Massachusetts NCLEX application: the $230 fee, PCS document review and retake timing
Written and reviewed by Rachel Goldberg, MSN, RN, CEN · 3 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 Massachusetts, apply in the Health Professions Licensing Portal, pay the Board of Registration in Nursing's $230 application fee by credit card, have your program send a Certification of Graduation after you graduate, and register with Pearson VUE for $200. Professional Credential Services (PCS) reviews your documents for the Board before you are made eligible.
Who reviews your file
The Board of Registration in Nursing sets the rules, but Professional Credential Services (PCS) handles document review for first-time exam applicants. PCS cannot start reviewing until everything is in, including a 2x2 passport-style photo uploaded to the application. Driver's license photos are not accepted.
Eligibility rests on three things: graduating from a board-approved program, good moral character as defined in state law, and passing the NCLEX. Graduates of programs outside Massachusetts should read the Board's document on eligibility for US-educated graduates before applying.
Timeline from application to ATT
| Step | What the Board or PCS says |
|---|---|
| Apply online | You may submit before graduating; fee is $230, credit card only |
| Certification of Graduation | Your program administrator completes it after the official graduation date; early forms are rejected |
| Transcript received | PCS emails you; allow 5 to 7 business days from receipt |
| Accommodations | Allow the Board 8 weeks to review an ADA request |
| Register with Pearson VUE | $200 (NCSBN says $350 from February 1, 2027), through the NCSBN candidate portal |
Your application stays active for one year from the date PCS or the licensing portal receives it. If you have not met every requirement and passed within that year, you file a new initial application and pay again. That one-year clock is the number to plan around.
Results, and when you can start work
The PCS FAQ says candidates who pass get an emailed License Letter about 3 business days after the exam. Candidates who do not pass receive a Candidate Performance Report and re-examination instructions by mail about 10 business days after the exam.
You can start working as a nurse once your license number appears on the Massachusetts Health Professions License Verification site, and you or your employer can print the verification from it. Waiting for a paper license is not required.
Retakes: 45 days and a 60-day ATT
Massachusetts lets you retake the NCLEX multiple times, with 45 days between attempts. You submit a re-examination application in the licensing system and may register with Pearson VUE as soon as you get your scores, but the ATT only becomes effective after the 45 days pass.
The FAQ says the retake ATT is valid for 60 days from the eligibility date printed on it, with no extensions. If it lapses, the FAQ says you must re-register and pay the applicable fees again. PCS keeps your transcript and Certification of Graduation while the application is active.
Internationally educated applicants
Nurses educated outside the US need a credential evaluation sent to PCS from a Board-approved agency: TruMerit (formerly CGFNS), Josef Silny and Associates, or SpanTran. From TruMerit, the Board accepts the CES Professional Report with the course-by-course nursing and science report and license validation; reports marked applicant copy are refused.
Applicants living outside the US without a Social Security Number can file an affidavit and apply, then must obtain an SSN within one year of licensure. The Board also sets accepted English proficiency tests in Licensure Policy 06-01.
Sources
Apply for a nursing license by exam, Mass.gov. $230 fee by credit card, eligibility rules, start work when license number shows on verification site, approved credential agencies, PCS address
FAQs: PCSHQ First-Time Examination, Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing. Photo rule, 5-7 day transcript notice, 8-week ADA review, 45 days between attempts, 60-day ATT, one-year application, Certification of Graduation timing, results timing, CES report, SSN affidavit
NCLEX Fees and Payment (NCSBN). $200 NCLEX registration fee for US candidates, $50 change-of-board fee, no refunds of registration fees
Common questions
How do I apply for the NCLEX in Massachusetts?
Create an account in the Health Professions Licensing Portal, submit the RN or LPN exam application with the $230 fee and a 2x2 photo, have your program send the Certification of Graduation after graduation, and register with Pearson VUE for $200.
How long does Massachusetts take to issue the ATT?
The Board does not publish a fixed time. PCS starts once every document is in; transcripts take 5 to 7 business days to be logged and ADA requests about 8 weeks. Retake ATTs start after a 45-day wait.
How do I check Massachusetts NCLEX results?
If you pass, PCS emails a License Letter about 3 business days after the exam, and your number appears on the state license verification site. If you fail, a performance report arrives by mail in about 10 business days.