NCLEX-PN pass rates: 86.6% for first-time US graduates in 2025
The headline NCLEX-PN figure is for first-time, US-educated candidates: 86.6% in 2025, from NCSBN’s annual statistics. The rate for all PN candidates was lower, about 77.3%, because repeat and internationally educated candidates pass at much lower rates.
Last checked October 2026. Based on NCSBN’s 2025 NCLEX examination statistics as reported by NCSBN’s quarterly report and third-party coverage. Figures can be revised, so check NCSBN for the latest.
Pass rates by type of candidate
| Candidate type | Pass rate | Note |
|---|---|---|
| First-time, US-educated | 86.6% | The figure most people mean by the PN pass rate |
| Repeat, US-educated | About 38% to 41% | Roughly half the first-time rate |
| First-time, internationally educated | 53.7% | Small group, 397 candidates |
| All candidates | 77.3% | Drags the headline down |
2025 first-time figures from NCSBN’s annual statistics. The repeat figure is from partial-year data (NCSBN Q1 2025, 38.2%) and a figure Archer Review cites (40.8%).
How the first-time rate has moved
A summary of NCSBN data reports the first-time US-educated PN rate at 86.7% in 2023, the year the Next Generation NCLEX launched, then 79.1% in 2024, then 86.6% in 2025. The first quarter of 2026 was reported at 86%. The 2024 dip is why older articles quote a lower PN rate.
By state
First-time US-educated PN pass rates in 2025 ranged from 99.4% in Vermont (179 candidates) to 78.6% in Florida, which ranked last. Small states swing widely: Maine’s 97.1% came from just 35 candidates.
| State | Pass rate | Candidates |
|---|---|---|
| Vermont | 99.4% | 179 |
| Maine | 97.1% | 35 |
| Texas | 91.9% | 4,244 |
| California | 80.9% | 9,136 |
| Florida | 78.6% | Last of all jurisdictions |
Selected 2025 first-time US-educated PN rates, as reported from NCSBN data. Small candidate counts make small-state rates volatile.
Common questions
Is the PN exam easier than the RN exam?
Not by the first-time numbers. NCSBN data summarized by third parties shows first-time US-educated candidates passing the PN and RN exams at nearly the same rate in 2025, 86.6% and 86.7%. The exams have different passing standards, so the comparison is about how candidates performed, not how hard the questions are.
What should I take from these numbers?
A pass rate describes candidates, not a guarantee for you. Repeat candidates pass at less than half the first-time rate, which is the strongest argument for preparing thoroughly before the first attempt.