NCLEX Pass Rate 2026: RN First-Time Rate Fell to 86.7%

NCLEX Pass Rates in 2026: Everything You Need to Know

If you are preparing for the NCLEX in 2026, the pass rate history shows how results have moved since the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) launched and how first-time, repeat and internationally educated candidates compare.

This guide presents NCLEX pass rate data from 2019 through 2025 (the latest full-year NCSBN data), shows how rates moved after the NGN launched, what the NCSBN data says about who passes, and what the 2026 test plans changed.

All pass rate data referenced here is sourced from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) quarterly and annual examination statistics, including the official 2024 and 2025 NCLEX Examination Statistics research briefs.

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NCLEX-RN Pass Rates: Year-by-Year (2019-2025)

The following table shows first-time, U.S.-educated NCLEX-RN pass rates alongside the all-candidate rate (which includes repeat takers and internationally educated nurses, so it runs much lower).

Sources: NCSBN NCLEX Examination Statistics research briefs, 2019-2025 (full-year figures).

Key Trends in This Data

The 2020-2022 decline came during the COVID-19 pandemic: the first-time U.S.-educated rate fell each year from 88.2% in 2019 to 79.9% in 2022, and 2022 had the lowest all-candidate rate in this table (63.4%).

The 2023-2024 recovery followed the April 2023 launch of NGN. The first-time U.S.-educated rate climbed from 88.6% in 2023 to 91.2% in 2024 (170,256 of 186,760 candidates passed), the highest in this table.

The 2025 pullback marks the first decline since NGN launched. The first-time U.S.-educated rate eased to 86.7% in 2025, close to the pre-pandemic 2019 rate of 88.2%.

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Quarterly Breakdown: 2024 NCLEX-RN Pass Rates

2024 was a standout year, but it was front-loaded. Here is how the first-time, U.S.-educated pass rate fell quarter by quarter, per the NCSBN 2024 Examination Statistics:

The Late-Year Drop

The quarterly rate slid from 94.2% to 82.2% across 2024, and the October-December group was the smallest (17,700 candidates vs. 66,464 in April-June).

The same late-year drop appeared in 2025: first-time U.S.-educated RN candidates passed at 88.4% in January-March and 89.1% in April-June, versus 81.2% in October-December (NCSBN).

Takeaway: The quarterly data shows a pattern, not a cause. Testing soon after graduation, while content is fresh, is a common recommendation; NCSBN sets no deadline.

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Repeat Test-Taker Pass Rates

The gap between first-time and repeat candidates is stark and worth understanding. Here is the full NCLEX-RN breakdown by candidate type:

Repeat U.S.-educated test-takers pass at roughly 34 percentage points lower than first-time candidates (52.7% vs. 86.7% in 2025). Each attempt is scored the same way: NCSBN says every attempt is independent and the CAT process begins again. The all-candidate rate (about 69-73%) sits far below the first-time U.S. headline because it blends in these repeat takers and the much lower internationally educated rates.

If you did not pass, your nursing regulatory body sends a Candidate Performance Report that summarizes your relative strengths and weaknesses by test-plan area; NCSBN intends it to guide your study before you retest, and you must wait at least 45 test-free days between attempts.

Get a FREE AI-Powered Study Plan for NCLEX-RN -- tell our AI tutor which content areas you missed and ask it for a review schedule.

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NCLEX-PN Pass Rates

The NCLEX-PN (Practical/Vocational Nurse) exam has its own pass-rate trajectory. Its all-candidate rate runs well below its first-time U.S.-educated rate, so compare like with like. Here is the breakdown by candidate type:

In 2024, the first-time U.S.-educated PN rate was 88.4% (44,693 of 50,570 candidates passed) -- about 3 points below RN's 91.2%. The all-candidate 2024 PN rate was 79.1% (63,150 candidates), because it includes repeat takers, who passed at 41.9%. Among first-time U.S. graduates, RN and PN pass rates are now nearly identical (86.7% RN vs. 86.6% PN in 2025).

Practice FREE NCLEX-PN Questions -- our single-answer practice questions cover all eight PN content areas with rationales.

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The NGN Impact: Did the New Format Change Pass Rates?

The Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) launched on April 1, 2023. Here is what changed and what the pass-rate data shows since then.

What NGN Changed

NGN items are built on the NCSBN Clinical Judgment Measurement Model (NCJMM), which describes six cognitive steps:

1. Recognize Cues -- Identify relevant information
2. Analyze Cues -- Connect data to conditions
3. Prioritize Hypotheses -- Rank explanations by urgency, likelihood, risk, difficulty and time constraints
4. Generate Solutions -- Identify interventions
5. Take Action -- Implement the plan
6. Evaluate Outcomes -- Assess effectiveness

Six New Item Types

NCSBN lists six new item types introduced for the NGN:

The Scoring Difference

Before NGN, NCLEX items were scored dichotomously -- right or wrong. NGN items with more than one key use partial credit scoring (polytomous scoring) under three rules: plus/minus, zero/one and rationale.

How Rates Moved After NGN

First-time, U.S.-educated NCLEX-RN pass rates (NCSBN):

• 2023 jumped to 88.6% from 79.9% the year before
• 2024 climbed further to 91.2% -- the highest from 2019 to 2025
• 2025 pulled back to 86.7% -- the first decline since NGN launched

The passing standard stayed at 0.00 logits throughout (NCSBN Board vote, December 2022). The statistics show how the rates moved, not why; no single cause is established by the data.

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NCLEX-RN vs. NCLEX-PN: Side-by-Side Comparison

Under the Next Generation NCLEX, both exams run 85 to 150 items with a 5-hour limit -- the old 75-145 range (used by both exams in 2021 and 2022) was retired when NGN launched in April 2023. The NCLEX-PN has its own passing standard (-0.18 logits); NCSBN says the RN and PN standards are not directly comparable because they are based on different item pools and different scopes of practice.

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How Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) Actually Works

Understanding the CAT algorithm helps demystify the exam experience and manage test-day anxiety.

The Mechanics

1. Everyone starts with an item of relatively low difficulty (NCSBN)
2. After every answer, the computer re-estimates your ability from all your previous answers and the difficulty of those items -- it is not a simple one-step-harder, one-step-easier ladder
3. The next item is chosen to match that estimate, so you should find each item challenging; by the end, candidates usually get items they have about a 50% chance of answering correctly
4. Ability is measured on a logit scale and compared with the passing standard
5. The exam stops under one of three rules: the 95% confidence rule (the most common), the maximum-length rule at 150 items, or the run-out-of-time rule

What the Question Count Means

NCSBN: "The number of items alone does not determine or reveal pass/fail results." An exam that stops at 85 items ended because the algorithm was 95% certain the candidate's ability was clearly above or clearly below the passing standard -- a pass or a fail. An exam that runs to 150 items is scored on the final ability estimate, because the candidate's ability was close to the standard.

Under NGN, both the RN and PN exams range from 85 to 150 items. In 2025, 59.1% of first-time U.S.-educated RN candidates finished at the 85-item minimum and 20.5% reached the 150-item maximum, with an average test length of 103 items (in 2024: 65.4%, 16.7% and 100 items).

Can You Tell How You Are Doing From Item Difficulty?

No. NCSBN says candidates "cannot reliably identify which items are easy and which are difficult," and that because the exam is adaptive, both high- and low-ability candidates find the items at the end challenging. Do not try to gauge your performance during the exam. Focus entirely on the question in front of you.

Passing Standards

• NCLEX-RN: 0.00 logits
• NCLEX-PN: -0.18 logits

NCSBN notes that the RN and PN standards are not directly comparable because they are based on different item pools and different scopes of practice. The NCSBN Board of Directors reevaluates the passing standards every three years when the test plans are reviewed.

