If you’re looking for the best NCLEX prep course then you’ve come to the right place! Choosing the right NCLEX course online could be one of the most important decisions you make on your path to becoming a nurse.
You will be spending many hours studying, so it’s crucial to find the NCLEX course that best fits your learning style and background.
So here’s the good news – we have researched and reviewed all the NCLEX prep courses on the market so you don’t have to!
The comparison chart below will help you determine which course best fits your needs.
NCLEX Review Courses |
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RANKINGS |
#1 |
#2 |
#3 |
#4 |
NCLEX COURSE | Crush NCLEX | Brilliant Nurse NCLEX | Kaplan NCLEX | BoardVitals |
PRICE | $199 | $275 | $299-$499 | $99 |
DISCOUNTS | Save $20 | Save 20% | Save $100
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Get 10% Off |
PRACTICE QUESTIONS |
2,000 | 3,000+ | 3,000+ | 3,300 |
SUPPORT | ||||
COURSE ACCESS |
12 Months | 6 Months | 3 Months | 6 Months |
PASS GUARANTEE |
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VIDEO LECTURES |
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SMARTPHONE APP |
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PROGRESS TRACKING |
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GET STARTED | START NOW | START NOW | START NOW | START NOW |
Top Rated 4 Best NCLEX Prep Courses 2021 – Compare Best NCLEX Study Materials Below:
- Crush The NCLEX Prep Courses
- Brilliant Nurse NCLEX Review Course
- Kaplan NCLEX Prep Courses
- Board Vitals NCLEX Study Materials
Here are the best NCLEX prep courses to help you pass the NCLEX exam on your first try!
1. Crush NCLEX Prep Courses
OVERALL RATING:



The Bottom Line: This NCLEX prep program is unlike many others because it allows students to fine-tune their access period and price. Crush NCLEX also provides helpful practice questions and video lectures
2. Brilliant Nurse NCLEX Prep Course
OVERALL RATING:




The Bottom Line: Brilliant Nurse has a lot going for their NCLEX review program, like a convenient mobile app and powerful adaptive learning technology. Their excellent pass guarantee should appeal to curious med students.
3. Kaplan NCLEX Review Course
OVERALL RATING:



The Bottom Line: With the ability to choose from different access packages, Kaplan provides versatility for NCLEX students on a budget. They also provide over 4,000 practice questions and a terrific mobile app.
4. Board Vitals NCLEX Study Materials
OVERALL RATING:




