Nursing

NCLEX Prep Courses: Which Of These Popular Options Is Right For You?

As you finish up your nursing coursework and prepare to enter the workforce, passing the NCLEX is your next crucial step. Developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), this certification exam ensures nurses have the minimum ability to practice safely and effectively at the entry-level. However, the NCLEX is not an easy exam to pass despite your preparation in nursing school!A prep course is a good way to practice and familiarize yourself with the exam, but with such a variety of NCLEX study courses to choose from, it’s essential to take the right course to avoid wasting your money and time. Whether you’re taking the NCLEX-RN or the NCLEX-PN, we have reviewed these NCLEX courses so you can make an informed decision. In this article, we’re highlighting some of the key features of five popular NCLEX prep courses. Keep reading to see which suits you best!

NCLEX Review Courses At A Glance

Information correct at time of research. Do note that offers are subject to change - we recommend verifying current products and pricing with the organization before your purchase.

1. Kaplan Nursing

Highly rated on Trustpilot, with 4.7 out of 5 stars based on more than 5,67100 reviews, Kaplan is a top choice for many nursing students. Their NCLEX prep courses are priced at $425 (self-paced) or $525 (live online). Both options offer lectures led by nurse educators, over 3,800 Qbank questions, three full-length computer adaptive tests (CATs) that mimic the NCLEX, and the NCLEX-RN Content Review Guide. The live online course includes live instruction in an online classroom.Kaplan stands behind its prep course, offering a 100% tuition refund or a 3-month free repeat for students who do not pass the exam after taking their NCLEX prep course.

2. Hurst Review

Boasting a 98% first-attempt pass rate, Hurst Review offers NCLEX prep courses ranging from $159 to $339. The packages include student plan checklists, 1,500 practice questions, and testing strategies and scenarios in all topics.The Hurst Guarantee gives students enrolled in any of their NCLEX prep courses a full refund if they take the NCLEX within 3 months of graduation at an accredited school of nursing and don't pass.Hurst Review has many glowing testimonials on their Facebook page, with users saying the content was made it easy to understand complex topics.

3. Princeton Review

The NCLEX Prep course from the Princeton Review includes 4,000 practice questions, the largest Q-Bank in the industry. All question types in the next generation NCLEX are included, with online flashcards to practice on the go.Pricing for practice courses ranges from $179 to $349, with longer access to the course content for the higher-priced courses. The $349 course gives you a full year of access.The guarantee for the online course has a few stipulations: you don't pass the test after completing at least 1,750 questions while booking at least 50 hours of using the QBank, plus you take the test at least 45 days after starting the course.

3. UWorld

UWorld boasts a proven result with a 98% pass rate; however, they do not offer a guarantee. Their award-winning courses have engaging, bite-sized review videos and practice tests that adapt to your test-taking skills.They offer a 7-day free trial with 50+ practice questions. For more thorough practice with 2,300+ questions, the paid courses range from $139-$249. They do not offer a guarantee.383 customers on Amazon have given UWorld’s NCLEX prep course an average of 4 stars out of 5. Many positive reviews have mentioned that their prep course has a comprehensive question bank with detailed explanations to help them learn.

4. Archer Review

ArcherReview offers a wide range of NCLEX prep course combinations catered to different budgets from $69 to $399. These combinations include over 2,900 QBank questions, unlimited CAT tests, and an assessment predicting how prepared you are for the NCLEX. They have a 99.35% across their courses. The mobile app has received a 4.9 out of 5 out of 14,999 ratings!With so many options available on the market catering to different learning styles, budgets, and preferences, making a decision can be hard. We hope that this review of NCLEX test prep courses has helped you make your decision!As you are preparing to take (and ace!) the NCLEX exam, don’t forget to look up Continuing Education requirements for nurses in your state! Interested in learning more about how you can get access to continuing education requirements for nurses? Check out our Unlimited Nursing CE Subscription!