Challenging NCLEX results in Colorado

caliotter3 · Jul 5, 2008

I do not think that a challenge goes to the licensing state but instead to the authority that administers the exam. Try going to the NCSBN site or inquire at the Pearson testing site where the exam was taken. I know that when the exam was paper and pencil, it was very difficult to challenge the exam and win. I wonder how a person could remember specific questions to challenge. I do believe that as part of the challenge they will handscore the exam over again. It is probably easier and more time conserving to schedule and retake the exam than to go through the process to challenge.

GilaRRT · Jul 5, 2008

This will depend on Colorado BON policy. Some BON' will allow candidates to see the questions and argue the accuracy of the answers. She should have received a score report that outlined how she did and in what areas she scored poorly.

Most likely, she simply did not pass and will need to retake NCLEX. Good luck regardless.

caliotter3 · Jul 5, 2008

I just researched this question on the NCSBN website, http://www.NCSBN.org, and found in the section Post Exam FAQ, a statement that individuals who wish to challenge questions on their NCLEX must contact their individual Board of Nursing with their request. HTH

NYCRN16 · Jul 5, 2008

Hi All,
Does anyone know if Colorado allows you to challenge your NCLEX results? I have been looking on the CO state board of nursing website and it is hard to find an answer to this. I currently work as an RN in Wisconsin so I am not familiar with their rules. My younger sister just failed her NCLEX (was applying for a CO license) and it seems odd that she would have failed. She took the Kaplan review course and was above passing range on all the practice tests. She stayed calm while taking the test and was just shocked to learn she failed. She only had 75 questions and she feels confident that she was answering the majority of the questions correctly. I know it is a long shot to challenge and win but if ANYONE know how to do this...or has even heard of someone else challenging the results and having a positive outcome I would GREATLY appreciate it. Thanks!!

I don't know if you can, but I think it would just be a lot easier if she retook the exam. I would think that challenging the exam would be a long, tedious process and I am not even sure if you can do it. If she wants to get it over with and start a job, I'm sure it will be a lot faster just to retake and pass so that she can get her license and get to work. Who knows if it will take 6 months or more to actually get an appointment to challenge the questions, I know I was not able to wait that long to get my license before starting a job. Good luck anyway!

miko014 · Jul 5, 2008

I have to agree with some of the above posters. Why challenge it? If you failed, you failed. I'm really sorry, because that has got to be one of the worst feelings in the world. I think Kaplan will let her take another review class for free since she failed the exam - at least, that is what I have heard. I didn't take a review myself. But that is what I would be looking into, rather than wasting all that time, energy, and emotion on trying to challenge the NCLEX results.

FWIW, I have worked with several people who failed it, one who has failed it multiple times and is still waiting to retake it again. These are some very, very smart people who are just not good at taking tests. If she had a job lined up, she should speak to her manager about it. I can name 3 people I currently work with who were hired as new grad nurses but failed their boards and either worked as techs until they passed, or are still working as techs and studying to retake. Hugs to your sis, because I know how awful she must feel!!!!!

Jules A, MSN · Jul 5, 2008

I'm so sorry this happened to your sister. I would think is unless the computer made a mistake in scoring her exam, which I seriously doubt, I can not imagine they would even entertain disputing the answers. Like the others said I think focusing on studying and taking it again would be the most productive thing at this point. Again I'm really sorry this happened.