Exam logistics

NCLEX RN Pass Rate

Written and reviewed by Dana Whitfield, RN, MSN · 4 min read · Updated September 2026

Short answer

The NCLEX-RN pass rate is the share of candidates who meet the passing standard set by NCSBN, reported quarterly and broken out by first-time versus repeat candidates and by education pathway. It is not a fixed percentage — it moves with each testing period, so treat any number you read as a snapshot, not a guarantee.

The rule as it stands

The NCLEX-RN uses computerized adaptive testing to decide, question by question, whether you are performing above or below the passing standard. There is no fixed pass mark expressed as a percentage of questions answered correctly. Instead, the exam stops once it has enough statistical confidence that your ability sits clearly above or below the standard, or once you reach the maximum number of items or the time limit.

Because of that design, the published pass rate reflects outcomes across many candidates, not a single cutoff score you can calculate yourself. NCSBN sets and periodically reviews the passing standard, and first-time pass rates for candidates from US-educated RN programs have generally sat in the 80s percent range in recent years, with internationally educated and repeat candidates trending lower. Exact figures shift by quarter, so a number you read today may already be out of date by the time you test.

How the process actually works

After your nursing program confirms your eligibility, you apply to your state or territory's board of nursing, pay the exam fee, and receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) once your application is processed and your registration with Pearson VUE is complete. You schedule your test date directly with Pearson VUE using the candidate ID on your ATT, and you must test before that authorization expires — typically within a set window set by your board.

On test day, the Next Generation NCLEX presents a mix of standard item types and case-study-based questions built around the Clinical Judgment Measurement Model, which assesses how you recognise cues, analyse information, prioritise hypotheses, and evaluate outcomes, not just recall. The adaptive engine adjusts difficulty after each response. Results are released to your board of nursing, and most candidates can access an unofficial result through the Pearson VUE Quick Results service, for a fee, roughly two business days after testing, though this is not the official outcome.

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What trips people up

The most common confusion is treating a school's advertised pass rate as a guarantee of your own outcome. A program's rate is an aggregate across a graduating cohort and says nothing about individual preparation, and boards of nursing in most states set a minimum program pass rate a school must maintain to stay in good standing, which is a regulatory threshold, not a prediction.

Another frequent mistake is misreading the Pearson VUE Quick Results service as final. It is unofficial and can occasionally be wrong or delayed; your board of nursing's result is the one that matters for licensure. Candidates also sometimes assume a longer exam means they failed, or a short one means they passed — with an adaptive test, neither length nor the number of items reliably predicts the outcome, so do not draw conclusions from how the test felt.

What to do if it goes wrong

If you do not pass, your board of nursing will send a NCLEX Candidate Performance Report (CPR), which breaks your performance down by content area relative to the passing standard. Use it to target weak areas rather than repeating a generic review of everything, since re-testing without a focused plan tends to reproduce the same result.

Retake eligibility rules vary by jurisdiction, but most boards require a minimum wait of 45 days between attempts, and some limit the total number of attempts allowed within a rolling period, commonly a calendar year. You will need a new ATT and will pay the exam fee again. Check your specific board's policy before scheduling, since wait times, attempt limits, and any required remediation coursework differ from state to state.

Where to check the current version

NCSBN publishes official, quarterly NCLEX pass rate statistics on its website, broken down by exam type, education pathway, and first-time versus repeat status — this is the authoritative source, and it is updated more frequently than most secondary summaries you will find elsewhere.

For anything specific to your own licensure, including retake rules, application status, and your official result, go to your state or territory board of nursing directly. Policies on attempt limits, waiting periods, and remediation requirements are set at the jurisdiction level and are not standardised nationally, so a rule you read about another state may not apply to you.

The next step on this is the same as on everything else here: answer questions and read the rationales. Our fundamentals practice questions are the closest set to what this page covers.

Common questions

What is a good NCLEX-RN pass rate for a nursing school?

Most boards of nursing set a minimum first-time pass rate a program must maintain, often around 80 percent, though the exact figure is set by each state. A school above that threshold is in good standing, but a high rate still does not predict any individual candidate's result.

Does the NCLEX-RN pass rate differ from the NCLEX-PN pass rate?

Yes, they are reported separately by NCSBN because they are different exams with different content emphasis and candidate populations. Comparing the two directly is not meaningful since PN candidates are testing against a different scope of practice.

How soon can I retake the NCLEX-RN if I fail?

Most boards require a minimum 45-day wait between attempts, but this varies by jurisdiction and some boards cap the number of attempts allowed per year. Confirm the exact rule with your own board of nursing before scheduling a retake.

Is the Pearson VUE Quick Results service the official pass or fail result?

No. It is an unofficial, paid preview available roughly two business days after testing in most cases. Your board of nursing issues the official result, which is what determines licensure.