The NCLEX for Kenyan nurses: what you need, what it costs and where to sit it
Written and reviewed by Rachel Goldberg, MSN, RN, CEN · 4 min read · Updated November 2026
Short answer
Kenyan nurses cannot currently sit the NCLEX in Kenya: as of November 2026, nclex.com lists no Kenyan test center, so candidates test in a listed country such as South Africa or India, or in the US. Budget the $200 registration fee ($350 from Feb. 1, 2027) plus a $150 international scheduling fee and any VAT.
Where Kenyan nurses can test
As of November 2026, nclex.com lists international NCLEX test centers in Australia, Brazil, France, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Kenya is not on that list, and the Candidate Bulletin warns that the list can change without notice, so confirm on the Pearson VUE site before you plan travel.
For US licensure, any center outside the US and its territories counts as international and adds a $150 scheduling fee plus VAT where it applies. That fee is not refunded, and moving an international booking to a US center forfeits it, although switching between international centers does not.
The steps before you can book
You apply to one US state board, not to NCSBN. The bulletin's sequence is: apply to the board, meet its eligibility rules, register with Pearson VUE, get an acknowledgment, wait for the board to make you eligible, receive your Authorization to Test, then schedule. When you register, use Kenya's program code, KE99F00000, from NCSBN's July 2026 list.
Most boards want a credentials evaluation. For the TruMerit (CGFNS) CES Professional Report, your license validation must be sent directly to TruMerit by the issuing authority and signed within the last three years, though some state boards want it dated within nine months. Your school sends transcripts directly, in English, and you also submit proof of your secondary education.
A worked example: Nevada
The Nevada State Board of Nursing's guidance for international graduates shows how a board applies these rules. It accepts either a TruMerit CES Professional Report or a Josef Silny evaluation, and it waives the English test only for graduates of programs in a named list of countries that includes South Africa and Ghana but not Kenya.
So a Kenyan graduate applying to Nevada must pass TOEFL iBT (84 with 26 in speaking), PTE Academic (56 with 63 in speaking) or IELTS Academic (6.5 with no module under 6.0). Nevada will not release an ATT until the evaluation and English result are approved, and it requires a Social Security number or ITIN for licensure. Other boards set different rules, so read your chosen board's page.
What it costs on the exam side
Registration is $200 if you complete it before Feb. 1, 2027 and $350 on or after that date, according to nclex.com. Sitting in South Africa or India adds the $150 international scheduling fee and any VAT, so a candidate registering in March 2027 pays at least $500 before travel.
Board application fees, the credentials evaluation, the English test and fingerprinting are separate charges set by each organization. Check the current TruMerit fee schedule and your board's fee page rather than relying on figures quoted elsewhere.
What NCSBN's 2025 numbers show
In NCSBN's 2025 NCLEX statistics, 4,096 Kenya-educated nurses took the NCLEX-RN for US licensure for the first time and 2,383 passed, a rate of 58.2 percent. Kenya sent the third-largest group of first-time internationally educated candidates, after the Philippines and India.
For comparison, 52,827 internationally educated first-time candidates tested in 2025 and 47.3 percent passed. These are group figures for one year; they say nothing certain about your own result.
Sources
nclex.com: Frequently asked questions. International test locations; Feb. 1, 2027 fee of $350
NCLEX Examination Candidate Bulletin, April 2026. Registration steps, $200 fee, $150 international scheduling fee and refund rules, domestic vs international centers
TruMerit (CGFNS): CES Professional Report. License validation sent by the issuing authority within three years, transcripts direct from school, secondary education proof
Nevada State Board of Nursing: Information for International Graduates. Accepted evaluations, English exemption country list, TOEFL/PTE/IELTS scores, ATT and SSN/ITIN rules
NCSBN: 2025 NCLEX Examination Statistics. Kenya first-time RN candidates, passes and rate; all internationally educated first-time totals
Common questions
Can Kenyan nurses take the NCLEX in Kenya?
Not as of November 2026. Kenya is not among the international test locations on nclex.com, so Kenyan candidates test in a listed country such as South Africa or India, or in the US. Check the Pearson VUE site, since the list can change.
How much does the NCLEX cost for a Kenyan nurse?
$200 to register before Feb. 1, 2027, or $350 after, plus a $150 international scheduling fee and VAT if you test outside the US. Board, credentials evaluation and English test fees are extra.
Do Kenyan nurses need IELTS or TOEFL for the NCLEX?
It depends on the board. Nevada, for example, requires an English test from Kenya-educated applicants because Kenya is not on its exempt list. Check your chosen board's current rules before booking a test.