2002 Licensure and Examination Statistics2002 Licensure and Examination Statistics Lynda Crawford, PhD, RN, CAE Casey Marks, PhD Michelle Reynolds, MS Esther White National Council

VOLUME 13 n NOVEMBER 2003

NCSBN Research Brief

2002Licensure andExamination Statistics

Lynda Crawford, PhD, RN, CAECasey Marks, PhDMichelle Reynolds, MSEsther White

National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN)

2002Licensure andExamination Statistics

Lynda Crawford, PhD, RN, CAECasey Marks, PhDMichelle Reynolds, MSEsther White

National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN)

National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN) u 2003

NCSBN Mission StatementThe National Council of State Boards of Nursing, composed of member boards, provides leadership to advance regulatory excellence for public protection.

Copyright © 2003 National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN)

All rights reserved.

The NCSBN logo, NCLEX®, NCLEX-RN® and NCLEX-PN® are registered trademarks ofNCSBN and may not be used or reproduced without written permission from NCSBN. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmittedin any form by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwisenow known or to be invented) for any commercial or for-profit use or purpose without written permission from NCSBN.

Address inquiries in writing to NCSBN Permissions, 111 E. Wacker Drive, Suite 2900,Chicago, IL 60601-4277.

Printed in the United States of America

ISBN# 0-9720273-9-4


ii

2002 LICENSURE &EXAMINATION STATISTICS

Table of Contents

List of Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v

List of Figures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

I. 2002 Licensure Statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

II. 2002 Licensure Examination Statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

NCLEX-PN® Examination, January 1, 2002 - December 31, 2002 . . . . . . 19NCLEX-RN® Examination, January 1, 2002 - December 31, 2002 . . . . . . 29

Appendix A: Licensure Examination Summary Statistics Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46


iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS


iv


List of TablesPart I

1. Boards of Nursing Empowered to License Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses or Other Categories of Nursing Personnel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

2. Registered Nurses: New-in-State Functions, by Jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . 6

3. Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses: New-in-State Functions, by Jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

4. Total Number of Active Licenses: Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses, by Jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

5. Number of Graduates of Foreign Nursing Programs Licensed, by Jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

6. Summary of Licensing Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

7. Distribution of Active Advanced Practice/Authority to Practice Licenses Within Each Specialty Category, by Jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

8. Total Number of Active Specialty Licenses Within Member Board Jurisdictions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Part II

1. Number of Candidates Taking NCLEX-PN® Examination and Percent Passing, by Type of Candidate: January 1 - December 31, 2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

2. Number of Candidates Examined and Passing Rates for First-Time Candidates Educated in Member Board Jurisdictions: NCLEX-PN® Examination, January 1 - December 31, 2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

3. Number of First-Time Candidates Not Educated in Member Board Jurisdictions Taking NCLEX-PN® Examination and Percent Passing: January 1 - December 31, 2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

4. Summary Statistics for First-Time U.S.-Educated Candidates Taking NCLEX-PN® Examination, January - December 2002 . . . . . . . . 25

5. Number of Candidates Taking NCLEX-RN® Examination and Percent Passing, by Type of Candidate: January 1 - December 31, 2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29


v

LIST OF TABLES


vi


6. Number of Candidates Examined and Passing Rates for First-Time Candidates Educated in Member Board Jurisdictions, by Degree Type: NCLEX-RN® Examination, January 1 - March 31, 2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

7. Number of Candidates Examined and Passing Rates for First-Time Candidates Educated in Member Board Jurisdictions, by Degree Type: NCLEX-RN® Examination, April 1 - June 30, 2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

8. Number of Candidates Examined and Passing Rates for First-Time Candidates Educated in Member Board Jurisdictions, by Degree Type: NCLEX-RN® Examination, July 1 - September 30, 2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

9. Number of Candidates Examined and Passing Rates for First-Time Candidates Educated in Member Board Jurisdictions, by Degree Type: NCLEX-RN® Examination, October 1 - December 31, 2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

10. Number of First-Time Candidates Not Educated in Member Board Jurisdictions Taking NCLEX-RN® Examination and Percent Passing: January 1 - December 31, 2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

11. Summary Statistics for First-Time, U.S.-Educated Candidates Taking NCLEX-RN® Examination, January - December 2002 . . . . . . . . 42


vii

LIST OF FIGURES

List of FiguresPart I

1. Total Number of Active Licenses: Registered Nurses and LicensedPractical/Vocational Nurses, 1992-2002. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Part II

1. National Passing Rate: Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses, 1992-1996 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26



4. National Passing Rate: Registered Nurses, 1992-1996. . . . . . . . . . . . . 43




viii


INTRODUCTION


1

The National Council of StateBoards of Nursing (NCSBN), com-posed of member boards, providesleadership to advance regulatoryexcellence for public protection.

NCSBN serves as a consultant,liaison, advocate and researcher toits members, and as an educationand information resource to policy-makers and the general public. Thispublication provides statistics, forthe year 2002, on the licensingactivities of NCSBN’s member boardsof nursing and its two licensureexaminations, the National CouncilLicensure Examination for PracticalNurses (NCLEX-PN® examination)and the National Council LicensureExamination for Registered Nurses(NCLEX-RN® examination).

Part IThe data reported in Part I of thisdocument include licensing statisticsof the 61 state and territorial boardsof nursing. The numbers of newlicenses by endorsement and examination, as well as the totalnumber of active licenses, are provided for each jurisdiction.

The data included in this publication provide licensing statistics for the period July 1, 2001 -June 30, 2002.

Part IIOn April 1, 1994, NCSBN beganadministering NCLEX® examinationsvia computerized adaptive testing(CAT) for both the NCLEX-RN®

examination and NCLEX-PN® exami-nation. Because the examinationsare available on a year-round basis,candidate performance is summa-rized and reported for each quarter,representing a three-month periodof time.

This publication provides theexamination statistics for a one-year period, January - December2002. It also provides summarystatistics for 1992-2002.

Introduction


2



3

PART I: 2002 LICENSURE STATISTICS

The data reported in this sectionindicate licensure processing activityand data on the total number ofindividuals licensed to practicewithin each jurisdiction during fiscalyear 2002. All data was obtainedfrom state and territorial boards ofnursing.

Estimates were provided wherethe exact figure requested for thiscollection of data was unknown.

Data are presented in a series oftables. Table 1 lists the NationalCouncil of State Boards of Nursing(NCSBN) member boards, the geographic locality (jurisdiction)within which a board has responsi-bility for regulating nursing practice(JD), the types of licenses for which aboard has licensing authority, andwhether or not the board is empow-ered to issue licenses or certificatesto practice in a specialty area ofnursing. Tables 2-5 provide datarelated to new licenses issued byendorsement or examination, totalnumbers of active licenses (both RN

and LPN/VN) by jurisdiction, andgraduates of foreign nursing pro-grams licensed by jurisdiction. Table6 provides a summary of licensingactivities by examination and endorsement for RNs, LPN/VNs andgraduates of foreign nursing pro-grams. Tables 7 and 8 provide thenumbers of active specialty licenses,issued within each jurisdiction, byspecialty license category.

Figure 1 provides a review of thenumbers of active licenses for theyears 1992-2002.

Unless noted otherwise, all percentages are calculated in termsof column totals.

Note that nurses in Puerto Ricoare licensed by virtue of passingPuerto Rico’s Spanish-languageexamination. In addition to takingthis examination, some nurses also take the NCLEX-RN ® and/orNCLEX-PN® examination. The PuertoRican examination only allows nurses to practice in Puerto Rico; if they would like to practice else-where in the U.S., they must take theNCLEX® examination.

Key TermsRegistered Nurses (RN) and LicensedPractical or Vocational Nurses (LPN/VN)obtain licensure by endorsement (if licensedin another jurisdiction) or by examination (ifthe applicant has never taken the appropriateNCLEX® exam).

ACTIVE LICENSE figures are based on thereported actual or estimated total number ofindividuals holding an active license within ajurisdiction and represent the nurses avail-able for employment. Due to an unknownnumber of individuals holding active licensesin more than one jurisdiction, the total num-ber of active licenses nationwide may behigher than the total number of nurses.

ADVANCED PRACTICE LICENSES/AUTHORITYTO PRACTICE figures and tables contain datafor Advanced Practice Registered Nurse(APRN) groups: Certified Registered NurseAnesthetist (CRNA), Certified Nurse Midwife(CNM), Certified Nurse Specialist (CNS),CNS-Psych/Mental Health, and NursePractitioner (NP).

ABBREVIATIONS are followed by the category of advanced practice/authority topractice license:n CNM – Certified Nurse Midwifen CRNA – Certified Registered Nurse

Anesthetistn CNS-PSYCH – Clinical Nurse Specialist-

Psychiatry and/or Mental Health (includingall its subspecialties)

n CNS – Clinical Nurse Specialist (all others)

PART I2002 Licensure Statistics


4


Table 1. Boards of Nursing Empowered to License Registered Nurses, LicensedPractical/Vocational Nurses or Other Categories of Nursing Personnel

JD Board of Nursing RN LPN/ OtherLVN Specialty

Groups

AK Alaska Board of Nursing YES YES YES

AL Alabama Board of Nursing YES YES YES

AR Arkansas State Board of Nursing YES YES YES

AS American Samoa Health Service Regulatory Board YES YES YES

AZ Arizona State Board of Nursing YES YES YES

CARN California Board of Registered Nursing YES NO YES

CAVN California Board of Vocational Nurse and Psychiatric Technician Examiners NO YES NO

CO Colorado Board of Nursing YES YES YES

CT Connecticut Board of Examiners for Nursing YES YES YES

DC District of Columbia Board of Nursing YES YES YES

DE Delaware Board of Nursing YES YES YES

FL Florida Board of Nursing YES YES YES

GAPN Georgia State Board of Licensed Practical Nurses NO YES NO

GARN Georgia Board of Nursing YES NO YES

GU Guam Board of Nurse Examiners YES YES YES

HI Hawaii Board of Nursing Professional and Vocational Licensing Division YES YES YES

IA Iowa Board of Nursing YES YES YES

ID Idaho Board of Nursing YES YES YES

IL Illinois Department of Professional Regulation YES YES YES

IN Indiana State Board of Nursing YES YES YES

KS Kansas State Board of Nursing YES YES YES

KY Kentucky Board of Nursing YES YES YES

LAPN Louisiana State Board of Practical Nurse Examiners NO YES NO

LARN Louisiana State Board of Nursing YES NO YES

MA Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing YES YES YES

MD Maryland Board of Nursing YES YES YES

ME Maine State Board of Nursing YES YES YES

MI Michigan CIS/Bureau of Health Services YES YES YES

MN Minnesota Board of Nursing YES YES YES

MO Missouri State Board of Nursing YES YES YES

MP Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Board of Nurse Examiners YES YES YES

MS Mississippi Board of Nursing YES YES YES

MT Montana State Board of Nursing YES YES YES

NC North Carolina Board of Nursing YES YES YES

ND North Dakota Board of Nursing YES YES YES

NE Nebraska Health and Human Services System YES YES YES


5


Table 1, continued

JD Board of Nursing RN LPN/ OtherLVN Specialty

Groups

NH New Hampshire Board of Nursing YES YES YES

NJ New Jersey Board of Nursing YES YES YES

NM New Mexico Board of Nursing YES YES YES

NV Nevada State Board of Nursing YES YES YES

NY New York State Board for Nursing YES YES YES

OH Ohio Board of Nursing YES YES YES

OK Oklahoma Board of Nursing YES YES YES

OR Oregon State Board of Nursing YES YES YES

PA Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing YES YES YES

PR Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Board of Nurse Examiners YES YES YES

RI Rhode Island Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education YES YES YES

SC South Carolina State Board of Nursing YES YES YES

SD South Dakota Board of Nursing YES YES YES

TN Tennessee State Board of Nursing YES YES YES

TXRN Texas Board of Nurse Examiners YES NO YES

TXVN Texas Board of Vocational Nurse Examiners NO YES NO

UT Utah State Board of Nursing YES YES YES

VA Virginia Board of Nursing YES YES YES

VI Virgin Islands Board of Nurse Licensure YES YES YES

VT Vermont State Board of Nursing YES YES YES

WA Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission YES YES YES

WI Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing YES YES YES

WVPN West Virginia State Board of Examiners for Licensed Practical Nurses NO YES NO

