2021 NCLEX Examination Statistics - Ncsbn

6 INTRODUCTION Introduction In 1982, NCSBN substantially revised the State Board item that has a degree of difficulty sufficient to give the Test Pool Examination (SBTPE). NCSBN changed the candidate approximately a 50% chance of answering examination from a norm-referenced test to a criterion- it correctly. This item is selected and presented to the referenced test, implemented a new test plan and candidate on the computer screen. This process is used Rasch’s (1960) one parameter logistic model to repeated for each item, creating an examination tailored calibrate items and measure candidates’ abilities. At that to the individual’s ability level, while fulfilling all NCLEX time, NCSBN renamed the examinations the National test plan requirements. The examination continues in Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses this way until a pass-fail decision can be determined. (NCLEX-RN ) and the National Council Licensure Because the examination could end at any time after Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN ). However, the minimum number of items has been answered, it these NCLEX examinations were very different than is important that the test plan specifications are met the NCLEX examinations taken by candidates today. throughout the entire test. These examinations were only administered twice a year in a pencil-and-paper format; each administration lasted Setting the Passing Standard two days. To ensure a consistent standard of competence in In 1986, the NCSBN Board of Directors (BOD) funded nursing practice, NCSBN uses a criterion-referenced an initial investigation on the feasibility of using computerized adaptive testing (CAT) procedures. CAT held the promise of making examinations available yearround, shortening examination length by only giving candidates items that were appropriate for their ability and providing greater security for the content of the items. On April 1, 1994, NCSBN began administering the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN Examinations exclusively via CAT. On Jan. 5, 2015, the first candidates were able to take the NCLEX-RN examination for purposes of licensure/registration in Canada. This publication provides a detailed breakdown of candidate standard, which means that passing or failing depends solely upon a candidate’s level of performance in relation to the established point that represents safe and effective entry-level competence. There is no preassigned percentage of candidates that pass or fail each examination. Because the practice of nursing changes over time, it is necessary to reevaluate the appropriateness of the passing standard from time to time. To ensure that the passing standards for the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN examinations accurately reflect the knowledge, skills and abilities essential for entry-level nurse practice, NCSBN’s BOD reevaluates performance for 2021, as well as historical data. the passing standard every three years or when the Computerized Adaptive Testing the BOD considers information from a variety of CAT is a method of administering examinations that sources. Although there is no limit on the information it combines the power and speed of current computer test plan changes. In evaluating the passing standard, may consider, the BOD is typically presented with the technology with modern measurement theory. With following information: CAT, each candidate’s test is unique; it is assembled 1. The results of a standard-setting exercise interactively as the individual is tested. As the candidate undertaken by the panel of judges. Currently, this answers each question, the computer calculates an exercise consists of a modified Angoff procedure ability estimate based on all earlier answers. The test with additional statistical adjustment procedures. A administration software then identifies the content list of the members on the panel of judges and their area for the next item. Next, the software scans through qualifications is also included. available items within the identified content area for an National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN) 2022

