Wednesday, November 26, 2025
If you are working toward becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse in British Columbia, the REx PN exam is the last major requirement you must complete. This guide walks you through what the exam is, what it involves, and how Vancouver Career College helps students prepare confidently.
What the REx PN Exam Is
The Regulatory Exam Practical Nurse, known as the REx PN, is the official entry to practice exam used in British Columbia and Ontario. It replaced the previous CPNRE in 2022 and introduced a computer adaptive testing format that adjusts questions based on how you perform during the exam.
The exam is developed and managed by:
- British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives
- College of Nurses of Ontario
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing
The goal of the REx PN is to confirm that every new practical nurse has the knowledge, judgement, and skills required to provide safe, ethical, and effective client care.
Who Needs to Write the REx PN
You must write the REx PN to practise as an LPN in British Columbia if you:
- Are graduating from a BC Practical Nursing program
- Completed a Canadian PN program but never held practising registration
- Are an internationally educated nurse applying for registration in Canada for the first time
- Have been instructed to requalify due to a long break from practice
If you already hold active LPN registration in another Canadian province, you usually do not need to write the exam again.
How to Register for the REx PN
Here is the step-by-step process.
1. Apply for LPN Practising Registration
Create a BCCNM account and submit your application for practising LPN registration. Request exam accommodation at this stage if required.
2. Register with Pearson VUE
After BCCNM confirms that you are eligible, you will receive instructions to register with Pearson VUE. You will need your Practical Nursing program code, your email address, and payment.
3. Wait for Your Authorization to Test
Pearson VUE will email your Authorization to Test. You cannot schedule your exam before receiving this document. The authorization is valid for ninety days.
4. Book Your Test Date
- First time writers receive an available appointment within thirty days
- Repeat writers receive an available appointment within sixty days
Booking early is strongly recommended.
REx PN Exam Fees
|
Fee Type
|
Cost in CAD
|
|
Exam registration fee
|
350 plus tax
|
|
International test centre scheduling fee
|
150, non-refundable
|
|
Change of regulatory body
|
50
|
|
Change of exam language
|
50
|
The exam fee is nonrefundable. Missed appointments, duplicate registrations, and cancellations made less than twenty-four hours before the scheduled time result in forfeiture of fees.
How the REx PN Exam Works
The REx PN uses computer adaptive testing. Each question is selected based on your performance. The goal is to measure your competency level as efficiently as possible.
Exam Format
- Between ninety and one hundred fifty questions
- Includes thirty unscored items
- Total exam time is four hours
- Average pacing is one to two minutes per question
Question Types
- Multiple choice
- Select all that apply
- Fill in the blank
- Questions that use charts or graphics
Partial scoring for select all that apply questions begins in January 2026.
How the Exam Ends
The test can end in three ways.
Ninety Five Percent Confidence Rule
The exam stops when the system is ninety-five percent sure that you are above or below the passing standard.
Maximum Length Rule
If your ability level stays near the passing line, you will receive the entire one hundred fifty questions. Your final score determines whether you pass.
Run Out of Time Rule
If time runs out before you complete at least ninety scored questions, you automatically fail. If you reach at least ninety scored questions, your final ability estimate determines your result.
Retaking the REx PN
The REx PN has no lifetime limit on attempts. You may write the exam up to six times per year, with a mandatory waiting period of sixty days between attempts. Your regulatory body may require additional steps before you are allowed to rewrite.
REx PN Test Plan and Content Breakdown
The exam is organized into eight major client needs categories.
|
Client Needs Category
|
Percentage of Exam
|
|
Management of care
|
21 percent
|
|
Safety and infection control
|
13 percent
|
|
Health promotion and maintenance
|
9 percent
|
|
Psychosocial integrity
|
11 percent
|
|
Basic care and comfort
|
9 percent
|
|
Pharmacological and parenteral therapies
|
17 percent
|
|
Reduction of risk potential
|
11 percent
|
|
Physiological adaptation
|
9 percent
|
Communication, cultural awareness, clinical judgement, teaching and learning, documentation, and client safety are also integrated throughout the exam.
Exam Locations and Scheduling
You may schedule your exam only after receiving your Authorization to Test.
- First time writers are offered an appointment within thirty days
- Repeat writers are offered an appointment within sixty days
What to Bring on Exam Day
Bring one valid, government issued piece of ID that includes:
- Your full legal name
- A clear photo
- Your signature
Passports, driver licences, provincial ID cards, permanent resident cards, and military ID are acceptable. International test centres require a passport. The name on your ID must match the name on your authorization.
Reasons for Dismissal
- Sharing information during the exam
- Using any unauthorized device
- Not following test centre rules
- Impersonating someone
- Creating disruptions
- Tampering with testing equipment
Dismissal may lead to loss of fees and disciplinary action.
If You Do Not Pass
You will receive a Candidate Performance Report. This document outlines:
- The number of questions you completed
- A summary of how computer adaptive testing works
- Your performance in each category, labelled as Below, Near, or Above the standard
Use this feedback to focus on your studies before your next attempt.
How Vancouver Career College Prepares You for the REx PN
Vancouver Career College’s Practical Nursing program is built to help students develop the knowledge and confidence needed to succeed on the REx PN.
Extensive Clinical Experience
Students complete multiple clinical placements that build real-world decision-making skills and confidence in client care.
Supportive Instructors and Learning Environment
- Small class sizes
- Access to experienced nursing faculty
- Opportunities for hands on learning in simulation settings
Curriculum That Matches the REx PN Framework
Courses include:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Pharmacology
- Variations in health
- Nursing fundamentals
- Communication and health promotion
- Clinical decision making
The program uses a spiraling curriculum model that reinforces learning as students' progress.
Accreditation and Results You Can Trust
- Recognized by the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives
- Approved by the Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit of British Columbia
- Proven exam success, including the Burnaby campus first time REx PN pass rate of 91.55 percent for 2024
Graduates are eligible to write the REx PN immediately after program completion.
Final Thoughts
The REx PN is a challenging but achievable step in your nursing journey. With the right preparation and the strong Practical Nursing program at Vancouver Career College, you can approach the exam with confidence and begin a meaningful career as a Licensed Practical Nurse in British Columbia.
