REx-PN, CPNRE or NCLEX-RN: Which Nursing Exam Do You Write in Canada?

Canada uses three different entry-to-practice exams for nurses, and which one you write depends on whether you are a registered nurse or a practical nurse, and on your province. Here is the simple version.

The short answer

Quebec has its own exams. If you hear that another province is “about to switch” exams, believe it only when your own regulator announces it.

How each exam is scored

All three exams ask one question: is your ability above or below the passing standard? The passing standard is a fixed level of ability, not a percentage and not a curve. You are not competing with anyone else writing that day.

NCLEX-RN and REx-PN: adaptive

Both are computerized adaptive tests. After every answer the computer re-estimates your ability and chooses the next item at about your level, then stops as soon as it is confident you are above or below the standard. The NCLEX-RN has 85 to 150 items in up to 5 hours. The REx-PN has 90 to 150 items in up to 4 hours. Both include pretest items that do not count, and you cannot tell which ones they are, so give every item your full effort.

CPNRE: fixed length

Everyone in a CPNRE sitting writes the same length of exam. At the end, your correct scored answers are compared with a cut score.

Is the preparation different?

Less than you might think. The same skills decide all three exams: reading the question carefully, finding the key problem, prioritizing safely and knowing when to assess and when to act. The NCLEX-RN and REx-PN also share Next Generation item types and case studies, so practising those is essential for both.

How we can help

St. Paul’s Academy for Nurses prepares candidates for all three exams in live online classes with Fr. Josis Vazhakala, RN, MSN, in English and Malayalam. Not sure which exam is yours? Send us a WhatsApp message and we’ll point you in the right direction, then check the details with your regulator.