ATT stands for Authorization to Test, and it’s the document you need before you can sit for the NCLEX licensing exam. Think of it as your entry ticket: without it, you cannot schedule or take the exam that makes you a licensed nurse. The ATT is sent to you by email after both your state nursing board and Pearson VUE (the company that administers the NCLEX) confirm you’re eligible to test.
How the ATT Fits Into the Licensing Process
Becoming a licensed nurse in the United States requires passing the NCLEX, and the ATT is the gatekeeping step between finishing nursing school and actually sitting for that exam. The process works like this: you apply to your state’s board of nursing, register with Pearson VUE, and pay the $200 registration fee. Once your state board reviews your application and confirms your eligibility, Pearson VUE sends your ATT to the email address you used during registration.
The ATT contains your name, a unique authorization number, and the specific date window during which you’re allowed to test. You use this information to schedule your exam appointment at a Pearson VUE testing center. Without the ATT, you literally cannot book a test date.
How Long It Takes to Receive Your ATT
Most candidates receive their ATT within three to four weeks after completing both the state application and the Pearson VUE registration. That timeline can stretch significantly, though. Delays of up to 12 weeks happen for several reasons:
- High application volume at your state board, particularly during graduation season
- Missing or incorrect documents in your board of nursing application
- Payment issues during NCLEX registration
- Peak testing periods, especially May through July when thousands of new graduates apply simultaneously
If you’re approaching graduation, submitting your applications early can help you avoid the worst of these bottlenecks. Double-check every document before submitting, because a single missing transcript or form can reset the clock.
What Happens on Exam Day
You need to bring your ATT and one form of acceptable identification to the testing center. This is non-negotiable. If you show up without either one, you forfeit your test session entirely. That means re-registering and paying the $200 fee again. Print your ATT email or have it readily accessible so there’s no scramble on test day.
ATT Expiration and Extensions
Your ATT is valid only for the specific dates printed on it. Once those dates pass, the ATT is dead. The NCSBN (the national organization that oversees nursing licensure exams) is clear on this point: ATT dates will not be extended for any reason.
If your ATT expires before you test, you’ll need to start the process over. That means creating a new Pearson VUE registration, paying another $200 fee, and requesting a new ATT from your state board. This is why scheduling your exam promptly after receiving your ATT matters. Don’t assume you can push it off indefinitely.
One important distinction: your NCLEX registration stays open for 365 days while your state board determines your eligibility. But once the board approves you and the ATT is issued, that 365-day window no longer applies. The shorter dates on your ATT are the only ones that count.
What to Do If You Lose Your ATT
Your ATT arrives as an email from Pearson VUE, sent to the address you provided during registration. If you can’t find it, start by searching your inbox and spam folders for emails from Pearson. If the email is truly gone, contact Pearson NCLEX Candidate Services to have it resent. Make sure your email address on file is correct, because a typo during registration is one of the most common reasons candidates never see their ATT arrive.
Costs Involved
The NCLEX registration fee for candidates seeking U.S. licensure is $200. Canadian candidates pay $360 CAD. This fee is what triggers the ATT process, and it’s paid directly to Pearson VUE during registration. Keep in mind that your state board of nursing typically charges its own separate application fee on top of this, so the total cost of getting licensed is higher than $200 alone. And if you miss your test window or let your ATT expire, you’ll pay the $200 registration fee again.