The test plan for the national council licensure examination for practical nurses nclex pn r was developed by the national council of state boards of nursing inc ncsbnr the purpose of this document is to provide detailed information about the content areas tested on the nclex pn this booklet contains the 2020 nclex pn r test plan. The national council licensure examination for practical nurses nclex pn exam is administered by individual state boards of nursing the nclex pn is often referred to as the boards or state boards the nclex pn has only one purpose to determine if it is safe for you to begin practice as an entry level practical vocational nurse. The national council licensure examination is a nationwide examination for the licensing of nurses in the united states canada and australia since 1982 2015 and 2020 respectively there are two types the nclex rn and the nclex pn after graduation from a school of nursing one takes the nclex exam to receive a nursing license a nursing license gives an individual the permission to practice nursing granted by the state where they met the requirements nclex examinations are developed and own. The national council licensure examination for practical nurses nclex pn is an exam designed for entry level practical nurses and vocational nurses lpn or vn the nclex pn is used by state and territorial members of the national council of state boards of nursing ncsbn as a means of ensuring entry level practical nurses meet set