Do you need to take the rn nclex before pursuing nurse practicioner?

Yes, passing the NCLEX-RN exam is a mandatory requirement before advancing to a Nurse Practitioner (NP) program. The NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses) is the licensing exam all nursing graduates must pass to obtain their registered nurse (RN) license. Only registered nurses are eligible to pursue higher education opportunities, including a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), which is the entry-level degree for nurse practitioners.