REx-PN exam guide 2026: format, questions, time, passing standard
The REx-PN has 90 to 150 questions in four hours, 30 unscored, and no NGN items. See the stopping rules, test plan, 2027 passing standard, fees and retakes.
- The REx-PN is adaptive: 90 to 150 questions in four hours, 30 of them unscored.
- It has no case studies, bow-tie or matrix questions.
- The passing standard rises from -0.32 to -0.09 logits on 1 January 2027.
- The official Exam Preview is free: 125 questions, not adaptive, not scored.
The REx-PN is the licensing exam for practical nurses in Ontario and British Columbia. It is a computerized adaptive test of 90 to 150 questions with a four-hour limit, and 30 of those questions are unscored. It has no Next Generation (NGN) case studies. You pass when the exam's estimate of your ability reaches the passing standard, which rises on 1 January 2027.
This guide puts every rule in one place: the format, the stopping rules, what the questions cover, the passing standard, fees and retakes.
The REx-PN at a glance
These rules apply in Ontario and British Columbia. We checked them in October 2026.
| Rule | REx-PN |
|---|---|
| Who sits it | Practical nurse candidates registering with CNO in Ontario (RPN) or BCCNM in British Columbia (LPN). NCSBN builds the exam. |
| Format | Computerized adaptive test (CAT) of variable length |
| Questions | 90 to 150. Thirty are unscored pretest questions, so 60 to 120 count. |
| Time limit | 4 hours in total, including the tutorial, sample questions and breaks. There is no limit for each question. |
| Breaks | Optional. Any break comes out of the four hours. |
| Moving through | You must answer each question to go on. Once you move on, you cannot go back. |
| Item types | Multiple choice (most questions), multiple response (select all that apply), fill-in-the-blank calculation, exhibit and graphic |
| NGN items | None. The REx-PN has no case studies, bow-tie or matrix questions. |
| Scoring | Single-answer questions are right or wrong. Multiple-response questions have earned partial credit since January 2026. |
| Tools | An on-screen calculator and an erasable note board. Measurements are metric, lab values use SI units and temperatures are in Celsius. |
| Stopping rules | 95% confidence rule, maximum-length rule, run-out-of-time rule |
| Passing standard | -0.32 logits until 31 December 2026. -0.09 logits from 1 January 2027. |
| Languages | English. Ontario candidates can also write it in French. |
| Fee | CA$350 plus tax for each attempt, with no refunds |
| Result | Pass or fail, from CNO or BCCNM, up to six weeks after the exam |
| Retakes | At least 60 days between attempts, so up to six attempts a year |
How the exam decides when to stop
After each answer, the exam updates its estimate of your ability and picks a question near that level from the area the test plan needs next. It stops by whichever of three rules applies first.
- The 95% confidence rule. Once you have answered at least 90 questions, the exam stops when it is 95% certain your ability is clearly above or clearly below the passing standard. Most candidates finish this way.
- The maximum-length rule. At 150 questions the exam stops, and your final ability estimate decides the result.
- The run-out-of-time rule. If the four hours end before you answer 90 questions, you fail. If you answered 90 or more, your final ability estimate decides.
Pace yourself so you could reach 150 questions inside four hours. That works out to a little over a minute and a half per question, with the tutorial and any breaks on the same clock.
What the questions cover
Questions come from eight Client Needs areas. The weights below are the same in the 2022 and 2027 test plans, and each exam can vary by up to 3% either way.
| Client Needs area | Share of the exam |
|---|---|
| Management of Care | 21% |
| Safety and Infection Prevention and Control | 13% |
| Health Promotion and Maintenance | 9% |
| Psychosocial Integrity | 11% |
| Basic Care and Comfort | 9% |
| Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies | 17% |
| Reduction of Risk Potential | 11% |
| Physiological Adaptation | 9% |
Management of Care and pharmacology together make up more than a third of the exam. The free test plan lists the tasks under each area, so it doubles as the official REx-PN study guide.
Question types and scoring
The REx-PN uses five formats. Most questions are multiple choice with one correct answer. The rest are multiple response (select all that apply), fill-in-the-blank calculations, and questions built around an exhibit or a graphic.
- Questions with one correct answer are scored right or wrong.
- Since January 2026, multiple-response questions earn partial credit. A partly correct answer earns part of the mark.
- Calculations use the on-screen calculator. Handheld calculators are not allowed.
- There are no case studies, bow-tie or matrix questions. Those belong to the Next Generation NCLEX used in the United States. See how REx-PN differs from NCLEX-PN.
The passing standard, and the 2027 change
The REx-PN has no pass mark in percent. The exam measures ability on a logit scale, and you pass when your final ability estimate is at or above the passing standard. No fixed share of candidates passes or fails.
| Exam date | Passing standard |
|---|---|
| 4 January 2022 to 31 December 2026 | -0.32 logits |
| 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2031 | -0.09 logits |
The higher standard from 2027 means you must answer harder questions correctly to pass. The 2027 test plan starts on the same day. It keeps the same eight areas, the same weights and the same item formats.
