Becoming a nurse is an extremely rewarding career path, but there are various steps needed to get there. In order to become a nurse today, aspiring caregivers must enroll in an approved nursing school program, earn the necessary education, and obtain licensure. Nursing licensure is granted via examination.
Specifically, aspiring nurses must take and pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to become licensed and registered nurses. However, there are also many other exams that nurses must take throughout their educational and professional careers.
This guide will cover the common types of nursing exams nurses must take during their careers.
What is a nurse?
A registered nurse (RN) is a licensed nurse who works as part of a team with doctors and physicians to provide patient care. Registered nurses also oversee licensed practical nurses (LPNs), certified nursing assistants (CNAs), and home health aides.
RNs are responsible for assessing patient conditions, administering treatments, and providing health counseling to those in need. Additionally, they perform the following tasks and duties:
- Administering medications and other personalized interventions for treatment
- Collecting lab samples and performing diagnostic tests
- Coordinating patient care in collaboration with a wide array of healthcare professionals
- Performing physical exams and recording health histories for patients before making critical decisions
- Providing health promotion, counseling, and education to patients and families
Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) are also nurses, but do not have the same level of responsibility as RNs. Licensed practical nurses provide basic patient care and comfort, such as monitoring vital signs, dressing wounds, and relaying patient concerns to doctors and RNs. Learn more here.
What nursing exams are required of nurses?
Nurses take a variety of nursing exams throughout their careers, including entrance exams into nursing school, tests throughout their nursing program, and the NCLEX exam to attain their official licensure. Additionally, some nurses take credentialing exams to advance their careers and earn a higher salary.
Furthermore, these nursing exams determine an individual’s potential for success in nursing programs, measure their essential knowledge for safe practice, and grant specialized certifications for advanced practice.
Entrance exam into nursing school
Most, if not all, nursing schools require applicants to submit university and program applications, transcripts, prerequisite coursework, background checks, drug screenings, and entrance exams.
Keep in mind that every college and university’s nursing program will have different application requirements, including testing requirements, so students should do their research to know what will be expected of them.
For example, many nursing school applicants must take The Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS), including those at Goodwin University. A common prerequisite for nursing and undergraduate healthcare programs, this test is a standardized, multiple-choice entrance exam that covers subjects such as reading, math, science, and English and language use.
An additional entrance exam required by many nursing schools is the National League of Nursing (NLN) exam. Goodwin University offers this pre-admission exam three times a year (in January, May, and September), and nursing students are accepted three times a year. Students must be enrolled in Anatomy & Physiology II in order to register for this pre-entrance exam.
Learn about Goodwin’s nursing school here!
The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX)
The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) is a standardized test to determine whether a nursing student is prepared for entry-level nursing practice.
There are different types of this exam, such as:
- The National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN©): This exam allows nursing students to become licensed as registered nurses (RN) and may begin working in the field or go on to complete a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BSN).
- The National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN): This exam allows candidates to earn licensure as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN).
Nursing students attending an education program focused on pre-licensure are also eligible to sit for the NCLEX exam.
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing administers these exams to determine whether candidates can demonstrate strong nursing knowledge and provide safe and effective nursing practice at the entry-level.
It asks questions covering topics such as:
- Health promotion and maintenance
- Patient care and management
- Safety and infection control
Candidates are also assessed on their basic knowledge of nursing, ability to analyze and apply their knowledge to practice, and application of rules and processes to identify the best possible care.
Exams for specialized credentials and certifications
Taking and passing nursing exams for specialized credentials and certifications are great ways to showcase one’s expertise in nursing and nursing specialties, not to mention a great way to pursue senior-level positions and salaries.
A nursing certification confirms nurses have the skills outlined in the certification, which can be attractive to certain employers or even required for some state licensure. After getting a certification, a registered nurse can add the certification acronym to their title, enhancing a resume and professional profile.
Common and popular nurse licensing credentials include:
- APRN (advanced practice registered nurse): Advanced practice registered nurses are licensed through a state board of nursing. This license can be earned only after earning the registered nurse (RN) credentials and completing a master’s degree program. Due to the level of education needed, these medical professionals are licensed to practice independently without physician oversight. At a high level, there are four types of advanced practice registered nursing roles you can pursue with this credential:
- Certified nurse anesthetists (CNA)
- Certified nurse-midwives (CNM)
- Clinical nurse specialists (CNS)
- Family nurse practitioners (FNP)
- Nurse practitioners (NP)
- Oncology: Oncology nurses care for patients who have been diagnosed with cancer. They aid patients with pain control, treatment options, side effects, and coping with the disease. They also help educate and support families with loved ones battling cancer. Due to the many types of cancer out there, you can pursue many different certifications in Oncology nursing. For example:
- Advanced oncology certified clinical nurse specialist (AOCNS®)
- Blood and marrow transplant certified nurse (BMTCN®)
- Certified breast care nurse (CBCN®)
- Certified pediatric hematology oncology nurse (CPHON®)
- Oncology certified nurse (ONC®)
Exams are a common requirement in the field of nursing, but upon passing and completing them, candidates are ready to help others lead longer, happier, and healthier lives.
Find out more about these exams and all of the nursing programs at Goodwin University. Our accredited nursing school offers associate, Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-to-BSN), and master’s degree programs tailored to the busy nurse.
Enrollment is hassle-free and easy to get started. We’re ready when you are!
Goodwin University is a nonprofit institution of higher education and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), formerly known as the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Goodwin University was founded in 1999, with the goal of serving a diverse student population with career-focused degree programs that lead to strong employment outcomes.