What Is the NCLEX® Pass Rate?

​To obtain a license in their state of practice in the U.S., nurses are required to successfully take and pass the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX®). The 2011 NCLEX® pass rate for registered nurses (RN) was 87.20% overall for first-time test takers, which will vary each year, and it was 84.56% for the NCLEX-PN®, the exam for practical nurses. A maximum of 265 items are possible on the NCLEX-RN® and 205 on the NCLEX-PN®. Questions are presented based upon answers to previous questions, and, once the candidate is determined to have met the passing standard or failed, it ends. Result are based on a 95% certainty, and up to five hours are allowed for completion.

Responsible for developing the NCLEX-RN® and NCLEX-PN®, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) determines what constitutes competent nursing performance. Research is conducted every three years, and test questions are produced by experienced licensed nurses for assessing entry-level practice. Students are eligible to be admitted to sit the exam only after completion of an accredited or state-approved program.

In 2011, 103,616 students sat for the NCLEX-RN®. Over 91,000 were educated at U.S. schools. Out of those, the NCLEX® pass rate was 85.87 percent compared to 27.13 percent for those who received training overseas. 12,670 prospective nurses who took the test went to foreign colleges, and part of the reason for the disparity is that English is typically not their primary language.

Checking out individual scores for each program before applying is essential, as the NCLEX® pass rate is one important indicator of how well nursing colleges are educating their students. Looking at scores over a period of a few years provides a better perspective. State nursing boards in the United States maintain testing statistics for all of their schools.

Experienced nurses have stated that schools of nursing often mask the true NCLEX® pass rate by requiring students to take a standardized exit assessment as part of eligibility. The Health Education Systems, Inc. HESI-2 exam is commonly used for this purpose. Graduation total is also a vital consideration. Reporting that 100% of students had favorable outcomes means very little when only five people actually received degrees.

Repeat test-takers generally do not do well. Nursing research suggests that lag time between testing is directly related to the NCLEX® pass rate. When the authorization is received, the NCSBN recommends scheduling the examination immediately. It should be completed as soon as possible to prevent forgetting material.