Before a registered nursing student is legal to work in the United States, he or she must pass a licensure exam. The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) is the test which is used to license registered nurses. If you have spent time in nursing school or are considering this career, you may be wondering what the pass rate for the licensure exam is. Here are some of things that RN students or potential RN students may want to know about how many people pass the test.
What Percentage of Registered Nursing Students Pass the Exam?
The pass rate for the NCLEX-RN varies according to the registered nursing student’s level of education. RNs can choose to earn a diploma in hospital settings, an associate’s degree (which takes two to three years to complete) or a bachelor’s degree (which takes about four years, on average).
According to the National Council of the State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), the following statistics are based on pass rates for students taking the NCLEX-RN for the first time between January and June of 2010. Test takers with diplomas had a 91.56% pass rate, test takers with associate’s degrees had a 89.13% pass rate and test takes with bachelor’s degrees had a 91.55%.
Does the Pass Rate Drop for Students Taking the RN Exam Again?
The overall pass rate of first time test takers of the NCLEX-RN is, according to the NCSBN, 90.11%. Students who take the test a second time have a 76.92% chance of passing. Thus, students who do not pass the nursing licensure exam the first time are less likely to pass it the second time.
How Can Nursing School Graduates Prepare for the NCLEX-RN?
Students become prepared to take the RN licensure exam through the nursing program that they attend. It is ideal for nursing students to look over any notes that they have, as there may be questions on the exam that they learned during their first semester of nursing courses. It is always ideal to refresh your memory.
Keep in mind that there are several other ways to prepare for the exam. Many schools offer prep courses for students who will soon be taking the test. It can be beneficial for students to take one of these. Another good option is to purchase a prep book, which will provide you with sample questions. A popular book which is known to be very effective is Saunders “Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN Examination.” It has been given the title of the best review book for the RN licensure exam ever.
The best thing that anyone who has graduated from a RN program can do is have confidence in your ability to pass the exam. Since you were able to make it through nursing school, you are likely well prepared enough to pass the NCLEX-RN. Purchasing a prep book or taking a prep course can be ideal for students who would like to ensure that they have done all that they can to pass the RN licensure exam.
Source:
National Council of State Boards of Nursing, “2010 Number of Candidates Taking NCLEX Examination and Percent Passing, by Type of Candidate” (PDF).