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International Educated Nurses (IEN): Pass Rate Realities

Internationally educated nurses pass at much lower rates than U.S.-educated candidates (NCSBN):

Key Statistics

• First-time internationally educated NCLEX-RN candidates passed at 53.8% in 2024 and 47.3% in 2025 -- roughly 37-40 points below the U.S.-educated rate
• Repeat internationally educated RN candidates pass at only about 30-36%
• The 2024 internationally educated RN cohort was large -- 58,995 first-time candidates -- so it pulls the all-candidate average down
• NCSBN reports first-time internationally educated results by country of education, and the rates vary widely (in 2025, among the eight countries with 1,000 or more first-time candidates, from 33.3% for India-educated to 58.4% for South Korea-educated candidates; the Philippines, the largest group, was 45.8%)

Study Points for IEN Candidates

1. Practice context -- Items follow the NCLEX test plan, which is based on NCSBN's 2024 practice analysis of entry-level nurses, so review scope of practice, delegation and client rights as the test plan describes them
2. Drug names -- NCSBN says items use generic medication names on most occasions, so learn generic names rather than local brand names
3. NGN formats -- Practice case studies and the stand-alone bow-tie and trend items
4. Exam language -- NCSBN keeps the NCLEX-RN at or below 1300L Lexile (about high school grades 10-12), and bolds key words such as first, priority and immediately

What the Numbers Show

Even with lower rates, many internationally educated nurses pass every year: in 2025, 24,999 of 52,827 first-time internationally educated candidates passed the NCLEX-RN for U.S. licensure (NCSBN).

Access FREE NCLEX-RN Practice for International Nurses -- single-answer practice questions with rationales, plus an AI tutor you can ask about any U.S. practice concept.

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What the NCSBN Data Shows About Who Passes

NCSBN's examination statistics report pass rates by education type and attempt; they do not rank study habits or school-specific benchmarks such as GPA or exit-exam scores.

2025 NCLEX-RN Pass Rates by Group (U.S.-Educated)

The largest gap in the table is between first-time and repeat takers, so a well-prepared first attempt matters most.

Why Question Bank Practice Helps

Practicing with NCLEX-style question banks is a core part of many study plans because:

• Questions force active recall (practice testing rated high utility and rereading low in a 2013 review of study techniques)
• Rationales teach you why answers are correct or incorrect
• Repeated exposure builds pattern recognition for clinical scenarios
• Timed practice develops pacing discipline for the real exam
• Wrong-answer review reveals specific knowledge gaps you can target

Answering questions and reviewing rationales uses active recall, which retrieval-practice research links to better retention than rereading.

Self-Study vs. Structured Prep Course

Some candidates pair a structured course with a question bank, so content coverage follows the test plan rather than what they assume they need.

The Timing Factor

Testing soon after graduation, while content is fresh, is a common recommendation. If possible:

• Apply for licensure with your nursing regulatory body and register with Pearson VUE as early as your board allows
• Schedule as soon as your ATT (Authorization to Test) email arrives -- first-time candidates are offered an appointment within 30 days, and you must test within the ATT's validity dates
• Set a date and study toward it rather than waiting until you feel completely ready

Start Building Your Question Bank Practice -- FREE -- our comprehensive study guide shows you exactly how to structure your prep.

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Pass Rates by Nursing Program Type

NCSBN reports first-time, U.S.-educated NCLEX-RN results by degree type:

BSN graduates had the highest rate in both years, but the gaps are small, and rates vary from program to program within each degree type. BSN graduates were also the largest group of first-time candidates. Diploma programs are usually offered by hospitals or medical centers, and there are far fewer of them than BSN or ADN programs (BLS).

State Board Requirements

State boards of nursing set their own minimum NCLEX pass-rate standards for approved programs. Depending on the state, programs falling below their state's benchmark can face:

• Probationary status
• Required improvement plans
• Potential loss of approval
• Restrictions on new student enrollment

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If Your Program's Pass Rate Is Dropping

For nursing program administrators and faculty, here are common strategies programs use when pass rates fall:

Immediate Actions

1. Implement standardized exit exams (HESI, ATI, Kaplan) with minimum score requirements
2. Identify at-risk students early using GPA and pre-nursing exam scores
3. Require structured NCLEX prep as part of the final semester curriculum
4. Analyze cohort results by content area on course and standardized exams to find weak areas

Curriculum-Level Changes

1. Increase NGN-format questions in course exams throughout the program
2. Integrate clinical judgment into every clinical course, not just capstone
3. Add case-study-based assessments that mirror NGN unfolding case studies
4. Review pharmacology instruction -- Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies is 13-19% of the 2026 RN test plan

Student Support Interventions

1. Mandatory remediation for students scoring below benchmarks on progression exams
2. Peer tutoring programs pairing high-performing students with at-risk peers
3. Test anxiety workshops addressing the psychological dimension of exam performance
4. NCLEX boot camps in the final weeks before graduation

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2026 Test Plan Changes: What Actually Changed

New NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN test plans took effect April 1, 2026. The good news for candidates: the changes are modest, not a structural overhaul.

