Can an LPN challenge the NCLEX-RN....

Updated:   Published

without going back to school? I am going to LPN school in the fall (hopefully) and a nurse where I work said she thought an LPN could study study study and pay like $1000 to take the NCLEX-RN exam without going through more school. Does anyone know anything about this?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

There is no state in the US that will allow people to "challenge" the NCLEX-RN. You must complete an approved (registered) nursing education program to be eligible.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

If an individual is an LVN/LPN with the desire to earn the RN licensure, (s)he must complete an RN bridge program and pass the NCLEX-RN. There is no way of getting around this. There is currently no way for an experienced LPN/LVN to become an RN by bypassing school and challenging the boards.

In other words, "no pain, no gain." You must attend a state-approved school of nursing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Your friend may have gotten confused information pertaining to the distance programs, in particular, Excelsior College. Some people might get this conception before they really find out what the deal is with distance learning for nursing. I can assure you, if your friend's statements were correct, there would be a dither more RNs running around than there are currently. That's for sure.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks guys, that seemed really weird to me, but I thought I would ask anyway. I'll bet maybe she was thinking about distance education and got her info wrong.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

While I do suspect that many LPNs are able to actually pass NCLEX-RN because of their critical thinking skills, experience, and excellent test taking skills, there is no way that they would allow (that I know of) an LPN that has not had formal education to sit for the exam. An accreditated school must send records to the state board of nursing stating that the student has successfully completed their RN program for a candidate to even be allowed to apply for the test.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
without going back to school? I am going to LPN school in the fall (hopefully) and a nurse where I work said she thought an LPN could study study study and pay like $1000 to take the NCLEX-RN exam without going through more school. Does anyone know anything about this?

If this was ever to be true, i doubt if anyone would ever want to go to school. If its too good to be true, then it aint. You have to go to school, no otherway around it. Please note if you are receiving this information from an agency/school that wants you to pay them, avoid them as they are likely scamming you of your hard earned 1000 dollars.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
While I do suspect that many LPNs are able to actually pass NCLEX-RN because of their critical thinking skills, experience, and excellent test taking skills, there is no way that they would allow (that I know of) an LPN that has not had formal education to sit for the exam. An accreditated school must send records to the state board of nursing stating that the student has successfully completed their RN program for a candidate to even be allowed to apply for the test.

I know that this was posted in 2008 but I wanted to say..I went to school (LPN school) with a girl who applied to test for the NCLEX-PN. She went and took her NCLEX and passed. But imagine her surprise when she got a letter stating she would have to retake the test..reason..they had mistakenly given her the NCLEX-RN test..she passed it..but she still had to retake the NCLEX and do the PN one.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I believe there is a requirement for so many hours of classroom and clinical instruction, and the school has to keep track of that to prove to the state BON that the student actually got it. LPNs need a minimum of 1000 hours, and RNs need apparently college credits plus classroom and clinical hours of instruction, but I don't actually know what the criteria are without looking up the rules, lol. Plus pass the state board, of course. So, you can't be a licensed RN without having first completed an approved course of study.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in long term care/ dementia unit.

OKAY AFTER HAVE READ ALL OF THE COMMENT ACUALLY YOU CAN TEST OUT OF THE RN BELIEVE IT OR NOT AND IT CAN ONLY BE DONE IN CALIFORNIA ITS CALLED THE LVN 30 Unit Option BUT ITS ONLY RECOGNIZED IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA ONLY !!! This advanced placement option LVN-RN provides access to the RN curriculum for the applicant who is an LVN with an active and in good standing license in California. This option qualifies the student to meet the Board of Registered Nursing requirements for eligibility to apply for the California RN licensing examination (NCLEX-RN). Upon completion the student receives a certificate of completion but is not considered a graduate of Glendale College or the Department of Nursing. A license obtained through this program may not qualify the graduate for licensure by endorsement in other states. A current California LVN license and prerequisite courses are required in order to apply. Upon acceptance, the student will then enter the program. See the nursing counselor for detailed program requirements.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
OKAY AFTER HAVE READ ALL OF THE COMMENT ACUALLY YOU CAN TEST OUT OF THE RN BELIEVE IT OR NOT AND IT CAN ONLY BE DONE IN CALIFORNIA ITS CALLED THE LVN 30 Unit Option BUT ITS ONLY RECOGNIZED IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA ONLY !!! This advanced placement option LVN-RN provides access to the RN curriculum for the applicant who is an LVN with an active and in good standing license in California. This option qualifies the student to meet the Board of Registered Nursing requirements for eligibility to apply for the California RN licensing examination (NCLEX-RN). Upon completion the student receives a certificate of completion but is not considered a graduate of Glendale College or the Department of Nursing. A license obtained through this program may not qualify the graduate for licensure by endorsement in other states. A current California LVN license and prerequisite courses are required in order to apply. Upon acceptance, the student will then enter the program. See the nursing counselor for detailed program requirements.

I think a lot of us here are aware of the "30 unit option" for LVNs in CA -- but the original question was whether LVNs could "challenge" the NCLEX-RN without returning to school. The "30 unit option" does involve returning to school (albeit, not a "full" RN program) and counts as completing an education program approved by the CA BRN.

There are other threads on this site discussing this option for LVNs in CA.

And you're correct, people licensed by this route cannot then become licensed in any other state (because their RN education doesn't meet the standards of all the other states). CA has some unusual educational options -- they were the last state to still have some certificate NP programs, long after all the other states had gone to MSNs only (and, again, those NPs cannot be licensed or practice in any other state).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in long term care/ dementia unit.
elkpark okay point taken ,but you can also just apply to and take the 30 units test without going back to school if you perfer , a coworker of mines has done so and I also was going to attemp until I realized that it was pointless if your not in CA ... now this was more than five years ago so go figure
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion