NLN NACE Information | HCC

    National League for Nursing’s Nursing Acceleration Challenge Exam (NACE)

    Current LPNs/LVNs with an active license in good standing who plan to apply to the LPN To RN Bridge Program at HCC.

    The HCC Nursing Department has chosen the NACE I: Foundations of Nursing exam offered by the National League for Nursing (NLN).

    According to information provided by NLN Testing Services, the Nursing Acceleration Challenge Exam (NACE) is "designed to evaluate previous learning and experience in order to establish credit and placement in individuals with previous education/experience in allied health fields by those programs preparing students for registered nurse practice." (nln.org/testing)

    The exam includes questions on basic nursing tasks as well as on common situations in patient care.

    Content areas covered on the NACE include:

    • Physiologic Needs - Hygiene, Posture, Sleep, Nutrition, Weight, Elimination
    • Psychosocial Needs - Sexuality, Self-esteem, Belonging, Self-actualization, Security
    • Communication - Verbal, non-verbal exchanges, documentation
    • Medication Administration - Mathematical conversions for medication dosing
    • Moral, Ethical, and Legal Issues - Advance directives, informed consent, negligence

    The NACE Foundations of Nursing v1 exam (purchased on or prior to September 30) will have 200 questions that must be taken in 240 minutes (4 hours).

    The NACE Foundations of Nursing v1.2 exam (purchased on or after October 1) will have 100 questions that must be taken in 150 minutes (2.5 hours).

    Both versions of the exam will be accepted but the retest policy remains the same. Version 1.2 was released by NLN to replace version 1 effective October 1, 2023.  HCC has no control over the timing of the change in exam versions.

    Go to www.nlntest.org to set up your NLN account. Type in Hopkinsville Community College under Select Your School or Enter School Code. Click Search then check the box by 392687-01 Hopkinsville Community College-Hopkinsville. this will ensure your results will go to Hopkinsville Community College.

    Once your NLN account is set up, you have two options for how to test:

    Option 1 - On-site testing at the HCC Workforce Assessment Center

    • Select "Register for Exam"
    • Type Hopkinsville under Site. Leave all others blank. Click Apply.
    • Once you select an exam date and click Register then Save Registration, you should see your selected date in your shopping cart.
    • Click Checkout then work through the steps of the payment process as you will pay for the test online through NLN.
      • Please note the NACE exam start times listed are for Central Time zone. If your device is set for a different time zone, please be aware of the time difference.
    • On the day of the exam, please arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled start time. Report to the Workforce Assessment Center, located in the Technology Center, Room 109. This will allow time to log in to the computer and confirm you have access to the exam before the exam begins.
    • Allow time prior to reporting to the Workforce Assessment Center to pay the $25 proctor fee in the Workforce Solutions Office, located in the Auditorium Building, Room 13. They will give you a receipt to show to the proctor before your exam.

    Option 2 - Remote-proctored exam (test on personal device with camera and microphone in a quiet, uninterrupted space using NLN’s computer-based proctor)

    • Select "Buy Exam"
    • NOTE: Look for exam name H-NRF_1.2 Foundations of Nursing v1.2 for HyFlex (The previous version H-NRF_1 Foundations of Nursing exam will still be accepted. However, NLN advised the v1 exam will no longer be available for purchase after September 30.  Exam purchases made beginning October 1 should be the v1.2 exam.)
    • You will not choose a specific exam date for the remote-proctored option. Once you purchase H-NRF_1.2, you should be able to see the exam in your My Assessments or My Exams tab in your NLN account. When you are ready to take the exam uninterrupted, you will go to that section, click on the title, and begin the test.
    • You will pay for the test online through NLN. No additional proctor fee is charged.
    • You can take the remote-proctored NACE exam at any time, 24/7, unless NLN announces their system will be down for maintenance for a specified window of time.

    Depending on which exam option you choose, costs are listed below. These are subject to change at NLN's discretion.

    1. On-site exam (at HCC Hopkinsville campus):  $70.00 exam fee (when you register) plus $25.00 proctor fee (pay day of exam)
      • The proctor fee may be paid in the Workforce Solutions office, located on the Hopkinsville campus, Auditorium Building, Room 13.  Acceptable forms of payment:  cash, debit/credit card, and checks.
    2. Remote-proctored exam (your device):  $80.00 (total for both exam and remote proctor fee)

    Please contact NLN Customer Service (800-732-8656) if you have questions about their refund policy or fees associated with rescheduling an exam prior to the exam date.

    On-site testing is offered approximately one time per month in the Workforce Assessment Center on the Hopkinsville campus.

    Note: All times are Central Time zone. Seating is limited to 8 people per test session. Registration closes 2 days prior to exam date or when all seats have been taken.

    Remote-proctored testing is available 24/7, unless NLN announces their system will be down for maintenance for a specified window of time. Once you have purchased the exam, look under the My Assessments or My Exams tab in your NLN account. Do not start the exam unless you know you have the quiet, uninterrupted space to complete the exam. You cannot pause the exam and return to finish later.

    • One (1) form of identification with the name on the ID matching the name on the exam registration
    • Your NLN username and password that you created when you set up your NLN account
    • Receipt showing payment of the $25.00 proctoring fee (if taking exam at Workforce Assessment Center)
    • Calculator (optional) - exam portal should have an online calculator built-in to the exam
    • For on-site testing, the Workforce Assessment Center will provide an erasable note board, pen, and basic calculator
    • For the remote-proctored exam, be sure to review any guidelines from NLN when you register on how to prepare for taking the exam.

    NLN advises score reports should be available within 4 hours after completion of the exam.  Students can log in to their NLN account to view a score report.

    The HCC Nursing Department's retest policy for the NACE exam is once every six (6) weeks.  If you take the exam more than once, you must allow 6 weeks between exam dates in order for us to consider your score reports as valid.  When applying to the program, we will use the highest NACE score from the exams you have taken as long as you abide by the 6-week retest policy.

    We consider scores to be good for three (3) years from the exam date.

    The recommended score to be eligible for the LPN To RN Bridge Program is a composite 76%.  Depending on the applicant pool, applicants may be considered if below the recommended score but not less than composite 74%.