NORCET vs NCLEX: Which Exam Is Tougher for Nurses in 2026?
If you're a nursing graduate mapping out your career, you've probably asked yourself: NORCET vs NCLEX — which exam is tougher for nurses in 2026? The honest answer is that it depends on what you mean by "tough," because these two exams test different skills for two very different careers — one is a competitive government recruitment exam in India, the other is a US nursing license. Here's an accurate, up-to-date breakdown to help you decide which exam — and which career path — is right for you. What Is NORCET? NORCET (Nursing Officer Recruitment Common Eligibility Test) is conducted by AIIMS New Delhi to recruit Nursing Officers across AIIMS institutes and other participating government hospitals. The NORCET-11 notification for 2026 was released on 24 July 2026 for 2,218 Nursing Officer posts, with applications open from 24 July to 13 August 2026. The exam runs in two stages: Stage I (Preliminary): 100 questions, qualifying only — mar...