WVRN West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses YES NO YES

WY Wyoming State Board of Nursing YES YES YES


6


Table 2. Registered Nurses: New-in-State Functions, by Jurisdiction

JD Examination Endorsement Total New-in-State

n % n % n %

AL 1,441 2.20% 762 0.90% 2,203 1.39%AR 813 1.24% 711 0.84% 1,524 0.96%AS 2 0.00% 0 0.00% 2 0.00%AZ 948 1.45% 2,845 3.36% 3,793 2.39%CARN 8,045 12.30% 10,443 12.32% 18,488 11.65%CO 922 1.41% 3,090 3.65% 4,012 2.53%CT 797 1.22% 2,060 2.43% 2,857 1.80%DC 153 0.23% 1,480 1.75% 1,633 1.03%FL 4,047 6.19% 6,753 7.97% 10,800 6.80%GARN 2,500 3.82% 2,500 2.95% 5,000 3.15%HI 473 0.72% 1,157 1.37% 1,630 1.03%IA 986 1.51% 558 0.66% 1,544 0.97%ID 377 0.58% 606 0.72% 983 0.62%IN 1,485 2.27% 1,562 1.84% 3,047 1.92%KS 896 1.37% 1,218 1.44% 2,114 1.33%KY 1,134 1.73% 1,097 1.29% 2,231 1.41%LARN 1,553 2.37% 862 1.02% 2,415 1.52%MA 2,017 3.08% 2,929 3.46% 4,946 3.12%MD 1,633 2.50% 2,374 2.80% 4,007 2.52%ME 408 0.62% 840 0.99% 1,248 0.79%MI 2,569 3.93% 1,522 1.80% 4,091 2.58%MN 2,185 3.34% 1,978 2.33% 4,163 2.62%MO 886 1.35% 2,232 2.63% 3,118 1.96%MS 1,133 1.73% 697 0.82% 1,830 1.15%MT 220 0.34% 272 0.32% 492 0.31%NC 2,402 3.67% 3,131 3.69% 5,533 3.49%ND 222 0.34% 257 0.30% 479 0.30%NE 643 0.98% 374 0.44% 1,017 0.64%NH 575 0.88% 1,165 1.37% 1,740 1.10%NM 457 0.70% 617 0.73% 1,074 0.68%NV 310 0.47% 2,033 2.40% 2,343 1.48%NY1 8,571 5.40%OH 3,003 4.59% 2,672 3.15% 5,675 3.58%OK 968 1.48% 688 0.81% 1,656 1.04%OR 786 1.20% 2,207 2.60% 2,993 1.89%PA 2,835 4.34% 2,785 3.29% 5,620 3.54%RI 356 0.54% 668 0.79% 1,024 0.65%SC 1,305 2.00% 2,195 2.59% 3,500 2.21%SD 276 0.42% 346 0.41% 622 0.39%TN 2,364 3.61% 2,420 2.86% 4,784 3.01%TXRN 4,931 7.54% 3,831 4.52% 8,762 5.52%UT 706 1.08% 340 0.40% 1,046 0.66%

continued on next page

Table 2, continued


n % n % n %

VA 1,693 2.59% 3,099 3.66% 4,792 3.02%VT 245 0.37% 553 0.65% 798 0.50%WA 1,381 2.11% 2,102 2.48% 3,483 2.19%WI 1,606 2.46% 1,410 1.66% 3,016 1.90%WVRN 557 0.85% 894 1.05% 1,451 0.91%WY 151 0.23% 410 0.48% 561 0.35%

Total 65,395 100.00% 84,745 100.00% 158,7111 100.00%


7


1Total new-in-state processing includes 8,571 licenses for New York not available by specific function category.

No information available for Alaska, Delaware, Guam, Illinois, New Jersey, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.


8


Table 3. Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses: New-in-State Functions, by Jurisdiction


n % n % n %

AL 712 2.29% 197 1.42% 909 1.90%AR 646 2.08% 209 1.50% 855 1.79%AS 3 0.01% 0 0.00% 3 0.01%AZ 386 1.24% 413 2.97% 799 1.67%CAVN 3,762 12.12% 602 4.33% 4,364 9.12%CO 577 1.86% 353 2.54% 930 1.94%CT 331 1.07% 280 2.01% 611 1.28%DC 24 0.08% 274 1.97% 298 0.62%FL 1,919 6.18% 1,556 11.19% 3,475 7.26%GAPN 891 2.87% 771 5.54% 1,662 3.47%HI 73 0.24% 243 1.75% 316 0.66%IA 755 2.43% 154 1.11% 909 1.90%ID 187 0.60% 96 0.69% 283 0.59%IN 942 3.03% 328 2.36% 1,270 2.65%KS 566 1.82% 236 1.70% 802 1.68%KY 533 1.72% 309 2.22% 842 1.76%LAPN 799 2.57% 206 1.48% 1,005 2.10%MA 568 1.83% 131 0.94% 699 1.46%MD 363 1.17% 622 4.47% 985 2.06%ME 19 0.06% 105 0.75% 124 0.26%MI 1,059 3.41% 231 1.66% 1,290 2.70%MN 868 2.80% 154 1.11% 1,022 2.14%MO 1,233 3.97% 379 2.72% 1,612 3.37%MS 476 1.53% 166 1.19% 642 1.34%MT 111 0.36% 34 0.24% 145 0.30%NC 790 2.54% 556 4.00% 1,346 2.81%ND 130 0.42% 61 0.44% 191 0.40%NE 261 0.84% 71 0.51% 332 0.69%NH 223 0.72% 201 1.44% 424 0.89%NM 152 0.49% 112 0.81% 264 0.55%NV 45 0.14% 245 1.76% 290 0.61%NY1 2885 6.03%OH 1,577 5.08% 382 2.75% 1,959 4.09%OK 968 3.12% 164 1.18% 1,132 2.37%OR 229 0.74% 171 1.23% 400 0.84%PA 1,061 3.42% 375 2.70% 1,436 3.00%RI 24 0.08% 50 0.36% 74 0.15%SC 519 1.67% 367 2.64% 886 1.85%SD 61 0.20% 62 0.45% 123 0.26%TN 1,026 3.30% 700 5.03% 1,726 3.61%TXVN 3,259 10.50% 947 6.81% 4,206 8.79%UT 368 1.19% 59 0.42% 427 0.89%


Table 3, continued


n % n % n %

VA 1,134 3.65% 516 3.71% 1,650 3.45VT 61 0.20% 64 0.46% 125 0.26%WA 620 2.00% 314 2.26% 934 1.95%WI 373 1.20% 166 1.19% 539 1.13%WVPN 294 0.95% 223 1.60% 517 1.08%WY 71 0.23% 56 0.40% 127 0.27%

Total 31,049 100.00% 13,911 100.00% 47,8451 100.00%


9


1Total new-in-state processing includes 2,885 licenses for New York not available by specific function category.

No information available for Alaska, Delaware, Guam, Illinois, New Jersey, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Table 4. Total Number of Active Licenses: Registered Nurses and LicensedPractical/Vocational Nurses, by Jurisdiction

JD Registered Nurses Licensed Practical/ Total NumberVocational Nurses

n % n % n %

AK1 6,218 0.20% 715 0.08% 6,933 0.17%AL 46,208 1.45% 16,057 1.83% 62,265 1.53%AR 29,362 0.92% 15,769 1.80% 45,131 1.11%AS 46 0.00% 104 0.01% 150 0.00%AZ 50,486 1.58% 9,160 1.04% 59,646 1.47%CARN 268,337 8.42% 268,337 6.60%CAVN 65,975 7.52% 65,975 1.62%CO 51,282 1.61% 10,264 1.17% 61,546 1.51%CT 52,840 1.66% 11,427 1.30% 64,267 1.58%DC 17,114 0.54% 2,498 0.28% 19,612 0.48%FL 177,278 5.56% 52,813 6.02% 230,091 5.66%GAPN 30,144 3.43% 30,144 0.74%GARN 90,000 2.82% 90,000 2.21%HI 12,922 0.41% 2,665 0.30% 15,587 0.38%IA 38,137 1.20% 9,622 1.10% 47,759 1.17%ID 12,634 0.40% 3,920 0.45% 16,554 0.41%IL1 142,644 4.48% 26,626 3.03% 169,270 4.16%IN 76,095 2.39% 23,180 2.64% 99,275 2.44%KS 36,770 1.15% 8,264 0.94% 45,034 1.11%KY 46,662 1.46% 13,319 1.52% 59,981 1.48%LAPN 21,295 2.43% 21,295 0.52%LARN 42,799 1.34% 42,799 1.05%MA 107,684 3.38% 21,991 2.51% 129,675 3.19%MD 61,876 1.94% 10,770 1.23% 72,646 1.79%ME 19,390 0.61% 3,352 0.38% 22,742 0.56%MI 118,771 3.73% 27,319 3.11% 146,090 3.59%MN 65,273 2.05% 22,322 2.54% 87,595 2.16%MO 73,843 2.32% 22,839 2.60% 96,682 2.38%MS 30,592 0.96% 11,250 1.28% 41,842 1.03%MT 10,407 0.33% 3,188 0.36% 13,595 0.33%NC 90,981 2.85% 20,557 2.34% 111,538 2.74%ND 8,392 0.26% 3,179 0.36% 11,571 0.28%NE 21,340 0.67% 6,112 0.70% 27,452 0.68%NH 18,510 0.58% 3,063 0.35% 21,573 0.53%NJ1 109,162 3.43% 23,101 2.63% 132,263 3.25%NM 16,036 0.50% 3,148 0.36% 19,184 0.47%NV 17,243 0.54% 2,691 0.31% 19,934 0.49%NY 231,137 7.25% 68,836 7.84% 299,973 7.38%OH 140,909 4.42% 41,218 4.70% 182,127 4.48%OK 31,270 0.98% 16,638 1.90% 47,908 1.18%OR 36,914 1.16% 4,012 0.46% 40,926 1.01%PA 201,456 6.32% 49,827 5.68% 251,283 6.18%


10



Table 4, continued

JD Registered Nurses Licensed Practical/ Total NumberVocational Nurses

n % n % n %

RI 17,099 0.54% 2,645 0.30% 19,744 0.49%SC 40,753 1.28% 11,811 1.35% 52,564 1.29%SD 10,459 0.33% 2,165 0.25% 12,624 0.31%TN 68,860 2.16% 26,502 3.02% 95,362 2.35%TXRN 167,173 5.25% 167,173 4.11%TXVN 75,185 8.57% 75,185 1.85%UT 19,278 0.60% 3,518 0.40% 22,796 0.56%VA 88,262 2.77% 28,380 3.23% 116,642 2.87%VT 8,506 0.27% 1,839 0.21% 10,345 0.25%WA 64,024 2.01% 13,975 1.59% 77,999 1.92%WI 66,197 2.08% 15,398 1.75% 81,595 2.01%WVPN 6,131 0.70% 6,131 0.15%WVRN 22,218 0.70% 22,218 0.55%WY 5,031 0.16% 969 0.11% 6,000 0.15%

Total 3,186,880 100.00% 877,748 100.00% 4,064,628 1 100.00%


11


1Includes 308,466 total number of active licenses reported in 2001 for Alaska, Illinois and New Jersey.

No information available for Delaware, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. VirginIslands.

Table 6. Summary of Licensing Activities

New-in-StateRegistered Nurses 156,211Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses 44,960Total 201,171

Active LicensesRegistered Nurses 3,186,880Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses 877,748Total 4,064,628 1

Graduates of Foreign Nursing ProgramRegistered Nurses 7,253Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses 486Total 7,739*

Table 5. Number of Graduates of Foreign Nursing Programs Licensed, by Jurisdiction*

JD RN Graduates of LPN/VN Graduates of Foreign Nursing Programs Foreign Nursing Programs

AR 9 0CARN 3,609CT 69 317FL 881 92KS 6 1MA 101 8MD 160 3ME 3 0MN 612 11MO 29 3MS 35 2NC 115 6NH 100 0NM 118 25OR 110 7PA 97 10SC 50TXRN 998VA 7 1VT 134WVRN 10

Total 7,253 486


12


*Information provided by 21 boards.

