license
Registered Nurse Licence (NCLEX-RN)
NCSBN / State Boards of Nursing
$200
exam fee · checked 2026-08
300 hrs
300 hours — about 30 weeks at 10 hrs/wk
2 yr
renewal cycle — this is a recurring cost
NCSBN / State Boards of Nursing — official page →
Where it is actually asked for
- Registered Nurse in Indianapolis70%16 of 23 postings
- Registered Nurse in Fresno53%9 of 17 postings
- Registered Nurse in Los Angeles53%9 of 17 postings
- Registered Nurse in Sacramento53%9 of 17 postings
- Registered Nurse in San Diego53%9 of 17 postings
- Registered Nurse in San Francisco53%9 of 17 postings
- Registered Nurse in San Jose53%9 of 17 postings
- Registered Nurse in Minneapolis50%9 of 18 postings
- Registered Nurse in Detroit48%10 of 21 postings
- Registered Nurse in Grand Rapids48%10 of 21 postings
- Registered Nurse in Kansas City38%6 of 16 postings
- Registered Nurse in St. Louis38%6 of 16 postings
- Registered Nurse in Raleigh28%22 of 78 postings
- Registered Nurse in Charlotte28%22 of 79 postings
- Social and Human Service Assistant (national)19%12 of 62 postings
- Medical and Health Services Manager (national)17%17 of 100 postings
- Registered Nurse (national)17%34 of 204 postings
- Registered Nurse in Albany6%1 of 16 postings
- Registered Nurse in Buffalo6%1 of 16 postings
- Registered Nurse in New York6%1 of 16 postings
Where it barely came up
It appeared in these samples, but rarely. If one of these is the job you want, this credential is probably not the thing standing between you and it.
- Registered Nurse in Boston5%1 of 21 postings
- Registered Nurse in Baltimore4%3 of 69 postings
- Registered Nurse in Greenville4%1 of 26 postings
- Registered Nurse in Philadelphia4%4 of 111 postings
- Registered Nurse in Pittsburgh4%4 of 111 postings
- Nurse Practitioner (national)0%1 of 209 postings
- General and Operations Manager (national)0%1 of 303 postings
These percentages describe the samples we read, listed above with their sizes and dates. They are not a statement about the whole labour market, and absence from this page means we have no evidence either way — not that the credential is worthless. How we know →