California Board of Nursing NCLEX: RN steps, fees and timing

The order of steps for taking the NCLEX-RN in California: BreEZe application, fingerprints, transcripts, Pearson registration, ATT and scheduling, plus the fees the board lists.

Who applies to the California board

Licensure by examination vs. other routes

The BRN's Licensure by Examination page says applicants take the NCLEX-RN if they have never taken and passed it, or been licensed as a registered nurse in another state or U.S. territory. You also must have completed an educational program that meets all California requirements. If you are missing an educational requirement, the board says you must complete an approved course before testing.

This guide does not cover other routes, such as licensure by endorsement. It also does not judge whether your education qualifies. That is the board's decision, so ask the board if you are unsure.

Three application methods based on where you studied

The board's fee sheet sorts applicants into three methods by where they completed their nursing program:

1. Method 1, California graduate: You completed a program at a Board-approved California school.
2. Method 2, out-of-state U.S. graduate: You completed a program outside California but within the United States or a U.S. territory.
3. Method 3, international graduate: You completed a program outside the United States.

The board's application packet also describes separate expedited review for honorably discharged members of the U.S. Armed Forces, and for refugees, asylees and holders of certain special immigrant visas. Expedited means the process is faster, not that a license is guaranteed. We cannot advise on eligibility or immigration questions, so read those sections of the packet and contact the board.

The order of steps, from application to scheduling

Step 1: Create a BreEZe account and start the RN Initial Exam Application

The BRN highly recommends applying online. Register for a BreEZe account if you do not have one, then choose RN Initial Exam Application from the dropdown under the option to start a new application or take an exam. If you already sent a paper application, do not also submit an electronic version, because the board says that could slow things down.

The board suggests applying at least six to eight weeks before you want to test. It also says processing times vary with workload, so treat that as a minimum rather than a promise.

Step 2: Pay the board fees and attach your documents

At the end of the online application you can attach documents. The board asks you to attach as much as possible to reduce paperwork, speed review and cut down on deficiency letters. That includes the accommodation request form if you need one and any discipline documents, both covered below. You pay application fees with a valid credit card.

You also need to give your U.S. Social Security number or individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN). The board's instructions say disclosure is mandatory and that an application without it will not be processed.

Step 3: Fingerprints and the background check

There are two ways to complete the fingerprint requirement: electronic Live Scan or a fingerprint card (hard card). The board recommends Live Scan for applicants living in California because it shortens the fingerprint process.

For Live Scan you take a request form to a Live Scan site, and you must use a site located in California. The board says it cannot receive results from Live Scan locations outside California. You pay the operator's fee at the site, and it varies, so contact the site directly. The board's instructions say that on average Live Scan results take 1-2 weeks, while hard cards can take 1-2 months, and that processing times at the Department of Justice and FBI vary.

The instructions also note that FBI guidelines require the background check to be completed after you have submitted your application. For a hard card, you can request one through BreEZe, and the card is mailed to your address of record. The board says to allow 7-10 business days for it to arrive. Fill it out in black ink and do not fold it. The board warns a folded card may need to be redone, which delays your eligibility decision.

Step 4: Transcripts reach the board

Transcripts must come directly from your school, not from you. The way they arrive depends on where you studied:

1. California graduates: Board-approved California programs send transcripts to the board electronically when you complete the program. Confirm with your school that this is set up.
2. Out-of-state programs: Transcripts can be sent electronically from a certified third-party vendor or directly from your school.
3. International programs: Official transcripts must be mailed to the board. International applicants have extra forms, including a program breakdown and, for non-English transcripts, a certified translation.

The board says transcripts must be received and evaluated before you can be found eligible. It also warns that some applicants have waited up to 4-6 months to obtain complete transcripts, so request them well in advance.

Step 5: The board reviews your application and finds you eligible

The board evaluates your application, and if you are found eligible, you receive detailed instructions for registering with the NCLEX testing service. You can check progress by logging into BreEZe or using the Application Status and Details portal. The board's Processing Times page lists current timeframes.

Processing can take longer when documents arrive late from schools, agencies, other states or other countries. It can also take longer if your application discloses prior discipline, or if fingerprint processing is delayed.

Step 6: Register with Pearson

The board's fee sheet says it encourages you to wait until you are board-eligible before registering with Pearson. The reason: NCLEX registrations stay effective for 365 days, and candidates the board has not made eligible within that time forfeit their registration and fee.

When you register, your name must match exactly as it appears on the photo ID you will bring to the test center. The board says to give Pearson that same name to prevent delays in issuing your ATT. Registration is by credit, debit or prepaid VISA, MasterCard or American Express card. If you have not received confirmation within two days, nclex.com says to contact Pearson Candidate Services before submitting another registration.

Step 7: Receive your ATT and schedule

After the board declares you eligible and you have registered with Pearson, you receive an ATT email at the address you used to register. You need that email to schedule. Each ATT is valid for a period set by the board (nclex.com says the average is 90 days), and you must test within the validity dates.

You then schedule your appointment through Pearson Candidate Services, online or by telephone. Check the exact validity dates on your own ATT, because they are the ones that count.

