California NCLEX application: requirements, fees and results for RN and LVN candidates
Written and reviewed by Rachel Goldberg, MSN, RN, CEN · 5 min read · Updated November 2026
Checked against official sources: November 2026
Rules, fees and deadlines differ by state and change without notice. Check with your state board of nursing before you rely on them.
Short answer
To take the NCLEX in California, apply to the right board in BreEZe first: RN candidates file the RN Initial Exam Application with the Board of Registered Nursing, and LVN candidates apply to the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians. Then register separately with Pearson VUE for $200 ($350 from February 1, 2027). As of October 2026 the BRN quotes 10 to 12 weeks to process exam applications.
Two boards, one exam vendor
California splits nurse licensing between two boards. The Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) approves NCLEX-RN candidates, while the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT) handles NCLEX-PN candidates, who are licensed in California as vocational nurses (LVNs). Both take applications through the state's BreEZe online system.
The board application and the exam registration are separate payments to separate bodies. The BRN's licensure FAQ says the NCLEX registration fee is $200, paid to Pearson VUE, plus a $150 international scheduling fee if you test abroad. Once the board finds you eligible, Pearson VUE emails your Authorization to Test (ATT), and you need it to book a seat.
NCSBN has announced that the NCLEX registration fee rises from $200 to $350 effective February 1, 2027, and registration fees are never refunded. Because California board processing takes weeks, check which fee applies on the day you register with Pearson VUE.
California application fees by route
| Fee | Board | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| RN exam application, California graduate | BRN | $300 |
| RN exam application, out-of-state US graduate | BRN | $350 |
| RN exam application, international graduate | BRN | $750 |
| RN interim permit (optional) | BRN | $100 |
| Fingerprint hard card (out of state) | BRN | $49 |
| LVN exam application, California school graduate | BVNPT | $300 |
| LVN exam application, equivalency or non-California graduate | BVNPT | $330 |
| LVN interim permit | BVNPT | $50 |
| LVN initial license | BVNPT | $300 |
Both boards treat these as earned fees: once paid, they are not refundable or transferable. The BVNPT adds that its exam fee only covers evaluating your application, so the NCLEX registration is always a separate charge on top of the board fee.
Budget for both at once. A California graduate applying for an RN license, for example, pays the BRN $300, pays Pearson VUE $200, and pays a Live Scan operator separately, with an optional $100 interim permit on top. Check both fee pages before paying, because amounts can change.
Fingerprints, transcripts and processing time
Every applicant must be fingerprinted. The BRN accepts Live Scan only from a site located in California, and you pay the Live Scan operator directly. If you live elsewhere, you request an FD-258 hard card through BreEZe for a $49 processing fee. The board says Live Scan results take 1 to 2 weeks on average, while hard cards take 1 to 2 months.
Transcripts follow your school's location. California programs send them electronically, out-of-state US programs send them to the BRN's eTranscripts address through a service such as Parchment or the National Student Clearinghouse, and international graduates have official transcripts mailed to the board.
The BRN's processing times page, dated October 22, 2026, showed 10 to 12 weeks for California, other US and international exam applications received October 1 to 15, 2026. California graduate applications move with their graduating group once transcripts arrive, while US and international ones are worked in the order received.
The interim permit and its catch
First-time RN candidates can request an interim permit to work while they wait for results. The BRN issues it only after you are eligible to test and your DOJ and FBI fingerprint results are back. It is issued one time only, lasts no longer than six months, and requires a registered nurse present on the unit to supervise you.
Under section 1414 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations, the permit becomes void when your results are mailed and expires immediately if you fail. Plan your work schedule with that in mind. LVN candidates should check the BVNPT directly; its fee schedule lists a $50 interim permit, but the pages reviewed here do not set out its conditions.
Results and California pass rates
The BRN says California candidates can buy unofficial Quick Results from Pearson VUE two business days after testing. If you pass, your license can be checked on the BreEZe license verification system. If you fail, the BRN mails your results with instructions on how to reapply, and you receive a Candidate Performance Report.
If you are choosing a program or comparing schools, the BRN publishes NCLEX-RN pass rates for first-time testers from California-approved programs, covering five annual periods that run July 1 to June 30. These are school pass rates for first-time testers, not a measure of your own odds.
Sources
California BRN examination application fees and instructions (PDF). BRN fees by route, Live Scan only in California, hard card $49, 1-2 weeks vs 1-2 months, interim permit rules under 16 CCR 1414
California BRN processing times. 10 to 12 weeks for exam applications received October 1-15, 2026 (page dated October 22, 2026); processing order
California BRN licensure applicant FAQs. $200 NCLEX registration, $150 international fee, ATT emailed by Pearson VUE, Quick Results after two business days, failing results mailed with reapply instructions, CPR
BVNPT fee schedule. LVN exam fees $300 and $330, interim permit $50, initial license $300, fees non-refundable, NCLEX fee separate
California BRN NCLEX-RN pass rates. Pass rates for first-time testers from California BRN-approved programs over five July 1 to June 30 periods
Common questions
How long does California take to issue the ATT?
The BRN does not issue the ATT; Pearson VUE emails it after the board approves you. As of October 2026 the BRN quoted 10 to 12 weeks to process exam applications, and it does not publish a separate ATT turnaround. Register with Pearson VUE early so your eligibility can be matched as soon as you are approved.
Can I do Live Scan fingerprints outside California?
No. The BRN cannot receive Live Scan results taken outside California. Out-of-state applicants request an FD-258 hard card through BreEZe and pay a $49 processing fee, and the board warns cards take about 1 to 2 months to clear compared with 1 to 2 weeks for Live Scan.
Do I pay the board and Pearson VUE separately?
Yes. The board fee, $300 to $750 at the BRN depending on where you studied or $300 to $330 at the BVNPT, covers your application. The NCLEX registration is a separate payment to Pearson VUE: $200 as of November 2026 per the BRN and NCSBN, rising to $350 on February 1, 2027.