Ontario and British Columbia
The exam, its rules and its passing standard are the same in both provinces. What differs is the regulator that approves you, the title you earn and who sends your result.
| Ontario | British Columbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Regulator | College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) | British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) |
| Title | Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) | Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) |
| Who sends your result | CNO | BCCNM |
In Ontario the REx-PN is often called the RPN exam. It replaced the CPNRE in both provinces in January 2022.
How to register, and what it costs
- Apply to CNO or BCCNM and meet its requirements for the exam.
- Register with Pearson VUE and pay the CA$350 fee plus tax by credit, debit or prepaid card.
- Wait for your regulator to make you eligible. It must do so within 365 days of your registration.
- Pearson VUE emails your Authorization to Test (ATT). You must test within its dates, and there are no extensions.
- Book your appointment and bring acceptable identification on the day.
Fees are not refunded for any reason. If you test outside Canada and the United States, an international scheduling fee of CA$150 is added. To keep your fee when you move or cancel an appointment, do it at least 24 business hours ahead.
Results and retakes
Your official result comes from CNO or BCCNM, up to six weeks after the exam. The test centre releases nothing. If you do not pass, you receive a Candidate Performance Report to guide your study before the next attempt.
You must wait at least 60 days between attempts, which allows up to six attempts a year. CNO and BCCNM set no limit on the total number of attempts. Each attempt is a new registration and a new CA$350 fee. The exam never shows a repeat candidate a question they have seen before. The retake date checker works out your earliest date.
The free official Exam Preview
The Exam Preview on rexpn.com is the official REx-PN practice exam, and it is free in English and French. It has 125 questions like those on the REx-PN, in a fixed order. It is not adaptive and it gives no score, so it shows you the style of the questions without telling you where you stand. None of the 125 questions will appear on your exam.
The free candidate tutorial shows you the real Pearson VUE test screens. Take both before exam day.
How to study for the REx-PN
Plan on several weeks of steady practice. Short daily sessions work better than a weekend cram, because you meet each topic again before you forget it.
- Use the test plan as your checklist. Give Management of Care and pharmacology the most time, because they carry 38% of the exam between them.
- Try twelve free REx-PN practice questions with a reason for every option. They need no account.
- If your course or question bank was written for the American exam, read REx-PN and NCLEX-PN: what differs and skip the NGN case studies.
- To choose a course, compare the best REx-PN prep courses and resources.
- Practise select-all questions until you can say why each option is right or wrong. Partial credit rewards every correct choice.
- Learn lab values in SI units, such as mmol/L, and practise calculations with metric doses.
Medibara teaches the REx-PN in short video lessons. Each one ends with REx-PN-style questions that use SI units and Canadian terms. The lessons and practice questions are free. Start your free daily round.
Questions about the REx-PN exam
- How many questions are on the REx-PN?
- Between 90 and 150. Thirty of them are unscored pretest questions, so 60 to 120 count toward your result. Pretest questions look the same as scored ones, so give every question your best answer.
- How long is the REx-PN?
- Four hours in total, whatever number of questions you get. The four hours include the tutorial, the sample questions and any breaks you take. All breaks are optional. There is no time limit for a single question.
- Is the REx-PN a computerized adaptive test?
- Yes. After each answer the computer updates its estimate of your ability and picks the next question to match it. The exam stops when it is 95% certain you are above or below the passing standard, when you reach 150 questions, or when the four hours run out.
- Does the REx-PN have Next Generation (NGN) questions?
- No. The REx-PN has no case studies, bow-tie or matrix questions. Its formats are multiple choice, multiple response (select all that apply), fill-in-the-blank calculation, exhibit and graphic questions. Most are multiple choice.
- What score do I need to pass the REx-PN?
- There is no percentage or number of correct answers to reach. You pass when your final ability estimate is at or above the passing standard. The standard is -0.32 logits until 31 December 2026 and rises to -0.09 logits on 1 January 2027.
- How do I know if I passed the REx-PN?
- Only CNO in Ontario or BCCNM in British Columbia can tell you. Nothing is released at the test centre. Allow up to six weeks for your official result. The number of questions you got says nothing about a pass or a fail.
- How often can I retake the REx-PN?
- You must wait at least 60 days between attempts, so you can sit it up to six times a year. CNO and BCCNM set no limit on the total number of attempts. Each attempt costs the full CA$350 fee plus tax.
- Is there a free REx-PN practice test?
- Yes. The official Exam Preview is a free download in English and French. It has 125 sample questions in a fixed order, and it is not adaptive or scored. The candidate tutorial, which shows the real test screens, is free too.