California board fees and Pearson fees

Board fees as the BRN fee sheet states them

The fee sheet we read is marked Rev 7/21. Fees change, so confirm current amounts at rn.ca.gov before you pay. As that sheet lists them:

1. Method 1 application: $300.
2. Method 2 application: $350.
3. Method 3 application: $750.
4. Interim permit (optional): $100 for each method.
5. Fingerprint card fee: $49, listed as applying if you are out of state and using the hard card.
6. Live Scan: You pay the Live Scan operator directly, not the board.

The board states that all fees are non-refundable, even if an applicant is found ineligible.

The Pearson registration fee

Pearson's fee is separate from the board's. nclex.com lists the registration fee for candidates seeking U.S. licensure as $200 USD, and says that effective Feb. 1, 2027, the fee will be $350 in the United States and Australia. Changing your nursing regulatory body after registering costs $50, and so does changing your exam type between RN and PN.

nclex.com says there is no refund of registration fees for any reason, including duplicate registrations, failing to reschedule or cancel outside 24 business hours, or not appearing. It also describes a Qualified Veterans Reimbursement Program run with the Department of Veterans Affairs. See nclex.com for the details. For a broader look at fees and ATT timing, browse our NCLEX guides.

What the fee sheet does not settle

The fee sheet shows a revision date, not a date of review, so it cannot tell you whether the amounts are current today. nclex.com's licensure fee line for U.S. candidates simply says to contact the nursing regulatory body. Ask the board or check rn.ca.gov to confirm the total before you pay.

Fingerprints, discipline history and accommodations: do these early

These two items can slow an application the most, and both are easier to handle at the start than in the middle.

Reporting prior discipline

The board says disciplinary action against any registered nurse, practical nurse, vocational nurse or other health care license or certificate must be reported. Failing to report is treated as falsification of the application and is grounds for denial or revocation. When reviewing these cases, the board considers the nature and severity of the offense, recency, compliance with court sanctions and evidence of rehabilitation.

The burden is on the applicant to document rehabilitation, and all of that evidence must be in before you can be found eligible. As noted above, applications with prior discipline may take longer. This guide does not give guidance on convictions beyond what the board's instructions say, so contact the board.

Requesting testing accommodations

The board's instructions say that if you need an accommodation, you must tell the board by the time you apply. Include a Request for Accommodation of Disabilities form and a professional evaluation, and a nursing program verification form if you received accommodations in school. The form states that accommodations will not be provided at the exam site unless the request and documentation arrive with the application.

The board must approve accommodations before your test date, and nclex.com also says to request accommodations with your nursing regulatory body. You are responsible for the cost of obtaining the documentation, while the board says it will pay for approved testing accommodations.

The interim permit: what the board says

The board's instructions say first-time examination candidates may apply for an interim permit to work while awaiting results. The permit cannot be issued until all nursing requirements are complete, you have been found eligible, and fingerprint processing is complete and the board has the results. It is issued one time only and is valid for no longer than six months.

The permit expires immediately if you fail the exam. The regulation quoted by the board says the permittee practices under direct supervision of a registered nurse who is present and available on the unit. The fee is $100 and optional. Whether to get one is between you, your employer and the board, so check the board's page for the current requirements.

Results and the license in California

What the board's pages say

The pages this guide relies on do not state how or when California releases exam results, or when the license is issued after you pass. The only related detail is in the interim permit language, which says the permit becomes null and void when exam results are mailed.

Quick Results: check the list

These sources also do not say whether California participates in NCLEX Quick Results. Check the state list on nclex.com and the BRN site rather than relying on a third-party page.

What to do if you are unsure

Contact the board before you test if you need a timeline for work or licensure planning. Retake rules also vary by jurisdiction, so check the board's current pages rather than a general guide. Official NCSBN statistics on pass rates are published by NCSBN, and this guide does not cover them. Verifying or renewing a California RN license is a separate topic, handled through the BRN site and BreEZe. Pay is also outside what these sources address.

Common questions about the California path

Does the board or Pearson come first?

The board comes first. nclex.com says to submit your licensure application to the nursing regulatory body before registering with Pearson. The BRN adds that it encourages you to wait until you are board-eligible before you register.

Can someone else call the board for you?

Pending application files are not public record. The board says you must sign and submit a release of information before it releases information to employers, relatives or other third parties.

What if you change your name or address?

Notify the board immediately. A name change requires legal documentation, such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce decree, court documents, Social Security card or passport. The board says a copy of a driver's license is not acceptable.

Where do you send questions?

The board encourages using its website first because of heavy phone volume. You can also call the Board of Registered Nursing at (916) 322-3350.

Where to go next

While your paperwork moves, you can study the exam itself. Our 2026 NCLEX-RN® test plan guide explains how the exam is organised. Nothing here is a guarantee of eligibility, timing or a result, and no one at NCSBN or the California board endorses this guide.

PreceptIQ, an NCLEX® coach that studies your mistakes, is coming to iPhone and Android at https://preceptiq.app. It is a study aid, not a guarantee.

Common questions

NCLEX®, NCLEX-RN® and NCLEX-PN® are registered trademarks of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN®). PreceptIQ is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NCSBN.