The examined standard for N1 lymph node (LN) station in patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer varies among different guidelines. In this study, we assessed the prognostic significance of the extent of examination for N1 LN stations in patients with pathological stage I nonsmall cell lung cancer by a large cohort. The survival analysis demonstrated that patients who underwent examination of 2 N1 stations was similar to that for those who had at least 3 N1 stations examined, and both groups' survival outcomes were superior to those of patients for whom only 1 whose N1 station was examined. Hence, examination of only 1 N1 station is insufficient for those patients, and examining a minimum of 2 N1 stations is recommended to obtain the optimal survival benefit. Additionally, Patients who were examined for station 10 or station 13 had a superior disease-free survival compared to those who were not examined for these stations, indicating that they can serve as key indicators in assessing the quality of N1 examinations. Background: Examination standards for hilar and intrapulmonary (N1) lymph nodes (LNs) have been debated. The objective of this study was to assess the prognostic significance of the extent of examination for N1 LN stations in patients with pathological stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: A total of 1868 patients were identified and divided into 3 groups on the basis of the number of N1 stations examined: group A (>= 3 stations), group B (2 stations) and group C (1 station). Moreover, we investigated the prognostic significance of each individual N1 station examined. The primary outcome was 5-year disease-free survival (DFS). Results: Overall, 1062, 607, and 199 patients were in groups A, B, and C, respectively. The baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were similar among the groups, except for the tumor side. The 5-year DFS rates were comparable between groups A and B (85.1% vs. 82.7%, P = .3), both of which were significantly greater than that of group C (74.4%) (P < .01). Similar results were observed for the corresponding 5-year overall survival rates. The number of N1 stations examined was an independent predictor in multiple analyses. Additionally, the examination of stations 10 and 13 were independent favorable predictors for 5year DFS. Conclusion: For patients with pathological stage I NSCLC, examination of only 1 N1 station is insufficient. Examinations of a minimum of two N1 stations, including stations 10 and 13, is recommended to obtain the optimal survival benefit.