Beyond the Numbers: Understanding Recent NCLEX-RN Pass Rate Trends
4 Nursing Education Leaders Share Actionable Insights on Student Preparedness & Program Success
NCLEX-RN pass rates may be fluctuating, but contrary to some recent headlines, these data shifts are not cause for alarm.
That’s the conclusion of four leaders in nursing education who recently shared their thoughts on pass rate trends documented since clinical judgment was emphasized in a test overhaul known as the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN).
Overall first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates surged after the test change in April 2023, climbing from 88.6% in 2023 to 91.2% in 2024.1,2 However, through most of 2025, overall first-time pass rates3 have dipped to 87.5% — prompting reflection about what these trends mean for student preparedness and program effectiveness.
Read on to learn what leaders in a variety of nursing education roles consider the most important takeaways from recent NCLEX-RN trends.
Rick García, PhD, RN, CCM, FAAOHN, FAADN
Chief Executive Officer, Organization for Associate Degree Nursing and the OADN Foundation
What do you think the pass rates from 2023-2025 indicate about student preparedness?
“The pass rate trends suggest that newly licensed registered nurses are increasingly well prepared to enter nursing practice. The upward trend across all education pathways indicates that nursing programs are effectively preparing graduates to demonstrate the critical reasoning and decision-making skills emphasized by the NCLEX. These results highlight their ability to adapt to the testing format and to transfer classroom and clinical learning into safe practice judgments.
“At the same time, it is important to recognize the environment these new professionals are entering. The point-of-care delivery of nursing services is highly complex, with nurses required to balance competing priorities and make moment-to-moment clinical judgments. While educational programs provide robust, educationally sound, and thoughtfully designed clinical experiences, transitioning into full-time practice remains demanding. Newly licensed RNs must not only apply their knowledge but also build confidence and efficiency in a rapidly changing practice setting.
“Taken together, the improved pass rates suggest that newly licensed RNs are entering the workforce with a strong foundation for practice. However, sustained support during the first 2 years of practice is essential to help them thrive in today’s challenging healthcare environment.”
What do the pass rate results suggest about the NGN changes?
“The pass rate results suggest that the implementation of the clinical judgment assessment and polytomous scoring on the NCLEX did not negatively affect candidate performance. In fact, pass rates increased across all education pathways between 2023 and 2024.
“The 2025 NCLEX trends highlight areas for careful attention, though they are not entirely unexpected given the complex realities of nursing education and practice today. As noted by Spector et al.4 in NCSBN’s Regulatory Guidelines and Evidence-Based Quality Indicators for Nursing Education Programs, leadership stability is a key factor in program quality and student outcomes. A steady and continued presence by the chief academic officer of the nursing program, supported by the provost, chancellor or vice president of academic affairs, helps ensure consistent implementation of curriculum, faculty development, and evidence-based practices that strengthen graduate preparedness. Continued leadership, adequate financial resources and support at both the program and institutional levels will be important in navigating current challenges and sustaining success in the years ahead.”
What are some specific ways that academic programs can better prepare candidates for the NCLEX, to produce higher pass rates?
Academic programs can strengthen NCLEX outcomes by focusing on several evidence-based strategies. As highlighted by Spector et al., leadership stability is central to program quality. A consistent chief academic officer, supported by institutional leaders, ensures continuity in curriculum design, faculty development, and implementation of evidence-based teaching practices. Programs should also emphasize robust curriculum evaluation, early identification and support of at-risk students, and strong faculty qualifications with ongoing professional development.
“In addition, fostering a culture of continuous quality improvement and ensuring adequate clinical learning opportunities prepares graduates to transfer knowledge and judgment effectively into practice. Together, these measures help align educational preparation with NCLEX success.”
"From a faculty standpoint, preparing students for NCLEX success requires intentionally integrating strategies across the curriculum. Faculty can:
- Integrate clinical judgment across courses so that decision-making is emphasized in both classroom and clinical experiences.
- Use case-based learning and unfolding scenarios to help students apply knowledge in dynamic, realistic contexts.
- Incorporate high-fidelity simulation that mirrors the complexity of practice environments.
- Emphasize higher-level questioning and scaffold testing to move progressively toward application and analysis-level items, mirroring the NCLEX testing framework.
- Include NCLEX-style item types (matrix/grid, select-all-that-apply with partial credit, trend analysis) to acclimate students to the exam format.
- Benchmark with standardized testing (e.g., ATI, HESI, Kaplan) at multiple points to monitor readiness and identify gaps.
- Provide remediation programs and personalized study plans based on student performance data, supplemented by one-on-one coaching for those consistently below benchmarks.
- Promote test-taking strategies, including approaches to partial-credit questions and complex case studies, while addressing test anxiety through structured support.
- Continue faculty development, especially in NCLEX item writing, test design, and teaching strategies, ensuring consistency across the curriculum so that students receive aligned preparation throughout their program.
By combining these approaches, programs can not only enhance NCLEX pass rates but also strengthen graduates’ ability to transfer knowledge and skills into safe, effective practice."