The Bottom Line: In addition to thousands of practice questions and complex adaptive learning features, BoardVitals gives students the ability to generate a virtually unlimited amount of customizable NCLEX practice quizzes.
Top Rated NCLEX Review Course Discounts
Kaplan NCLEX Promo Code – Save $75
Crush NCLEX Coupon Code
Save 10% Crush NCLEX Coupon Code
Save up to 10% on Crush NCLEX study materials!Exam EDGE NCLEX – Save 10%
Board Vitals NCLEX Coupon Code
Save 10% Board Vitals NCLEX Coupon Code
Save up to 10% on BoardVitals study materials! This includes their NCLEX Practice Tests and Question Bank.The Best NCLEX Prep Courses Research
GraduateX NCLEX review course provides a no frills approach to learning. They pack the most NCLEX practice questions among the competition and offering a great value overall. While their dashboard leaves a lot to be desired you appreciate the access to active student forums to get all your questions answered.
How We Found the Best NCLEX Review Courses
We expected adaptive resources, engaging instructors, and widespread availability.
We started by compiling a list of the eight NCLEX review course providers and separated their courses into three categories: self-paced, live online, and in-person. Few companies offer all three methods, while others specialize in a single format. We evaluated each method separately, rather than, say, looking for a single provider that offers all three. After all, the provider of the best self-paced course, for example, may not have very great instructor-led programs. Each method has it’s own advantages, and we created specific criteria for each method to find the best prep course for each category.
Self-Paced NCLEX Review Courses
In that sense, the best self-paced courses should have customizable or automatic study tools to help you pinpoint and target your weaknesses. Tools that adapt to you allow you to make the most of your study time, rather than waste it reviewing content you’ve already learned.
Kaplan’s adaptive NCLEX QBank allows you to filter by question type so you can target your weaknesses after receiving progress reports. This is kind of a manual version of Brilliant Nurse’s Adaptive Learning technology.
Live Online NCLEX Review Courses
Live online courses are ideal for those who want the extra guidance and feedback of real instructor but don’t have time for or aren’t near an actual physical class. The pre-scheduled sessions mean you won’t have complete control over your study schedule, but many providers do offer extra flexibility or a wide range of class times. Best of all you can do so from the comfort of your home or other study space, and this added structure may benefit students who need a little extra help or motivation while preparing for the NCLEX.
A great live online course will have extra engaging instructors to keep you focused and motivated during lessons. The best will have instructors who offer comprehensive feedback both in and out of class, so you can feel confident that you’ve had the chance to address any questions. Courses with the most instructor interaction ensure you can get the help you need rather than getting stuck and having to wait for the next class.
We gave courses like Kaplan NCLEX extra points for allowing you to contact your instructor outside of class. Most of the competition does not.
At the same time, your instructor should be experienced with Nursing and the NCLEX exam. To be fair, evaluating an instructor can be be a little subjective, but our research and testing show certain methods are more effective than others. For example, we liked in Kaplan’s NCLEX course knowing our instructors were highly trained in the topics they taught.
In any case, we gave preference to the courses that managed to strike the best balance between engaging informative instructors and adaptive study tools. Instructor quality is arguably the most important part of a live online course, but the best should still offer great resources for the times where you do have to study on your own.
In-Person NCLEX Review Courses
As the name suggests, these courses meet in physical classrooms and offer the most normal learning experience. If you enjoy discussing subject material and test-taking strategies with an instructor in person and with fellow students, an in-person course is the way to go. It’s important to note though, that this format is also the most time consuming and may not be available in your area.
Courses had to offer at least 2,000 NCLEX practice questions.
No matter what delivery method you choose, when it comes to exam review there is one study tool that reigns supreme: practice questions. There is abundant evidence that taking practice questions is one of the best learning strategies for improving a student’s testing performance. Known as the testing effect, practice questions help the brain recognize a particular question type or format. This allows students to more quickly process the subject material and identify the best strategy for answering it.
Not all practice questions are made equal, though.
Since the most commonly recommended preparation period is two to three months, the best NCLEX review course will have at least have 2,000 or more practice questions. This ensures students will have a variety of questions to test their skills with rather than retaking one they may have inadvertently memorized.
The truth is, many review courses don’t really have many concrete advantages over others, and each of them will have different flaws for different students. Whether it’s an instructor or a price tag. That said, we were still able to identify some differences that affected our study experience. We tried out NCLEX free trials and evaluated sample materials to compare the features likely to make the most difference to most learners: easy-to-follow explanations, engaging resources, and the reassuring guidance to build confidence while studying.
The best resources for studying, whether an on-demand video lesson, a set of quizzes, or a printed book, should be engaging. Adaptive resources are important, but NCLEX review courses also provide additional resources that don’t necessarily have to be customizable. For example, books are widely considered one of the best study materials available. We gave preference to courses like Crush the NCLEX that offer video lessons with integrated and interactive quizzes because they’re more likely to engage students.
No matter what delivery method you choose, there should be some degree of guidance to help you study effectively. Whether in the form of student forums or personalized study plans, the best NCLEX review course won’t make you prepare completely on your own, even if you choose a self-paced option. Providers like GraduateX offer access to a student forum and Crush the NCLEX have email support from instructors for additional guidance and confidence during a course.
After hours of comparison, we were left with our top 7 best NCLEX review courses online (one managed to take top spot for both in-person and live online) that offered helpful features and explanations that improved the studying experience for each method.
So what are you waiting for? Get started and pass the NCLEX on your first try!
What are the Best NCLEX prep courses to pass fast?
Best NCLEX review courses compared 2018 – Comprehensive NCLEX Guide
NCLEX Review Course | Practice Questions | Pricing |
Kaplan NCLEX | 3,000+ | $299-$499 |
BoardVitals | 3,300 | $99 |
Graduate X | 4,500 | $289 |
D&D NCLEX Review | 3,500+ | $499 |
Hurst NCLEX Review | RN: 750 | $359 |
Crush NCLEX Course | 2,000 | $199 |