The Necessity of Innovation: Protecting the Public Through Progress

Innovation in nursing regulation is not a luxury, it is a necessity. Nursing has become increasingly complex, patients are more acutely ill, health care is delivered in new ways and nursing roles continue to evolve. Nursing regulation needs to continue to advance to protect the public and the trust in nursing.

"We cannot stand still in the face of rapid change," says Phil Dickison, PhD, RN, National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) CEO. "When we launched the Next Generation NCLEX® two years ago, it was because we saw the need to find an even more precise way to measure the clinical judgment of nursing candidates."

That innovation strengthened public safety, helping newly licensed nurses enter the workforce better prepared for real-world patient care. Better-prepared nurses mean better patient outcomes.

With concerns about potential workforce shortages, maintaining a steady pipeline of new, qualified nurses also requires innovative thinking. NCSBN is exploring technology that will improve how candidates take the NCLEX both within and outside of traditional test centers.

Learning From Crisis

When testing centers closed during the pandemic, aspiring nurses faced delays in joining a workforce that desperately needed them. The health care system, already strained by the crisis, was cut off from an influx of new nurses.

"The lockdowns taught us a stark lesson. We cannot rely solely on physical test centers," says Dickison. "NCSBN worked around the clock for three months to get test centers classified as critical infrastructure and reopened. That cannot happen again."

As a result, NCSBN began developing technology so candidates can take the NCLEX online, making it less dependent on physical locations that could be disrupted by natural disasters, pandemics or other crises.

Offering two ways to take the exam builds resilience against future disruptions and addresses the culture shift to a remote world, allowing candidates more choice. Dickison notes, "People will still be able to use test centers if they choose and the NCLEX will be the same rigorous exam no matter where you take it."

Taking the NCLEX online would also make it more accessible. Not every candidate lives near a test center. For some candidates, getting to an exam site means significant travel, time and expense. Being able to take the NCLEX online removes some of these barriers to entering the nursing profession. Expanding where candidates can take the exam means expanding the pool of qualified nurses ready to serve their communities.

Innovations in Security

As testing environments evolve, so must security measures. Some observers have speculated about what taking the NCLEX online would look like, but according to Dickison, those assumptions miss the mark.

"With any innovation there is always skepticism, and that's good. But people shouldn't make assumptions based on what they know about remote exams today," he comments. "Those exams don't meet our standard for security and integrity, and that's why we are building something new, something unlike anything available today."

NCSBN is developing technology to ensure identity verification and exam integrity, preventing candidates from receiving assistance during the exam. This enhanced security will not just be for candidates online, but it will also be used in the test centers.

"We are looking for two things no matter where you take the exam, the same measurement ability and maintaining and exceeding security standards," Dickison remarks.

Quality Before Timeline

This exploration has understandably generated a lot of excitement online, with many speculating about a 2026 launch date. But NCSBN has not set a launch date

"To be clear, NCLEX online will not be launching in 2026. We do not have a timeline, we have a quality line," Dickison said. "When what we are exploring exceeds our high standard for quality, security and integrity, then we will launch and not until we reach that point. Our commitment to public protection is non-negotiable."

NCSBN plans to share additional information as it becomes available. As development continues, Dickison's message is direct: "Don't believe anything unless you hear it from us."

When a launch date is set, NCSBN will provide substantial advance notice and detailed information, including a demonstration of the testing experience so stakeholders can see firsthand how different it is from conventional remote exams.

"We will bring them along for the ride just like we did with the Next Generation NCLEX," Dickison states. "I think when people see what we are building, they will understand not only how amazing this innovation is, but also how vital."

For updates and the most accurate information on the NCLEX, follow the official NCLEX social media and join the email list at NCLEX.com.