1Includes 308,466 total number of active licenses reported in 2001 for Alaska, Illinois, and New Jersey.

*Information provided by 21 boards.

No information available for Delaware, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. VirginIslands.


13


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MCR

NA

CNS

CNS

CNS

ACA

HCH

PCO

LEM

RFA

MFP

NGE

RN

EOW

OMPS

YSC

HN

POt

her

Tota

lPS

YCH

No

No

Type

sAc

tive

Desi

gnat

ion

Spec

ialty

Licen

ses

nn

nn

nn

nn

nn

nn

nn

nn

nn

nn

AL

431,

364

4410

092

159

119

762

2173

140

51

101

2,93

4AR

2862

786

561

1,30

2AS

20

01

00

00

00

40

00

00

00

7A

Z18

820

692

638

020

088

748

146

317

105

96

2,59

0CA

RN1,

085

1,56

70

1,61

40

00

00

00

00

00

011

,115

015

,381

CO26

838

288

02,

296

3,82

6DC

8118

019

1,04

11,

321

FL62

32,

445

214

1,25

855

82,

017

298

285

376

409

903

9,38

6GA

RN35

01,

375

325

00

00

00

00

00

00

02,

600

04,

650

IA60

365

114

551

164

371

345

159

194

11,

352

ID24

289

117

357

688

IN56

101

1,25

01,

407

KS41

612

51,

023

116

025

00

391

190

1918

40

3319

02,

352

KY11

287

411

526

3417

293

741

2213

151

101

52,

369

LARN

3399

710

320

039

4746

500

1399

671

9251

2,28

8M

A45

988

598

50

00

00

00

00

00

00

4,72

90

7,05

8M

D18

542

537

977

700

367

424

104

129

148

02,

938

ME

7438

215

917

515

783

20

395

617

2069

122

016

1,41

6M

I26

31,

908

2,47

74,

648

MN

163

1,44

021

915

727

344

281

00

594

021

272

254

01

02

3,76

6M

O93

1,28

313

129

029

356

313

00

1,15

90

8712

424

415

00

24,

126

MS

3245

10

030

4834

00

726

413

2445

150

00

1,42

2M

T38

142

2633

554

1N

C19

21,

933

1,16

745

325

185

21,

068

871

141

169

101

45,

321

ND

721

729

232

485

NE

2040

044

086

0


14



15


NH

9422

911

176

850

139

70

2618

7512

02

00

1,23

4N

M23

813

259

496

4N

V90

361

451

NY

151

3,21

71,

330

13,

460

480

207

921

690

2877

10,5

62OH

260

1,77

41,

660

2,27

85,

972

OK30

409

140

916

8025

01

3412

60

01,

095

OR20

331

911

019

295

148

263

937

2614

327

32,

214

PA19

987

564

32

1,97

642

217

176

558

6039

063

55,

422

RI18

229

444

655

SC1,

550

SD12

317

683

210

120

017

10

1033

143

05

067

8TX

RN34

72,

467

332

1,04

512

739

662

20

462,

015

020

226

190

671

4537

8,91

9U

T10

617

50

00

00

00

00

00

00

090

80

1,18

9VA

214

1,47

547

682

515

431

241,

567

354

107

267

31

15,

220

VT60

8453

45

8427

00

156

013

742

21

538

WA

280

548

417

412

213

1,14

610

448

266

219

3,45

5W

I70

294

271

135

591

8914

159

650

1,68

8W

VRN

5556

80

878

4431

00

417

09

2054

02

015

1,31

0W

Y7

895

60

87

00

851

210

00

022

9To

tal

6,25

830

,007

5,91

55,

077

2,01

81,

217

10,4

766,

232

575

22,5

5310

22,

168

2,08

25,

710

2,06

914

129

,865

4,25

913

7,77

91

*See

Tab

le 8

for a

bbre

viat

ion

defin

ition

s, p

age

16.

1 Incl

udes

1,5

50 li

cens

es n

ot a

vaila

ble

by s

peci

alty

lice

nse

cate

gory

.

Table 8. Total Number of Active Specialty Licenses Within Member Board Jurisdictions

Abbreviation Category Active Licensesn %

CNM Certified Nurse Midwife 6,258 4.6%

CRNA Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist 30,007 22.0%

CNS-PSYCH Clinical Nurse Specialist – Psychiatry and/or Mental Health (including all its subspecialties) 5,915 4.3%

CNS Clinical Nurse Specialist (all others) 5,077 3.7%

CNS-no designation Clinical Nurse Specialist (no designation) 2,018 1.5%

Nurse Practitioners

AC Acute Care 1,217 0.9%

AHP Adult Health 10,476 7.7%

CHP Child Health/Pediatric 6,232 4.6%

COL College Health 5 0.0%

EMR Emergency 75 0.1%

FAM Family 22,553 16.6%

FPN Family Planning 102 0.1%

GER Geriatric 2,168 1.6%

NEO Neonatal 2,082 1.5%

WOM Obstetrical and/or Gynecological and/or Women’s Health 5,710 4.2%

PSY Psychiatric and/or Mental Health 2,069 1.5%

SCH School Health 141 0.1%

NP Nurse Practitioner – no specialty designation 29,865 21.9%

OTS Other Specialty (unspecified) 4,259 3.1%

Total 136,2291 100.0%


16


1Excludes 1,550 licenses not available by specialty license category.


17

PART II: 2002 LICENSUREEXAM STATISTICS

The National Council LicensureExamination for Registered Nurses(NCLEX-RN® examination) and theNational Council LicensureExamination for Practical Nurses(NCLEX-PN® examination) areadministered to candidates on behalfof NCSBN ’s member boards. The purpose of the licensing examina-tion is to determine if a candidatepossesses the minimum knowledge,skills and abilities in order to pro-vide safe and effective nursing careat the entry level.

On April 1, 1994, NCSBN imple-mented the use of the NCLEX ®

examination via computerized adap-tive testing (CAT) for the NCLEX-RN

and NCLEX-PN examinations. CAT administration offers severaladvantages over the traditionalpaper-and-pencil testing. Theseadvantages include: greater measure-ment efficiency of a candidate’s ability level, shorter testing time,year-round testing and a less stressfulenvironment.

Computerized adaptive testingis a method for administration ofexaminations that uses current com-puter technology and measurementtheory. With CAT, each candidate’stest is unique: it is assembled inter-actively as the individual is tested.As the candidate answers each ques-tion, the computer calculates anability estimate based on all earlieranswers. The test questions, whichare stored in a large item bank and

classified by test plan area and levelof difficulty, are then scanned andthe question determined to measurethe candidate’s ability most preciselyin the appropriate test plan area is selected and presented on thecomputer screen. This process isrepeated for each question, creatingan examination tailored to the individual’s knowledge and skillswhile fulfilling all NCLEX test planrequirements. The examinationcontinues in this way until a pass/faildecision is made. CAT providesgreater measurement efficiency thanpaper-and-pencil testing, as itadministers only those questionsthat will offer the best measurementof the candidate’s ability.

The NCLEX licensure examina-tions assess the ability estimate ofthe candidate in reference to theestablished passing standard. Thepassing standard is the minimumlevel of knowledge and skill a candi-date must demonstrate in order toprovide safe and effective nursingcare. Those candidates who demon-strate ability above the passing standard will pass the examination,and those with abilities at or below below the standard will failthe examination. Thus, candidateperformance is presented as a pass/fail decision.

NCLEX examination pass/faildecisions are not based solely onhow many questions a candidateanswers correctly. They are also

PART II2002 Licensure ExaminationStatistics


18


based on the difficulty of the questions a candidate answers correctly. CAT administers questionswith difficulty levels so that eachcandidate will answer about half correctly; these questions providethe most information. Thus, all candidates answer about 50 percentcorrectly: passing candidates answer50 percent of the more difficultquestions correctly, and failing candidates answer 50 percent of theeasier questions correctly.

Even though candidates mayanswer different questions and dif-ferent numbers of questions, theNCLEX examination administeredusing CAT is fair to every candidate.All examinations conform to eitherthe NCLEX-RN® or NCLEX-PN® TestPlan which controls inclusion ofimportant nursing content, and allcandidates have ample opportunityto demonstrate true competence, asthe examination will not end untilstability of the pass/fail result isassured, a maximum length test istaken or time runs out.

The following statistics reportedare derived from NCSBN data. Thestatistical information is reported asfollows:1. Information regarding passing

performance by type of candidate,type of educational program,jurisdiction of education andcountry of education for foreign-educated nurses are reported on aquarterly basis.

2. Charts compare national passingrates for first-time, U.S.-educatedcandidates with all examinees,reported by quarters since 1994and in six-month time periodsprior to April 1994.

3. Annual summary statistics arereported for first-time, U.S.-educated candidates.

Definitions of selected statisticalterms are provided in Appendix A.

Tabl

e 1.

Num

ber o

f Can

dida

tes

Taki

ng N

CLEX

-PN

®Ex

amin

atio

n an

d Pe

rcen

t Pas

sing

, by

Type

of C

andi

date

NCL

EX-P

N®

Exam

inat

ion:

Jan

uary

1 –

Dec

embe

r 31,

200

2

Jan

1 - M

ar 3

1, 2

002

Apr 1

- Ju

n 30

, 200

2Ju

l 1 -

Sep

30, 2

002

Oct

1 -

Dec

31,

200

2To

tals

Type

of C

andi

date

n%

n%

n%

n%

n%

Firs

t-Ti

me,

U.S

.-Edu

cate

d 7,

176

84.5

%6,

534

84.8

%15

,537

88.0

%8,

978

86.7

%38

,225

86.5

%

Inva

lid P

rogr

am C

odes

2657

.7%

1968

.4%

2748

.1%

072

56.9

%

Type

Tot

al7,

202

84.4

%6,

553

84.8

%15

,564

87.9

%8,

978

86.7

%38

,297

86.4

%

Repe

at, U

.S.-E

duca

ted

2,03

244

.6%

2,08

042

.7%

2,23

143

.1%

1,77

846

.1%

8,12

144

.0%

Firs

t-Ti

me,

For

eign

-Edu

cate

d 41

753

.5%

433

59.4

%53

047

.7%

430

54.2

%1,

810

53.4

%

Repe

at, F

orei

gn-E

duca

ted

445

27.4

%42

623

.0%

542

27.1

%37

726

.7%

1,79

026

.1%

All C

andi

date

s10

,096

72.6

%9,

492

71.6

%18

,867

79.7

%11

,563

77.3

%50

,018

76.2

%


19


Tabl

e 2.

Num

ber o

f Can

dida

tes

Exam

ined

and

Pas

sing

Rat

es fo

r Firs

t-Ti

me

Cand

idat

es E

duca

ted

in M

embe

r Boa

rd J

uris

dict

ions

1

NCL

EX-P

N®

Exam

inat

ion:

Jan

uary

1 –

Dec

embe

r 31

, 200

2

Jan

1 - M

ar 3

1, 2

002

Apr

1 -

Jun

30, 2

002

Jul 1

- Se

p 30

, 200

2Oc

t 1 -

Dec

31, 2

002

Juris

dict

ion

Cand

idat

esN

umbe

rPe

rcen

tCa

ndid

ates

Num

ber

Perc

ent

Cand

idat

esN

umbe

rPe

rcen

tCa

ndid

ates

Num

ber

Perc

ent

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Ala

bam

a22

218

282

.0%

7457

77.0

%22

318

884

.3%

214

171

79.9

%A

lask

a0

00.

0*0

00.

0*0

00.

0*0

00.

0*A

mer

ican

Sam

oa0

00.

0*0

00.

0*0

00.

0*0

00.

0*Ar

izona

9890

91.8

%51

4792

.2%

205

193

94.2

%83

7894

.0%

Ark

ansa

s18

015

787

.2%

6562

95.4

%33

229

187

.7%

105

9287

.6%

Calif

orni

a84

966

478

.2%

855

601

70.3

%92

165

871

.4%

690

534

77.4

%Co

lora

do11

310

290

.3%

9388

94.6

%30

528

493

.1%

7572

96.0

%Co

nnec

ticut

99

100.

