Passing Statistics for NCLEX RN and PN-2014

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I just had to look up the stats for myself, after seeing several (differing) posts from various people stating what the pass rate is for first-time test takers! Can get quite confusing, and it's a topic that is much discussed (and obsessed over!). I found that I am also guilty of posting out of date numbers, as I just checked with the NCSBN website, and found the most recently published statistics. The most recent stats are for Year End 2014.

Of the 157,372 US-educated RN applicants who took the NCLEX for the first time, they passed at a rate of 81.78%. For the 55,489 US-educated PN applicants, it was 82.16%. Broken down by type of program/education, the numbers do vary a smidgen, but overall....."82%" is a reasonable working number for first-time US educated NCLEX candidates.

For US-educated RN applicants who repeated the attempt, it was a less-optimistic number at 46.36% passing. For US-educated PN repeaters, it was only 31.26%

First time applicants for the NCLEX-RN who were NOT US-educated passed at the unfortunate rate of just 28.88%. Interestingly, by contrast, a non-US educated applicant for the NCLEX-PN had a 49.91% chance of passing on the first attempt.

For those foreign-educated RN candidates who failed the first time, subsequent attempts had only a 17.7% chance of passing. A foreign-educated PN candidate who failed the first time had a 16.51% chance of passing.

You may be encouraged or discouraged by these statistics based on your own individual circumstance, but at least now you know what's what :)

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

Thanks for the updated numbers! I've been using the old statistic of 85%. So, now we know, as of last year, that it's now around 82%. I'll be interested to see if it goes up in 2015 as nursing schools start changing their curriculum to match NCLEX. I know our school just went through a major re-vamp of content to ensure students were successful on NCLEX. They've also made a deal with Kaplan to include the 4 day course after graduation.

Our class was the first to get the Kaplan NCLEX review course as a "scholarship gift". The school paid $450 towards it. We were responsible for the remaining $100. About 90% of the class opted to do it. So far, out of 64, only 3 have reported they didn't pass (2 of them did not attend Kaplan). The pass rate for our class is much higher than the class ahead of us, so they are now going to require Kaplan for the classes behind us. I really did feel like it prepared us well for the exam. If you do the trainers, QBanks, remediate each question and stick to your study plan that you map out based on your needs, it really prepares you well.

On a personal note, thank you for all you do in regards to PVT and warning of its pitfalls. If I hadn't read your posts, I would have been tempted to do it when I took the NCLEX. Having gone through it, I can see how hard it is to wait the 48 hours for Quick Results. However, since PVT isn't 100% reliable, I would have never been able to rest easy that I passed. I didn't even bother trying it. I'm glad I didn't because Quick Results gave me my answer :)

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Thanks for the updated stats. This thread is now a sticky to make it easier to find.

Best wishes to the 2015 NCLEX takers!

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I was among those who were using the new 'upped passing standard' NCLEX when it first rolled out April 1, 2013. I took it in June. I remember at that time (pre revamped test) that the passing rate was being touted at around 85%. They did mention they expected the passing rate to drop after that April 2013 date. And they were right.

I still like the odds. 80%+ chance of passing is WAY better than 80% chance of failing in my eyes. :)

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Probably worth noting that the NCSBN reviews/revamps/"ups the ante" (whatever term you want to use, LOL!) every three years. The increase in logits (standard of passing) is really very minor, it's not as if it's a significantly harder test every three years. It just has a small logit increment increase. Students should expect their schools to be keeping up with the standards to prepare them for the exam.

Any school that has a passing standard below the national average should be avoided, IMHO. And personally, I think I'd be aiming for those who have a noticeably HIGHER than average passing rate for their graduates!

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Float Pool/Stepdown.
Probably worth noting that the NCSBN reviews/revamps/"ups the ante" (whatever term you want to use, LOL!) every three years. The increase in logits (standard of passing) is really very minor, it's not as if it's a significantly harder test every three years. It just has a small logit increment increase. Students should expect their schools to be keeping up with the standards to prepare them for the exam.

Any school that has a passing standard below the national average should be avoided, IMHO. And personally, I think I'd be aiming for those who have a noticeably HIGHER than average passing rate for their graduates!

Yep, mine first school is well known in our area because it boasts a 99-100% pass rate with every class. It does not have an NCLEX prep course at the end either and does not recommend any specific prep course, they just expect their students to pass NCLEX if they actually make it all the way through the program!!!

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I am a foreign educated nursing student. I am a little scared of these statistics. I did not pass the NCLEX the first time, and attempting a repeat next month. I don't think we had the information drilled into us like our US educated counterparts. We did not have things like the HESI exam, ATI or Kaplan. The only plus side to being a foreign educated nursing student, Philippines, is I currently have zero student loans to pay off.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
I am a foreign educated nursing student. I am a little scared of these statistics. I did not pass the NCLEX the first time, and attempting a repeat next month. I don't think we had the information drilled into us like our US educated counterparts. We did not have things like the HESI exam, ATI or Kaplan. The only plus side to being a foreign educated nursing student, Philippines, is I currently have zero student loans to pay off.

Foreign educated nurses are trained to the standards of the country where they are educated not to US or Canadian standards. Add in not having English as a primary language and cultural differences and it's easier to understand the gross difference in results for a U.S. educated nurse vs an internationally educated nurse.

Even Kaplan & Hurst that offer review courses for IENs won't offer passing guarantees like they do for those who graduated from accredited US schools because there is such a difference in educational and clinical standards

That's not to say it's impossible just that there are additional hurdles to jump and differences in application of clinical knowledge

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Yeah, my education in the Philippines was geared towards the NLE exam which is more information memorizing. I am having to learn more about prioritizing and delegation for the NCLEX which I did not learn much about in school. It's okay I will just have to work harder and pray I am in the top 17.7%.

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Yep, mine first school is well known in our area because it boasts a 99-100% pass rate with every class. It does not have an NCLEX prep course at the end either and does not recommend any specific prep course, they just expect their students to pass NCLEX if they actually make it all the way through the program!!!

Same here. I actually found my nursing school exams much harder than the NCLEX! When my test shut off at 75 questions, my first thought was, "Seriously? That's it?" Lol.

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Specializes in ICU.

My school also has a great pass rate. It's one of the reasons I chose it. I even looked at specific campuses pass rates. My school is also well respected in the medical community and like to hire graduates from my school. I really like that we use ATI in each class. I have yet to score below a level 2 which means for the classes I have taken I should do well on NCLEX. We do take the comprehensive predictor test in our last semester. The program is rigorous which I think it should be to prepare us for the test.

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Yeah, my education in the Philippines was geared towards the NLE exam which is more information memorizing. I am having to learn more about prioritizing and delegation for the NCLEX which I did not learn much about in school. It's okay I will just have to work harder and pray I am in the top 17.7%.

Do your best, and that's all you can do. Good luck! The difference in education and expectations has led California to require more nursing coursework be completed before recognizing a BSN-prepared nurse from the Phillipines to take the US NCLEX-RN. I have no doubt other States will follow (ours is not a national licensing, as you probably know, but rather licensing by individual State).

Probably the biggest difference is what you have just said: RNs in the US are expected to be able to demonstrate the application of knowledge, APPLY what they have learned in school in various situations rather than repeat memorized sets of numbers and answers. And let's face it: life as a nurse usually doesn't require you to simply Fill In The Blank....does it?

At any rate, aim to be in that percentage that DOES kill the NCLEX :)

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