7 INTRODUCTION 2. A historical record of the passing standard and annual summaries of candidate performance on the NCLEX examination since the implementation of the CAT methodology in 1994. 3. The results from the annual standard-setting survey, which solicits the opinions of employers and educators regarding the competence of the current cohort of entry-level nurses. 4. Information detailing the educational readiness of Pass-fail Decisions Candidate performance on the NCLEX examinations is reported only as a pass-fail decision. Scores are never reported. As a result, almost all the statistics presented here are pass rates or statistics based upon a pass-fail decision. To make pass-fail decisions, the computer seeks to determine with 95% certainty whether the candidate’s true ability is above or below the passing standard. To high school graduates who expressed an interest in do this, three pieces of information must be known: the nursing. current person ability estimate, the precision of that In April 1998, the passing standard for the NCLEX-RN Examination increased from –0.42 logits to –0.35 logits. In April 2001, this standard was retained for another three years. In April 2004, the standard increased to –0.28 logits. In April 2007, the standard increased again to –0.21 logits. In April 2010, the standard increased to –0.16 logits. In April 2013, the standard increased to 0.00 logits. In April 2016, this standard was retained for another three years. In April 2019, this standard was again retained for another three years. estimate and the passing standard. After the minimum number of items has been answered, the computer compares the candidate’s ability level to the standard required for passing. Candidates clearly above the passing standard pass. Candidates clearly below the passing standard fail. If the candidate’s ability level is close enough to the passing standard that it is not clear which side of the passing standard his or her ability falls, the computer continues asking items. As more items are answered, the candidate’s ability estimate becomes more precise. After each item, the candidate’s ability level is recomputed, The passing standard for the NCLEX-PN Examination using all of the information (answers to all the items has experienced a similar increase over time. In asked) available at that point. When it becomes clear on April 1999, the passing standard for the NCLEX-PN which side of the passing standard the candidate’s ability Examination increased from –0.51 logits to –0.47 falls, the examination ends. logits. In April 2002, this standard was retained for Some candidates’ abilities are very close to the passing another three years. In April 2005, the NCLEX-PN standard. For these candidates, all items in the item passing standard increased from –0.47 to –0.42 pool might not provide enough information to be logits. In April 2008, the standard increased to –0.37 certain their ability is truly above or below the passing logits. In April 2011, the standard increased to –0.27 standard. These are the candidates who take the logits. In April 2014, the standard increased to –0.21 maximum number of items. Once the maximum number logits. In April 2017, this standard was retained of items is administered, the computer waives the 95% for another three years. On March 25, 2020, this certainty requirement and makes a pass or fail decision standard increased to -0.18 logits. It is important to based upon the candidate’s final ability estimate. If note that the RN and PN standards are not directly the candidate’s ability estimate is above the passing comparable because they are based on different item standard, the candidate passes. If not, he or she fails. pools and different scopes of practice. If an NCLEX examination ends because time runs out, the computer waives the 95% certainty requirement and National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN) 2022

8 INTRODUCTION makes a pass or fail decision based upon the candidate’s final ability estimate, which is computed from the responses to all completed items. Those scoring above the passing standard have a passing exam; otherwise the exam is scored as a fail. National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN) 2022

9 2021 NCLEX EXAMINATION STATISTICS 2021 NCLEX EXAMINATION STATISTICS Table 1. Candidates Taking the NCLEX-RN for U.S. Licensure, by Type of Candidate Jan. – March July – Sept. Oct. – Dec. Total (2021) # Passing % Passing # Testing # Passing % Passing # Testing # Passing % Passing # Testing # Passing % Passing # Testing # Passing % Passing 481 384 79.8 762 618 81.1 795 641 80.6 259 184 71.0 2,297 1,827 79.5 RN Baccalaureate 23,389 20,604 88.1 28,407 25,276 89.0 32,333 27,286 84.4 10,176 8,003 78.6 94,305 81,169 86.1 RN Associate Degree 23,538 19,250 81.8 27,640 22,798 82.5 27,707 21,433 77.4 9,417 6,101 64.8 88,302 69,582 78.8 Special Program Codes 50 23 46.0 27 15 55.6 41 13 31.7 34 13 38.2 152 64 42.1 Total First-time, U.S.-educated 47,458 40,261 84.8 56,836 48,707 85.7 60,876 49,373 81.1 19,886 14,301 71.9 185,056 152,642 82.5 Repeat, U.S.-educated 10,689 4,623 43.3 12,326 5,468 44.4 16,485 8,228 49.9 15,705 6,810 43.4 55,205 25,129 45.5 First-time, Internationally Educated 3,366 1,448 43.0 3,937 1,920 48.8 4,604 2,244 48.7 6,617 3,051 46.1 18,524 8,663 46.8 Repeat, Internationally Educated 4,438 1,053 23.7 4,830 1,469 30.4 5,170 1,527 29.5 5,636 1,524 27.0 20,074 5,573 27.8 All Candidates 65,951 47,385 71.8 77,929 57,564 73.9 87,135 61,372 70.4 47,844 25,686 53.7 278,859 192,007 68.9 Type of Candidate # Testing April – June First-time, U.S.-educated RN Diploma Table 2. Candidates Taking the NCLEX-RN for Canadian Licensure/Registration, by Type of Candidate Jan. –March April – June July – Sept. Oct. – Dec. Total (2021) Type of Candidate # Testing # Passing % Passing # Testing # Passing % Passing # Testing # Passing % Passing # Testing # Passing % Passing # Testing # Passing % Passing First-time, Canada-Educated 1,254 1,064 84.8 2,924 2,607 89.2 3,701 3,098 83.7 1,657 1,294 78.1 9,536 8063 84.6 Repeat, Canada-Educated 571 310 54.3 482 248 51.5 626 349 55.8 748 433 57.9 2427 1340 55.2 First-time, Internationally Educated 367 199 54.2 478 258 54.0 547 309 56.5 638 326 51.1 2030 1092 53.8 Repeat, Internationally Educated 350 126 36.0 360 147 40.8 422 163 38.6 463 148 32.0 1595 584 36.6 2,542 1,699 66.8 4,244 3,260 76.8 5,296 3,919 74.0 3,506 2,201 62.8 15,588 11,079 71.1 All Candidates National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN) 2022

