Candidates who do not pass the NCLEX within three years of graduating from nursing school lose their eligibility and must consult their state nursing regulatory body many states require completion of additional coursework or a remedial program before eligibility is reinstated.

This clock starts from your graduation date, not your first attempt. So if you waited a year to take it for the first time, you’ve already used up a third of your window. Plan accordingly.

MedPro International’s guide on NCLEX key insights for candidates also covers how to structure your retake timeline effectively once eligibility is reinstated.

You Failed the NCLEX. Now What?

First — this is more common than you think. The NCLEX first-time pass rate in recent years has hovered around 80–85% for domestic candidates. That means roughly 1 in 5 or 6 people sitting the exam don’t pass on the first attempt. You’re not alone and you’re not finished.

Here’s what to do immediately after a failed attempt:

Get your Candidate Performance Report (CPR). The CPR outlines the specific areas where you encountered difficulties and serves as an invaluable resource for pinpointing weaknesses and guiding your next study effort. This is the most important document you’ll receive. Don’t ignore it.

Wait the mandatory 45 days — but don’t waste them. The waiting period feels brutal. Use it deliberately. Identify your weak content areas from the CPR, build a structured study plan, and don’t just repeat what you did before. If the same approach didn’t work the first time, a different strategy is required.

Don’t cram. Distributed, consistent study over weeks beats intensive last-minute cramming every time. Your brain consolidates information during sleep protect that process.

Check your state’s specific retake requirements. Some states require you to submit a new application, pay fees again, or meet with the board before retesting. Do this early so you’re not scrambling close to your retest date.

How to Actually Improve Your Score on a Retake

Failing the NCLEX once doesn’t predict failing it again provided you change your approach. The students who pass on their second attempt are usually the ones who treated the first attempt as a diagnostic, not a verdict.

The NCLEX tests clinical reasoning, not memorization. It wants you to think like a nurse, prioritizing patient safety, applying nursing process, and making decisions under uncertainty. If your first prep was heavy on content memorization and light on practice questions with rationale review, that’s likely where the gap is.

Study the why behind every answer, not just the what. When you get a practice question wrong, don’t just note the correct answer — understand the reasoning that got you there. That reasoning is what the NCLEX is actually testing.

And give yourself realistic time. A 45-day minimum wait doesn’t mean 45 days is enough preparation time for everyone. Be honest about where you are and what you need. If you’re also managing nursing school stress on top of retake prep, our guide on time management tips for nursing students is worth reading before you build your study schedule.

NCLEX Retake FAQ

Can I take the NCLEX in a different state if my state has strict retake limits? Maybe but be careful. Some states like New Hampshire count out-of-state attempts against your total. Check both your home state’s rules and any state you’re considering testing in.

Does failing the NCLEX go on my record? Your attempt history is visible to state nursing boards when you apply for licensure. It doesn’t follow you into your nursing career in terms of employment — most employers care about your license, not your attempt count.

Can I take the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN attempts separately? Yes. They’re separate exams with separate attempt counts.

What if I move states between attempts? You’ll need to apply for licensure in your new state. Attempt history may transfer depending on state compacts and agreements. Contact your new state’s board directly.

Failing the NCLEX is a setback. The rules exist, the limits exist and some states are stricter than others. But the path forward is always the same: understand where you fell short, build a smarter plan and use your next attempt with more precision than your last.
Studying for the NCLEX and want to prep smarter? Testavia has practice resources built for nursing students who need to get it right.