Patty Knecht, PhD, RN, ANEF
Chief Nursing Officer, Ascend Learning
What do you think the pass rates from 2023-2025 indicate about student preparedness?
“It is important to look beyond the last 2 years to fully understand the NCLEX pass rate trends given the impact of a once-in-a-lifetime event, COVID 19. This significantly disrupted education and almost all aspects of life through from early 2020 through early 2023. Complicating the issue, the nursing education industry experienced the first major change impacting the NCLEX exam since the introduction of computer adaptive testing in 1994. The NGN changes introduced a focus on measuring clinical judgment through the addition of new test item types, and in the 2 years prior to the NGN launch, we saw focused initiatives to prepare both faculty and students for the changes.
“Given the dip in pass rates during COVID, the rebound in 2023 and the decline occurring in late 2024 through early 2025, it is natural to look at the external influence of COVID disrupting education. The immediate switch to online learning (without any planning and preparation in many cases) and lack of clinical access could be key factors impacting the overall preparedness of many first-time test takers in late 2024 and early 2025.”
What do the pass rate results suggest about the NGN changes?
“I believe it is too early to make any definitive conclusions, but it’s important to remember that NCLEX is designed to assess the candidate’s ability to practice nursing safely and competently at the entry level, not for any specialty level. NGN was implemented to more fully assess the entry level nurse’s clinical judgment skills. It will be important to get deeper understanding of how a new graduate’s clinical judgment skills are being assessed in the first year of employment and whether any changes in patient outcomes occur. However, early trends demonstrate a positive response from students to ‘real life’ clinical judgment scenarios.”
Are the NCLEX trends in 2025 concerning or surprising to you?
“The decrease in late 2024 and early 2025 was not completely surprising. Several factors could have contributed to this decrease:
- These graduates experienced a disruptive educational process because a significant portion of their education occurred during the COVID pandemic. Academic learning loss is a logical contributing factor. Academic readiness resources such as Launch: Nursing Academic Readiness® are mitigating this risk.
- Intense NGN preparation by faculty and students could have positively impacted the high pass rates in 2023. Given the strong early results, perhaps some administrators and faculty focused on other program needs and slightly eased the gas off the pedal when it comes to providing highly engaging in learning activities. Current pass rates are prompting the resumption of a “full-court press” for many programs.
- The recent influx of new faculty (skilled clinicians who may have limited education experience) requires the attainment of knowledge on educational principles and strategies for continued student/program success.
- It is unclear how the partial credit scoring fully impacted early pass rates in 2023; I think there may be more to learn here as this onion is unpeeled.
- Historically, NCLEX pass rates are impacted by logit increases (difficulty level), NCLEX blueprint changes and other external factors. Given the external forces in the last several years, recent trends do not seem unusual.”
What are some specific ways that academic programs can better prepare candidates for the NCLEX, to produce higher pass rates?
“Strong evidence shows that today’s students learn differently from students of even 5 years ago. Highly engaging, interactive, multimedia-rich content delivery that includes case studies and simulation — along with a regular cadence of assessment, personalized learning, remediation and data-driven analytics — is essential to a student’s long-term retention of core nursing content and decision-making skills. This translates to higher pass rates and, most importantly, a safe, competent and confident new practitioner.
“I believe in a 6-principle basic recipe for NCLEX success in a prelicensure program:
- Engage and support students and faculty with multimedia-rich technology, ongoing assessment and remediation, academic support and other resources.
- Leverage simulation and AI tools to build competence, confidence and efficiencies.
- Communicate clear expectations (syllabus, handbook, policies).
- Be consistent and deliberate in delivering the educational program: a). Decrease variability [acknowledging demographic enrollment and external impacts] across faculty/cohorts, campuses and b). Integrate curriculum and resources using a consistent method
- Use data to drive decisions (quantitative and qualitative) aimed at excellence.
- Never fail to listen, hear, act, and evaluate.
Patrick Robinson, PhD, RN, ACRN, CNE, ANEF, FAAN
Vice President, Nursing Education, Pacific College of Health and Science
What do you think the pass rates from 2023-2025 indicate about student preparedness?
“The steady improvement we’re seeing in pass rates is a strong signal that students are more prepared than ever. Faculty and students alike have embraced the shift toward teaching and assessing clinical judgment, and that alignment is paying off. These trends affirm that our graduates are not only absorbing content, but also developing the critical thinking skills needed for safe, effective practice.”
What do the pass rate results suggest about the NGN changes?
“The results suggest that the Next Generation NCLEX is doing exactly what it was designed to do — measure readiness in a meaningful way. Instead of lowering pass rates, the NGN has validated that students can rise to the challenge of a more rigorous and clinically authentic exam. It’s encouraging to see that when students are taught to think like nurses, they succeed on an exam that mirrors the complexity of real-world nursing.”
Are the trends in 2025 concerning or surprising to you?