10 2021 NCLEX EXAMINATION STATISTICS Table 3. Summary Statistics for First-time NCLEX-RN Candidates for U.S. Licensure and Canadian Licensure/Registration NCLEX-RN Passing Standard January-December 2021 0 logits 1 Estimated Decision Consistency2 0.87 99 Average Test Length3 Percent of Candidates Taking the Minimum Number of Items 49.4% Percent of Candidates Taking the Maximum Number of Items 26.3% Average Testing Time 4 Percent of Candidates Taking the Maximum Amount of Time 2 hours and 0 minutes 0.2% 1 The NCLEX-RN passing standard scale uses logits as the unit of measurement. Logits is short for log-odds-units. These units have no inherent meaning with regard to nursing content and in fact have an arbitrary zero point, but logits are practical because the probability of a correct response can easily be computed when the candidate’s ability and the item’s difficulty are known. Typically, the logit range on the NCLEX-RN scale is from -2.00 (easy items or low ability candidates) to 2.00 (difficult items or high ability candidates). 2 Estimated Decision Consistency is an indicator of reliability. Conceptually, it is the proportion of pass-fail decisions that would remain the same if the same population were retested immediately after their first test (assuming no learning or fatigue effects) using a different set of items. 3 NCLEX-RN examinations consist of 75 to 145 items. 4 The standard amount of allotted testing time for the NCLEX-RN examination is five hours. National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN) 2022