0%24

823

896

.0%

109

9889

.9%

5049

98.0

%De

law

are

108

80.0

%4

410

0.0%

9982

82.8

%3

266

.7%

Dis

tric

t of C

olum

bia

167

7041

.9%

171

8549

.7%

172

6940

.1%

158

9660

.8%

Flor

ida

418

353

84.4

%63

052

282

.9%

789

658

83.4

%44

737

684

.1%

Geo

rgia

260

229

88.1

%23

821

590

.3%

211

189

89.6

%28

425

991

.2%

Gua

m5

510

0.0%

22

100.

0%1

110

0.0%

00

0.0*

Haw

aii

1514

93.3

%23

2191

.3%

7164

90.1

%47

4391

.5%

Idah

o48

4593

.8%

1212

100.

0%54

5194

.4%

1615

93.8

%Ill

inoi

s17

214

584

.3%

130

116

89.2

%49

144

891

.2%

157

141

89.8

%In

dian

a24

621

788

.2%

115

109

94.8

%40

838

393

.9%

342

306

89.5

%Io

wa

113

106

93.8

%18

017

094

.4%

541

502

92.8

%90

7482

.2%

Kans

as92

8592

.4%

7665

85.5

%38

133

086

.6%

4644

95.7

%Ke

ntuc

ky18

216

992

.9%

129

107

82.9

%26

222

887

.0%

9676

79.2

%Lo

uisi

ana

256

208

81.3

%18

615

080

.6%

303

255

84.2

%13

611

886

.8%

Mai

ne1

110

0.0%

00

0.0*

119

81.8

%2

210

0.0%

Mar

ylan

d19

1789

.5%

66

100.

0%12

911

891

.5%

3130

96.8

%M

assa

chus

etts

3731

83.8

%17

1694

.1%

509

469

92.1

%60

5083

.3%

Mic

higa

n19

017

994

.2%

175

173

98.9

%45

944

496

.7%

177

162

91.5

%M

inne

sota

216

191

88.4

%65

6396

.9%

528

482

91.3

%83

6477

.1%

Mis

siss

ippi

104

7774

.0%

1311

84.6

%33

329

287

.7%

9273

79.3

%


20



21


Mis

sour

i11

510

692

.2%

8469

82.1

%55

150

792

.0%

216

185

85.6

%M

onta

na28

2810

0.0%

2017

85.0

%76

6889

.5%

54

80.0

%N

ebra

ska

4640

87.0

%41

3892

.7%

152

144

94.7

%34

3294

.1%

Nev

ada

11

100.

0%2

210

0.0%

3231

96.9

%4

410

0.0%

New

Ham

pshi

re9

777

.8%

5353

100.

0%42

3992

.9%

1110

90.9

%N

ew J

erse

y74

6486

.5%

8168

84.0

%27

224

790

.8%

169

149

88.2

%N

ew M

exic

o4

410

0.0%

1412

85.7

%77

7597

.4%

3736

97.3

%N

ew Y

ork

435

343

78.9

%34

127

079

.2%

1,14

197

285

.2%

637

500

78.5

%N

orth

Car

olin

a18

818

698

.9%

4443

97.7

%43

440

292

.6%

9686

89.6

%N

orth

Dak

ota

4946

93.9

%13

1310

0.0%

7775

97.4

%40

3690

.0%

Nor

ther

n M

aria

na

Isla

nds

00

0.0*

00

0.0*

10

0.0%

00

0.0*

Ohi

o20

318

088

.7%

208

188

90.4

%1,

040

949

91.3

%41

237

290

.3%

Okla

hom

a14

812

483

.8%

135

113

83.7

%63

656

889

.3%

154

119

77.3

%Or

egon

2222

100.

0%53

5310

0.0%

145

145

100.

0%62

6210

0.0%

Penn

sylv

ania

276

216

78.3

%24

520

081

.6%

329

300

91.2

%53

047

689

.8%

Puer

to R

ico

41

25.0

%12

325

.0%

82

25.0

%5

00.0

%Rh

ode

Isla

nd1

110

0.0%

00

0.0*

1613

81.3

%3

310

0.0%

Sout

h Ca

rolin

a10

792

86.0

%60

5388

.3%

269

241

89.6

%59

5288

.1%

Sout

h Da

kota

33

100.

0%0

00.

0*67

6597

.0%

77

100.

0%Te

nnes

see

146

137

93.8

%35

432

190

.7%

244

204

83.6

%49

145

993

.5%

Texa

s78

967

385

.3%

524

471

89.9

%50

243

987

.5%

1,82

31,

638

89.9

%Ut

ah12

111

796

.7%

165

162

98.2

%27

526

295

.3%

6663

95.5

%Ve

rmon

t2

210

0.0%

00

0.0*

7977

97.5

%3

310

0.0%

Virg

in Is

land

s, U

.S.

00

0.0*

20

0.0%

20

0.0%

00

0.0*

Virg

inia

140

9567

.9%

319

256

80.3

%48

838

378

.5%

226

183

81.0

%W

ashi

ngto

n12

011

293

.3%

132

130

98.5

%28

526

793

.7%

248

237

95.6

%W

est V

irgin

ia46

4495

.7%

1010

100.

0%20

718

991

.3%

9892

93.9

%W

isco

nsin

7062

88.6

%60

5286

.7%

185

167

90.3

%52

4688

.5%

Wyo

min

g7

710

0.0%

44

100.

0%58

5493

.1%

65

83.3

%

Tota

l7,

176

6,06

784

.5%

6,53

45,

541

84.8

%15

,537

13,6

7188

.0%

8,97

87,

786

86.7

%

1 Does

not

incl

ude

inva

lid p

rogr

am c

odes

.

*No

cand

idat

es te

sted

.

Tabl

e 3.

Num

ber o

f Firs

t-Ti

me

Cand

idat

es N

ot E

duca

ted

in M

embe

r Boa

rd J

uris

dict

ions

Tak

ing

NCL

EX-P

N®

Exam

inat

ion

and

Perc

ent P

assi

ng

NCL

EX-P

N®

Exam

inat

ion

: Jan

uary

1 –

Dec

embe

r 31,

200

2

Jan

1 - M

ar 3

1, 2

002

Apr

1 -

Jun

30, 2

002

Jul 1

- Se

p 30

, 200

2Oc

t 1 -

Dec

31, 2

002

Coun

try o

f Edu

catio

nCa

ndid

ates

N

umbe

rPe

rcen

tCa

ndid

ates

Num

ber

Perc

ent

Cand

idat

esN

umbe

rPe

rcen

tCa

ndid

ates

Num

ber

Perc

ent

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Arg

entin

a1

110

0.0%

Arm

enia

21

50.0

%3

133

.3%

31

33.3

%1

00.

0%B

angl

ades

h1

110

0.0%

Bela

rus

10

0.0%

Beliz

e (B

ritis

h H

ondu

ras)

11

100.

0%Bo

livia

10

0.0%

Bos

nia

and

Herz

egov

ina

20

0.0%

11

100.

0%2

210

0.0%

11

100.

0%Br

azil

10

0.0%

Briti

sh W

est I

ndie

s1

00.

0%B

ulga

ria1

00.

0%1

110

0.0%

Cam

eroo

n, F

ree

Repu

blic

of

10

0.0%

Cana

da10

1010

0.0%

128

66.7

%12

866

.7%

85

62.5

%Ca

pe V

erde

Isla

nds

11

100.

0%Ch

ina,

Peo

ples

Re

publ

ic o

f13

538

.5%

106

60.0

%20

630

.0%

179

52.9

%Co

lom

bia

10

0.0%

11

100.

0%1

00.

0%1

00.

0%Co

sta

Rica

10

0.0%

10

0.0%

Croa

tia1

00.

0%Cu

ba4

375

.0%

102

20.0

%Cz

ech

Repu

blic

11

100.

0%D

omin

ican

Rep

ublic

11

100.

0%Ec

uado

r1

110

0.0%

Egyp

t, Ar

ab

Repu

blic

of

10

0.0%

10

0.0%

El S

alva

dor

10

0.0%

10

0.0%

11

100.

0%Er

itrea

10

0.0%

10

0.0%

Ethi

opia

10

0.0%

10

0.0%

Fiji

Isla

nds

11

100.

0%Fi

nlan

d1

00.

0%


22


Fran

ce2

210

0.0%

Gam

bia

11

100.

0%1

00.0

%1

00.0

%G

erm

any

(Uni

ted)

21

50.0

%G

hana

22

100.

0%4

250

.0%

Gree

ce1

110

0.0%

Gua

tem

ala

10

0.0%

Guy

ana

11

100.

0%2

210

0.0%

32

66.7

%Ha

iti21

628

.6%

154

26.7

%37

924

.3%

225

22.7

%H

ondu

ras

11

100.

0%H

ong

Kong

11

100.

0%2

150

.0%

Indi

a36

2055

.6%

3217

53.1

%26

1038

.5%

2815

53.6

%In

done

sia

30

0.0%

Iran

42

50.0

%2

00.0

%1

110

0.0%

Irel

and

11

100.

0%Ita

ly1

110

0.0%

Jam

aica

11

100.

0%1

110

0.0%

31

33.3

%Ja

pan

22

100.

0%1

110

0.0%

Kaza

khst

an1

110

0.0%

Keny

a3

133

.3%

73

42.9

%3

266

.7%

10

0.0%

Kore

a (S

outh

)4

00.0

%3

266

.7%

21

50.0

%1

110

0.0%

Laos

10

0.0%

Leba

non

11

100.

0%1

00.0

%Li

beria

11

100.

0%1

00.0

%Li

thua

nia

10

0.0%

Mac

edon

ia, F

orm

er

Yugl

osla

v Re

publ

ic o

f1

00.0

%1

110

0.0%

10

0.0%

Mal

awi

10

0.0%

Mex

ico

21

50.0

%1

00.0

%3

133

.3%

31

33.3

%M

oldo

va1

00.0

%1

110

0.0%

22

100.

0%N

ethe

rland

s1

110

0.0%

Nic

arag

ua1

00.0

%1

00.0

%2

00.0

%N

iger

10

0.0%

Nig

eria

138

61.5

%12

866

.7%

176

35.3

%16

1487

.5%

Paki

stan

10

0.0%

10

0.0%

Pala

u1

00.0

%Pe

ru1

00.0

%1

110

0.0%

20

0.0%

Phili

ppin

es26

315

458

.6%

277

173

62.5

%32

516

249

.8%

264

152

57.6

%


23


cont

inue

d on

nex

t pag

e

Tabl

e 3,

con

tinue

d

Jan

1 - M

ar 3

1, 2

002

Apr

1 -

Jun

30, 2

002

Jul 1

- Se

p 30

, 200

2Oc

t 1 -

Dec

31, 2

002

Coun

try o

f Edu

catio

nCa

ndid

ates

N

umbe

rPe

rcen

tCa

ndid

ates

Num

ber

Perc

ent

Cand

idat

esN

umbe

rPe

rcen

tCa

ndid

ates

Num

ber

Perc

ent

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Pola

nd2

150

.0%

42

50.0

%3

266

.7%

32

66.7

%Po

rtug

al1

00.0

%Ro

man

ia3

00.0

%3

310

0.0%

43

75.0

%2

210

0.0%

Russ

ian

Fede

ratio

n3

133

.3%

31

33.3

%8

562

.5%

32

66.7

%Sa

nta

Cruz

Isla

nd1

110

0.0%

Sier

ra L

eone

20

0.0%

21

50.0

%Si

ngap

ore

11

100.

0%Sl

ovak

Rep

ublic

11

100.

0%So

uth

Afr

ica

11

100.

0%St

. Luc

ia1

110

0.0%

St. V

ince

nt1

00.0

%Ta

iwan

(Rep

ublic

of

Chi

na)

112

18.2

%3

266

.7%

95

55.6

%4

125

.0%

Tajik

ista

n1

110

0.0%

Tanz

ania

, Uni

ted

Repu

blic

of

31

33.3

%Th

aila

nd1

110

0.0%

21

50.0

%2

00.0

%Tr

inid

ad a

nd T

obag

o4

250

.0%

Uga

nda

10

0.0%

10

0.0%

Ukr

aine

11

100.

