In welcome news for nursing licensure accessibility, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) has made public plans to introduce remote NCLEX testing.

Although no official launch date has been confirmed, some reports predict it could potentially happen as early as 2026.

Remote NCLEX testing would allow eligible candidates to the take the exam from home or another approved location, eliminating the need to travel to an official test center. The exam would maintain the same content, length, scoring and standards as the in-person version, and remote testing would be optional; testing at a center would still be possible. Importantly, remote testing would be available to both U.S.-based and international nursing candidates.

Regarding security, NCSBN says it will use advanced technology and robust measures for remote proctoring in order to ensure exam integrity.

For test takers, the potential benefits of remote testing are myriad. Candidates would have the flexibility to choose a time and location that suits them and the comfort of a familiar environment that could reduce stress and improve performance. Moreover, this development would reduce barriers to access, which may be particularly beneficial to international test takers who, in some cases, acquire substantial travel and visa costs to get to a testing center abroad.

By lowering those logistical barriers and potentially speeding up licensure, this change could impact international nurse recruitment pipelines.

LeadingAge will share updates as more details and a specific timeline become available.