Newly graduated Canadian nurses or foreign-qualified nurses must complete the Next Generation NCLEX examination to be able to practice and provide care in Canadian, American, and Australian healthcare settings. Passing this exam is a requirement for licensing in Canada. Here is your comprehensive guide to the NGN.
What is the NGN?
The NGN NCLEX is a licensing examination administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. This computer adaptive test is designed to ensure that nurses entering clinical practice have the appropriate level of knowledge and clinical judgment skills to confidently manage real-life situations that can arise in healthcare practice.
NGN Format
The NGN exam will include questions in the following format:
- Multiple choice
- Matrix Multiple Choice
- Multiple Response ‘Select N’
- Drop-Down Cloze
- Drop-Down Table
- Bowtie
- Multiple responses
- Matrix MR
Designated Time for the Exam
You will be provided with five hours to complete the exam.
Topics to be Covered
The main topics that this exam covers include:
- Safe and Effective Care Environment
– Management of Care (15-21%)
– Safety and Infection Control (10-16%) - Health Promotion and Maintenance (6-12%)
- Psychosocial Integrity (6-12%)
- Physiological Integrity
– Basic Care and Comfort (6-12%)
– Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies (13-19%)
– Reduction of Risk Potential (9-15%)
– Physiological Adaptation (11-17%)
NGN Fees to Take Exams in Canada
| Fee Type | Amount ($) |
| Registration | $360 |
| Additional international scheduling fees | $150 |
| Change exam language (English/French) after registration fee | $50 |
| Change the nursing regulatory body after the registration fee | $50 |
How to Apply for the NGN Examination in Ontario
- The first step that you must take is to start an application and apply to the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO). If you are eligible to take the NGN, you will be notified by the CNO. (Note that foreign-trained nurses must pass an assessment conducted by the National Nursing Assessment Service before taking the first step.)
- If you are eligible to apply, proceed to complete the registration process for your exam through the NCLEX website. Remember that you must pay a registration fee to take your exam.
- To take your exam, make the required payments to Pearson Vue.
- Before you proceed to book your exam, you must receive an Authorization to Test. After receiving the authorization, schedule a time slot for your exam through the NCLEX website.
Re-Taking your NGN Exam
You can attempt this exam a total of eight times in one given year.
Tips to Consider
- Read each question carefully. Make sure you understand the question before answering.
- Familiarize yourself with question format and structure.
- Start preparing for your exam as early as possible to ensure that you have enough time to prepare, practice, and ask questions.
- Remember to take care of your mental and physical health while studying to achieve optimal success.
- Practice time management skills and create a study schedule to help you balance your studying.
- Practice as much as possible using study guides and mock exams.
- Stay motivated and take time to enjoy yourself.
- Be productive in the time you have.
- Focus on achieving your ultimate educational goal.
- Take a preparatory course with Prep Nursing to make achieving your goals easier.
- Remember that since you got to this point, you can do it!
Book a free consultation with our experts to learn more about eligibility, exam, and preparation tips.