0%2

00.0

%7

685

.7%

31

33.3

%U

nite

d Ki

ngdo

m4

375

.0%

22

100.

0%2

150

.0%

11

100.

0%U

zbek

ista

n4

125

.0%

32

66.7

%4

125

.0%

Vene

zuel

a1

110

0.0%

Yugo

slav

ia/F

orm

er2

150

.0%

11

100.

0%Za

ire1

00.0

%Za

mbi

a1

110

0.0%

11

100.

0%Zi

mba

bwe

11

100.

0%1

110

0.0%

11

100.

0%

Tota

l41

722

353

.5%

433

257

59.4

%53

025

347

.7%

430

233

54.2

%


24


Table 4. Summary Statistics for First-Time, U.S.-Educated Candidates Taking NCLEX-PN ®

Examination, January - December 2002

NCLEX-PN® Examination

January - December 2002Passing Standard* -0.4700 logitsEstimated Decision Consistency .91Average Number of Test Items (Questions) Taken 114Percent Taking Minimum Number of Items 57.5%Percent Taking Maximum Number of Items 15.3%Average Testing Time 2 hours, 9 minutesPercent Taking Maximum Amount of Time 1.5%


25


*The passing standard is presented in units, called logits, on the Rasch measurement scale.See Appendix A for definitions of terms.


26


Figu

re 1

. Nat

iona

l Pas

sing

Rat

e: L

icen

sed

Prac

tical

/Voc

atio

nal N

urse

s, 1

992-

1996

Mon

th/Y

ear

Adm

inis

tere

d

*Las

t pap

er-a

nd-p

enci

l exa

min

atio

n/pa

ssin

g st

anda

rd c

hang

e fro

m -0

.630

0 to

-0.5

600

logi

ts**

Pass

ing

stan

dard

cha

nge

from

-0.5

600

to -0

.510

0 lo

gits

nFi

rst-T

ime,

U.S

.-Edu

cate

d

nAl

l Exa

min

ees

Percent Passing


27


Figu

re 2

. Nat

iona

l Pas

sing

Rat

e: L

icen

sed

Prac

tical

/Voc

atio

nal N

urse

s, 1

997-

1999

Mon

th/Y

ear

Adm

inis

tere

d

nFi

rst-T

ime,

U.S

.-Edu

cate

d

nAl

l Exa

min

ees

*Pas

sing

sta

ndar

d ch

ange

from

-0.5

100

to -0

.470

0 lo

gits

Percent Passing

Figu

re 3

. Nat

iona

l Pas

sing

Rat

e: L

icen

sed

Prac

tical

/Voc

atio

nal N

urse

s, 2

000-

2002


28


Mon

th/Y

ear A

dmin

iste

red

nFi

rst-T

ime,

U.S

.-Edu

cate

d

nAl

l Exa

min

ees

Percent Passing


29


Tabl

e 5.

Num

ber o

f Can

dida

tes

Taki

ng N

CLEX

-RN®

Exam

inat

ion

and

Perc

ent P

assi

ng, b

y Ty

pe o

f Can

dida

te

NCL

EX-R

N®

Exam

inat

ion:

Jan

uary

1 –

Dec

embe

r 31,

200

2

Jan

1 - M

ar 3

1, 2

002

Apr

1 -

Jun

30, 2

002

Jul 1

- Se

p 30

, 200

2Oc

t 1 -

Dec

31, 2

002

Tota

ls

Type

of C

andi

date

n%

n%

n%

n%

n%

Firs

t-Ti

me,

U.S

.-Edu

cate

d

Dip

lom

a55

285

.333

687

.21,

336

86.8

201

84.6

2,42

586

.3

Ass

ocia

te D

egre

e7,

717

86.3

8,58

988

.823

,408

86.9

2,66

878

.542

,382

86.7

Bac

cala

urea

te D

egre

e4,

912

87.6

4,11

388

.615

,411

86.7

1,38

577

.725

,821

86.7

Inva

lid/S

peci

al P

rogr

am C

odes

955

.68

62.5

1693

.831

74.2

6475

.0

Type

Tot

al13

,190

86.7

13,0

4688

.740

,171

86.8

4,28

578

.570

,692

86.7

Repe

at, U

.S.-E

duca

ted

4,19

948

.84,

142

49.8

3,99

349

.55,

430

56.9

17,7

6451

.7

Firs

t-Ti

me,

For

eign

-Edu

cate

d 2,

561

54.9

3,18

055

.44,

276

53.2

2,74

559

.212

,762

55.4

Repe

at, F

orei

gn-E

duca

ted

2,85

122

.93,

242

25.0

4,20

624

.82,

435

23.5

12,7

3424

.2

All C

andi

date

s22

,801

68.2

23,6

1068

.652

,646

76.3

14,8

9558

.111

3,95

270

.7


30


Tabl

e 6.

Num

ber o

f Can

dida

tes

Exam

ined

and

Pas

sing

Rat

es fo

r Firs

t-Ti

me

Cand

idat

es E

duca

ted

in M

embe

r Boa

rd J

uris

dict

ions

, by

Deg

ree

Type

1

NCL

EX-R

N®

Exam

inat

ion:

Jan

uary

1 –

Mar

ch 3

1, 2

002

Tota

lD

iplo

ma

Ass

ocia

te D

egre

eB

acca

laur

eate

Deg

ree

Juris

dict

ion

Cand

idat

esN

umbe

rPe

rcen

tCa

ndid

ates

Num

ber

Perc

ent

Cand

idat

esN

umbe

rPe

rcen

tCa

ndid

ates

Num

ber

Perc

ent

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Ala

bam

a33

828

784

.9%

00

0.0*

146

112

76.7

%19

217

591

.1%

Ala

ska

1412

85.7

%0

00.

0*1

110

0.0%

1311

84.6

%A

mer

ican

Sam

oa0

00.

0*0

00.

0*0

00.

0*0

00.

0*Ar

izona

344

311

90.4

%0

00.

0*20

118

089

.6%

143

131

91.6

%A

rkan

sas

226

199

88.1

%11

293

83.0

%99

9292

.9%

1514

93.3

%Ca

lifor

nia-

RN1,

138

983

86.4

%0

00.

0*85

674

587

.0%

282

238

84.4

%Co

lora

do18

916

687

.8%

00

0.0*

104

9086

.5%

8576

89.4

%Co

nnec

ticut

4847

97.9

%0

00.

0*2

150

.0%

4646

100.

0%D

elaw

are

5249

94.2

%0

00.

0*47

4493

.6%

55

100.

0%D

istr

ict o

f Col

umbi

a11

1090

.9%

00

0.0*

10

0.0%

1010

100.

0%Fl

orid

a51

745

788

.4%

00

0.0*

438

387

88.4

%79

7088

.6%

Geor

gia-

RN19

615

981

.1%

00

0.0*

6752

77.6

%12

910

782

.9%

Gua

m10

660

.0%

00

0.0*

11

100.

0%9

555

.6%

Haw

aii

4741

87.2

%0

00.

0*20

1785

.0%

2724

88.9

%Id

aho

2121

100.

0%0

00.

0*10

1010

0.0%

1111

100.

0%Ill

inoi

s52

245

086

.2%

00

0.0*

270

229

84.8

%25

222

187

.7%

Indi

ana

344

293

85.2

%5

510

0.0%

206

174

84.5

%13

311

485

.7%

Iow

a23

220

287

.1%

00

0.0*

180

152

84.4

%52

5096

.2%

Kans

as18

315

283

.1%

00

0.0*

8770

80.5

%96

8285

.4%

Kent

ucky

316

298

94.3

%0

00.

0*20

118

893

.5%

115

110

95.7

%Lo

uisi

ana-

RN54

249

691

.5%

2222

100.

0%24

822

490

.3%

272

250

91.9

%M

aine

4034

85.0

%0

00.

0*5

510

0.0%

3529

82.9

%M

aryl

and

274

239

87.2

%0

00.

0*16

214

690

.1%

112

9383

.0%

Mas

sach

uset

ts27

925

491

.0%

00

0.0*

158

141

89.2

%12

111

393

.4%

Mic

higa

n48

441

786

.2%

00

0.0*

290

251

86.6

%19

416

685

.6%

Min

neso

ta14

011

682

.9%

00

0.0*

9576

80.0

%45

4088

.9%

Mis

siss

ippi

270

211

78.1

%0

00.

0*20

615

776

.2%

6454

84.4

%

Mis

sour

i41

935

885

.4%

43

75.0

%24

721

185

.4%

168

144

85.7

%M

onta

na45

4395

.6%

00

0.0*

32

66.7

%42

4197

.6%

Neb

rask

a18

616

890

.3%

2322

95.7

%6

610

0.0%

157

140

89.2

%N

evad

a59

5389

.8%

00

0.0*

3835

92.1

%21

1885

.7%

New

Ham

pshi

re7

571

.4%

00

0.0*

64

66.7

%1

110

0.0%

New

Jer

sey

230

213

92.6

%96

9194

.8%

128

117

91.4

%6

583

.3%

New

Mex

ico

126

106

84.1

%0

00.

0*76

6686

.8%

5040

80.0

%N

ew Y

ork

767

646

84.2

%6

583

.3%

687

586

85.3

%74

5574

.3%

Nor

th C

arol

ina

179

154

86.0

%50

3774

.0%

5949

83.1

%70

6897

.1%

Nor

th D

akot

a47

4289

.4%

00

0.0*

00

0.0*

4742

89.4

%N

orth

ern

Mar

iana

Is

land

s0

00.

0*0

00.

0*0

00.

0*0

00.

0*O

hio

461

395

85.7

%41

3585

.4%

330

289

87.6

%90

7178

.9%

Okla

hom

a19

115

882

.7%

00

0.0*

175

146

83.4

%16

1275

.0%

Oreg

on33

2575

.8%

00

0.0*

75

71.4

%26

2076

.9%

Penn

sylv

ania

309

247

79.9

%10

887

80.6

%67

5277

.6%

134

108

80.6

%Pu

erto

Ric

o49

1020

.4%

00

0.0*

203

15.0

%29

724

.1%

Rhod

e Is

land

7055

78.6

%0

00.

0*46

4087

.0%

2415

62.5

%So

uth

Caro

lina

289

256

88.6

%0

00.

0*19

116

988

.5%

9887

88.8

%So

uth

Dako

ta37

3286

.5%

00

0.0*

20

0.0%

3532

91.4

%Te

nnes

see

346

324

93.6

%15

1493

.3%

7669

90.8

%25

524

194

.5%

Texa

s-RN

1,43

21,

235

86.2

%37

3389

.2%

743

631

84.9

%65

257

187

.6%

Utah

138

124

89.9

%0

00.

0*11

710

388

.0%

2121

100.

0%Ve

rmon

t2

210

0.0%

00

0.0*

11

100.

0%1

110

0.0%

Virg

in Is

land

s, U

.S.

00

0.0*

00

0.0*

00

0.0*

00

0.0*

Virg

inia

199

171

85.9

%33

2472

.7%

112

9786

.6%

5450

92.6

%W

ashi

ngto

n25

222

488

.9%

00

0.0*

136

124

91.2

%11

610

086

.2%

Wes

t Virg

inia

-RN

1917

89.5

%0

00.

0*9

888

.9%

109

90.0

%W

isco

nsin

502

451

89.8

%0

00.

0*32

429

390

.4%

178

158

88.8

%W

yom

ing

1010

100.

0%0

00.

0*10

1010

0.0%

00

0.0*

Tota

l13

,181

11,4

3486

.7%

552

471

85.3

%7,

717

6,66

186

.3%

4,91

24,

302

87.6

%


31


*No

cand

idat

es te

sted

.1 Do

es n

ot in

clud

e in

valid

/spe

cial

pro

gram

cod

es.


32


Tabl

e 7.