“Not at all. In fact, I find them inspiring. Change of this magnitude always raises concern at first, but what we’re witnessing is a profession-wide response that shows resilience, adaptability, and excellence. Students are prepared, faculty are innovating, and the results are reassuring. Far from being concerning, these trends are proof that nursing education is moving in the right direction.”
What are some specific ways that academic programs can better prepare candidates for the NCLEX, to produce higher pass rates?
“Preparation starts with adopting resources that are evidence-based and comprehensive. I am especially enthusiastic about ATI’s product line. The Engage® Series brings core nursing content to life in interactive and clinically relevant ways. The ATI Capstone Comprehensive Content Review provides a structured, culminating experience that strengthens knowledge and closes gaps. Virtual-ATI® gives students personalized, coach-supported preparation. And Launch: Nursing Academic Readiness helps propel them from being “almost ready” to fully confident test-takers. When programs fully integrate these tools into their curriculum, they not only raise pass rates—they graduate nurses who are truly practice-ready.”
James K. Spence, DNP, MPA-HSA, RN
Associate Dean of Academic Programs, Faculty and Staff, School of Nursing and Health Studies, University of Missouri-Kansas City
What do you think the pass rates from 2023-2025 indicate about student preparedness?
“Overall, the patterns suggest that students are entering practice with a strong foundation of readiness. There has been some fluctuation, but I view that as part of a natural cycle rather than evidence of decline. At UMKC, our 2024 and second quarter 2025 NCLEX pass rate of 100% for BSN graduates demonstrates that when curriculum, faculty support, and student engagement align, preparedness is both solid and sustainable.
“For me, the key takeaway is that well-structured programs produce consistent outcomes, even as the broader environment shifts. That consistency signals that our programs are equipping graduates with the competence and confidence to step into practice effectively.”
What do the pass rate results suggest about the NGN changes?
“The NGN changes validated what nurse educators have emphasized for years — that the exam should measure real-world thinking and decision-making, not just memorization and recall. The focus on clinical judgment, supported by partial-credit scoring and case-based design, seems to more accurately reflect what entry-level nurses can and should do. UMKC’s perfect pass rate affirms that when programs intentionally align teaching, simulation, and assessment with the NGN model, students are not only able to adapt but thrive under the new format.”
Are the trends in 2025 concerning or surprising to you?
“I don’t find the 2025 patterns concerning, nor do they surprise me. After an unusually strong year nationally, some leveling off was to be expected. What matters most is the broader trajectory, and that trajectory points to continued student readiness. At UMKC, our long track record of extremely high pass rates reassures me that our approach is working and that our graduates are leaving well-prepared.
“That said, nationally I do think there needs to be a continued focus on a few subgroups of NCLEX test takers, specifically internationally educated nurses and repeat testers, as they continue to struggle with lagging pass rates.”
What are some specific ways that academic programs can better prepare candidates for the NCLEX, to produce higher pass rates?
“Strong outcomes come from embedding NCLEX readiness throughout the program, not saving it for the final semester or two. Programs can improve preparation by mapping curriculum to the NCLEX blueprint, integrating NGN item types into every course, and using frequent, low-stakes assessments with rapid, targeted remediation. Simulation and content-specific case studies tied to structured debriefs is another powerful tool, especially when built with a focus on clinical judgement. Finally, for internationally educated students and repeat testers, tailored support in language, documentation, and remediation can make a significant difference.”
Recent Pass Rates Represent a Call to Refocus and Reinforce
The dip in NCLEX pass rates in early 2025 is not a crisis. Rather, it is a reminder that nursing education must remain agile, data-informed, and student-centered. The NGN changes have raised the bar, and nurse educators are rising to meet it.
“What excites me most is that we’re no longer talking about NCLEX preparation as a standalone task that happens at the end of a program,” Dr. Robinson said. “The most successful nursing programs are embedding NCLEX-style clinical judgment from the very first semester.
“When students consistently encounter case-based learning, simulation, and assessment tools like the Engage Series throughout their education, the NCLEX becomes less of a hurdle and more of a natural milestone. In this way, higher pass rates are not just about ‘teaching to the test’ — they reflect a deeper shift toward preparing graduates who are confident, competent, and ready to deliver excellent care from day one of practice.”
With continuing focus, strategic support, and the use of interactive education resources and standardized assessments, nurse educators can ensure that graduates are not simply earning a passing score on the NCLEX — they are entering practice ready to deliver safe, effective and compassionate care.
References
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing. 2023 NCLEX Examination Statistics. 2023 National Council Licensure Examination Licensure Statistics, Volume 88, June 2024
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing. 2024 NCLEX Examination Statistics. 2024 National Council Licensure Examination Licensure Statistics, Volume 94, July 2025
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing. NCLEX Pass Rates. (Data are reported using Power BI and are updated continuously.) NCLEX® Pass Rates
- Spector N, Silvestre J, Alexander M, Martin B, Hooper JI, Squires A, Ojemeni M. NCSBN regulatory guidelines and evidence-based quality indicators for nursing education programs. Journal of Nursing Regulation. 2020;11(2):S1-S64. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2155-8256(20)30075-2