11 2021 NCLEX EXAMINATION STATISTICS Table 4. First-time, U.S.-educated Candidates Taking the NCLEX-RN for U.S. Licensure, by Degree Type (Jan. 1 – March 31, 2021)1 RN-Diploma Jurisdiction Candidates Passed RN-Associate Degree % Candidates Passed Alabama % Total Jan. 1 - March 31, 2021 RN-Baccalaureate Candidates Passed % Candidates Passed % 495 417 84.2 551 484 87.8 1,046 901 86.1 Alaska 67 56 83.6 39 29 74.4 106 85 80.2 Arizona 886 800 90.3 502 455 90.6 1,388 1,255 90.4 Arkansas 565 440 77.9 190 169 88.9 755 609 80.7 California 1,271 1,160 91.3 1316 1153 87.6 2,587 2,313 89.4 Colorado 151 136 90.1 449 409 91.1 600 545 90.8 Connecticut 90 77 85.6 172 163 94.8 262 240 91.6 Delaware 130 118 90.8 6 5 83.3 136 123 90.4 District of Columbia 3 2 66.7 24 20 83.3 27 22 81.5 Florida 4,074 2,636 64.7 1274 1053 82.7 5,348 3,689 69.0 Georgia 382 331 86.6 1117 992 88.8 1,499 1,323 88.3 2 2 100.0 2 2 100.0 Guam Hawaii 15 14 93.3 51 45 88.2 66 59 89.4 Idaho 117 103 88.0 150 143 95.3 267 246 92.1 Illinois 800 694 86.8 1252 1058 84.5 2,052 1,752 85.4 477 404 84.7 618 541 87.5 1,103 952 86.3 309 253 81.9 317 280 88.3 626 533 85.1 149.0 128 85.9 173 143 82.7 322 271 84.2 Kentucky 501 419 83.6 452 413 91.4 953 832 87.3 Louisiana 421 367 87.2 573 525 91.6 994 892 89.7 Maine 75 64 85.3 118 92 78.0 193 156 80.8 488 441 90.4 302 246 81.5 790 687 87.0 229 189 82.5 597 553 92.6 829 745 89.9 Michigan 648 536 82.7 963 828 86.0 1,611 1,364 84.7 Minnesota 683 554 81.1 311 280 90.0 994 834 83.9 Mississippi 353 284 80.5 197 169 85.8 550 453 82.4 468 404 86.3 760 674 88.7 1,237 1,085 87.7 Montana 57 49 86.0 126 110 87.3 183 159 86.9 Nebraska 17 13 76.5 213 202 94.8 230 215 93.5 175 156 89.1 291 270 92.8 466 426 91.4 1 1 100.0 45 41 91.1 46 42 91.3 418 369 88.3 305 264 86.6 886 774 87.4 106 88 83.0 143 108 75.5 249 196 78.7 1,491 1,223 82.0 1230 1031 83.8 2,721 2,254 82.8 446 406 91.0 405 368 90.9 879 799 90.9 182 172 94.5 182 172 94.5 2 0 0.0 Indiana 8 7 87.5 Iowa Kansas Maryland Massachusetts Missouri 3 9 3 7 100.0 77.8 Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey 163 141 86.5 New Mexico New York North Carolina 28 25 89.3 North Dakota Northern Mariana Islands National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN) 2022 2 0 0.0

12 2021 NCLEX EXAMINATION STATISTICS Table 4. First-time, U.S.-educated Candidates Taking the NCLEX-RN for U.S. Licensure, by Degree Type (Jan. 1 – March 31, 2021)1 RN-Diploma Jurisdiction Ohio Candidates Passed 80 43 RN-Associate Degree % 53.8 Candidates Passed % Total Jan. 1 - March 31, 2021 RN-Baccalaureate Candidates Passed % Candidates Passed % 1,338 1,043 78.0 840 715 85.1 2,258 1,801 79.8 444 373 84.0 120 103 85.8 564 476 84.4 26 23 88.5 216 192 88.9 242 215 88.8 Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania 155 135 87.1 476 432 90.8 651 591 90.8 1,282 1,158 90.3 Rhode Island 1 0 0.0 107 94 87.9 121 109 90.1 229 203 88.6 South Carolina 375 325 86.7 485 455 93.8 860 780 90.7 South Dakota 8 7 87.5 222 194 87.4 230 201 87.4 278 241 86.7 774 698 90.2 1,052 939 89.3 1,924 1,672 86.9 2439 2204 90.4 4,397 3,899 88.7 416 325 78.1 399 348 87.2 815 673 82.6 2 2 100.0 9 8 88.9 11 10 90.9 2 1 50.0 2 1 50.0 Tennessee Texas 34 23 67.6 Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia 483 402 83.2 775 697 89.9 1,258 1,099 87.4 Washington 252 231 91.7 242 219 90.5 494 450 91.1 West Virginia 167 147 88.0 76 69 90.8 243 216 88.9 Wisconsin 634 558 88.0 601 510 84.9 1,235 1,068 86.5 Wyoming 48 43 89.6 1 1 100.0 49 44 89.8 23,538 19,250 81.8 23,389 20,604 88.1 47,408 40,238 84.9 Total 481 384 79.8 1 Data does not include Special Program Codes. National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN) 2022

