Minimum 85 items, maximum 150, within a five-hour limit that includes all breaks. On a minimum-length exam, 52 items come from the eight content areas, 18 are the three case studies, and 15 are unscored pretest items. You cannot go back to a previous item once you confirm an answer, and exam length does not indicate pass or fail. Item types include multiple choice, select-all-that-apply, cloze/drop-down, matrix/grid, highlight, drag-and-drop, and bow-tie, often with charts or exhibits. The passing standard is reviewed by the NCSBN Board every three years, and there is no fixed percentage of candidates who pass.
