How many nurses pass the NCLEX every year?

The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) is a standardized test that all aspiring nurses in the United States must pass in order to obtain their nursing license. This exam is administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) and is a crucial step in the journey to becoming a registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN). Every year, thousands of nursing students take the NCLEX in hopes of passing and beginning their careers in the healthcare field. In this article, we will delve into the statistics and trends of how many nurses pass the NCLEX every year.

The NCLEX is offered in two different formats: the NCLEX-RN for those seeking to become registered nurses and the NCLEX-PN for those seeking to become licensed practical nurses. The content of both exams is similar, but the NCLEX-RN is designed for a higher level of nursing practice. Both exams consist of multiple-choice questions that test the knowledge and critical thinking skills of the test-taker. The questions are based on the nursing process and cover a wide range of topics, including pharmacology, patient care, and nursing procedures.

According to the NCSBN, the NCLEX is administered throughout the year at various testing centers across the country. In 2020, there were a total of 326,468 NCLEX-RN candidates and 59,574 NCLEX-PN candidates who took the exam. Out of these candidates, 85.1% of NCLEX-RN candidates and 83.5% of NCLEX-PN candidates passed the exam on their first attempt. This pass rate has remained relatively consistent over the years, with a slight increase in the pass rate for both exams in recent years.

The number of nurses passing the NCLEX every year has been steadily increasing over the past decade. In 2010, there were 76,897 NCLEX-RN candidates and 23,585 NCLEX-PN candidates who passed the exam. In 2019, these numbers increased to 143,518 NCLEX-RN candidates and 30,538 NCLEX-PN candidates. This trend can be attributed to the growing demand for nurses in the healthcare industry, as well as the increasing number of nursing programs and graduates.

The pass rate for the NCLEX also varies by state. In 2020, the states with the highest NCLEX-RN pass rates were North Dakota (94.79%), Utah (93.82%), and Wisconsin (93.37%). The states with the lowest pass rates were California (86.06%), Nevada (86.21%), and Florida (86.38%). These variations can be attributed to the differences in nursing education and training programs, as well as the difficulty level of the exam in each state.

It is important to note that passing the NCLEX is not the only requirement for obtaining a nursing license. Each state has its own set of requirements, which may include additional exams, background checks, and other criteria. Therefore, not all candidates who pass the NCLEX will receive their nursing license immediately.

In conclusion, the number of nurses passing the NCLEX every year has been steadily increasing, with a pass rate of over 80% for both the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN exams. This trend is expected to continue as the demand for nurses in the healthcare industry continues to grow. The NCLEX is a challenging but necessary step in the journey to becoming a licensed nurse, and the high pass rates are a testament to the hard work and dedication of nursing students.