13 2021 NCLEX EXAMINATION STATISTICS Table 5. First-time, U.S.-educated Candidates Taking the NCLEX-RN for U.S. Licensure, by Degree Type (April 1– June 30, 2021)1 RN-Diploma Jurisdiction Candidates Passed RN-Associate Degree % Candidates Passed % Total April 1 – June 30, 2021 RN-Baccalaureate Candidates Passed % Candidates Passed % Alabama 519 440 84.8 614 566 92.2 1,133 1,006 88.8 Alaska 60 55 91.7 37 32 86.5 97 87 89.7 1 0 0.0 1 0 0.0 Arizona 537 491 91.4 401 367 91.5 938 858 91.5 Arkansas 391 328 83.9 445 398 89.4 836 726 86.8 California 1265 1090 86.2 1596 1376 86.2 2,861 2,466 86.2 Colorado 370 322 87.0 330 307 93.0 700 629 89.9 Connecticut 149 131 87.9 334 317 94.9 483 448 92.8 128 111 86.7 44 35 79.5 186 158 84.9 6 4 66.7 34 34 100.0 40 38 95.0 Florida 3707 2364 63.8 1412 1217 86.2 5,119 3,581 70.0 Georgia 645 563 87.3 1383 1216 87.9 2,028 1,779 87.7 Hawaii 21 19 90.5 38 32 84.2 59 51 86.4 Idaho 146 132 90.4 245 223 91.0 391 355 90.8 American Samoa Delaware 14 12 85.7 District of Columbia Illinois 10 9 90.0 849 724 85.3 1345 1171 87.1 2,204 1,904 86.4 Indiana 10 8 80.0 510 454 89.0 1020 908 89.0 1,540 1,370 89.0 Iowa 355 292 82.3 266 231 86.8 621 523 84.2 Kansas 391 324 82.9 581 518 89.2 972 842 86.6 Kentucky 708 574 81.1 625 555 88.8 1,333 1,129 84.7 Louisiana 286 259 90.6 429 401 93.5 715 660 92.3 Maine 224 211 94.2 287 246 85.7 511 457 89.4 Maryland 349 305 87.4 227 200 88.1 576 505 87.7 138 119 86.2 333 289 86.8 472 409 86.7 Michigan 1015 859 84.6 1080 954 88.3 2,095 1,813 86.5 Minnesota 845 707 83.7 640 585 91.4 1,485 1,292 87.0 Mississippi 659 584 88.6 302 267 88.4 961 851 88.6 558 492 88.2 765 707 92.4 1,347 1,210 89.8 Montana 66 55 83.3 123 102 82.9 189 157 83.1 Nebraska 120 107 89.2 384 361 94.0 504 468 92.9 Nevada 186 165 88.7 297 266 89.6 483 431 89.2 New Hampshire 156 149 95.5 135 130 96.3 291 279 95.9 424 366 86.3 394 346 87.8 938 817 87.1 155 126 81.3 96 75 78.1 251 201 80.1 Massachusetts Missouri New Jersey 1 24 120 1 11 105 100.0 45.8 87.5 New Mexico New York North Carolina 7 7 100.0 1825 1459 79.9 876 684 78.1 2,708 2,150 79.4 36 32 88.9 1829 1611 88.1 973 865 88.9 2,838 2,508 88.4 135 112 83.0 181 168 92.8 316 280 88.6 North Dakota National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN) 2022