Num

ber o

f Can

dida

tes

Exam

ined

and

Pas

sing

Rat

es fo

r Firs

t-Ti

me

Cand

idat

es E

duca

ted

in M

embe

r Boa

rd J

uris

dict

ions

, by

Deg

ree

Type

1

NCL

EX-R

N®Ex

amin

atio

n: A

pril

1 –

June

30,

200

2

Tota

lD

iplo

ma

Ass

ocia

te D

egre

eB

acca

laur

eate

Deg

ree

Juris

dict

ion

Cand

idat

esN

umbe

rPe

rcen

tCa

ndid

ates

Num

ber

Perc

ent

Cand

idat

esN

umbe

rPe

rcen

tCa

ndid

ates

Num

ber

Perc

ent

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Ala

bam

a21

318

988

.7%

00

0.0*

126

114

90.5

%87

7586

.2%

Ala

ska

1917

89.5

%0

00.

0*4

410

0.0%

1513

86.7

%A

mer

ican

Sam

oa4

00.

0%0

00.

0*4

00.

0%0

00.

0*Ar

izona

135

117

86.7

%0

00.

0*11

410

087

.7%

2117

81.0

%A

rkan

sas

162

144

88.9

%8

562

.5%

9283

90.2

%62

5690

.3%

Calif

orni

a-RN

880

741

84.2

%0

00.

0*68

557

383

.6%

195

168

86.2

%Co

lora

do22

419

687

.5%

00

0.0*

157

139

88.5

%67

5785

.1%

Conn

ectic

ut95

8690

.5%

3835

92.1

%17

1694

.1%

4035

87.5

%D

elaw

are

3428

82.4

%0

00.

0*8

810

0.0%

2620

76.9

%D

istr

ict o

f Col

umbi

a9

777

.8%

00

0.0*

10

0.0%

87

87.5

%Fl

orid

a63

551

180

.5%

00

0.0*

495

395

79.8

%14

011

682

.9%

Geor

gia-

RN21

619

188

.4%

10

0.0*

100

9090

.0%

115

101

87.8

%G

uam

21

50.0

%0

00.

0*1

00.

0%1

110

0.0%

Haw

aii

6351

81.0

%0

00.

0*17

1058

.8%

4641

89.1

%Id

aho

8584

98.8

%0

00.

0*76

7598

.7%

99

100.

0%Ill

inoi

s39

735

288

.7%

11

100.

0%23

421

290

.6%

162

139

85.8

%In

dian

a45

640

187

.9%

53

60.0

%30

826

987

.3%

143

129

90.2

%Io

wa

251

229

91.2

%0

00.

0*17

415

790

.2%

7772

93.5

%Ka

nsas

140

119

85.0

%0

00.

0*10

287

85.3

%38

3284

.2%

Kent

ucky

324

308

95.1

%0

00.

0*24

623

495

.1%

7874

94.9

%Lo

uisi

ana-

RN12

611

288

.9%

00

0.0*

7060

85.7

%56

5292

.9%

Mai

ne10

294

92.2

%0

00.

0*76

7092

.1%

2624

92.3

%M

aryl

and

201

173

86.1

%0

00.

0*16

214

589

.5%

3928

71.8

%M

assa

chus

etts

329

303

92.1

%2

150

.0%

237

218

92.0

%90

8493

.3%

Mic

higa

n43

936

984

.1%

00

0.0*

273

234

85.7

%16

613

581

.3%

Min

neso

ta21

119

291

.0%

00

0.0*

152

136

89.5

%59

5694

.9%

Mis

siss

ippi

390

361

92.6

%0

00.

0*27

125

594

.1%

119

106

89.1

%

Mis

sour

i18

616

488

.2%

33

100.

0%13

010

983

.8%

5352

98.1

%M

onta

na42

4095

.2%

00

0.0*

1818

100.

0%24

2291

.7%

Neb

rask

a28

827

394

.8%

21

50.0

%13

912

992

.8%

147

143

97.3

%N

evad

a64

5992

.2%

00

0.0*

4441

93.2

%20

1890

.0%

New

Ham

pshi

re54

5194

.4%

00

0.0*

3128

90.3

%23

2310

0.0%

New

Jer

sey

132

119

90.2

%56

4987

.5%

6762

92.5

%9

888

.9%

New

Mex

ico

5751

89.5

%0

00.

0*46

4189

.1%

1110

90.9

%N

ew Y

ork

729

595

81.6

%6

583

.3%

593

487

82.1

%13

010

379

.2%

Nor

th C

arol

ina

802

746

93.0

%16

1381

.3%

556

522

93.9

%23

021

191

.7%

Nor

th D

akot

a69

6898

.6%

00

0.0*

00

0.0*

6968

98.6

%N

orth

ern

Mar

iana

Is

land

s0

00.

0*0

00.

0*0

00.

0*0

00.

0*O

hio

631

590

93.5

%27

2696

.3%

392

364

92.9

%21

220

094

.3%

Okl

ahom

a29

726

789

.9%

00

0.0*

214

194

90.7

%83

7388

.0%

Ore

gon

267

250

93.6

%0

00.

0*13

612

692

.6%

131

124

94.7

%Pe

nnsy

lvan

ia25

920

779

.9%

8066

82.5

%83

6679

.5%

9675

78.1

%Pu

erto

Ric

o35

514

.3%

00

0.0*

162

12.5

%19

315

.8%

Rhod

e Is

land

4740

85.1

%7

710

0.0%

2422

91.7

%16

1168

.8%

Sout

h Ca

rolin

a50

946

891

.9%

00

0.0*

333

306

91.9

%17

616

292

.0%

Sout

h D

akot

a44

4193

.2%

00

0.0*

1413

92.9

%30

2893

.3%

Tenn

esse

e53

249

993

.8%

00

0.0*

345

326

94.5

%18

717

392

.5%

Texa

s-RN

853

759

89.0

%9

777

.8%

591

527

89.2

%25

322

588

.9%

Uta

h14

613

189

.7%

00

0.0*

104

9389

.4%

4238

90.5

%Ve

rmon

t17

1588

.2%

00

0.0*

65

83.3

%11

1090

.9%

Virg

in Is

land

s, U

.S.

00

0.0*

00

0.0*

00

0.0*

00

0.0*

Virg

inia

391

350

89.5

%75

7194

.7%

229

209

91.3

%87

7080

.5%

Was

hing

ton

175

158

90.3

%0

00.

0*12

111

090

.9%

5448

88.9

%W

est V

irgin

ia-R

N10

391

88.3

%0

00.

0*63

5587

.3%

4036

90.0

%W

isco

nsin

145

129

89.0

%0

00.

0*74

6891

.9%

7161

85.9

%W

yom

ing

2221

95.5

%0

00.

0*18

1794

.4%

44

100.

0%

Tota

l13

,038

11,5

6388

.7%

336

293

87.2

%8,

589

7,62

488

.8%

4,11

33,

646

88.6

%


33


*No

cand

idat

es te

sted

.1 Do

es n

ot in

clud

e in

valid

/spe

cial

pro

gram

cod

es.


34


Tabl

e 8.

Num

ber o

f Can

dida

tes

Exam

ined

and

Pas

sing

Rat

es fo

r Firs

t-Ti

me

Cand

idat

es E

duca

ted

in M

embe

r Boa

rd J

uris

dict

ions

, by

Deg

ree

Type

1

NCL

EX-R

N®

Exam

inat

ion:

Jul

y 1

– Se

ptem

ber 3

0, 2

002

Tota

lD

iplo

ma

Ass

ocia

te D

egre

eB

acca

laur

eate

Deg

ree

Juris

dict

ion

Cand

idat

esN

umbe

rPe

rcen

tCa

ndid

ates

Num

ber

Perc

ent

Cand

idat

esN

umbe

rPe

rcen

tCa

ndid

ates

Num

ber

Perc

ent

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Ala

bam

a1,

120

983

87.8

%0

00.

0*71

662

887

.7%

404

355

87.9

%A

lask

a85

7992

.9%

00

0.0*

4642

91.3

%39

3794

.9%

Am

eric

an S

amoa

11

100.

0%0

00.

0*1

110

0.0%

00

0.0*

Arizo

na53

244

984

.4%

00

0.0*

393

328

83.5

%13

912

187

.1%

Ark

ansa

s43

036

985

.8%

64

66.7

%20

417

183

.8%

220

194

88.2

%Ca

lifor

nia-

RN2,

548

2,19

286

.0%

00

0.0*

1,81

91,

558

85.7

%72

963

487

.0%

Colo

rado

367

314

85.6

%0

00.

0*15

312

682

.4%

214

188

87.9

%Co

nnec

ticut

505

454

89.9

%18

1583

.3%

229

207

90.4

%25

823

289

.9%

Del

awar

e20

918

287

.1%

1919

100.

0%96

8588

.5%

9478

83.0

%D

istr

ict o

f Col

umbi

a10

775

70.1

%0

00.

0*4

250

.0%

103

7370

.9%

Flor

ida

2,11

01,

762

83.5

%2

210

0.0%

1,43

81,

180

82.1

%67

058

086

.6%

Geor

gia-

RN96

482

785

.8%

22

100.

0%44

538

486

.3%

517

441

85.3

%G

uam

1816

88.9

%0

00.

0*0

00.

0*18

1688

.9%

Haw

aii

161

128

79.5

%0

00.

0*74

5777

.0%

8771

81.6

%Id

aho

237

198

83.5

%0

00.

0*16

414

085

.4%

7358

79.5

%Ill

inoi

s1,

727

1,53

488

.8%

2824

85.7

%1,

094

969

88.6

%60

554

189

.4%

Indi

ana

776

667

86.0

%5

360

.0%

469

406

86.6

%30

225

885

.4%

Iow

a57

148

084

.1%

33

100.

0%43

936

783

.6%

129

110

85.3

%Ka

nsas

667

558

83.7

%0

00.

0*34

428

282

.0%

323

276

85.4

%Ke

ntuc

ky56

951

089

.6%

00

0.0*

394

351

89.1

%17

515

990

.9%

Loui

sian

a-RN

712

642

90.2

%0

00.

0*29

527

392

.5%

417

369

88.5

%M

aine

266

222

83.5

%0

00.

0*15

413

386

.4%

112

8979

.5%

Mar

ylan

d87

177

088

.4%

00

0.0*

463

411

88.8

%40

835

988

.0%

Mas

sach

uset

ts1,

185

1,01

385

.5%

8256

68.3

%56

449

788

.1%

539

460

85.3

%M

ichi

gan

1,43

31,

221

85.2

%0

00.

0*89

378

988

.4%

540

432

80.0

%M

inne

sota

1,27

61,

114

87.3

%0

00.

0*84

674

287

.7%

430

372

86.5

%M

issi

ssip

pi45

939

986

.9%

00

0.0*

323

278

86.1

%13

612

189

.0%

Mis

sour

i93

082

188

.3%

1111

100.

0%50

944

286

.8%

410

368

89.8

%M

onta

na14

112

286

.5%

00

0.0*

8671

82.6

%55

5192

.7%

Neb

rask

a19

217

189

.1%

3835

92.1

%37

3081

.1%

117

106

90.6

%N

evad

a13

011

487

.7%

00

0.0*

8275

91.5

%48

3981

.3%

New

Ham

pshi

re27

123

486

.3%

00

0.0*

188

161

85.6

%83

7388

.0%

New

Jer

sey

999

884

88.5

%29

125

788

.3%

427

390

91.3

%28

123

784

.3%

New

Mex

ico

260

219

84.2

%0

00.

0*20

417

284

.3%

5647

83.9

%N

ew Y

ork

2,83

82,

463

86.8

%39

3384

.6%

2,01

61,

765

87.5

%78

366

584

.9%

Nor

th C

arol

ina

1,48

01,

306

88.2

%88

7787

.5%

919

805

87.6

%47

342

489

.6%

Nor

th D

akot

a17

515

990

.9%

00

0.0*

00

0.0*

175

159

90.9

%N

orth

ern

Mar

iana

Isla

nds

10

0.0%

00

0.0*

10

0.0%

00

0.0*

Ohi

o1,

838

1,66

590

.6%

130

118

90.8

%96

387

190

.4%

745

676

90.7

%Ok

laho

ma

547

446

81.5

%0

00.

0*26

621

781

.6%

281

229

81.5

%Or

egon

450

394

87.6

%0

00.

