REx-PN and NCLEX-PN: what differs
REx-PN has no case studies, uses SI units and scores multiple-response items with partial credit. See how it differs from NCLEX-PN.
- REx-PN has no case studies, bow-tie or matrix items.
- REx-PN uses SI units, Celsius and Canadian terms.
- The REx-PN passing standard rises on 1 January 2027.
REx-PN and NCLEX-PN both license practical nurses, and NCSBN builds both. They are not the same exam. If you prepare for REx-PN with material written for NCLEX-PN, you practise item types you will not see and units you will not use.
Who sits which exam
Ontario and British Columbia have used REx-PN since 4 January 2022. Practical nurses in the United States sit NCLEX-PN. Your regulator tells you which exam you need.
The item types differ
REx-PN has 90 to 150 items and a four-hour limit. It uses multiple-choice, multiple-response, fill-in-the-blank calculation, exhibit and graphic items. NCLEX-PN adds the Next Generation NCLEX item types.
| Feature | REx-PN | NCLEX-PN |
|---|---|---|
| Where it counts | Ontario and British Columbia | United States |
| Case studies | No | Yes |
| Bow-tie and matrix items | No | Yes |
| Lab values | SI units, such as mmol/L | US units |
Units and terms differ
REx-PN uses Canadian spelling and Canadian terms. One example is "unregulated care provider". Learn your lab values in SI units, because that is how the exam shows them.
The REx-PN passing standard rises in 2027
The REx-PN passing standard rises from -0.32 logits to -0.09 logits on 1 January 2027. A higher standard means you need to answer harder items correctly to pass. The 2027 test plan keeps the same item types.
How to prepare for REx-PN
- Practise the five REx-PN item types. Skip case studies, bow-tie and matrix items.
- Use material written in SI units, Celsius and Canadian terms.
- Practise multiple-response items until you can explain why each option is right or wrong.