14 2021 NCLEX EXAMINATION STATISTICS Table 5. First-time, U.S.-educated Candidates Taking the NCLEX-RN for U.S. Licensure, by Degree Type (April 1– June 30, 2021)1 RN-Diploma Jurisdiction RN-Associate Degree Candidates Passed % Candidates Passed Northern Mariana Islands % Total April 1 – June 30, 2021 RN-Baccalaureate Candidates Passed 2 0 0.0 1051 785 74.7 1492 1325 Oklahoma 418 357 85.4 319 Oregon 87 76 87.4 759 674 97 South Carolina South Dakota % Candidates Passed % 2 0 0.0 88.8 2,664 2,193 82.3 278 87.1 737 635 86.2 235 210 89.4 322 286 88.8 88.8 1452 1337 92.1 2,558 2,298 89.8 84 86.6 94 80 85.1 191 164 85.9 442 396 89.6 511 479 93.7 953 875 91.8 20 12 60.0 285 264 92.6 305 276 90.5 378 340 89.9 681 607 89.1 1,059 947 89.4 2159 1872 86.7 2759 2519 91.3 4,990 4,454 89.3 583 466 79.9 421 366 86.9 1,004 832 82.9 Vermont 96 84 87.5 113 94 83.2 209 178 85.2 Virginia 440 364 82.7 487 432 88.7 927 796 85.9 Washington 324 292 90.1 193 170 88.1 517 462 89.4 West Virginia 394 329 83.5 137 121 88.3 531 450 84.7 Wisconsin 501 425 84.8 941 831 88.3 1,442 1,256 87.1 Wyoming 161 138 85.7 15 14 93.3 176 152 86.4 27,640 22,798 82.5 28,407 25,276 89.0 56,809 48,692 85.7 Ohio Pennsylvania 121 347 83 287 68.6 82.7 Rhode Island Tennessee Texas 72 63 87.5 Utah Total 1 762 618 81.1 Data do not include Special Program Codes. National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN) 2022

15 2021 NCLEX EXAMINATION STATISTICS Table 6. First-time, U.S.-educated Candidates Taking the NCLEX-RN for U.S. Licensure, by Degree Type (July 1– Sept. 30, 2021)1 RN-Diploma Jurisdiction Candidates Passed RN-Associate Degree % Candidates Passed % Total July 1 – Sept. 30, 2021 RN-Baccalaureate Candidates Passed % Candidates Passed % Alabama 763 615 80.6 603 519 86.1 1,366 1,134 83.0 Alaska 45 41 91.1 43 36 83.7 88 77 87.5 1 1 100.0 1 1 100.0 Arizona 567 465 82.0 512 434 84.8 1,079 899 83.3 Arkansas 173 121 69.9 198 169 85.4 371 290 78.2 California 2,481 2,232 90.0 2,916 2,576 88.3 5,397 4,808 89.1 Colorado 166 128 77.1 601 521 86.7 767 649 84.6 Connecticut 435 365 83.9 665 599 90.1 1,100 964 87.6 79 58 73.4 185 160 86.5 278 230 82.7 2 0 0.0 126 121 96.0 128 121 94.5 Florida 3,518 1,988 56.5 1,702 1,381 81.1 5,220 3,369 64.5 Georgia 352 291 82.7 773 635 82.1 1,125 926 82.3 Guam 1 1 100.0 7 6 85.7 8 7 87.5 Hawaii 88 82 93.2 156 136 87.2 244 218 89.3 Idaho 78 64 82.1 141 119 84.4 219 183 83.6 Illinois 1,002 751 75.0 1,372 1,130 82.4 2,374 1,881 79.2 459 352 76.7 699 585 83.7 1,173 949 80.9 Iowa 502 393 78.3 277 241 87.0 779 634 81.4 Kansas 233 171 73.4 229 186 81.2 462 357 77.3 Kentucky 377 280 74.3 257 200 77.8 634 480 75.7 Louisiana 236 195 82.6 390 341 87.4 626 536 85.6 Maine 56 48 85.7 184 137 74.5 240 185 77.1 509 435 85.5 635 509 80.2 1,144 944 82.5 American Samoa Delaware 14 12 85.7 District of Columbia Indiana 15 12 80.0 Maryland Massachusetts 731 629 86.0 1,416 1,235 87.2 2,241 1,954 87.2 Michigan 548 391 71.4 668 525 78.6 1,216

Candidates Taking the NCLEX-RN for U.S. Licensure, by Type of Candidate . 9 Table 2. Candidates Taking the NCLEX-RN for Canadian Licensure/Registration, by Type of Candidate . 9 Table 3. Summary Statistics for First-time NCLEX-RN Candidates for U.S. Licensure and