The NCLEX candidate tutorial: what it is, where to find it and when to take it
Written and reviewed by Rachel Goldberg, MSN, RN, CEN · 3 min read · Updated November 2026
Short answer
The NCLEX candidate tutorial is an online demo from NCSBN and Pearson that shows how to answer each item type in the real exam software. Take it at home before test day: the 2026 Candidate Bulletin says it is available before exam day, and your five hours at the center include only a short introductory screen.
Where to find the official tutorial
The Prepare page on nclex.com links the NCLEX Candidate Tutorial and says it is provided to help candidates become familiar with the Pearson exam software. It is offered in English and French.
The same page offers a separate Sample Pack with three RN case studies, two PN case studies and additional examples, plus an Exam Preview showing how item types fit together. Use the tutorial to learn the controls and the Sample Pack to see full case studies.
Is there a tutorial at the test center?
Many candidates expect a walkthrough at the start of the exam. The 2026 bulletin describes your five hours as covering a short introductory screen, two optional scheduled breaks, any unscheduled breaks and the exam itself. It does not describe a full software lesson on test day.
That changes how you prepare. Learning the drag and drop, highlight and drop-down controls on test day would cost exam time, because all of that time counts against the same five-hour clock. Doing the online tutorial at least once beforehand removes that risk.
What to practice in it
The bulletin says NCLEX items come in multiple formats and some are scored with partial credit, using plus or minus, zero or one, and rationale scoring. Go through each format at least once until you know how to select, unselect and submit without hesitating.
Also find the tools the bulletin says you will have: an on-screen calculator, plus an erasable note board and marker at the center. Know where the calculator sits on screen so you are not hunting for it in a dosage item.
How the exam clock works around it
Per the bulletin, the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN run 85 to 150 items with a five-hour limit regardless of length. The first optional break is offered after two hours of testing and the second after three and a half hours, and every break counts against your time.
Because the online tutorial is done at home, it uses none of that time. Take it once early in your prep and again in the week before your appointment, so the controls feel routine when the first scored item appears.
Sources
NCSBN, Prepare for the NCLEX. NCLEX Candidate Tutorial for the Pearson software; Sample Pack with 3 RN and 2 PN case studies; Exam Preview.
NCSBN, 2026 NCLEX Examination Candidate Bulletin (April 2026). Tutorial available before exam day; five hours include introductory screen and breaks; 85 to 150 items; break timing; calculator and note board; partial credit methods.
NCSBN, Exam Day. Five hours including breaks; on-screen calculator and erasable note board provided.
Common questions
Is the NCLEX tutorial timed?
The online tutorial is taken at home before exam day, so it uses none of your exam time. At the center, the five-hour limit includes a short introductory screen and all breaks.
Does the tutorial show Next Generation NCLEX items?
NCSBN says the tutorial familiarizes you with the Pearson exam software and its item formats. For full NGN case studies, use the official Sample Pack linked on the same Prepare page.
Do I need my ATT to open the tutorial?
The 2026 bulletin says the tutorial is available to all candidates before exam day, and the nclex.com Prepare page links it. Check that page for current access steps. The Sample Pack and Exam Preview are linked there too.