With so many choices out there, it can get overwhelming when looking for a great NCLEX tutor!

Here are some guidelines to go by to help narrow it down and find a great NCLEX Tutor:

1. The tutor should NOT make you feel bad or dumb for failing. If you feel that way, move on immediately! They should be positive, uplifting and give you confidence!
2. You will actually get to see the tutor (either online or in-person). Some tutors meet on the phone or just through email or a chat box. This is crazy and a scam! You want to be able to see the tutor, talk to them, and get their feedback. Zoom (a videoconferenceing program) is so easy to use and is basically free. So if they say they can only textchat or email, then MOVE ON.
3. The tutor must be a Registered Nurse (you can check the Board of Nursing website for that state). Just ask them what state they are registered in and then google: Board of Nursing license verification (add in state) and search for them. If they don’t have a license or it’s suspended then don’t use them.
4. Never, ever pay a big chunk of money if you haven’t even talked to the tutor you will be working with. Ideally, you would pay AFTER the first session, just to make sure you are getting quality tutoring. If the tutor is very established or was recommended by someone you know, then it’s OK to pay beforehand. But if you are unsure, ask if you can just pay for one session. Then pay for a package once you are confident the tutor will be able to help you.
5. Anyone can be a tutor on the big tutoring websites: wyzant, hey tutor, tutor the people, etc. That is NO guarantee that they are a legitimate and knowledgeable NCLEX tutor.
6. If you find a tutor on a big tutoring company website, try to find them on their personal business website instead. It will give you a better idea on how professional they are. Just search their name and “nclex tutor”. If they don’t have a website or linked in profile, I would be cautious before using them.
7. The tutor actually tutors nursing subjects. They should only tutor nursing subjects, not topics like chemistry or the MCAT. This is a real common problem that people who have no idea what a nurse does and then they think tutoring for it will be easy – don’t waste your money!
8. The tutor has a website that is easy to navigate through and doesn’t confuse you more. It does NOT have to be a fancy website.
9. The tutor has legitimate testimonials. If they have social media testimonials, you can contact that person to see how their experience was.
10. The tutor is willing to talk with you on the phone to answer any questions you may have. It’s OK to be on the phone with them for up to 15 minutes and not to be charged for that. As a student, you should NEVER start tutoring, unless you’ve talked to the tutor first. And I don’t mean text, chat or email. Be sure you have ACTUALLY talked to them on the PHONE.
11. Ask the tutor if they will be able to help you set up a plan, so that you know what you will be working on each week up until your test date.
12. If you start to feel that the tutor is annoyed with you, move on immediately.
13. If you think you were scammed, then you probably were. Use the guidelines above to prevent being scammed.