Nursing Pre Admission Exam (PAX)
On-Campus PAX Examinations Unavailable
There will be no on-campus proctoring through the Testing Center until further notice. Online/remote proctored PAX exams are available through the National League for Nursing. Learn more below.
The Pre-Admission Examination (PAX) is a standardized entrance exam for nursing applicants to Shoreline Community College.
Application Deadlines: All application materials, including PAX exam results, must be submitted by the deadline for the quarter in which you are applying. Scores that are received after these dates will be considered for the next application period.
Right click a table cell to select deletion of a row or column in order to size the table according to your needs.
| Quarter Entering | Application Period |
|---|---|
| Fall | January 15 to April 3 |
| Winter | August 15 to October 5 |
| Spring | November 15 to January 10 |
Testing Dates: Testing is available throughout the year, both in person at the Testing Center and via remote proctoring through the National League for Nursing
Exam Cost: The cost of the exam is $68.50.
Payment Options: Visa / Mastercard / PayPal / Wire Transfer
Test Length: Two hours
Format: Three sections, each 40 minutes in length - verbal, math, and science.
Study Guide: PAX Study Guide There are also study guides available through nlntest.org.
PAX Testing Options
On-Campus PAX Examinations Unavailable
There will be no on-campus proctoring through the Testing Center until further notice. Online/remote proctored PAX exams are available through the National League for Nursing. Learn more below.
Location: Shoreline Community College Testing Center, FOSS (5000) Building, Room 5100
Test Registration: Register for testing dates by calling (206) 546-4608 or emailing the Testing Center at testcenter@shoreline.edu.
In-Person Testing: An electronic white board and calculator are provided in the program and accessible throughout the exam.
The National League for Nursing allows students to utilize remote proctoring to complete the PAX exam.
Follow the NLN registration steps in this guide to get set up for your remote proctored PAX exam. The guide lists all needed links and specific instructions to complete each step (with screenshots).
Additional Information
Once you have taken your exam, your scores will be available to view in your National League for Nursing account within four hours.
Retake Policy: Students may take the test twice per application period. When checking your Score Report, look at RN Program Applicants. Your Composite Score needs to be at minimum 103 and the RN Percentile Rank must be at minimum 50. This is for all three subjects combined. Once you hit these benchmarks, it will not improve your chances in the review process to raise these scores. Scores are good within one year of the first day of the application period.
Scores from other schools: Shoreline Community College’s Nursing Program will accept PAX test scores from other accredited nursing schools. For questions, please contact the Nursing Program at (206) 533-6778 or by emailing Sharon Lowenborg at slowenborg@shoreline.edu.
Testing Accommodations: Create your new NLN Account using the NLN Student Guide. Follow the step-by-step directions in the guide to purchase the regular exam. Do not schedule or start the exam without confirmation from NLN that your accommodation has been made. Failure to follow this instruction may result in a standard exam being administered. No refund or replacement exam will be granted.
Next, contact Student Accessibility Services to set up an appointment to discuss PAX accommodations. You can schedule an appointment by email sas@shoreline.edu, or call (206) 546-4545. If accommodations are approved, allow 5 business days for NLN to process the request. You will receive an email from NLN that your accommodation has been applied to your purchased exam.