NCLEX for Ghanaian nurses: test centers, fees and the document chain
Written and reviewed by Rachel Goldberg, MSN, RN, CEN · 4 min read · Updated November 2026
Short answer
There is no NCLEX test center in Ghana as of November 2026, so Ghanaian nurses register like any other international candidate and test abroad or in the US. You apply to one US state board, have your Ghana credentials evaluated if that board requires it, register with Pearson VUE for $200, and pay an extra $150 to test outside the US.
Is there an NCLEX center in Ghana?
No. The NCLEX testing locations page lists the international sites as Australia, Brazil, France, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Turkiye and the United Kingdom. Ghana is not on it, and neither is Nigeria or any other West African country.
For a candidate living in Ghana, the closest options on that list are Kenya and South Africa, with the United Kingdom as the other common choice. NCSBN warns that the international list can change without notice, so open the Pearson VUE locator on nclex.com before you book flights or a visa appointment.
What the NCLEX costs a Ghanaian nurse
As of November 2026, NCSBN lists a $200 registration fee for candidates seeking US licensure, plus a $150 international scheduling fee (and value-added tax where it applies) if you book any center outside the US and its territories. Neither fee is refundable. NCSBN has also announced that the registration fee rises to $350 on February 1, 2027.
Worked example: a nurse who registers before February 1, 2027 and tests in Nairobi pays $200 plus $150, or $350 before tax. The same nurse registering after February 1, 2027 pays $350 plus $150, or $500. Board application fees, credential evaluation fees, flights and hotel stay are all on top, so price the trip before you pick a center.
One trap to plan around: if you book an international center and later move the appointment to a US center, the $150 is forfeited. Moving between two international centers keeps it. Decide early whether you will be in Ghana or the US on test day.
How Ghanaian nurses register, in order
Step one is choosing a US state board and applying to it, because the board decides eligibility, not Pearson VUE. Step two is whatever credentials review that board demands. Step three is registering with Pearson VUE online or by phone and paying the fee. Step four is waiting for the Authorization to Test email, then scheduling within its validity dates.
NCSBN says a registration stays open for 365 days from the time the board receives it, while the board decides your eligibility. If your board file stalls past that, the registration fee is lost, so do not register with Pearson VUE months before your board paperwork is moving.
The documents that have to leave Ghana
If your board requires a credentials evaluation, the common product is TruMerit's Credentials Evaluation Service Professional Report (TruMerit is the organization formerly called CGFNS, and says all 50 state boards accept the report). TruMerit requires your licenses, registrations and diplomas to be sent directly by the issuing authority, which for a Ghanaian nurse is normally the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Ghana, and transcripts sent directly by your nursing school. Copies you mail yourself are not accepted.
As of November 2026 TruMerit lists the CES Professional Report at $485 and says 70% of reports are issued within seven business days once every primary source document has arrived. The seven-day clock only starts once every document has arrived, so request verification from the Council and your school at the same time.
Do Ghanaian nurses need an English test?
For the board, it depends on the state. Florida, for example, asks for an English test only when instruction and textbooks were not in English. For a US work visa, the answer is usually yes: TruMerit exempts only nurses educated in the UK, Australia, Canada outside Quebec, New Zealand, Ireland or the US, and Ghana is not on that list.
That VisaScreen route accepts TOEFL iBT, Academic IELTS, OET, PTE Academic, MET and Cambridge English, but not at-home versions. Book an in-center sitting if a US job is the goal, so the one score can serve both the board and the visa.
Sources
NCLEX testing locations (NCSBN). International NCLEX test center countries; Ghana not listed (viewed November 2026).
NCLEX fees and payment (NCSBN). $200 registration fee, $150 international scheduling fee, no refunds, $350 fee from February 1, 2027.
2026 NCLEX Examination Candidate Bulletin (NCSBN, April 2026). International scheduling fee forfeit rules, VAT, passport-only ID at international centers.
Credentials Evaluation Service Professional Report (TruMerit). Documents sent directly from issuing authorities and schools; 70% of reports in seven business days.
VisaScreen visa credentials assessment (TruMerit). English test exemption countries and accepted tests; at-home versions not accepted.
Common questions
Can I take the NCLEX in Ghana?
No. As of November 2026 Ghana is not on NCSBN's list of international NCLEX locations. The nearest listed African sites are Kenya and South Africa; the UK is another option.
How much is the NCLEX for a Ghanaian nurse?
$200 registration plus a $150 international scheduling fee if you test outside the US, as of November 2026. The registration fee becomes $350 on February 1, 2027. Neither fee is refunded.
Who sends my documents from Ghana?
The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Ghana sends license verification and your school sends transcripts, directly to the evaluator or board. TruMerit does not accept documents mailed by the applicant.