Minimum Scores for Boards

Published

  1. Is the minimum passing score of nurse practitioner certification exams too low?

5 members have participated

Specializes in Pediatrics.

Hello,

I was speaking with family members the other day about my board certification exam. I plan to take the ANCC for FNP and have been studying diligently for it. A family member asked what the minimum score for passing was, and I said I was not sure, but I was pretty sure it was either 65% or 75%. This baffled them, and they stated that they sure hope that it's 75%, because it would be scary to have a practitioner that "barely" passed at 65%. This intrigued me, and I have be searching to see what the minimum scores are for other professions. For physicians, USMLE Step 1 minimum is roughly 55-60%, but then Step 2 and Step 3 increases vaguely in terms of the minimum score to pass. PANCE also comes out to be approximately 65% minimum score, but each question is weighed differently.

What do you think? Do you think it is too low of a minimum score for the profession, or that it is appropriately scored and weighed?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neurology, Psychology, Family medicine.

Difference between USLME and ours would be yes low initial pass but need to score high to get any decent residency so take that with consideration. Yes the minimum standard is very low. NP schools want a 84 to pass school but only a low 60s to practice. Hmm seems set up to benefit everyone except the general public we treat.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics.
Difference between USLME and ours would be yes low initial pass but need to score high to get any decent residency so take that with consideration. Yes the minimum standard is very low. NP schools want a 84 to pass school but only a low 60s to practice. Hmm seems set up to benefit everyone except the general public we treat.

I do find that funny. My program required a B to pass, and anything less would result in dismissal from the program. But when it comes to national certification, a basically failing score is acceptable. I don't understand how it can be acceptable, or how it ensures the quality of nurse practitioners entering into practice.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Angoff scoring probably plays into this. Wherein a 'pass' or 'cut' score seems to be expressed as a percentage, but really isn't.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neurology, Psychology, Family medicine.

The the Angoff scoring with their use of the "subject experts" that make the ultimate decision are still setting the bar low at 500/800 to pass at 62.5%.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

But all such exams (including NCLEX) are designed to measure minimum competency to practice.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neurology, Psychology, Family medicine.

Again minimum, which to the OP's question is indeed to low atleast in my opinion. To each their own I guess. Like I said it benefits share holders in the profession, students etc just not the public because of the low standards.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics.

I guess I find it disturbing that there is such a low passing score for both board certification exams for FNPs, and I see and hear so many students fail one exam or both exams. It makes me think about what quality of an education they're receiving at their programs, or if there needs to be further regulation as to the academic requirements for entry into programs. I'm not saying someone can't be a horrible test taker; I'm a person who scored below average on the SATs while having a 3.85 GPA in college prep in high school. But it definitely concerns me that a roughly 25% (according to Fitzgerald) of NP students do not pass their certification exams. Compare this to the 94% of PA students who passed the PANCE on their first try. It definitely makes us look inferior and unprepared.

I wonder if the NP certification boards had to publicly post their results, how quickly the educational programs and regulations would change...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neurology, Psychology, Family medicine.

If it makes you feel better you are not alone. I honestly feel if people thought about it objectively most would be disturbed. But many have a foot in the race so they rationalize that it isn't that bad. Or they use the excuse of that's how we have always done it etc etc etc. Change is a difficult subject especially when it requires more work from individuals and doesn't exactly benefit themselves.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Family Practice, ER, Tele, ICU.

You can actually look at the AANP or AANC websites and see their success rates from previous years.

Plus, you know what they call a person who passes boards with the lowest acceptable score? Family Nurse Practitioner.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neurology, Psychology, Family medicine.

Lol yep, or you can call them scary. But, to each their own.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Lol yep, or you can call them scary. But, to each their own.

I wouldn't call them "scary" -- because, you know what, they've passed boards -- and one can assume that you have not. I always like to reserve judgement until I've been in that same place/situation. It seems a wise course of action.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion