The NCLEX-RN® Test Plan in 2026: What's Still in Effect

The 2026 NCLEX-RN® test plan took effect in April 2026. Here's how it organizes Client Needs categories — and how to use it to focus your study, not just memorize topics.

Overview

NCSBN updates the NCLEX-RN® test plan every three years. The current version took effect in April 2023 and remains in force through 2026. If you are sitting the exam in 2026, this is the document that controls your test.

This guide translates the test plan into plain language: what is in it, what changed in 2023, and how to use it to plan your study without re-reading the 50-page PDF.

What the test plan actually is

The test plan is a public NCSBN document that defines:

  • The four Client Needs categories and their sub-categories.
  • The percentage range of questions for each sub-category.
  • The integrated processes that run through every question (nursing process, communication, teaching/learning, caring, culture, documentation, self-care).
  • The item types you will see (multiple choice, SATA, hot-spot, drag-and-drop, ordered response, fill-in, NGN case studies, NGN stand-alones).
  • The passing standard (currently 0.00 logits — the cut score the engine compares your ability to).
What is inside the test plan Five blocks: client needs categories, integrated processes, item types, percentages, passing standard. 2023–2026 NCLEX-RN® test plan Client Needs 4 categories, 8 sub-cats Integrated Processes 7 threads in every Q Item Types Old + 6 new NGN types Percentages Hours-budget per topic Pass Standard 0.00 logits, pass / fail
Figure 1. The five things every candidate should know from the test plan.

What changed in the 2023 update

Three changes matter for your study plan.

1. NGN was added. Every minimum-length exam includes three case studies, and standalone NGN items may also appear. They test the NCSBN Clinical Judgment Measurement Model — six steps from recognising cues to evaluating outcomes.

2. Question count became flexible. Older exams had a 75–265 range; the current minimum is 85 and the maximum is 150. The 5-hour time limit is unchanged.

3. Sub-category weights shifted slightly. Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies grew. Health Promotion shrank. The four parent categories stayed the same.

2019 vs 2023 test plan Three side-by-side blocks comparing item types, question count, and content focus before and after April 2023. What changed in April 2023 Before April 2023 • 75–265 questions • Multiple choice + SATA • Mostly recall + judgement • Pen-and-paper feel • Same Client Needs map From April 2023 • 85–150 questions • Old items + 6 NGN types • 6-step clinical judgement • Case-study scenarios • Slight Pharm reweight
Figure 2. Same passing standard, same Client Needs map — but new item types and a new judgement focus.

The seven integrated processes

These are the threads that run through every question, regardless of category. You will not see "integrated process" labelled on any item — but every correct answer respects them.

  • Nursing Process — assess, diagnose, plan, implement, evaluate.
  • Caring — empathy, presence, support.
  • Communication and Documentation — therapeutic communication, accurate charting, SBAR.
  • Teaching and Learning — patient education, evaluation of understanding.
  • Culture and Spirituality — respect, accommodation, no assumptions.
  • Self-Care — promoting client independence and wellness.
  • Pharmacology and Parenteral Therapies — safe medication thinking is woven through every category.

If two answers seem equally correct, ask which one completes a step of the nursing process more fully. The answer that assesses first almost always wins.

Item types you will see in 2026

Item types on the 2023-2026 NCLEX® Two columns. Left: classic items including multiple choice, SATA, ordered response, drag and drop, hot spot, fill in the blank. Right: the six implemented NGN formats: highlight, matrix, drag-and-drop, bow-tie, cloze/dropdown, and extended multiple response. All item types you might see Classic items • Multiple choice (4 options) • SATA (select all that apply) • Ordered response • Drag and drop • Hot spot (click on image) • Fill in the blank (calc) NGN items • Highlight + matrix • Drag-and-drop • Bow-tie • Cloze/dropdown • Extended multiple response • Six implemented formats
Figure 3. Both old and new item types appear on the same exam.

The exam mixes classic and NGN items. At the 85-item minimum, it includes 52 content-area items, 18 case-study items across three case studies, and 15 unscored pretest items. Standalone NGN items are individual questions, not case studies; the exact mix is set by the engine.

How to use the test plan in your study

Most students never open the actual document. That is a mistake. Here is the simplest workflow:

How to use the test plan Three steps: print the sub-category list, tag every wrong answer to its sub-category, re-weight study hours every two weeks. 1 Print the list 8 sub-cats 2 Tag every miss to a sub-cat 3 Re-weight hours every 2 weeks
Figure 4. The shortest route from a published test plan to a personalised study schedule.

The three steps:

  1. Print the sub-category list on a single page and tape it next to your screen.
  2. Tag every wrong question with its sub-category in your error log.
  3. Every two weeks, re-weight your study hours to spend more time on the sub-categories with the most misses.

FAQ

When does the next NCLEX® test plan come out?

NCSBN reviews the test plan every three years. The current 2023 test plan stays in effect through 2026. The next plan is expected in April 2026 and will be analysed and announced in advance — your 2026 study time is on the current plan.

Where can I download the official test plan?

The test plan is a free public PDF on ncsbn.org under "NCLEX® & Other Exams → NCLEX® RN/PN Examinations → Test Plans". Always download the version that matches your test date.

Do I need to memorise the test plan?

No. You only need to know the eight sub-categories, their rough percentage ranges, and the seven integrated processes. The detailed activity statements inside the PDF are useful as a checklist when you build a deeper study plan, but you will not be quizzed on them.

Has the passing score changed for 2026?

No. The current passing standard is 0.00 logits, set by NCSBN in 2023 and held stable through this test-plan cycle. The passing standard is reviewed when each new test plan is published.

Are SATA questions still on the test in 2026?

Yes. Select-all-that-apply items remain on every exam. Some SATA items now use partial-credit scoring under the NGN model, but classic all-or-nothing SATA items are still common. Practise both.

Go deeper: this post covers the test plan basics. Read the complete 2026 NCLEX-RN® guide — question types, adaptive scoring, clinical judgment, exam-day rules and study strategy in one comprehensive, regularly reviewed guide.

See also:

NCLEX-RN® Hub: 2026 Test Plan Explorer · Study Plan Generator

Practice on RN Clarity: Question Bank · Diagnostic Quiz · Study Plan