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Approved by the dean of the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions on July 24, 2024.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.
After you finish your nursing education, and before you practice as a registered nurse, you must first pass a licensure exam. The National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) is required for all registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) before they can obtain a professional license.1 Passing this exam establishes the minimum nursing knowledge and skills required to practice competently at the entry level.2 NCLEX examples include clinical judgment and decision making questions, as well as questions involving medication management, safety, infection control and patient care and comfort.
NCLEX pass rates are important for nursing students to consider when choosing a nursing program. Passing this exam is one of the prerequisites for achieving licensure. Prior to the exam, you must apply to the state board of nursing. Upon meeting all state requirements, you will be approved to take the NCLEX.
You cannot practice as a nurse without being licensed. You must pass the NCLEX to achieve your first licensure with the state board of nursing. But first, let’s explore what the NCLEX is, what NCLEX pass rates are, and what to do if you don’t pass on your first try.
As you get closer to the end of your nursing education, you may hear a lot of chatter among students about the 85 questions — is it good or bad if you only get 85 questions? In an adaptive exam like NCLEX, the computer program is determining through question performance whether the tester has a good grasp of the concepts required by the blueprint. If the exam turns off in 85 questions, this indicates that the decision made by the exam software was definitive and either the tester performed very well or very poorly.
A tester can pass or fail with the minimum questions. The most important factor, while testing, is to take one question at a time. If you get more than 85 questions, you are still in the "game". Many times, more questions indicates there is a topic/concept area that you still have opportunity to perform better or more consistently. You can pass the NCLEX and get all 150 questions.
The NCLEX is a timed exam that consists of at least 85 questions but can be as many as 150. The NCLEX uses an adaptive testing format, which means that the more correct answers you give, the sooner you finish. But the same goes for wrong answers, too: If you answer too many questions incorrectly, the test may be terminated. The exam is scored as either pass or fail. You will not know the outcome of the exam for a minimum of 48 hours, and it could take up to six weeks.2
The NCLEX questions and format are established by the National Council for State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), which administers the exam nationwide.1 The actual exam is administered in a proctored, private, and quiet testing facility. You are not allowed to bring any notes or study materials with you, but you will be provided with a calculator, white board and marker.3
If you are worried about what might happen if you don’t pass the NCLEX on the first attempt, rest assured that the state boards of nursing have anticipated for this possibility. Each state board has rules about when and how often a candidate can retake the NCLEX. For example, Arizona does not limit the number of times to take the exam, but has a minimum wait time to schedule a retake. Refer to your licensing board for details about allowances for retaking the NCLEX. You must wait a minimum of 45 days before retaking the test, and you will need to pay the testing fee again. That’s plenty of time for you to regroup and study up on areas where you feel you could improve.1
If you struggle with test taking in general, there are several resources available for nursing students before their first test, or after a non-passing score. The Mayo Clinic suggests a few of these strategies for managing test anxiety:9
There are also several reputable online prep courses, such as Kaplan and Hurst Review, that are specifically designed for the NCLEX and may be a good choice for nurses who struggle on their first attempt at the NCLEX.10 Reach out to NCLEX tutors, classmates and faculty to help devise a study plan and schedule to help get you back on track.
With an understanding of the dynamics of the NCLEX exam pass rates and what to do after you pass, you can now navigate your own NCLEX journey. After passing the NCLEX exam, you will be one step closer to achieving nursing licensure and beginning your professional career in nursing.
In as few as 16 months,11 GCU’s accelerated BSN program can give you the education and support you need to prepare you for the NCLEX so you can begin your nursing career sooner. GCU is with all our ABSN students until they pass NCLEX.
NCLEX exam pass rates are crucial because they indicate the percentage of candidates who successfully pass the exam on their first attempt. High pass rates can indicate graduates’ readiness and competency to enter the field.4
In 2024, the national NCLEX pass rate for first-time test takers educated in the U.S. was 91.16%.5 From 2012 through 2024, the pass rates for the NCLEX exam in Arizona were consistently higher than the national average, coming in at 93.71% in 2024.6 Way to go, all you nurses in the Grand Canyon State!
Grand Canyon University’s average first-time NCLEX pass rate for test takers in our various locations is as follows:6
Choosing a nursing school with high NCLEX pass rates is important for several reasons:
High NCLEX pass rates reflect a nursing school's commitment to excellence in nursing education and are a good indicator that its students may acquire the skills and knowledge needed to become an effective nurse.8
