Whether you wish to be a registered nurse in the United States or Canada you will be required to take an examination to obtain your nursing license. While you would think that because each exam covers the same topic the exams would be almost identical, but they are not.
Here is a look at the differences between the Canadian Registered Nursing Exam and the United States National Council Licensure Exam or the NCLEX.
Where it is Offered. The Canadian Registered Nursing Exam is only offered within the Canadian boarders, while the NCLEX is offered in the United States and other countries.
Type of Exam. The Canadian Registered Nursing Exam is a written test that must be taken by hand, while the NCLEX is a completely computer based test. Students who take the NCLEX take it through the computer who will then grade it. The Canadian Registered Nurse Exam is graded with a computer after it has been completed.
How Often it is Offered. The NCLEX is held several times throughout the year, making it easy to take the test at any point. However, the Canadian Registered Nursing Exam is only held two to three times a year. The exam dates for this test are spread out so the wait period is not too long.
Scheduling. Canadian Registered Nursing Exam must be scheduled by an outside body. They will tell the test taker where to take the test and what appointment they have. The NCLEX allows students to choose test venues and dates of the test.
Test Question. The Canadian Registered Nursing Exam requires that those taking the test must answer all 200+ questions and there can be questions that are “test” questions and do not count towards the end score. Those taking the NCLEX take the test and it is automatically stopped when a passing score has been achieved. There is not need to answer every single question.