NCLEX pass rates: the official NCSBN numbers, and what they mean for you

Below: the full 2025 and 2024 numbers by candidate type, degree and quarter, what a pass rate does and doesn't tell you, where to find your school's rate, and what the numbers suggest about preparing. Plus four practice questions to check yourself.

Try one first

Prioritization questions decide a lot of results, so start with one.

NCLEX pass rates by candidate type (2025 and 2024)

These are NCSBN's figures for candidates testing for US licensure. The percentages are calculated from the published counts (2025 statistics, 2024 statistics).

When people quote "the NCLEX pass rate", they almost always mean the first row: first-time, US-educated candidates. The "all candidates" number is lower because it includes repeat and internationally educated test takers, who pass at lower rates.

ADN vs BSN: pass rates by degree

NCSBN also breaks out first-time, US-educated RN candidates by the type of program they finished:

The gap between BSN and ADN graduates was about 1.5 percentage points in 2025 and about 1.3 in 2024. That's small. If you're an ADN student, your degree type isn't the thing standing between you and a pass. How you prepare matters far more.

Quarter by quarter: when people pass

NCSBN reports first-time, US-educated RN results by the quarter the exam was taken:

In both years, the rate was highest in the first half and lowest from October to December. The tables don't say why, and the people testing at the end of the year aren't a random sample: fewer test then, and the mix of candidates changes with graduation cycles. So don't read this as "December is harder". The exam uses the same passing standard all year.

What a pass rate doesn't tell you

• There's no quota. The NCLEX-RN passing standard is a fixed ability level, 0.00 logits, which NCSBN has kept in place through March 31, 2029 (NCSBN Passing Standard). If every candidate met it, every candidate would pass.
• There's no percentage score. The exam is adaptive, so it compares your ability estimate with that standard rather than counting the share of questions you got right. See How the NCLEX actually works.
• The number of questions doesn't reveal your result. NCSBN says this directly in its FAQs. Stopping at 85 and going to 150 both happen to people who pass.
• A group rate isn't your probability. 86.7% describes everyone who tested. Your own odds depend on how ready you are, which your practice results can tell you much more about.

Repeat test takers: what 52.7% really says

Roughly half of US-educated repeat candidates passed in 2025 (52.7%), up slightly from 50.9% in 2024. That's lower than first-time rates, and it's worth being honest about why that matters: if the same preparation is repeated, the same result is likely. The retakers who pass usually change how they study, not just how long.

NCSBN's retake policy allows up to eight attempts a year, with at least 45 test-free days between attempts, though your nursing regulatory body can set stricter limits (NCLEX Candidate Bulletin). If you didn't pass, the Candidate Performance Report your board sends shows your relative strengths and weaknesses by test plan area. That's the starting point for the 45-day comeback plan.

Internationally educated nurses

First-time, internationally educated candidates passed at 47.3% in 2025, down from 53.8% in 2024. The NCLEX tests nursing judgment as practiced in the US and Canada: US drug names and units, delegation rules for US care teams, and clinical judgment case studies written around US practice settings. If you trained elsewhere, budget extra time for those areas and for practicing the Next Gen formats, even if your clinical experience is strong.

How to find your nursing school's NCLEX pass rate

NCSBN's annual statistics report totals, not individual schools. For a specific program:

1. Check your state board of nursing's website. Many boards publish yearly first-time pass rates for each approved program.
2. Look at the school's own site. Programs often post their rates, especially if they're strong. Check which year and which campus the figure covers.
3. Ask the program directly. It's a fair question for any applicant, and schools track it closely.

When you compare schools, look at several years, not one, and check how many graduates tested. A rate based on 15 students can swing a lot from year to year.

What the numbers suggest about preparing

• Most prepared first-time takers pass. Aim to be consistently above the line in every test plan area, not perfect in a few.
• Weight your time like the test plan. Management of Care (15–21%) and Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies (13–19%) are the two largest areas. The 1-month study schedule is built around that.
• Practice the item types. Every exam has three clinical judgment case studies, and select-all-that-apply items now earn partial credit. See the SATA guide.
• Do questions first, then review. Retrieval practice beats rereading in controlled studies. See Stop rereading.

Practice questions (with rationales)

Three more high-yield items. Decide on your answer before you check.

Pass rates are calculated from counts in NCSBN's published annual statistics. Clinical content in the practice questions reflects standard nursing references; follow your facility's protocols in practice. Mars AI is an independent study tool and isn't affiliated with NCSBN.