New York NCLEX application: how NYSED eligibility, fees and limited permits work
Written and reviewed by Rachel Goldberg, MSN, RN, CEN · 4 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 New York, file Online Form 1 with the New York State Education Department (NYSED), pay the $143 license and first registration fee, and register separately with Pearson VUE for $200. NYSED reviews your file and tells Pearson VUE you are eligible, and Pearson VUE then sends your Authorization to Test.
Who handles the application in New York
New York has no stand-alone board that approves candidates. Licensing runs through NYSED's Office of the Professions, and its Nurse Unit decides whether you may sit for the NCLEX. That is why New York guidance talks about NYSED, Form 1 and pathways rather than a board portal.
NYSED splits RN applicants into five pathways. Pathway 1 covers graduates of NYSED-registered programs never licensed as an RN; others cover out-of-state graduates, nurses licensed elsewhere, recent Canadian graduates and graduates of programs outside the US. Pick the pathway first, because it decides which forms and verifications you need.
Requirements and fees for RN and LPN candidates
| Item | RN | LPN |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum age | 18 | 17 |
| Education | NYSED-acceptable nursing program | High school or equivalent plus an NYSED-acceptable program |
| Infection control coursework | Required or exemption | Required or exemption |
| Child abuse reporting coursework | Required or exemption | Not listed for LPN |
| NYSED license and first registration fee | $143 | $143 |
| Limited permit fee | $35 | $35 |
| Pearson VUE NCLEX registration | $200 | $200 |
Most new graduates already meet the coursework rules. NYSED says graduates of an NYSED-registered RN program after September 1, 1990 have the child abuse coursework, and graduates of a registered program within the past four years have the infection control coursework. Out-of-state graduates often do not, so check before you file.
RN candidates should also know about New York's BSN in 10 law, which requires certain RNs to earn a baccalaureate or higher in nursing within 10 years of licensure; an amended regulation clarifying who must comply took effect April 29, 2026. Read the NYSED notice to see whether it applies to you.
How your ATT is issued
You pay NYSED by credit card on Online Form 1 and register with Pearson VUE yourself. NYSED's FAQ is explicit that it cannot issue an ATT, give you an ATT number, or predict when Pearson VUE will send one. Once NYSED finds you eligible it notifies Pearson VUE, which sends the ATT by mail or email.
If you need testing accommodations, NYSED must approve the request form before you can sign up, so note it on Form 1 and send the form early. Graduates educated abroad must have TruMerit verify their credentials or use Forms 2F and 3F before NYSED can clear them.
Working before you pass: the limited permit
A $35 limited permit lets you work as a graduate nurse at one named facility, under an RN who is on the unit with you. It lasts up to one year, or until 10 days after you learn you failed the NCLEX, whichever is sooner. Anyone who has ever taken the NCLEX is not eligible for one.
Graduates of NYSED-registered programs who applied for the license and a limited permit may also practice for 90 days right after graduation under the same supervision rule. Changing employers means applying for a new permit.
Results and retakes
NCSBN says official results come from the licensing agency within six weeks; the NYSED pages do not publish their own timeline. After passing, NYSED issues a license parchment and a registration certificate valid for three years.
A retake costs only the Pearson VUE fee: you re-register with Pearson VUE and pay $200, and NYSED's FAQ says you do not file a new application or pay NYSED again. NCSBN's fees page says the $200 Pearson VUE fee rises to $350 on February 1, 2027. That FAQ also says New York is not a Nurse Licensure Compact state; it is an older page, so check NCSBN's compact map before assuming a New York license travels.
Sources
License Requirements for Registered Professional Nursing, NYSED Office of the Professions. $143 fee, $35 limited permit, age 18, coursework rules, BSN in 10 amendment of April 29, 2026, limited permit and 90-day new graduate rules, five pathways
License Requirements for Licensed Practical Nurses, NYSED. LPN $143 fee, age 17, high school, infection control coursework
Nursing Frequently Asked Questions, NYSED (last updated August 2019). ATT issued by Pearson VUE after NYSED eligibility, NYSED cannot issue ATT numbers, retake needs only Pearson VUE re-registration, New York not a compact state
RN Pathway 1, NYSED. Online Form 1 paid by credit card, Form 5 limited permit, re-register with Pearson VUE to retake
NCLEX Results (NCSBN). Official results come only from the board, within six weeks; unofficial Quick Results two business days after the exam where the board participates
Common questions
How do I apply for the NCLEX in New York?
Choose your NYSED pathway, file Online Form 1 with the $143 fee, have education verified as the pathway requires, and register with Pearson VUE for $200. NYSED tells Pearson VUE when you are eligible.
How long does New York take to issue the ATT?
NYSED does not publish a processing time and says it cannot predict when Pearson VUE will send the ATT. The ATT follows NYSED's eligibility decision, so a complete file with coursework covered is the main thing you control.
Do I pay NYSED again if I fail the NCLEX in New York?
No. NYSED's FAQ says you only re-register with Pearson VUE and pay its $200 fee. A limited permit ends 10 days after you are notified of the failure.