Understanding NCLEX Pass Rates: What the Numbers Mean

An NCLEX pass rate looks simple, but the same program can show very different figures depending on who is counted, which year is shown and which exam was taken. The NCLEX is the licensing exam for RN and LPN/VN candidates, and the boards that publish results show how much detail sits behind one percentage. This guide explains the pieces you should check before you rely on a number from a school, a ranking or any directory. Requirements and reporting formats vary by state, so confirm details with the school and your state board of nursing.

Two exams: NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN

NCSBN, which owns the exam, says the NCLEX exists for candidates seeking licensure as registered nurses (RNs) or licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPN/VNs). The two exams are scored against separate passing standards. NCSBN's passing standard page lists 0.00 logits for the NCLEX-RN and -0.18 logits for the NCLEX-PN, both held through March 31, 2029, and says the standards are reevaluated every three years when test plans are reviewed. Never compare an RN rate with a PN rate as if they were one measure. Texas shows the split in practice: LVN/LPN graduates and RN graduates use separate applications. If you are weighing practical nursing, see LPN/LVN programs. The RN exam is the one relevant to ADN, BSN and accelerated BSN graduates; the PN exam applies to practical and vocational nursing graduates.

First-time versus repeat takers

Many boards report first-time test takers separately because it isolates the program's own graduates sitting the exam for the first time. NCSBN's pass-rate dashboard breaks results out by educational program, by first-time versus repeater status and by domestic versus internationally educated candidates. California's board states that its published rates cover first-time testers only and that this includes first-time testers who did not sit the exam right after graduating. A school that quotes an "overall" or "eventual" rate may be counting repeat attempts, so ask which population a figure covers. NCLEX rules also allow retakes, with 45 test-free days between attempts as the NCSBN minimum, and some boards set stricter limits.

Always ask which year

Pass rates move with time, and not only because cohorts differ. NCSBN says that raising the passing standard is expected to lower pass rates temporarily and that, historically, they tend to rebound within a few years. NCSBN's dashboard lets you toggle each year, and notes that the live dashboards may differ from older PDF versions because data are reconciled over time. California's board makes a similar point: it posts annual rates in October or November and says corrections may follow. So a figure quoted without a year, or from an old brochure, tells you little. Look for the period definition too: California's annual periods run from July 1 to June 30, not by calendar year.

Cohort size matters

A percentage is only as steady as the number of people behind it. California's page shows how many first-time testers each program had in each period alongside the percentage. Some programs list a handful of testers, and a program with a single tester can show 100 percent or 0 percent. California also notes that new programs with no first-time testers yet are left off the list. When a school advertises a high rate, ask how many graduates took the exam. A small cohort can look impressive or alarming without telling you much about the program's quality, so read the count of takers next to every percentage, and compare several years rather than one.

Campus versus program

Results are tied to a program as the board defines it, which may not match what you are considering. California's list shows separate lines for different degree tracks at one university, such as BSN and master's-level entry programs, and lists some multi-campus schools by individual campus. A figure for one campus or track does not automatically apply to another. Check that the program, degree level and location on the board's listing match the one you plan to attend, and see how a BSN or accelerated BSN track is reported.

Why NCLEX results do not apply to postlicensure programs

NCLEX results belong to prelicensure programs, meaning those that prepare students for a first license. Students in postlicensure programs already hold a license. The Texas Board of Nursing notes that RN-to-BSN students are already licensed as registered nurses. So a master's or doctoral program for nurses with a license has no NCLEX rate to publish; a pass rate shown near such a program most likely belongs to a separate prelicensure track at the same school, so check which program the figure describes.

Where to find official figures

• NCSBN's NCLEX Pass Rates dashboard, by program, first-time or repeat status and year.
• Your state board of nursing, which may post its own tables. California publishes five annual periods for each approved program, and the Texas board lists NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN pass rates for the last five years by program on its education pages.
• NCSBN's contact list for U.S. boards, if your board does not publish rates and you need to ask.

Remember that a board's definitions can differ from NCSBN's, and that official results are reported to candidates through the nursing regulatory body, not by NCSBN. For more on checking a program's credentials alongside outcomes, read accreditation versus state approval, and for a full evaluation list see how to choose a nursing school. Our methodology explains how we treat outcome data on school pages.