Confirmed Changes

• One subcategory rename and new activity statements -- Safety and Infection Control becomes Safety and Infection Prevention and Control; the client-needs framework, content weights, exam length and CAT structure are unchanged
• Passing standards retained -- the RN passing standard stays at 0.00 logits and the PN standard at -0.18 logits through March 31, 2029 (NCSBN Board vote, December 2022)
• Exam length stays 85-150 items with a 5-hour limit

Pass Rates Under the 2026 Plans

NCSBN's 2026 examination statistics will show the first full year under the new plans. Until then, 2025 is the latest full year: 86.7% of first-time U.S.-educated NCLEX-RN candidates passed.

Note: the NCLEX is delivered in person at Pearson VUE test centers.

How to Prepare for the 2026 Test Plan

1. Study from the most current NCLEX test plan (available on the NCSBN website)
2. Focus on clinical judgment -- the 2026 plans still measure it with three case studies and stand-alone items built on the NCJMM
3. Use updated question banks that reflect 2026 content distribution
4. Do not panic -- the core nursing knowledge tested has not changed fundamentally

Read Our Complete NCLEX Study Guide for 2026 -- updated with the latest test plan information.

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How Hard Is the NCLEX Really?

The difficulty of the NCLEX is relative to your preparation. Here is a data-driven perspective:

• 86.7-91.2% of first-time, U.S.-educated candidates passed in 2023-2025 -- most first-time U.S.-educated candidates pass
• 52.7% of U.S.-educated repeat takers passed in 2025 -- failing once does not mean you cannot pass, but you need to change your approach
• The CAT format means difficulty adjusts to YOU -- everyone gets a personalized exam

The NCLEX is not designed to trick you. It is designed to determine whether you can practice safely as an entry-level nurse. If you understand the content, can apply clinical judgment, and have practiced with enough questions, the odds are firmly in your favor.

Learn More: How Hard Is the NCLEX in 2026? -- a deep dive into difficulty, format, and what "hard" actually means.

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Preparing for NCLEX Success: Your Action Plan

Here is a sample plan. NCSBN does not prescribe study weeks, hours or question counts; these are this guide's suggestions.

The 8-Week Framework

Suggested Prep Elements

1. Aim for 2,000+ practice questions with full rationale review
2. Take at least 3 full-length practice exams under timed conditions
3. Study pharmacology every day -- Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies is 13-19% of the 2026 RN test plan
4. Practice NGN case studies until the format feels automatic
5. Schedule your exam soon after graduation while content is fresh (a common recommendation; NCSBN sets no deadline)

When to Use AI for NCLEX Prep

AI tutoring is most effective when you:

• Get a question wrong and need the concept explained differently
• Cannot understand a rationale in your question bank
• Need a concept broken down into simpler components
• Want additional practice questions on a specific topic
• Need help creating a study schedule based on your timeline

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The Bottom Line on NCLEX Pass Rates

The data in brief:

1. NCLEX-RN first-time pass rates for U.S.-educated candidates were between 86.7% and 91.2% in the NGN era (2023-2025)
2. Rates rose after NGN launched (88.6% in 2023, 91.2% in 2024), then fell to 86.7% in 2025
3. The 2026 test plans kept the content weights, exam length and passing standards
4. Question bank practice with rationale review is a core study behavior
5. Repeat U.S.-educated takers passed at 52.7% in 2025; the Candidate Performance Report shows which areas to target before retesting
6. Plan your timing -- testing soon after graduation is a common recommendation
7. Program type differs little in the national data -- 87.6% of first-time baccalaureate and 86.1% of first-time associate degree graduates passed in 2025

Your pass rate is not predetermined by a national statistic. It is determined by what you do between now and test day.

Start Your FREE NCLEX Prep Today -- free practice questions, AI tutoring, and detailed rationales. No credit card required.