0*28

024

687

.9%

170

148

87.1

%Pe

nnsy

lvan

ia2,

150

1,88

087

.4%

353

304

86.1

%94

783

588

.2%

850

741

87.2

%Pu

erto

Ric

o50

510

.0%

00

0.0*

232

8.7%

273

11.1

%Rh

ode

Isla

nd23

820

887

.4%

1410

71.4

%12

410

887

.1%

100

9090

.0%

Sout

h Ca

rolin

a39

634

787

.6%

00

0.0*

259

237

91.5

%13

711

080

.3%

Sout

h Da

kota

280

252

90.0

%0

00.

0*15

113

186

.8%

129

121

93.8

%Te

nnes

see

751

660

87.9

%21

2110

0.0%

333

299

89.8

%39

734

085

.6%

Texa

s-RN

2,25

62,

011

89.1

%81

7187

.7%

1,33

21,

170

87.8

%84

377

091

.3%

Utah

275

252

91.6

%0

00.

0*17

216

093

.0%

103

9289

.3%

Verm

ont

9175

82.4

%0

00.

0*55

4378

.2%

3632

88.9

%Vi

rgin

Isla

nds,

U.S

.8

450

.0%

00

0.0*

00

0.0*

84

50.0

%Vi

rgin

ia1,

114

924

82.9

%10

594

89.5

%55

145

983

.3%

458

371

81.0

%W

ashi

ngto

n79

270

188

.5%

00

0.0*

517

464

89.7

%27

523

786

.2%

Wes

t Virg

inia

-RN

477

416

87.2

%0

00.

0*28

324

285

.5%

194

174

89.7

%W

isco

nsin

956

842

88.1

%0

00.

0*49

543

487

.7%

461

408

88.5

%W

yom

ing

163

139

85.3

%0

00.

0*12

811

085

.9%

3529

82.9

%

Tota

l40

,155

34,8

7386

.8%

1,33

61,

159

86.8

%23

,408

20,3

4686

.9%

15,4

1113

,368

86.7

%


35


*No

cand

idat

es te

sted

.1 Do

es n

ot in

clud

e in

valid

/spe

cial

pro

gram

cod

es.

Tabl

e 9.

Num

ber o

f Can

dida

tes

Exam

ined

and

Pas

sing

Rat

es fo

r Firs

t-Ti

me

Cand

idat

es E

duca

ted

in M

embe

r Boa

rd J

uris

dict

ions

, by

Deg

ree

Type

1

NCL

EX-R

N®

Exam

inat

ion:

Oct

ober

1 –

Dec

embe

r 31,

200

2

Tota

lD

iplo

ma

Ass

ocia

te D

egre

eB

acca

laur

eate

Deg

ree

Juris

dict

ion

Cand

idat

esN

umbe

rPe

rcen

tCa

ndid

ates

Num

ber

Perc

ent

Cand

idat

esN

umbe

rPe

rcen

tCa

ndid

ates

Num

ber

Perc

ent

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Exam

ined

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edPa

ssed

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bam

a13

410

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00

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7455

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%60

5388

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ska

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%0

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0*3

310

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mer

ican

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oa0

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izona

6545

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%0

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%A

rkan

sas

3627

75.0

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a-RN

560

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0*39

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lora

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awar

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65

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%6

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tric

t of C

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bia

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%Fl

orid

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gia-

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0%12

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%H

awai

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ois

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%In

dian

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%5

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as23

1773

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1916

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%4

125

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ucky

4641

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%0

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0*42

3890

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75.0

%Lo

uisi

ana-

RN50

4182

.0%

00

0.0*

65

83.3

%44

3681

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Mai

ne14

964

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00

0.0*

53

60.0

%9

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.7%

Mar

ylan

d54

4379

.6%

00

0.0*

1814

77.8

%35

2880

.0%

Mas

sach

uset

ts54

3972

.2%

42

50.0

%30

2376

.7%

2014

70.0

%M

ichi

gan

146

121

82.9

%0

00.

0*80

6885

.0%

6653

80.3

%M

inne

sota

4234

81.0

%0

00.

0*29

2482

.8%

1310

76.9

%M

issi

ssip

pi21

1676

.2%

00

0.0*

1813

72.2

%3

310

0.0%


36


Mis

sour

i58

4882

.8%

22

100.

0%32

2578

.1%

2421

87.5

%M

onta

na5

480

.0%

00

0.0*

00

0.0*

54

80.0

%N

ebra

ska

4942

85.7

%2

210

0.0%

3430

88.2

%13

1076

.9%

Nev

ada

109

90.0

%0

00.

0*7

710

0.0%

32

66.7

%N

ew H

amps

hire

2718

66.7

%0

00.

0*24

1666

.7%

32

66.7

%N

ew J

erse

y60

4270

.0%

2015

75.0

%15

1280

.0%

2515

60.0

%N

ew M

exic

o21

1571

.4%

00

0.0*

1812

66.7

%1

110

0.0%

New

Yor

k73

960

682

.0%

55

100.

0%56

946

581

.7%

165

136

82.4

%N

orth

Car

olin

a23

1878

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33

100.

0%12

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87

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%N

orth

Dak

ota

33

100.

0%0

00.

0*0

00.

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310

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ther

n M

aria

na

Isla

nds

31

33.3

%0

00.

0*3

133

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00

0.0*

Ohi

o15

212

783

.6%

44

100.

0%82

7085

.4%

6251

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%O

klah

oma

2216

72.7

%0

00.

0*11

872

.7%

118

72.7

%O

rego

n13

1076

.9%

00

0.0*

85

62.5

%5

510

0.0%

Penn

sylv

ania

292

228

78.1

%96

8083

.3%

7855

70.5

%11

792

78.6

%Pu

erto

Ric

o50

1428

.0%

00

0.0*

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25.0

%32

1031

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Rhod

e Is

land

1110

90.9

%0

00.

0*5

480

.0%

66

100.

0%So

uth

Caro

lina

3935

89.7

%0

00.

0*31

2890

.3%

87

87.5

%So

uth

Dak

ota

154

26.7

%0

00.

0*11

327

.3%

41

25.0

%Te

nnes

see

1410

71.4

%3

310

0.0%

85

62.5

%3

266

.7%

Texa

s-RN

124

113

91.1

%21

2110

0.0%

7164

90.1

%30

2686

.7%

Uta

h87

7687

.4%

00

0.0*

2221

95.5

%65

5584

.6%

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ont

86

75.0

%0

00.

0*6

466

.7%

22

100.

0%Vi

rgin

Isla

nds,

U.S

.6

233

.3%

00

0.0*

00

0.0*

62

33.3

%Vi

rgin

ia86

6879

.1%

1413

92.9

%33

2575

.8%

3930

76.9

%W

ashi

ngto

n51

4282

.4%

00

0.0*

3228

87.5

%19

1473

.7%

Wes

t Virg

inia

-RN

95

55.6

%0

00.

0*4

250

.0%

53

60.0

%W

isco

nsin

7656

73.7

%0

00.

0*17

1164

.7%

5945

76.3

%W

yom

ing

118

72.7

%0

00.

0*7

571

.4%

43

75.0

%

Tota

l4,

285

3,36

378

.5%

201

170

84.6

%2,

668

2,09

478

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1,38

51,

076

77.7

%


37


*No

cand

idat

es te

sted

.1 Do

es n

ot in

clud

e in

valid

/spe

cial

pro

gram

cod

es.


38


Tabl

e 10

. Num

ber o

f Firs

t-Ti

me

Cand

idat

es N

ot E

duca

ted

in M

embe

r Boa

rd J

uris

dict

ions

Tak

ing

NCL

EX-R

N®Ex

amin

atio

n an

d Pe

rcen

t Pas

sing

NCL

EX-R

N®

Exam

inat

ion:

Jan

uary

1 –

Dec

embe

r 31,

200

2

Jan

1 - M

ar 3

1, 2

002

Apr

1 -

Jun

30, 2

002

Jul 1

- Se

p 30

, 200

2Oc

t 1 -

Dec

31, 2

002

Coun

try o

f Edu

catio

nCa

ndid

ates

N

umbe

rPe

rcen

tCa

ndid

ates

Num

ber

Perc

ent

Cand

idat

esN

umbe

rPe

rcen

tCa

ndid

ates

Num

ber

Perc

ent

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Afg

hani

stan

10

0.0%

Alb

ania

11

100.

0%2

00.0

%A

ndor

ra1

00.0

%A

rgen

tina

11

100.

0%A

rmen

ia1

00.0

%1

110

0.0%

11

100.

0%A

ustr

alia

3121

67.7

%26

1869

.2%

2920

69.0

%20

1470

.0%

Aus

tria

22

100.

0%1

110

0.0%

Baha

mas

21

50.0

%6

233

.3%

63

50.0

%B

ahra

in1

00.0

%B

angl

ades

h1

00.0

%B

arba

dos

10

0.0%

32

66.7

%15

1173

.3%

11

100.

0%Be

laru

s1

00.0

%3

00.0

%3

133

.3%

30

0.0%

Bel

gium

44

100.

0%1

110

0.0%

Beliz

e (B

ritis

h Ho

ndur

as)

11

100.

0%1

110

0.0%

10

0.0%

11

100.

0%Bo

livia

11

100.

0%B

osni

a an

d H

erze

govi

na2

00.0

%1

00.0

%Bo

tsw

ana

10

0.0%

Braz

il7

685

.7%

10

0.0%

33

100.

0%3

133

.3%

Brit

ish

Indi

an O

cean

Te

rrito

ry1

00.0

%B

ritis

h W

est I

ndie

s2

00.0

%5

360

.0%

Bul

garia

21

50.0

%1

00.0

%3

310

0.0%

Cam

eroo

n, F

ree

Repu

blic

of

10

0.0%

30

0.0%

63

50.0

%Ca

nada

275

209

76.0

%29

723

579

.1%

427

313

73.3

%34

527

680

.0%

Cent

ral A

fric

an

Repu

blic

10

0.0%

Chile

21

50.0

%2

210

0.0%

32

66.7

%


39


Chin

a, P

eopl

es

Repu

blic

of

2010

50.0

%38

2565

.8%

4834

70.8

%28

1864

.3%

Colo

mbi

a4

125

.0%

75

71.4

%6

350

.0%

158

53.3

%Co

sta

Rica

21

50.0

%1

00.0

%2

00.0

%Cr

oatia

10

0.0%

Cuba

76

85.7

%3

00.0

%15

426

.7%

3614

38.9

%Cy

prus

11

100.

0%Cz

ech

Repu

blic

44

100.

0%1

110

0.0%

11

100.

0%De

nmar

k2

210

0.0%

53

60.0

%1

110

0.0%

Dom

inic

a1

110

0.0%

43

75.0

%1

110

0.0%

Egyp

t, Ar

ab R

epub

lic o

f3

00.0

%4

125

.0%

10

0.0%

El S

alva

dor

10

0.0%

31

33.3

%Er

itrea

11

100.

0%1

110

0.0%

10

0.0%

Esto

nia

11

100.

0%Et

hiop

ia2

00.0

%4

250

.0%

106

60.0

%3

133

.3%

Fiji

Isla

nds

20

0.0%

31

33.3

%Fi

nlan

d2

210

0.0%

33

100.

0%3

266

.7%

22

100.

0%Fr

ance

53

60.0

%6

466

.7%

43

75.0

%1

110

0.0%

Gam

bia

10

0.0%

32

66.7

%3

00.0

%G

eorg

ia1

00.0

%3

266

.7%

11

100.

0%G

erm

any

(Uni

ted)

74

57.1

%15

960

.0%

2315

65.2

%7

457

.1%

Gha

na10

440

.0%

83

37.5

%12

433

.3%

74

57.1

%G

ibra

ltar

10

0.0%

Gre

nada

and

the

Gren

adin

es1

110

0.0%

11

100.

0%G

uate

mal

a1

110

0.0%

Guy

ana

21

50.0

%5

240

.0%

2413

54.2

%14

535

.7%

Haiti

20

0.0%

32

66.7

%8

225

.0%

61

16.7

%H

ong

Kong

21

50.0

%5

120

.0%

20

0.0%

Hung

ary

11

100.

0%1

110

0.0%

11

100.

0%Ic

elan

d1

110

0.0%

11

100.

0%In

dia

119

7260

.5%

198

141

71.2

%24

813

253

.2%

178

105

59.0

%In

done

sia

10

0.0%

10

0.0%

30

0.0%

40

0.0%

Iran

127

58.3

%10

220

.0%

176

35.3

%4

125

.0%

Iraq

31

33.3

%Ir

elan

d8

675

.0%

98

88.9

%6

583

.3%

54

80.0

%

cont

inue

d on

nex

t pag

e


40


Tabl

e 10

, con

tinue

d

Jan

1 - M

ar 3

1, 2

002

Apr

1 -

Jun

30, 2

002

Jul 1

- Se

p 30

, 200

2Oc

t 1 -

Dec

31, 2

002

Coun

try o

f Edu

catio

nCa

ndid

ates

N

umbe

rPe

rcen

tCa

ndid

ates

Num

ber

Perc

ent

Cand

idat

esN

umbe

rPe

rcen

tCa

ndid

ates

Num

ber

Perc

ent

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Isra

el6

466

.7%

1210

83.3

%12

975

.0%

1211

91.7

%Ita

ly1

00.

0%1

00.

0%Iv

ory

Coas

t1

00.

0%Ja

mai

ca11

872

.7%

107

70.0

%21

1152

.4%

3330

90.9

%Ja

pan

61

16.7

%5

360

.0%

2113

61.9

%7

571

.4%

Jord

an2

00.

0%9

444

.4%

82

25.0

%3

266

.7%

Kaza

khst

an1

00.

0%Ke

nya

122

16.7

%5

120

.0%

2210

45.5

%12

758

.3%

Kore

a (N

orth

)2

150

.0%

11

100.

0%1

00.

0%Ko

rea

(Sou

th)

144

8559

.0%

366

221

60.4

%39

525

765

.1%

6438

59.4

%Ky

rgyz

stan

10

0.0%

Latv

ia1

110

0.0%

30

0.0%

Leba

non

75

71.4

%4

375

.0%

129

75.0

%2

210

0.0%

Leso

tho

11

100.

0%Li

beria

41

25.0

%3

133

.3%

40

0.0%

10

0.0%

Lith

uani

a1

00.

0%2

210

0.0%

Mal

awi

11

100.

0%1

110

0.0%

Mal

aysi

a1

110

0.0%

11

100.

0%3

133

.3%

10

0.0%

Mal

ta1

110

0.0%

10

0.0%

Mex

ico

143

21.4

%9

444

.4%

265

19.2

%9

444

.4%

Mol

dova

10

0.0%

20

0.0%

11

100.

0%M

oroc

co1

110

0.0%

Nep

al4

125

.0%

43

75.0

%N

ethe

rland

s1

110

0.0%

22

100.

0%1

110

0.0%

Net

herla

nds

Ant

illes

10

0.0%

New

Zea

land

1210

83.3

%10

880

.0%

99

100.

0%6

610

0.0%

Nic

arag

ua2

00.

0%1

00.

0%N

iger

10

0.0%

10

0.0%

11

100.

0%N

iger

ia73

2737

.0%

6627

40.9

%87

3337

.9%

4617

37.0

%N

orw

ay3

133

.3%

11

100.

0%3

133

.3%

21

50.0

%Ok

inaw

a1

00.

0%2

150

.0%


41


Paki

stan

121

8.3%

229

40.9

%17

952

.9%

106

60.0

%Pa

nam

a, R

epub

lic o

f3

133

.3%

11

100.

0%Pe

ru5

240

.0%

31

33.3

%4

375

.0%

32

66.7

%Ph

ilipp

ines

1470

767

52.2

%17

2185

749

.8%

2316

1133

48.9

%15

7286

855

.2%

Pitc

airn

Isla

nds

10

0.0%

11

100.

0%3

133

.3%

10

0.0%

Pola

nd7

342

.9%

178

47.1

%14

1071

.4%

126

50.0

%Po

rtug

al1

00.

0%Ro

man

ia12

433

.3%

103

30.0

%14

642

.9%

106

60.0

%Ru

ssia

n Fe

dera

tion

258

32.0

%22

1150

.0%

185

27.8

%13

430

.8%

Sant

a Cr

uz Is

land

11

100.

0%Sa

udi A

rabi

a1

00.

0%Si

erra

Leo

ne1

110

0.0%

61

16.7

%3

133

.3%

Sing

apor

e3

266

.7%

10

0.0%

11

100.

0%Sl

ovak

Rep

ublic

10

0.0%

11

100.

0%So

uth

Afr

ica

3222

68.8

%15

1066

.7%

2614

53.8

%24

2083

.3%

Spai

n2

210

0.0%

43

75.0

%2

150

.0%

Sri L

anka

(Cey

lon)

10

0.0%

St. K

itts

and

Nev

is1

00.

0%1

00.

0%St

. Luc

ia16

956

.3%

32

66.7

%St

. Vin

cent

162

12.5

%7

114

.3%

Surin

am1

110

0.0%

21

50.0

%Sw

eden

42

50.0

%3

266

.7%

54

80.0

%4

250

.0%

Switz

erla

nd1

110

0.0%

22

100.

0%Ta

iwan

(Rep

ublic

of

Chin

a)21

733

.3%

239

39.1

%51

1835

.3%

178

47.1

%Ta

jikis

tan

10

0.0%

10

0.0%

11

100.

0%Ta

nzan

ia, U

nite

d Re

publ

ic o

f1

00.

0%2

150

.0%

31

33.3

%2

00.

0%Th

aila

nd3

133

.3%

93

33.3

%7

342

.9%

43

75.0

%To

nga

20

0.0%

Trin

idad

and

Tob

ago

135

38.5

%14

642

.9%

3517

48.6

%13

753

.8%

Turk

ey2

210

0.0%

44

100.

0%U

gand

a1

110

0.0%

Ukr

aine

123

25.0

%17

741

.2%

105

50.0

%2

150

.0%

Unite

d Ar

ab E

mira

tes

22

100.

0%1

00.

0%U

nite

d Ki

ngdo

m85

5362

.4%

9057

63.3

%74

4459

.5%

7756

72.7

%

cont

inue

d on

nex

t pag

e


42


Tabl

e 10

, con

tinue

d

Jan

1 - M

ar 3

1, 2

002

Apr

1 -

Jun

30, 2

002

Jul 1

- Se

p 30

, 200

2Oc

t 1 -

Dec

31, 2

002

Coun

try o

f Edu

catio

nCa

ndid

ates

N

umbe

rPe

rcen

tCa

ndid

ates

Num

ber

Perc

ent

Cand

idat

esN

umbe

rPe

rcen

tCa

ndid

ates

Num

ber

Perc

ent

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Exam

ined

Pass

edPa

ssed

Uru

guay

10

0.0%

Uzbe

kist

an3

00.

0%10

110

.0%

84

50.0

%9

333

.3%

Vene

zuel

a1

00.

0%Vi

etna

m1

00.

0%2

150

.0%

Wes

tern

Sam

oa1

110

0.0%

Yugo

slav

ia/F

orm

er5

120

.0%

10

0.0%

31

33.3

%Za

mbi

a2

210

0.0%

32

66.7

%3

266

.7%

41

25.0

%Zi

mba

bwe

53

60.0

%4

125

.0%

52

40.0

%4

375

.0%

Tota

l2,

561

1,40

654

.9%

3,18

01,

763

55.4

%4,

276

2,27

453

.2%

2,74

51,

626

59.2

%

Tabl

e 11

. Sum

mar

y St

atis

tics

for F

irst-

Tim

e, U

.S.-E

duca

ted

Cand

idat

es T

akin

g N

CLEX

-RN®

Exam

inat

ion,

Jan

uary

– D

ecem

ber 2

002

NCL

EX-R

N®

Exam

inat

ion

Janu

ary

– D

ecem

ber 2

002

Pass

ing

Stan

dard

*-0

.350

0 lo

gits

Estim

ated

Dec

isio

n Co

nsis

tenc

y.9

1A

vera

ge N

umbe

r of T

est I

tem

s (Q

uest

ions

) Tak

en11

6Pe

rcen

t Tak

ing

Min

imum

Num

ber o

f Ite

ms

53.4

%Pe

rcen

t Tak

ing

Max

imum

Num

ber o

f Ite

ms

11.4

%Av

erag

e Te

stin

g Ti

me

2 ho

urs,

11

min

utes

Perc

ent T

akin

g M

axim

um A

mou

nt o

f Tim

e3.

0%

See

Appe

ndix

A fo

r def

initi

ons

of te

rms.

*The

pas

sing

sta

ndar

d is

pre

sent

ed in

uni

ts, c

alle

d lo

gits

, on

the

Rasc

h m

easu

rem

ent s

cale

.


43


Figu

re 4

. N

atio

nal P

assi

ng R

ate:

Reg

iste

red

Nur

ses,

199

2-19

96

Mon

th/Y

ear A

dmin

iste

red

nFi

rst-T

ime,

U.S

.-Edu

cate

d

nAl

l Exa

min

ees

*Pas

sing

sta

ndar

d ch

ange

from

-0.5

100

to -0

.476

6 lo

gits

**La

st p

aper

-and

-pen

cil e

xam

inat

ion

***P

assi

ng s

tand

ard

chan

ge fr

om -0

.476

6 to

-0.4

200

logi

ts

Percent Passing


44


Figu

re 5

. N

atio

nal P

assi

ng R

ate:

Reg

iste

red

Nur

ses,

199

7-19

99

Mon

th/Y

ear A

dmin

iste

red

nFi

rst-T

ime,

U.S

.-Edu

cate

d

nAl

l Exa

min

ees

*Pas

sing

sta

ndar

d ch

ange

from

-0.4

200

to -0

.350

0 lo

gits

Percent Passing


45


Mon

th/Y

ear

Adm

inis

tere

d

nFi

rst-T

ime,

U.S

.-Edu

cate

d

nAl

l Exa

min

ees

Figu

re 6

. N

atio

nal P

assi

ng R

ate:

Reg

iste

red

Nur

ses,

200

0-20

02

Percent Passing


46


Average Number of Test Items (Questions) Taken The average number of items (questions) on which candidate performance is determined. In avariable-length computerized adapt-ive test (CAT), candidates areadministered items until they satisfyone of the following stopping rules: 1. A candidate’s measure of compe-

tence is known to be above orbelow the passing standard withat least 95 percent confidence (is significantly above or below thestandard) and at least the mini-mum number of questions hasbeen answered.

2. A candidate has taken the maxi-mum number of questions.

3. A candidate has tested for themaximum amount of time.

Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT)Each candidate is administereditems appropriate for the currentestimated ability level until a confi-dent pass/fail decision can be made,the maximum number of items isanswered or the candidate runs outof time.

Estimated Decision ConsistencyA measure of examination reliabilityappropriate for CAT. It is the propor-tion of pass/fail decisions that wouldremain the same if all candidateswere to be retested with parallelexaminations.

Passing Standard*The minimum ability level a candi-date must demonstrate in order topass the examination. Currently, thepassing standard effective April1998 is -0.3500 logits for the NCLEX-

RN® examination. In April 1999, the passing standard was raised from-0.5100 to -0.4700 logits for theNCLEX-PN® examination. The RN

and PN standards are not directlycomparable because they are basedon different item pools.

*These statistics are presented in units, called logits, on the Rasch measurement scale. There isno inherent meaning of the units; they representan arbitrary scale useful for reporting relative differences. This scale can be used for two purposes: 1. To measure degree of candidate competence

(-2 = low; +2 = high), and 2. To measure degree of item difficulty

(-2 = easy; +2 = hard).

APPENDIX A

Licensure ExaminationSummary Statistics Definitions

2003ISBN: 0-9720273-9-4

N C S B N Research ServicesNational Council of State Boards of Nursing

111 E. Wacker Drive, Suite 2900Chicago, IL 60601-4277312.525.3600312.279.1032 faxwww.ncsbn.org

Documents

2002 Licensure and Examination Statistics2002 Licensure and Examination Statistics Lynda Crawford, PhD, RN, CAE Casey Marks, PhD Michelle Reynolds, MS Esther White National Council